SHL-style personality questionnaire (forced-choice triplets)
Rank blocks of three statements about how you work, from most to least like you, untimed
Used by Barclays (Reported), PwC (Official), Standard Chartered (Unverified), Deutsche Bank (Unverified), Jefferies (Reported), Fidelity International (Unverified)
The format
- Blocks30, three statements each
- TimeUntimed, about 6 minutes
- AnsweringMost like you, then the next
- Moving onForward only
How to approach it
- Answer as you are at work or on a team project, not as you think a banker should be
- Every statement is a reasonable thing to say, so there's nothing to spot or avoid
- Go with your first honest reaction and don't agonise over close calls
- Stay consistent: the same statements can come back later in a new block
More optionsAnswer style, going back, shortcuts
- Allow going backNo source says whether the real one allows it
- Keyboard shortcuts1 to 3 pick a statement, Backspace undoes, Enter moves on
More SHL-style drills
Format notes
What this drill copies from the published format and how sure we are of each value, checked 22 September 2026
| Parameter | Value | Label |
|---|---|---|
| Question type | Blocks of three statements about how you work, ranked by how like you each one is | OfficialSource 1 for Question typeSource 2 for Question type |
| Answering | Pick the statement most like you, then the more like you of the two left | OfficialSource for Answering |
| Other answer styleThe provider calls this its second widely used format | Mark one statement most like you and one least like you | OfficialSource for Other answer style |
| Full length | 104 blocks | OfficialSource for Full length |
| Shorter versionsOne forum post that could not be re-read; the 30-block practice here is our own quick run | About 50 blocks reported for one bank | UnverifiedSource for Shorter versions |
| Repeated pairsOur own consistency check; the provider doesn't publish whether statements come back | 12 of the 104 blocks, or 4 of the 30, bring back two earlier statements with a new third one | Unverified |
| Time limit | None | OfficialSource for Time limit |
| Typical time | 15 to 25 minutes for the full length | OfficialSource for Typical time |
| Sitting | One sitting, on a phone or a computer | OfficialSource for Sitting |
| What it measuresThis drill reports 16 original dimensions in three areas of its own | 32 work characteristics in three areas: people, thinking style, and feelings and emotions | OfficialSource for What it measures |
| Right answers | None | OfficialSource for Right answers |
| Going backNo source says whether earlier blocks can be changed | Off by default, with a Next button after each block | Unverified |
| ResultsThe provider says the characteristics are mapped to the competencies a role needs | Profiled against the role, with no pass mark | ReportedSource 1 for ResultsSource 2 for Results |
Who uses it
What the evidence says about each employer, checked 22 September 2026
BarclaysReported
One of its two short interactive assessments covers your preferred ways of working, and prep sites name this questionnaire, though their accounts differ
Source 1 for BarclaysSource 2 for BarclaysSource 3 for BarclaysSource 4 for Barclays
BarclaysUnverified
One forum post describes about 50 blocks rather than the full 104
PwCOfficial
The firm names this provider for an untimed assessment of your natural preferences at work, but doesn't publish its format
Standard CharteredUnverified
Its early careers assessment starts with an untimed behavioural part where you pick the statements that describe you best, but its pages name no provider and don't confirm spring insight use
Source 1 for Standard CharteredSource 2 for Standard CharteredSource 3 for Standard Chartered
Deutsche BankUnverified
An untimed behavioural questionnaire sits beside the reasoning test, and only one prep site names this provider's questionnaire
JefferiesReported
Two prep sites name this questionnaire beside the ability test, one describing blocks of three or four statements
Fidelity InternationalUnverified
One prep site's spring week list names this provider for its personality test, while two others name a different provider
Source 1 for Fidelity InternationalSource 2 for Fidelity InternationalSource 3 for Fidelity International
Independent practice in the style of SHL's published format. Not affiliated with or endorsed by SHL