NHS Situational Judgement Tests

NHS recruitment process in 2024

1. Online application form

   • One of the first stages of the recruitment process is filling in the application form on NHS Careers website.

   • The online application form is usually presented as a questionnaire with the option of importing data from a LinkedIn or CV file.

   • The applicant is required to provide information about work experience, education, skills and other necessary details.

   • There may be questions both about job preferences (e.g. desired type of employment, country and city of residence) and more personal questions (e.g. race and ethnicity, religion, disability)

2. Phone / Video Interview

   • Successful candidates are invited for a 15-20 min. phone call.

   • Soft skills are usually assessed during this call by the NHS recruiter.

   • In some cases, NHS hiring manager may invite you for a video interview (most commonly conducted with HireVue.) For software engineering positions, candidates may be asked to complete a coding challenge (problems on algorithms + take-home challenges.)

3. Online tests

   • The next stage of the NHS recruitment process is an online assessment. The candidate will be sent an email invitation to complete NHS tests.

   • NHS uses different types of recruitment tests to assess candidates and their suitability for the position they are applying for.

   • Candidates are most often asked to complete the following tests:

   • Numerical reasoning tests are standardised psychometric assessment tools that help NHS determine a candidate's ability to work with numbers and graphs, make good decisions and draw conclusions based on numerical or statistical data. The tests simulate the work environment and goals of a prospective employee. Try our Free sample Numerical reasoning test.

   • Verbal reasoning tests allow NHS to determine a candidate's ability to perceive and analyse verbal information and to draw conclusions. Free sample Verbal tests are available to practice here and here.

   • Logical (inc. Diagrammatic and Inductive ) reasoning tests are designed to assess the candidate's ability to work with abstract information. NHS Logical assessment may consist of special diagrams, geometric shapes and other lined-up images, where a candidate has to continue the row in a logically correct way. Here you can practice a Free sample Logical test, a Free sample Diagrammatic test, and a Free sample Inductive test.

   • Situational judgement tests consist of short simulated scenarios that define a working style and assess specific tasks in a working environment. NHS Situational tests are used to assess applicants' competencies, communication skills, motivation, and preferred styles of problem-solving. Try our Free sample Situational judgement test before taking the real one.

   • Mechanical reasoning tests are designed to assess candidates' critical and abstract thinking skills important for engineering and science-related positions at NHS. Free sample Mechanical test.

4. Assessment centre

   • Successful candidates are invited to visit the nearest NHS headquarters or office.

   • Candidates will have a chance to personally meet the hiring manager, team leaders and seniors during the assessment day.

   • NHS may organise a group exercise with candidates as part of the hiring procedure.

5. Partner interview

   • The final stage of the recruitment process.

   • The candidate will have a chance to meet the hiring manager, department director and/or division lead.

   • Normally, there is no assessment at this stage.

   • Candidates are mostly expected to demonstrate soft skills and a desire to join NHS.