OT, VI and AC: a practical guide to preparation
Official sources reviewed Oct 18, 2026 and linked below. FBO practice suggestions are independent teaching material; your employer's current instructions take priority.
Online tests, video interviews and assessment centres call for different practice. Start with the invitation for your role, then build a plan around the tasks it describes.
Read the process for your application
OT usually means online test, VI video interview, and AC assessment centre. These are useful labels, not a universal hiring sequence or scoring system. HSBC's student and graduate guide, for example, describes online assessments followed by an assessment centre, with differences for some programmes and markets.
Online tests: match the practice to the task
Online assessment can cover more than timed arithmetic. HSBC describes work scenarios with several response formats, including written and video responses, charts and data tables.
FBO practice suggestion: check the named assessment, permitted tools, timing and response format. Start with the employer's practice material. Work through mistakes before adding time pressure. A practice score does not establish an employer's pass mark.
Video interviews: make your examples clear
HireVue's candidate guidance recommends researching the role and employer and preparing to discuss your experiences, actions, learning and results.
FBO practice suggestion: record a response to one relevant question, then check whether you answered it and explained your own contribution. Use the invitation's time allowance. A recording is a way to review clarity, not a way to discover hidden scoring signals.
Assessment centres: practise applying your skills
HSBC describes its assessment centres as a combination of interviews and exercises. The particular activities should come from your programme information and invitation.
FBO practice suggestion: explain a decision using the available evidence, discuss alternatives with a practice partner, and finish with a clear recommendation. Ask the recruiter about adjustments or unclear instructions before the assessment.