FCA, M&G, Aviva and TfL Online Assessments: Stage by Stage
Luca from Candidate Falcon
Editorial Team
The Financial Conduct Authority, M&G, Aviva and Transport for London all use Cappfinity, or have used it, for their early careers online assessments. Each employer builds its own process from Cappfinity's modules, so the stages, timings and rules differ more than you might expect.
This guide goes through each employer in turn, using its own careers pages. Processes change every year, so treat your invitation as the final word. For Deloitte and HSBC, see our guides to the Deloitte online assessment and the HSBC job simulation.
At a glance
| Employer | Online stages | Is time scored? | Video | Then |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FCA | Strengths-based assessment, then a job insight assessment | Not in stage 2; stage 3 has timed parts | Timed video answers in the job insight stage | Half-day assessment centre |
| M&G | Online assessment, then a Job Simulation | Not timed, but video answers are | Timed video questions | Assessment centre |
| Aviva | Situational Strengths and Numerical Reasoning, then a video interview and an AI literacy assessment | Numerical: time per question counted (Aviva hub, October 2026) | A few strengths-based questions | Assessment day |
| TfL | Two-stage strengths-based online test | Not stated | 2 minutes to prepare each video answer | Assessment centre |
The FCA
The FCA's early careers page covers its graduate schemes, apprenticeships and summer internships. In a 2024 video, the FCA said its assessment partner is Cappfinity, and its Candidate Zone runs on Cappfinity's preparation platform.
Stage 1: application
You apply online for one route.
Stage 2: online strengths-based assessment
The FCA's 2024 video calls this stage "Captivate" (Cappfinity's name for it is Capptivate). It mixes behavioural and cognitive questions: data literacy, plus logical, numerical and critical reasoning.
- It is not timed, and the FCA says "the time you take is not scored". This is unusual: most Cappfinity reasoning tests count your speed.
- It takes around 40 minutes, and you can take a break.
- You have five calendar days from the invitation to complete it.
Stage 3: job insight assessment
The careers page calls this an immersive online assessment with video-based questions about the FCA's role as a regulator. The 2024 video calls it the Simulate assessment.
- It is behavioural, with video responses, which are timed.
- It has timed and untimed elements and takes about 50 minutes.
- You have seven calendar days to complete it.
Stage 4: assessment centre
The FCA says its assessment centre lasts half a day and has three exercises: a group exercise, an analysis exercise and a strengths-based interview. Selection depends on your performance across the earlier stages.
FCA rules and adjustments
- No AI assistants. The FCA says your responses must not be provided or generated by an AI assistant or similar software, and must be all your own work.
- Adjustments through EmployAbility. The FCA works with EmployAbility on adjustments, and you must contact them before you start the test. Adjustments can include extended video time and a few extra days.
M&G
M&G's careers FAQ describes a four-step process for graduates and interns, and says its video interviews are run through Cappfinity.
Step 1: application
About 10 minutes. You can apply for one scheme at a time.
Step 2: online assessment
M&G says the online assessment includes motivational questions, behavioural questions and cognitive tasks that test your critical reasoning and problem-solving skills.
- You have five days to complete it.
- It is not timed, but M&G recommends allowing 45 minutes, and you do not need to complete all the tests in one sitting.
- Questions that need a video response are timed.
M&G recommends a desktop or laptop, and paper, a pen and a calculator for the critical reasoning section. Chrome is the recommended browser, and video questions need a webcam.
Step 3: Job Simulation
M&G describes the Job Simulation as an assessment that tests real-life scenarios. Expect work situations where you rank or choose responses and record video answers, as in other Cappfinity job simulations. M&G does not publish a duration.
Step 4: assessment centre
M&G says its assessment centres include presentations, interviews and group exercises. It usually gives two weeks' notice, sometimes one. For selected roles there is also a telephone interview.
Apprentices
M&G's apprenticeship process has three steps: the application, the same online assessment with five days to complete it, and a half-day assessment centre with a competency or strengths-based interview with the hiring manager and a group or individual exercise.
Feedback and adjustments
M&G says you receive a feedback report from Cappfinity covering your strengths and areas for development. If you need an adjustment, M&G asks you to contact Cappfinity's support team and not to continue with the online assessment until you have instructions; requests for extra time go to M&G's early careers team, with supporting documents.
Aviva
Aviva's graduate pages set out a four-step process.
Step 1: CV and short questions
You upload your CV and answer some short questions.
Step 2: Situational Strengths and Numerical Reasoning
Aviva says everyone starts with a Situational Strengths and Numerical Reasoning assessment. Candidates for Software Development (Technology), Data Engineering or Data Science also take a coding test.
- Situational strengths: you rank the responses to work scenarios from the one you would most likely do to the least likely. See situational strengths test vs situational judgement test.
- Numerical reasoning: when we read Aviva's preparation hub in October 2026, it said the time you take on each question counts alongside accuracy. There is no countdown, but work steadily.
Step 3: video interview and AI literacy assessment
If you pass the online tests, Aviva sends a link to a video interview. Aviva says it has a few strengths-based questions, with a practice question first to warm up, and asks why you are excited to start your career with Aviva.
After the video interview comes a short AI literacy assessment, which Aviva says looks at how you use judgement when interacting with AI in workplace scenarios. Aviva also says AI is not used to assess you or make recruitment decisions at any stage.
Step 4: assessment day
The final step is an assessment day. Aviva's graduate schemes starting in September 2027 are recruiting now, and its preparation hub offers mock assessments and video interviews.
Transport for London (TfL)
TfL's how-to-apply page covers apprentice, graduate and intern roles, and points candidates to the behavioural assessment section of Cappfinity's Preparation Hub to prepare. Public contract records show Cappfinity running TfL's graduate and apprentice testing from December 2021 to December 2025. We found no published renewal, so check your invitation for the platform.
Step 1: application
You can apply for one programme per campaign and upload your certificates.
Step 2: two-stage strengths-based online test
- Stage one starts with a multimedia introduction to TfL. You then rank your preferred responses to hypothetical scenarios.
- Stage two uses realistic scenarios for the programme you applied to. You answer some by recording a video and some by ranking. TfL says you have 2 minutes to prepare each video answer, and recording starts when the preparation time ends.
TfL takes part in the Disability Confident scheme: in high-volume campaigns, eligible candidates who pass the stage one assessments are guaranteed an interview.
Step 3: assessment centre
You confirm your place within 48 hours. The assessment centre includes an interview alongside a group exercise, presentation or technical task, depending on the programme.
Results and feedback
TfL says you get the outcome within one week of the assessment centre, with a one-to-one feedback call with an assessor.
What the four have in common
- A ranking task. All four ask you to rank responses to work scenarios, the core of Cappfinity's situational strengths test.
- Strengths-based questions. The FCA's assessment centre interview, Aviva's video interview and TfL's online test are all described as strengths-based. Our article on strengths-based interview questions covers how to answer them.
- Timed video answers. The FCA, M&G and TfL all say their video answers are timed, and Aviva has a video interview with a practice question.
- Several days to finish. The FCA gives five and seven days, M&G five. Do not leave it to the last evening.
How to prepare
- Read the careers page and your invitation for your route. Graduate, intern and apprentice processes differ, even at the same employer.
- For ranking questions, answer as you would really act. Read every option first. Cappfinity advises not to second-guess what the employer wants.
- For reasoning questions, keep a calculator, pen and paper ready. Practise percentages, ratios and reading tables. Speed counts at Aviva but not in the FCA's stage 2.
- For video answers, practise within a time limit. With TfL's 2 minutes of preparation, decide your example quickly and answer the question in your first sentence.
- Prepare examples that show energy, not just competence: things you do well, enjoy and do often.
- Follow the AI rules. The FCA bans AI-generated responses, and Aviva's AI literacy assessment looks at how you judge AI use at work.
- Ask for adjustments before you start, through the route each employer gives.
Candidate Falcon has independent Cappfinity-style practice for the situational strengths ranking task, numerical reasoning, critical reasoning and an immersive assessment. They are not these employers' tests or Cappfinity's, and we do not simulate job simulations or video interviews. For timed recorded answers, the HireVue interview practice simulator lets you rehearse with feedback. Playing the simulations needs one of our plans; see pricing. The free Cappfinity assessment guide explains every module.
FAQs
Does the FCA use Cappfinity?
Yes. In its 2024 EmployAbility video, the FCA said its assessment partner is Cappfinity, and its Candidate Zone runs on Cappfinity's preparation platform.
Is the FCA online assessment timed?
The stage 2 strengths-based assessment is not timed, and the FCA says the time you take is not scored. The stage 3 job insight assessment has timed and untimed elements, and its video answers are timed.
What is in the M&G online assessment?
M&G says it includes motivational and behavioural questions and cognitive tasks for critical reasoning and problem solving. It is not timed, apart from video questions, M&G suggests allowing 45 minutes, and you have five days.
What comes after the Aviva situational strengths test?
If you pass the Situational Strengths and Numerical Reasoning assessment, you take a video interview with a few strengths-based questions, then a short AI literacy assessment, then an assessment day.
Does TfL still use Cappfinity?
TfL's how-to-apply page still points candidates to Cappfinity's Preparation Hub. Public contract records show Cappfinity running TfL's graduate and apprentice testing from December 2021 to December 2025, and we found no published renewal.
Sources
- FCA early careers (read October 2026): programmes, stages, the job insight assessment, the assessment centre and the AI rule.
- FCA EmployAbility video transcript, 2024: Cappfinity as assessment partner, Captivate and Simulate, timing, deadlines and adjustments.
- M&G early careers FAQs (read October 2026): the four-step and three-step processes, timing, devices, video questions, feedback report and adjustments.
- Aviva business management graduate pathway (read October 2026): stages, coding test, video interview, AI literacy assessment and start date.
- Aviva preparation hub (aviva.preparationplus.com, read 19 October 2026): time per numerical question counted.
- TfL: how to apply for apprentice and graduate roles (read October 2026): stages, video preparation time, Cappfinity's Preparation Hub, results and feedback.
- Find a Tender notice 009752-2022 and its call-off: Cappfinity's TfL testing contract, December 2021 to December 2025.
Candidate Falcon is independent and not affiliated with Cappfinity, the FCA, M&G, Aviva or TfL.
