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EY Assessment Centre Guide: Tips, Tests, and What to Expect

This EY assessment centre guide includes practice tests, coaching videos and dozens of top tips, tricks and insider-secrets for success at the EY assessment centre. Let’s get started!

Table of Contents

Useful Starting-Point Resources

• You can practice the Ernst & Young aptitude tests here (numerical reasoning test, verbal reasoning & diagrammatic reasoning).

Download our Ultimate Assessment Day & Interview Guide 2022 here . (It's packed with tips, tricks and insider-secrets to help you succeed.)

What Will I Learn in This EY Assessment Centre Guide?

Choose Your EY Assessment

Understanding the Bigger Picture

Before we discuss the EY assessment centre, it’s important that you see everything we’ll discuss here in context. Let’s zoom out and look at the bigger picture.

What Are EY Looking For in Their Employees?

Ernst and Young place a larger-than-normal emphasis on their company’s core values. They want to hire people that closely mirror those values .

It is vital that you spend time immersing yourself in the culture and language of EY before your EY assessment centre. (You want to look every bit like an EY employee at the EY assessment centre.)

Set aside an entire day to research Ernst & Young. Your brief is simple.

• Understand the company
• Understand your team
• Understand your role.

Spend a few hours reviewing Ernst & Young’s latest annual report . Understand their current business challenges. Where are they headed? Is their business growing or shrinking? And in which sectors, services, territories? What do they want to achieve ?

Ernst & Young’s Work and Culture

This video will give you a good introduction to EY’s culture:

The All-Conquering Importance of Preparation

Ok, as we move on to look at the EY assessment centre preparation we wanted to put something squarely on your radar; the all-conquering importance of preparation.

We often get emails from people asking for help. They want to know the ‘shortcuts’ to success at their respective interview or assessment centre. But honestly, there are none. It’s boring, we know, but the ‘secret’ to success at assessment centres is simply lots and lots of preparation.

You cannot over-prepare. Every minute you spend preparing will pay you back richly at the EY assessment centre. Successful candidates are always better prepared than unsuccessful ones. That’s a simple fact.

So How Can You Prepare for Your EY Assessment Centre?

• You should practice the Ernst & Young aptitude tests like a demon. IMPORTANT POINT: Different employers use different test suppliers. This is very important when you’re taking practise tests as the style, content and format differ from one test supplier to another. Ernst & Young use Saville as their test provider and you can practise the Ernst & Young Saville tests here .
• You should read our article “ How To Prepare For Your Interview or Assessment Centre ” – It will be a treasure trove for you in preparing for the EY assessment centre.
• As already mentioned, get a copy of the Ernst & Young annual report .

Lastly, Phone the Hiring Manager for Your Role

Do some LinkedIn stalking. Phone the EY switchboard. Go guerrilla. Identify and then phone the hiring manager.

Hardly anyone will do this. (In this Email Age, a personal phone call is far too scary.) But skip this step at your peril, as this is an incredibly powerful way to firmly establish yourself in the hiring managers mind and it marks you out from the competition.

Approaching the hiring manager in this way shows initiative, drive and -when you think about it- simple intelligence. Why wouldn’t you want to speak to the hiring manager before seeking a role on his/her team?

Ok, there’s plenty of solid preparation steps for you to follow there. Let’s get into the detail of the EY assessment centre itself.

The Ernst & Young Assessment Centre Overview

For most people the Ernst & Young assessment centre is the 7 th step in the EY recruitment process. Well done! Only 10% pass through the initial interview stage, so feel proud and celebrate your achievements so far.

What Should You Expect on the Day?

Your EY assessment centre exercises will include the following elements:

• A Written Communication Exercise
• A Group Exercise
• Employee Lunch
• Role Play – Case Study Exercise
• Confirmatory Aptitude Tests

Let’s break each one of these EY assessment centre elements down and look at them in more detail.

The Written Communication Exercise

You will be given 40 minutes to compile two reports, based on an information pack that you will need to analyse carefully, but quickly. This first report will test your communication and writing skills, your analytical judgement and your business acumen.

Understanding ‘commerciality’ is important here. (It’s important in everything EY do, actually.) This is a useful video from EY that seeks to more clearly define ‘commerciality’.

The second task will assess your work ethic, your striving instincts and seeks to provide Ernst & Young with a revealing insight into your character. This is where those values and competencies we spoke of earlier should come to the fore. You need to embody those traits in everything you do.

2 Quicktips

• Both assessments will be computer based, so take advantage of spell and grammar checks.
• Manage your time carefully. The classic mistake here is overrunning on report one and having too little time to fully address report two.

Stop worrying! Download a 12-step assessment day cheatsheet & be perfectly prepared.

Click here to download your copy.

The Group Exercise

The Ernst & Young assessment centre group exercise primarily looks at two things:

• Candidates’ ability to work as part of a team
• Candidates’ ability to demonstrate leadership

You will be split into groups of four. Each group will be given an information pack. You will have 15 minutes to analyse the information and then a further 30 minutes to discuss it as group.

This short video from EY focuses on their graduate group exercise. It’s worth a watch as it’s quite revealing in terms of the tone and the company culture.

Your minimum goal should be to contribute constructively to the exercise. Your best result is to establish yourself as the de facto leader of the group. This can be very hard to do, but you must try .

It’s a balancing act. Be confident and assertive, sure, but don’t be aggressive or overbearing. Strongly lead, but don’t bully.

If you feel you need more help in this area, you should check out our Ultimate Assessment Day Guide, it includes many more tips and highlights the tricks and techniques used by elite candidates in group exercises.

The Employee Lunch

Lunch is the time when you get to take a breather and relax, right? Wrong. You will be assessed closely during this influential period.

6 Top Tips For The EY Assessment Centre Employee Lunch

• Ask questions. This is huge. You will be lunching with Ernst & Young trainees as well as senior staff. They are hoping to hire people who are hungry for success and keen to contribute. Your questions demonstrate this. (Also, a well-placed open question will provide you with a welcome 10-30 seconds to get some food/fuel in your stomach.)
• Be polite. It may seem obvious but smile and listen and look interested. Some candidates can be so ‘in the zone’ that they are too intense and self-centred. Courtesy is the order of the day.
• Be confident. This is easier to say than do, but you must project a capable and assured business persona. Ernst & Young is no place for shrinking violets. A great way to offset any nerves is to speak about your passion for the company and hunger for the role.
• Appear relaxed. One of the key indicators of future potential is ‘comfort around senior management’. It’s normal to feel a little on edge, over-awed even, around senior business figures, but don’t show this. It’s ok to feel it, inside, but your exterior shouldn’t show it. How can you appear relaxed? Speak slowly. Don’t respond to questions with a hair-trigger response. Seriously, speak slowly. Smile. Act like you have all the time in the world. This projects an easy and very relaxed confidence.
• Be positive at all times. No one on this Earth chooses to work with a moaner. Negativity is a completely forbidden character trait at the Ernst & Young assessment centre. Don’t whinge about how hot it was on the tube, or the traffic on the way to the venue, or the weather, or anything – you are Mr/Mrs Positivity!
• Make sure you eat lots. Some candidates are so busy schmoozing and chatting that they don’t refuel sufficiently for the rest of the day. Trust us, you will need calories to fuel your energy levels during the rest of this demanding event. Eat heartily and drink plenty of water.

The Role Play Case Study Exercise

Ok, now we’re getting into the real meat of the Ernst & Young assessment centre. The gloves are off. Let’s do this!

• You will be given a detailed pack of information to analyse.
• You will have 20 minutes to check for any mistakes in the information pack.
• Once your 20 minutes are up, the fictional scenario will begin. You will need to talk to the staff member that prepared the information for you. This group discussion will take place over the telephone, where you will have to give your analysis of their report and point out the mistakes that you found.
• After the telephone call, you will discuss your findings and the call with a manager. Be prepared to be cross-examined on your findings.

‘This Sounds Awful, I Hate Role-Plays!’

Most people hate role-plays. But with the right approach they can be an enjoyable showcase for your skills.

If you feel you need more help in this area you should check out our Role-Play Masterclass . It has dozens of essential tricks & tips and includes a proven framework that you can follow to deliver a world class role-play.  

The Confirmatory Aptitude Tests

You will have already taken and passed the online version of these tests but you will be asked to take the tests again to confirm your original results.

This is a vital part of the Ernst & Young assessment centre; if you perform poorly in these tests you will not be hired. It’s black and white.

If you only take one thing away from this guide it should be this: You must practice the aptitude tests before the Ernst & Young assessment centre . Remember you are being measured and timed against the other candidates, so literally every second counts.

Nothing will boost your chances of success more than repeated practice. It improves both your competence and confidence; it’s genuinely transformative for your prospects. You can practice the Saville EY aptitude tests here . To learn more about Saville Swift Executive Aptitude Test, click here .

I’ve written extensively about how to succeed in all the Ernst & Young assessment centre tests elsewhere on the site. You can read our free guides for all of Ernst & Young’s aptitude tests below:

• Free Mega-Guide: How to pass numerical reasoning tests
• Free Mega-Guide: ‘How to pass verbal reasoning tests’
• Free Mega-Guide: ‘How to pass diagrammatic reasoning tests’
• Free Mega-Guide: How to Pass the CAPP Assessment Test?

The EY Assessment Centre Interview

Ok, the end of your Ernst & Young assessment centre is in sight. This is your big moment. The interview.

There are two types of interviews that you may face but unfortunately, you won’t know which one until it begins.

You need to prepare for both.

EY CV-based Interview

You may end up sitting a CV-based interview. This tends to be a very conversational and natural exchange.

You will walk the interviewer through your CV and expand on each point. (There will usually be some questions based on your application form too.)

EY Business-based Interview

You will be quizzed about where you think Ernst & Young stand in regards to the issue, so this is where your preparation reaps rich rewards.

Heaven forbid you don’t know what services Ernst & Young offer or what their current business aims and growth areas are. (You can get all this info and much more from their annual report .)

This video from EY is useful. What is ‘commercial awareness’? How can you develop it?

Regardless of the interview format you sit, it will last for around 1 hour.

We have written extensively about interview technique elsewhere on this site. Check out the interview section for much more info .

Phew, That’s It!

And you’re done. After the interview your Ernst & Young assessment centre will finally be over. The assessors will tally up the scores and have a roundtable to discuss their observations. A decision will be made and the wheels of HR will begin to turn.

Good Luck for the Future

We hope you enjoyed this free EY assessment centre guide and found it useful? We wish you the best of luck in your future career and at your Ernst & Young assessment centre.

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Get your copy of our Ultimate Assessment Day & Interview Guide here. It's packed with tips, tricks and insider-secrets to help you succeed.

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1. How Do I Prepare for the EY Assessment Centre?

The first step is to familiarize yourself with the Ernst & Young assessment centre process. This includes understanding the types of questions that will be asked and preparing for the types of tasks you will be asked to complete.

Next, practice answering common interview questions. Many of the questions asked at the EY assessment tests are similar to those asked in traditional interviews . It’s important to be prepared to discuss your experience, skills, and motivations.

2. How Do I Pass the EY Assessment Test?

The best way to prepare for the EY assessment test is to practice, practice, practice. There are many online resources that can help you do this. Additionally, make sure you are familiar with the types of questions that will be asked. The test is designed to measure your ability to think critically and solve problems, so be sure to focus on these skills in your preparation.

3. How Long Do You Have to Complete EY Online Assessment?

EY online assessment usually takes around 30 minutes to complete. You can choose from a list of correct answers, or you can rank responses depending on how likely it is that you will choose each one.

4. How Long Is the EY Interview?

The length of the EY job interview varies depending on the position you are interviewing for. Generally, interviews last around an hour.

5. How Long Does It Take To Get an Offer From EY?

EY is a big organization, so the time it takes to get an offer varies. Typically, the process takes 2-3 weeks.

Sarah is an accomplished educator, researcher and author in the field of testing and assessment. She has worked with various educational institutions and organisations to develop innovative evaluation methods and enhance student learning. Sarah has published numerous articles and books on assessment and learning. Her passion for promoting equity and fairness in the education system fuels her commitment to sharing insights and best practices with educators and policymakers around the world.

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Learn about the different types of questions asked in the EY assessment with this sample practice test. Good luck!

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EY Online Assessment Tests, Job Simulation & Interviews 2024/25 Practice Guide.

Are you applying to the EY 2024/25 graduate programs? Are you looking to land a professional role at Ernst & Young? This comprehensive guide is for you.

The text below provides a full candidate recruitment, assessment preparation guide and practice for those applying to jobs, internships and graduate programs at EY in the UK, US, and globally.

Our website provides scientifically validated practice assessment tests, interviews and assessment centre exercises that can be used to practice and prepare for the EY recruitment and assessment process.

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1. Introduction

Should you practice assessments to prepare for the EY assessment process ? Research shows 60-80% of candidates are rejected based on their aptitude test results. It is proven that practice increases your chances of getting hired.

A recent study found that candidates who do not practice assessments tend to fail at the first hurdle of psychometric assessments (54%-84%). This study looked at the Top 100 global employers.

In a nutshell:

How to pass the EY recruitment process and get the job?

• Fill in your EY application form.
• Match your application to EY values .
• Use keywords from the job post in your resume.
• Tailor the information you provide with the role’s competency needs.
• Practice for the EY Online Assessments

EY uses a variety of assessments at this stage to assess candidates. Sometimes, collectively called the EY one assessment , these tests may include:

• Written Assessments
• Situational Judgement Tests
• Numerical Reasoning Tests
• Record Mock Video Interviews of Yourself

Prepare for your EY interviews by running mock interviews and answering typical EY interview questions for the role you are applying for. For EY interview practice, use the following:

• a smartphone to record yourself
• Our reliable video interview platform

Our video interview practice platform contains predefined competency and industry questions and emulates your experience in platforms used for employers’ interviews ( HireVue , Pymetrics , Sonru).

Use the STAR+R method for your answers and practice each answer several times.

• Prepare for the EY Experience Day

EY Experience Day will use different exercises to find the right candidates for the role. Ensure that you practice a variety of exercises including:

• Group Exercises
• Case Study Exercises
• Final Interviews

Continue reading to get answers to these critical questions:

• What does the EY recruitment process entail?
• What is the EY situational judgement test?
• How to prepare for the EY graduate application process?
• How to pass the EY online assessment questions?
• What is EY Experience Day?

Simply click on the table below to begin your EY assessment practice!

Situational Judgement

• Numerical Reasoning

Video Interviews

• Assessment Centre

Go Premium with GF and get the relevant EY practice assessments in the table above to ace your EY assessments first time.

Before we go on and break down the EY selection process , let’s find out more about the company you are applying to first.

Who is Ernst & Young?

Ernst & Young, commonly called EY, is a multinational firm headquartered in London that offers professional services such as accounting, consulting, tax, etc through various career areas and departments. 

What roles can I apply to in Ernst & Young careers?

Employing 350,000+ people globally in more than 150 countries , EY operates in various business areas of the professional sector.  Some areas you can apply to in EY are:

EY Application Tip : To get ahead in your application, you’ll also need to know the EY core values as you will be measured against them throughout the EY job application process.

What are EY Core Values?

The EY core values are characterised by the following:

• People who demonstrate integrity, respect, teaming and inclusiveness
• People with energy, enthusiasm and the courage to lead
• People who build relationships based on doing the right thing

Now that we know more about EY, let’s jump right into the EY assessment process, starting with the EY online application .

2. EY Application Form

How to get a job at ernst and young.

The EY job application process starts with you completing an EY application form for your desired role. After finding your desired EY role, you will be required to submit details about yourself and your experience.

You will need to provide the following details on your EY application form :

• Personal information 
• Work experience
• Some job-specific information, etc.

EY Application Form

Source: EY Careers

EY Application tip : Use the keywords from the job description in your resume so your application stands out and increases your chances of getting shortlisted.

Once you’ve completed the EY application form, your recruiters will review it. If you get shortlisted, you will be invited to complete some EY online assessments . 

3. EY Online Assessments

What are the ey assessment tests.

The EY online assessments are aptitude tests used by EY to assess your potential for the role you have applied to. Recently, Cappfinity provided the EY psychometric tests. Before, EY has also used AON/Cut-E , HireVue , and Pymetrics in their hiring tests.

What to expect in the EY online assessment stage?

Depending on the role, your EY assessment test stage may include the following tests:

• Written Test
• Job Simulation Test
• Numerical Reasoning Test

Good to know : In some cases, the EY job simulation test may be accompanied or replaced with a situational strengths test and the numerical test may also include verbal reasoning test questions.

Understand the EY selection process in a nutshell with our video below:

Let’s find out what each of these EY online assessment tests are, what they entail and what they assess.

EY Written Test

What is the ey written assessment.

The EY written assessment is a test based on specialised knowledge, general knowledge, and language. Some EY roles may be online with multiple-choice questions; for others, it would be a paper-based test that includes an essay.

How long is the EY written test?

The EY written test may last anywhere between 30 to 90 minutes depending on the role and the level of the position you have applied for.

Good to know : The EY English test is used to hire experienced professionals and internship roles. The exact structure and content will depend on the role you applied for.

Top 7 Tips to Pass the EY Written Assessment

• Research Ernst & Young , including their services, recent projects, and strategic priorities. Knowing about the company can help you understand the context of some questions.
• Brush up on technical skills relevant to the role you applied for at EY. For finance positions, review accounting principles, financial analysis, and relevant regulations.
• Practice writing essays on some EY-related topics such as financial services, business practices and data analytics. Ensure your essays have a clear structure with an introduction, body, and conclusion.
• Practice completing questions under timed conditions to improve your ability to manage time during the actual EY written test.
• Ensure you conclude your essay in your EY written test well. A good conclusion for your essay may include pros and cons and quality recommendations regarding what you have written about.
• Carefully read and understand the instructions of the EY written assessment. Be clear on what is expected of you as you answer the questions.
• Review your test if time permits. Check through for any grammatical errors or typos, and ensure that your points flow well in the essay part of this EY test.

After completing your EY written assessment, the next EY test you may be required to complete is the EY job simulation test .

EY Job Simulation Test

What is the ey job simulation test.

The EY job simulation test is an assessment used by EY to evaluate your strengths and ability to perform on-the-job responsibilities. It will consist of 14 questions and will take about an hour for you to complete.

What to expect with the EY job simulation test?

The EY job simulation test is typically a type of situational judgement test as it will assess you with real workplace scenarios that you are likely to face in your day-to-day activities if you get the job.

Watch our video below to find out what a situational judgement test is and understand the EY situational judgement test better.

How do you pass the EY job simulation test? Consider the following unique EY online assessment tips we have curated to help you pass.

Top 7 Tips to Pass the EY Job Simulation Test

• Remember the EY core values . This helps guide your answers and the approach you take to arrive at your responses during the test.
• Read the EY job description properly . Pay attention to the requirements listed as this will help you determine the competencies required by EY for the role and what the scenarios may potentially be about.
• Practice situational judgement tests to familiarise yourself with example scenarios similar to the format of these EY online test questions.
• Read all instructions carefully . Ensure to read the instructions of the EY job simulation thoroughly, especially during the test as the questions will have different formats.
• Think like an employee of the company . For each scenario, consider the most effective response that aligns with EY’s way of working which involves demonstrating integrity and building relationships.
• Use your time appropriately . Know what questions to be time efficient with and what questions you can take your time with since the EY job simulation has both timed and untimed questions.
• Be authentic and self-reflective with your answers. Think of how you align with the EY core values and choose your answers based on authenticity and honesty.

Practice for the EY job simulation questions by practising similar situational judgement questions with GF!

After getting through the EY job simulation test, you may move on to take the EY numerical reasoning test which we cover in the next section below!

EY Numerical Reasoning Test

What is the ey numerical reasoning test.

The EY numerical reasoning test evaluates your ability to work with numerical data using questions with graphs, percentages, and statistical data. It consists of 24 questions which you will have to complete in about 20 minutes .

What does the EY numerical assessment measure?

The EY numerical assessment measures your ability to interpret numerical information, draw accurate conclusions, and make properly informed decisions.

Watch our video below to learn more about the EY numerical reasoning test .

Below we have curated helpful EY online assessment tips to help you pass the EY numerical reasoning test .

Top 6 Tips to Pass the EY Numerical Reasoning Test

• Revise the basics . This EY aptitude test will demand a clear understanding of basic mathematical concepts like fractions, percentages, graphs, etc.
• Practice consistently with similar timed tests to help you understand the questions that are likely to come in EY numerical assessments.
• Check the worked solutions for your practice sessions to gain a thorough understanding of how to approach the different types of EY test questions used.
• Strengthen your ability to do mental maths . This will enable you to make some calculations in your head while taking this EY cognitive test with proper accuracy, saving time.
• Pay attention to the details of each EY numerical assessment question to avoid making errors. Understand what each question is asking before attempting to answer.
• Recheck your calculations if time allows. Particularly, for complex questions. This will minimise the probability of errors in this EY aptitude test.

Access our FREE numerical reasoning practice questions when you sign up with GF today to help with your EY numerical test preparation.

Take the opportunity to try an example EY numerical reasoning test question provided by our experts below!

EY Numerical Reasoning Test Example

Did you get the correct answer? Check the bottom of the page to find out.

Being able to interpret numerical data with accuracy and ease is crucial to passing this test. Ensure to read through the questions and understand them thoroughly to avoid mistakes.

Looking for more EY online assessment practice?

Once you’ve aced your online assessments and you qualify for the next stage, you may be invited to the next and final stage of the recruitment process which is the EY Experience Day.  

4. EY Experience Day

What is the ey experience day.

The EY Experience Day is an assessment centre and is the last stage of the job application process. It is designed to see if you have the strengths needed for the role but it is also a chance to see if EY is right for you.

What to expect during the EY Experience Day?

The EY Experience Day may take place virtually or in person at an EY branch office and it will include a variety of exercises, such as:

• Group Exercise
• Case Study Exercise

Good to know : The EY virtual assessment centre isn’t used for all roles. For some roles, the last stage is the EY online tests while other roles may simply require completing an interview as the final stage.

Let’s find out what each of these assessment centre exercises are all about, starting with the EY group exercise .

EY Group Exercise

What is the ey group exercise.

The EY group exercise will see you get split into small groups of 4-6 with other shortlisted candidates with around 45 minutes in hand to discuss a given topic or complete a task.

What does the EY group exercise measure?

The EY group exercise will typically measure how you work as part of a team. One of EY’s core values centres around working as a team and you will be assessed according to this.

6 Top Tips to Pass Your EY Group Exercise

• Understand the EY core values . Embodying them will show that you not only fit the role but also EY’s company culture.
• Understand the task . Make sure you clearly understand the task at hand. If anything is unclear, don’t hesitate to ask questions as EY appreciates courage.
• Communicate effectively and listen actively . Communicate your ideas clearly and be an active listener. Acknowledge others’ contributions and build on them. These are important teamwork skills that EY recruiters will note.
• Show leadership qualities . Demonstrate your ability to lead as EY requires but remember that leadership also involves encouraging and facilitating others to contribute their ideas.
• Contribute constructively . Contribute your ideas, but don’t dominate the discussion. Being respectful and inclusive is part of EY’s core values .
• Respect diverse viewpoints and approaches . Differing perspectives can lead to innovative solutions and further reflect EY’s ideals of inclusion.

Watch our video below to learn more about what to expect in your EY group exercise !

EY Case Study Exercise  

What is the ey case study exercise.

The EY case study exercise will involve analysing a fictional company that needs to make some difficult business decisions and you will be asked questions about your findings. This task will typically take about 30 minutes to complete.

What does the EY case study measure?

The EY case study exercise will measure your analytical skills, critical thinking and problem-solving capabilities.

6 Top Tips to Pass the EY Case Study

• Understand the scenario : Take your time to thoroughly understand the case study scenario, including the background, challenges, and objectives.
• Structure your approach : Use a structured approach to analyse the case. Consider frameworks or models relevant to the problem-solving process.
• Prioritise key issues : Identify and prioritise the most critical issues or factors in the case. Focus on the ones that will have the most significant impact on EY.
• Use visual aids : If allowed, use visual aids (e.g., charts, graphs, slides) in your EY final interview presentation to enhance clarity and engagement.
• Engage with the assessors : During the Q&A segment, engage with the assessors by maintaining eye contact, speaking clearly, and answering questions appropriately.
• Anticipate questions : Prepare for potential questions or further challenges from the EY assessors and be ready to defend your analysis.

Looking to practice for your EY assessment day ? Use GF’s practice assessment centre exercises today!

EY Final Interview

What is the ey final interview.

The EY final interview is the last hurdle of the experience day. This EY interview will look to further get to know you better by assessing your strengths, motivations, and experiences. This may be conducted by a senior team member.

Check out our carefully curated tips below to help you pass your final EY video interview .

7 Top Tips to Pass Your EY Final Interview

• Practice beforehand . Always practice your answers to some typical EY interview questions. This will help ensure your preparedness.
• Tailor your answers to EY’s core values and showcase how your motivations align with the company and its culture.
• Leverage your experience when giving your answers to the EY interview questions. Use the STAR+R model to properly incorporate your experience into your answers .
• Keep your answers simple . The EY interviewers just want to get to know you better, regarding your strengths and experience and to assess how well you would fit in EY.
• Demonstrate good body language as your tone, responsiveness, and attitude are being taken into consideration. Sit up straight, use proper gestures, and speak audibly.
• Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewers about the role and EY. This final interview is also your chance to ask any questions you may have.

Watch our short video below to discover questions you can ask in your EY final interview .

What are some common EY interview questions you can be asked at this stage? Let’s find out below.

EY Interview Questions and Answers

Some common EY interview questions you may be asked in your EY final interview are:

• Why would you like to work at EY?
• Tell me something about yourself.
• What do you hope to get out of a career at EY?
• Tell me a time when you worked in a team to achieve a common goal.
• Is there any situation wherein you had any conflict within the team or client and what happened?

Read on for an example answer to some of these EY interview questions below and a tip on how to answer.

Question 1: Why would you like to work at EY?

How to Answer : When answering this question, focus on how your personal values, career aspirations, and professional skills align with EY’s mission, culture, and opportunities. Research EY’s values and link them to your own experiences and goals.

Good Answer : 

I would like to work at EY because it aligns perfectly with my career aspirations and personal values. EY’s commitment to integrity and respect resonates deeply with me, as I believe ethical practices and a collaborative work environment are crucial for success. 

I am particularly impressed by EY’s emphasis on continuous learning and professional development. Additionally, EY’s global presence and diverse range of clients excite me. The opportunity to work on international projects and learn from various industries aligns with my goal of gaining a broad and global perspective in my career.

Watch our short video below for tips on how to answer the ‘Tell me something about yourself’ EY interview question .

Question 2: Tell me a time when you worked in a team to achieve a common goal.

How to Answer: Use the STAR+R method (Situation, Task, Action, Result, Reflection) to structure your answer. This approach helps you to provide a clear and concise response by focusing on the key elements of your experience. 

Good Answer :

During my final year in university, our business management course required us to complete a group project that involved developing a comprehensive business plan for a startup.

As a team of five, we were tasked with researching the market, creating financial projections, and presenting a viable business plan within a three-month timeframe.

I took the initiative to organise our team meetings and set milestones to ensure we stayed on track. I also contributed by conducting market research and analysing competitors, which were critical components of our business plan.

Our collaborative efforts paid off as we presented a well-rounded business plan. Our project was awarded the highest grade in the class, and our professor praised us for our teamwork and detailed analysis.

Reflection:

This experience reinforced the importance of clear communication, organisation, and leveraging each team member’s strengths to achieve a common goal.

And that is all you need to know about the EY recruitment process! Big thumbs up for sticking around till the end. If you pass the job application process, you will be contacted and given an offer letter.

However, before you go!

Check out some more bonus information about EY’s current student and graduate career opportunities!

5. EY Student and Graduate Schemes

What are the ey student and graduate schemes.

The EY student and graduate programs are career opportunities curated by EY for students and recent graduates to help them gain quality experience and kickstart their careers with the multinational company. These various opportunities are:

• Graduate Programs
• Undergraduate Programs
• School Leaver Programs

Good to know : The EY graduate programs are available around the globe in most countries EY operates.

Let’s find out what each of these EY opportunities offers.

EY Graduate Programs

What are the ey graduate programs.

The EY graduate programs aim to help you unleash your potential as a future leader. You will receive structured training and access to support and resources that will help develop you further. The EY graduate programs are:

• Assurance : In this EY graduate scheme, you will problem-solve your day job and develop solutions to put clients at ease. The roles in this program cut across financial Auditing and Advisory services.
• Consulting : This EY graduate program will allow you to realise business transformation through the power of people, technology and innovation. Roles here cut across business consulting, cyber security, actuarial, etc.
• Strategy and Transactions : This EY graduate scheme will see you advise clients on how to innovate and stay competitive through buying, selling or merging parts of their business. Roles in this program cuts across corporate finance and data analytics.
• Tax : In this program, you will get the chance to combine EY’s tax experience with innovative technology to help transform clients’ tax for the future. It includes roles such as tax technology and transformation, people advisory services, etc.

EY Graduate Programs Eligibility Criteria 

• Education : Graduate or on track to earn an honours degree in any subject. A minimum of grade 4/C GCSE (or equivalent) in English Language and Maths, and, for some roles, three A-levels/Five Highers.
• Experience : No specific professional experience is required as applications are welcomed from recent graduates and final-year students with or without work experience.
• Duration: EY graduate programs typically last between 2 to 5 years.
• EY Graduate Application Process: The EY graduate application process follows the EY selection process we have covered in the text above, including the EY graduate assessments.

EY Undergraduate Programs

What are the ey undergraduate programs.

The EY undergraduate programs are flexible opportunities that will help prepare you for the world of work and invest in your future from day one. The EY undergraduate programs are:

• Discover EY : This two-day program will immerse you in exciting virtual and in-person events across the UK. You will meet business leaders and get the chance to explore career opportunities.
• EY Summer Internships : This EY undergraduate program offers a paid work experience to students where they will work on client projects, gain new skills and explore their interests. It lasts for four weeks.
• EY Industrial Placement : This EY undergraduate program offers a one-year paid experience to help you apply your knowledge and strengths to the working world and develop future skills. It is your opportunity to show us your passion, intuition and adaptability. 

EY Undergraduate Programs Eligibility Criteria 

• Education : An undergraduate working towards an honours degree in any subject, a minimum of grade 4/C GCSE (or equivalent) in English Language and Maths and three A-levels/Five Highers (or equivalent).
• Experience : No specific professional experience is required as applications are welcomed from recent students with or without work experience.
• EY Undergraduate Application Process: The EY undergraduate application process follows the EY hiring process we have covered in the text above.

EY School Leaver Programs

What are the ey school leaver programs.

The EY school leaver programs are for those thinking about their options after school. These programs include:

• EY Work Experience : This EY program will help you gain on-the-job experience that will help you decide if you’d prefer your career to start with a job position or at university.
• EY Apprenticeships : The EY apprenticeships allow you to earn as you work towards earning a professional qualification, and use your insights and skills to solve complex business challenges.

EY School Leaver Programs Eligibility Criteria 

• Education : A minimum of grade 4/C GCSE (or equivalent) in English Language and Maths, and for some roles, must have completed three A-levels.
• Experience : No specific professional experience is required.
• Duration: EY school leaver programs typically last between a few days to a few years with some programs lasting as long as 4 to 5 years.
• EY Application Process: The EY application process for the school leavers program follows the EY recruitment process we have covered in the text above.

With that, we have covered all you’ll need to know about the EY selection process, online assessments, and graduate programs you could potentially apply to.

Before you start your EY application, explore our FAQ section below for more answers about the EY hiring process.

6. EY Assessment Tests FAQs

1 what is the ey one assessment.

The EY One assessment is what the EY online assessments are called in the application process for student internships. It is also used to refer to the EY tests in the EY graduate scheme application process.

2 What does the EY One assessment consist of?

The EY One assessment questions will include strengths-based, written, video-based, and numerical reasoning questions. You may also have questions focussed on your personality and job fit. 

3 How long shall I wait after the EY final interview round?

EY generally will get back to you no longer than 2-3 weeks about your result, however may be faster depending on the role. Keep checking your mail regularly for updates. If you are unselected, you will receive a rejection email from EY.

4 What is the passing rate of EY online assessments? 

The EY online test pass rate is about 40% of total applicants who attempt the EY assessment questions each year. The best way to secure your place in the EY assessments stage is to practice with similar online assessment tests . 

5 How long does it take to hear back from EY after the final interview?

You should get a response from EY within 3-5 working days . If you don’t hear back within a week, you can reach out to your EY recruiter.

6 What is the dress code for the EY interview?

The dress code for an EY interview is generally business professional. This means you should aim to present yourself in a polished and professional manner.

Do you want to pass your EY online assessments the first time? Sign up to take numerical, logical, verbal reasoning and situational judgement practice tests today with GF , the only aptitude practice test experts providing practice test solutions to over 150 UK universities and their students, and also across Asia and continental Europe.   Practice with peace of mind without commitment to a full 100% money-back guarantee if you do not pass your job tests.   Correct answer to Numerical Reasoning Test question: C

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EY Assessment Centre Success Guide

In this EY assessment centre guide, you will find practice tests, coaching videos and tips which will help you pass the assessment and recruitment process of EY. 

Starting-point resources

• Practice the Ernst & Young aptitude tests here – numerical, verbal and diagrammatic reason. 

Get a copy of our Ultimate Assessment Day & Interview Guide here. It comes with tips, tricks and insider secrets and information which will help you succeed and pass.

What will I learn in this EY assessment centre guide?

In this guide, you will be able to have an overview of the EY Assessment Centre process. You will be able to have an idea on what to expect from one of the toughest and hardest corporate recruitment events. In this guide, you will also learn how to succeed and pass this difficult event. 

Understanding the Bigger Picture

It is important to understand everything that we will discuss here in this guide. Hence, let us look at the bigger picture. 

What are EY looking for in their employees?

Ernst and Young is one of the organizations who puts huge importance in recruiting employees who closely mirrors their core values . 

With this, we recommend that you immerse yourself in their culture and language before your EY assessment centre. Do some research and:

• Understand the company
• Understand your team
• Understand your role. 

Also, we recommend that you spend time reviewing their latest annual report . Try to learn what their current challenges, what are their aims, which areas they are growing and which areas they are shrinking. 

Ernst & Young’s Work and Culture

This video will provide you an introduction to EY’s culture. 

The All-Conquering Importance of Preparation 

We are often asked if there are shortcuts to success at interview and assessment centre and our answer is unfortunately, there are none. However, there is one secret to succeed and that is lots of preparation. Every minute you spend in preparing the higher the chances you have in acing your test. 

How can you prepare for your EY assessment centre?

• Practice a lot and when we say a lot we mean you should allot hours, days and even weeks of time for practicing. Take note however that different employers use different suppliers which means, the tests would differ in content, style and format. With this, we suggest for you to learn which supplier your prospect employer is using. Ernst & Young uses Saville as their test supplier. Hence, you could practice Ernst & You ng Saville Tests here .
• Read the article, “How to Prepare for Your Interview or Assessment Centre.” It comes with important tips and advices which will help you succeed in your assessment centre. 
• Learn and study the Ernst and Young annual report .

Phone the hiring manager for your role 

You could do this by checking LinkedIn or call the EY switchboard. Ask for the hiring manager. Then, ask the hiring manager you would want to learn more about the role, short and long term goals of the company. 

Most candidates will not do this as most are scared. By doing this you will get noticed and will be able to establish yourself with the hiring manager. 

The hiring manager will see you as someone with initiative, drive and intelligence. 

The Ernst & Young Assessment Centre Overview

Only 10% of the candidates taking the EY assessment centre passes the initial interview stage. Hence, if you succeed at the initial stage, be proud of yourself. 

What should you expect on the day?

The EY assessment centre includes the following sections:

• Written communication exercise
• Group exercise
• Employee lunch
• Role play- case study exercise
• Confirmatory Aptitude Tests

Let us now look at them more closely and more detailed. 

Written Communication Exercise 

In this part of the test, you will be given about 40 minutes to compile two reports. You will need to carefully analyze the information provided in the reports. The first report assesses your communication, writing skills, analytical judgment and business acumen. 

Take note, in this test, you will have to have the understanding of commerciality. It is actually what EY does. Check this video from EY to learn more and define clearly commerciality. 

The second report, however, assesses your work ethic. In this part of the assessment centre, Ernst & Young gets a glimpse of your character, values and competencies. 

2 Quicktips

• This section will be administered through computer. Hence, take advantage of the grammar and spell checks. 
• Remember this test has a time limit. Manage your time carefully. Do not leave too little time for you to work on the second report. 

Download our 12-step assessment day cheatsheet! 

Group Exercise

This section assesses and measures the following:

• Ability to work as part of the team
• Ability to demonstrate leadership

Candidates will be split into 4 groups and each group will be provided with information pack. You will be given 15 minutes to study the information and another 30 minutes to discuss it as a group. 

Here is another short video which focuses on EY’s graduate group exercise. 

Your goal in this section is to be able to contribute constructively to the group and exercise. To get the best outcome, volunteer as the leader of the group. This could be difficult to do but you must try. 

Being a leader is a balancing act you must be both confident and assertive not aggressive and overbearing. Do not be a bully. 

The Employee Lunch

This is the time when you think you could relax. Wrong as even during your lunch time, you will still be closely assessed. 

Tip for EY Assessment Centre Employee Lunch

• Ask questions- you will be having your lunch with EY’s trainees and senior staff. The company is looking for people who are hungry for success and eager to contribute. Asking questions could show this. 
• Be polite – be polite and smile. Listen and look interested. Some candidates are too tenses and are in the zone of being self-centered. Remember be courteous. 
• Be confident – easier said than done but you must project this persona. Speak of things you are passionate about in the company and your wish to get the role. 
• Appear relaxed – this is another key for the assessors to see your potential to be able to be comfortable around the senior management. Speak slowly and do not respond to questions with a hair trigger response. Smile and act as if you have all the time in the world. 
• Be positive at all times- no one wants a moaner. It is not an acceptable trait in EY. Do not whine nor express any displeasure about anything even about the traffic. 
• Make sure you eat a lot- candidates often are busy chatting that they do not eat much. Believe us, you would need to refuel and replenish your energy levels. 

Role Play Case Study Exercise

In this test, you will be given a detailed information that you would need to analyze and check for mistakes. After 20 minutes your role playing will start. You will talk to a staff member who prepared the information for you. This will take place on the phone. You will have to provide the staff your analysis of the report and point out the mistakes you have found. Once the phone call is done, you will now have to discuss it with your manager. Be prepared to be scrutinized and cross-examined. 

I hate role-plays

Most people dread this test. However, if you approach it right and demonstrate your skills, you should not have any problems. 

The Confirmatory Aptitude Tests

Though you have taken and passed this test online already, you will have to take another test to confirm your original results. This is a very crucial part of your assessment centre. If you poorly perform in it, you will not be hired. 

Hence, we highly recommend that you do a lot of aptitude practice tests before your EY assessment centre. In this part of the assessment centre, you have to remember that you are being measured and timed against other candidates. If you wish to increase your chances of success, practice Saville EY aptitude tests here .

For more tips and practice tests, check our guides below:

• How to pass numerical reasoning tests
• How to pass verbal reasoning tests
• How to pass diagrammatic reasoning tests

The EY Assessment Centre Interview

Now you are close to completing the EY assessment centre and this is your big moment to shine- the interview. In this part, you will need to prepare for two interviews as you do not know which from the two will be conducted. 

EY CV-based interview

This type of interview is usually very conversational and natural. You will have to walk through your CV and explain each point. You will be asked some questions too. 

EY Business- based interview

This is much harder type of interview. You will be asked open-ended questions about the current situation of the business world. You will be assessed of your overall commercial awareness. You will also be asked on where you think EY stand in regards to a specific issue. Prepare a lot for this part of the assessment centre. You could get EY’s annual report here . 

The video below is very useful and will explain to you what commercial awareness is and how you could develop it. 

No matter what type of interview you get, it will last for an hour. For more tips and techniques, click our interview section here. 

Update your CV before your Interview

One of the biggest mistakes when going to your interview is not improving your CV. Here’s why:

• Update your CV before the interview event and take with you a fresh, newly and improved version. One that is tailored to the job or role you would want. 
• In interviews, one of the basis of your interview will come from the information on your CV. No matter the interview is competency based or no. You will have to answer the questions based on your CV. 
• Your CV is one of the basis in the hiring decision process. It is your CV that they look at when they decide whether to hire you or not. 

The CV is the one that reminds the hiring manager of what your skills and experiences are and what happened during your hiring process. Aside from that, your CV is also your first and last impression. With this, we remind you to make your CV as strong as you could. 

And that’s it!

After your interview, your assessment event is now done and over. The assessors will now tally up all the scores and discuss their observations. A decision will be made and the hiring process will begin.

Good Luck and we hope that this guide has helped you a lot in your EY assessment centre.

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EY Assessments

• 233 questions

EY is a leading global professional services company and one of the Big Four, which also includes Deloitte , KPMG and PwC . EY has a London HQ and employs 230,000 people globally. Candidates applying for jobs with EY face a rigorous selection process and competition is fierce.

Careers at EY

A leader in professional services, EY helps other organisations make better decisions about business, finance and technology.

As well as roles for experienced professionals, it offers a number of opportunities for those just starting out in their career. These include apprenticeships, industrial placements, summer internships and graduate programmes.

Jobs and placements are available in a range of business areas, such as consulting, tax, technology and assurance.

Students or recent graduates who are keen to apply to EY but are unsure which business area is right for them can complete the EY Pathfinder survey. This will give them a good indication of which role would be the best match for their strengths and interests.

EY Application Process

Online application, psychometric tests, job simulation, experience day (assessment centre), final interviews.

The application process for EY depends to some extent on the role and level you are applying for, although most follow a fairly similar path. Here, we focus on the application process for graduates, which has five stages:

• 1 Application form
• 2 Online assessments
• 3 Job simulation
• 4 EY Experience Day (assessment centre)
• 5 Final interviews

The applications process can take around two months from submitting an online application to receiving an offer.

EY online application form

The first step is to create a profile and fill out an online application form. This will include stating the job or programme you are applying for, as well as your preferred location.

You will also need to give personal details, along with information about your academic achievements and relevant work experience.

After submitting your completed form, you will find out immediately if you have made it through to the next stage. If you have, you will be sent login details to complete the online assessments.

EY Aptitude Tests

Ey situational strengths test.

This aptitude test presents a series of challenging scenarios that one might encounter in the workplace, followed by a number of possible responses to the scenario.

You will watch 16 videos setting out specific situations and must indicate which approach you would choose in response to each scenario. You may be asked to choose one answer from a selection, or to rank possible responses from one to five, based on how likely it is you would choose each approach.

The test should take around 30 minutes, and it is advisable to complete it as soon as you can after receiving the link. Read our situational strengths guide for more information and practice tests.

EY numerical reasoning test

This comprises 24 questions to be answered in 20 minutes. The questions relate to graphs , percentages and tables, and you will be asked to analyse data and choose from a set of multiple-choice answers.

You do not need advanced maths knowledge – a good grasp of basic GCSE-level maths should be enough to answer these questions. EY is more interested in testing your ability to apply reasoning to numerical information, and how well you perform under pressure.

You will have less than a minute for each question, so it’s important to practise beforehand and get used to working under timed conditions. Our numerical reasoning tests guide has lots of practice tests for you to try.

EY verbal reasoning test

Verbal ability tests are designed to assess your level of written and verbal comprehension, as well as your communication skills and ability to analyse text quickly and accurately.

In the EY verbal reasoning test, you will be presented with passages of text followed by questions based on what you have read. Your choice of response to these questions will either be ‘True’, ‘False’ or ‘Cannot say’.

As with all the EY online assessments, you should aim to take this test as soon as possible after receiving the link. Check out our guide to verbal reasoning tests .

EY logical reasoning test

You may also be asked to take a logical reasoning test as part of your application process with EY. This is a non-verbal test that assesses your problem-solving skills through a series of questions relating to sequences of shapes and patterns.

In each question there will be a missing step and you will be provided with a number of possible answers to complete the sequence. This type of psychometric test is sometimes also known as a diagrammatic reasoning test .

Our article on logical reasoning tests provides more detailed information, along with practice questions.

Prepare yourself for leading employers

EY job simulation

If you complete the online assessment stage successfully you will be invited to move on to the job simulation. This stage aims to explore your individual strengths, and how good a fit you are for the EY role or programme you have applied for.

The job simulation consists of 14 questions based on real workplace scenarios you may come across while working at EY. For some questions you will be asked to rank possible responses in order; others will require written answers and two of the questions will involve recording your answer via video. Some questions will have a time limit, while others will not.

All together, this section should take you about an hour to complete and you must do it all in one sitting.

As you will be recording some of your answers, you should make sure you are dressed appropriately and that you are in a room with good lighting and free from background distractions.

You will be given a practice round to get used to recording yourself, but when it comes to the actual questions you will not be able to re-record your answers.

After completing this stage, EY will give you detailed feedback on the strengths you displayed and how you could develop these further.

EY Experience Day (assessment centre)

The EY Experience Day – which may also be referred to as the assessment centre – is the penultimate stage of the application process. This is a day of exercises, activities and interviews designed to assess your strengths and qualities, and also for you to get a taste of life at EY.

During the day you will take part in a group exercise and a case study , both of which we outline below. You may also have your partner interview either at the beginning or the end of the day.

EY group exercise

During the experience day, candidates will be split into groups of four and given a package of information about a work-related task or scenario. You will have 15 minutes to read through the information on your own, then 30 minutes to discuss what you have read and how you should approach the situation with the rest of the group.

You will be assessed on how you work as part of a team, so you should listen to the other candidates and respond to their comments and suggestions respectfully. But also make your own voice heard, and take the opportunity to display leadership skills wherever you can.

EY case study

In this task you will be provided with information about a fictional company that needs to make some difficult business decisions, along with extra documents and materials relevant to the task. You will then have 30 minutes to go through all the information, analyse the situation and come up with a recommended plan of action.

At the end of the task you must present your findings and recommendations to the EY assessors, who will ask you questions about how you have approached the case study. For this task you will need to be able to work quickly to find the key issues in the documents.

EY partner interviews

These may be scheduled for the start or end of your experience day, or on another date. The interviews usually last about 25 minutes and the questions are strength-based.

As such, you may be asked about significant achievements, how you approach tasks, what you like doing in your spare time and what motivates you.

Practice Aptitude Tests is not associated with EY. We provide preparation services for EY psychometric tests. Our tests are not designed to be identical to any style, employer or industry. Visit https://www.ey.com/en_uk/careers to find out more.

Sample EY Tests question Test your knowledge!

An expert from a financial advisory group states that 'leveraging advanced analytics can provide a significant competitive edge when it comes to investment management.' What can be inferred from this statement?

• Investment management does not benefit from analytics.
• Advanced analytics can lead to a competitive advantage in investment management.
• Most firms are already using advanced analytics effectively.
• Advanced analytics are too complex to impact investment management.

A professional services firm has observed a steady 10% growth in revenue every quarter for the past three years. If in the first quarter of this year the revenue was $100 million, what would you expect the revenue to be in the same quarter next year?

• $110 million
• $121 million
• $130 million
• $132 million
• $144 million

In a report by a leading consultancy firm, it is stated that 'Analysis reveals several market trends indicating a potential downturn in the technology sector, contrary to popular belief.' Based on this statement, what is the author suggesting about the technology sector?

• The technology sector is thriving and will continue to grow.
• The technology sector is stable with no expected changes.
• There is likely to be a decline in the technology sector soon.
• The downturn in the technology sector is a result of market manipulation.

An associate at a professional services firm works on tasks A, B, and C in a repeating pattern across the weekdays. Task A is done on Monday and Thursday, B on Tuesday and Friday, and C on Wednesday. If today is Wednesday, what will be the associate's task in two days' time?

• The associate does not work on weekends.

After a strategic review, a consulting firm summarized that 'it's imperative to integrate forward-thinking paradigms in order to stay relevant in the rapidly evolving global market.' What is the firm suggesting its client do?

• Consider cost-cutting measures to improve profit margins.
• Adopt new innovative strategies.
• Revert to traditional business models.
• Focus primarily on local markets.

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EY Tests Tips

1 understand the test formats.

Get familiar with the types of tests you’ll encounter. EY uses a variety of assessments to evaluate skills pertinent to the service line you apply to.

2 Practice Makes Perfect

Regular practice can greatly improve your performance. You can take free practice tests on Practice Aptitude Tests to gauge your readiness.

3 Time Management

These tests are timed, so developing the ability to manage your time effectively is crucial. Practice under timed conditions to get a feel for the pace you need to work at.

4 Read Instructions Carefully

Ensure that you understand what each question is asking. Misinterpreting questions can lead to easily avoidable mistakes.

5 Stay Calm and Focused

Test anxiety can affect your performance. Practice relaxation techniques, so you’re calm and composed on the day of the test.

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EY Tests FAQs

What are the ernst & young tests.

Ernst & Young uses a suite of tests designed to assess a range of skills including numerical reasoning, verbal reasoning, and situation judgement. These are tailored to the various service lines and roles within the company, from Technology to Assurance.

Are the Ernst & Young tests hard?

Like most pre-employment assessments, the Ernst & Young tests can be challenging. They are meant to gauge your aptitude and fit for the job at hand. The difficulty lies in the time pressure and the level of preparation of the candidate.

How do I prepare for Ernst & Young tests?

Preparing for Ernst & Young tests is all about practice. Familiarize yourself with the types of questions you’ll see and work on areas where you might be weaker. Practice Aptitude Tests offers a wealth of practice tests that simulate the real experience.

How long does the recruitment process take at Ernst & Young?

The recruitment process at Ernst & Young varies depending on the role and department. It typically includes several stages, from online assessments to interviews, and can take several weeks from the initial application to the final decision.

What are Ernst & Young's core values?

Ernst & Young is committed to building a better working world. Their core values include respect for the individual, integrity, teamwork, and energy. They seek individuals who align with these principles and demonstrate them in their work.

Reviews of our Ernst & Young tests

What our customers say about our Ernst & Young tests

pragati sharma

November 22, 2023

time management

I liked that the test was a perfect balance of easy and moderate questions ranging from calculative to analytical. The thing I disliked was it was to lengthy and was very hard to finish on time.

Haritima Singh

October 14, 2023

The Aptitude Test

I was unprepared so it did come off as difficult to me, but if I were prepared, It would be pretty easy, considering the questions are basically maths

Murtaza Hasan

Saudi Arabia

June 08, 2023

This is my first test before taking the actual EY test.

Matas Mackevicius

United Kingdom

January 12, 2023

Most Important Aspect of the Test?

The most important aspect of the test, especially for success is to highlight key information and go through the logic step by step.

Abdu-Allah Awad

November 17, 2022

Reading graphs and different data

Nice set of questions but seemed too easy - hopefully this is because the real EY assessments are the same :)

İsa Pasazade

November 02, 2022

Calculation skills

Test reqired quick calculating, if you do not use the calculator, you can not do these exercises on time

Ahmed Elsharkawi

September 29, 2022

Practice for EY

I had a lot of time, which made it easy. Questions were straightforward compared to what I'm used to

Sarah Cross

September 26, 2022

Read the questions!

Very useful in practising for the NRT, reminded me the importance of reading the questions carefully!

Cuong Nguyen

August 16, 2022

The presentation is appealing

The presentation of the test looks nice, there aren't any problems that occurred during the test. Though, more variety of questions would be appreciated.

Fayssal El Hadouchi

May 15, 2022

Not enough time for the questions asked

The questions were not always very relevant and the time allotted was not sufficient. It was nevertheless a very good test of preparation

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EY Experience Day / Assessment Centre: Preparation Guide 2023

Congratulations on being invited to the EY Experience Day! Also known as the assessment centre, this day-long event is a notoriously challenging part of the EY recruitment process.

But no need to worry! You’re about to find out how to prepare for the EY assessment centre and impress recruiters on the day so you get the offer you want.

In this free EY assessment centre guide we will show you:

• 5 activities you’re likely to take part in (plus examples!)
• 6 key strengths the EY recruiters are looking for
• 3 expert tips to help you stand out from the other candidates and succeed at your EY Experience Day

Get our top recommended EY practice tests and assessment centre exercises here .

EY and the recruitment process

EY (Ernst & Young) is one of the largest “Big Four” accounting and professional services firms in the world, together with Deloitte , PwC and KPMG.

The company employs more than 17,000 people in the UK alone, including over 900 graduates every year through its various student and graduate programs.

There are many career opportunities for graduates at EY across six different business areas: Actuarial, Assurance, Consulting, Tax, Technology and Transactions.

All graduate programs follow largely the same hiring process, and it is a lengthy and rigorous one in order to find the most talented candidates.

There are six stages in the EY recruitment process:

• Registration

First, you must register and create an account with EY. This will allow you to choose which program you want to apply for and your preferred location to work.

• Learning About You (Application form)

Then you’ll fill out an application form specifically for your chosen graduate program. You will need to provide your personal details, education and work experience.

• Learning for the Changing World (Aptitude tests)

Next, you’ll complete a number of online tests and case studies to assess your natural strengths. This stage will take about 60 minutes and covers a variety of skills including numerical reasoning , verbal reasoning and situational judgement .

• Learning on the Job (Job simulation)

If you pass the aptitude tests, you will then be asked 14 questions based on real work scenarios. These require a combination of written and video-recorded answers and will take about 45 minutes to complete.

• Learning in Person (Assessment centre)

If your job simulation is successful, you will be invited to attend an EY Experience Day at an assessment centre near you. We’ll cover much more about this stage of the process in the rest of this article.

• Final Interview

Finally, you’ll interview with a senior representative at EY to discuss your motivations for joining the company. Impress at the interview to secure your dream role at EY!

What to expect at the EY Experience Day / assessment centre

The EY assessment centre is an immersive full-day event where you’ll complete a range of exercises and activities based on the role you applied for.

This is your chance to demonstrate your strengths and skills in person and in a more competitive setting with other candidates.

The EY Experience Day is made up of five main activities:

• Aptitude Tests

You will sit another round of aptitude tests to verify your earlier test results. These are paper-based and typically longer and more difficult than the initial online tests.

Here’s an example numerical reasoning test question from JobTestPrep :

• Group Discussion

You will be split into small groups of 4-6 and given a broad work-related topic or problem to discuss. You must come to an agreed solution and then present it to your assessor during a question-and-answer session.

An example topic could be something like:

“EY wants to help young people prepare for the world of work. How can the company do this?”

You will receive an information pack on a fictitious company that’s facing tough business decisions and has come to EY for advice. You must analyse all the materials, come up with a plan of action, and prepare a written report of your recommendations.

• E-tray Exercise

You will be given a number of emails to sort through. You must prioritise them and decide which ones should be actioned first, and justify your choices to your assessor.

The exercise will look something like this:

“You have just returned to work following a two-week holiday. Your colleague who was covering for you during your absence has left eight emails in your inbox marked for your attention. You need to review each item and then provide the following:  

• A list of actions which includes your analysis of each of the items
• The priority that you would assign to each item
• Anyone else who should be involved (colleague, department, third party, other stakeholder, etc.)”

Depending on your job role, this may be an informal discussion with an EY partner or a more formal interview. In both cases, be prepared to discuss your strengths, experience and motivations – and be able to back them up with concrete examples.

Click Here For EY Practice Tests & Assessment Centre Exercises

EY assessment centre – Pass EY assessment day first time

Have a watch of this video from Green Turn on how to pass the assessment centre on your first attempt…

3 pro tips to pass the EY Experience Day / assessment centre

#1: practice, practice, practice.

This is a no-brainer, but practice is truly the only way to feel confident and ready for the EY assessment centre. Spend time practising each individual exercise to give yourself the very best chance of success.

You’ll find plenty of free guides on our website to help you prepare for your EY Experience Day, each one packed full of useful tips, practice questions and examples. Make sure you check them out:

• Numerical reasoning test guide
• Verbal reasoning test guide
• Situational judgement test guide
• Assessment centre group exercises guide
• Interview preparation guide
• E-tray exercises guide
• Assessment centre tips and preparation guide

You can also find some of the best tailored practice tests here .

#2: Demonstrate the strengths they are looking for

EY recruiters are looking for candidates who can authentically show that they have the following skills and strengths:

• Communication – You need strong written and verbal communication skills, and to be able to communicate appropriately for different audiences.
• Collaboration – You need to be a team player who works well with others and contributes positively without dominating.
• Adaptability – You need to be flexible, highly motivated and able to adapt to new situations quickly and creatively.
• Analytical skills – You need to be a good listener who can analyse information, draw conclusions and apply them to your work.
• Numerical skills – You need to be able to understand and interpret numerical data to get insights, solve problems and make recommendations.
• Market knowledge – You need to have a good understanding of current affairs, global trends and market activity that can affect EY.

Think about how you can demonstrate these strengths on the day with examples from your past experience working or studying.

#3: Don’t give up

Finally, remember to stay positive no matter what happens on the day. The EY assessment centre has about a 50% success rate, so you can typically expect that half the candidates will not make it through to the final interview.

If that’s you, don’t worry! It’s not the end of the road for you or your career with EY. You can apply multiple times to as many different roles as you want, but you will need to wait at least six months between each application.

So be positive, do your best and make the most of the experience. Good luck!

Some more guides to help you succeed…

• Numerical Reasoning: Numerical Reasoning Test Guide: 5 Proven Tips to Succeed
• Verbal Reasoning: Verbal Reasoning Test: What You Need to Know to Pass
• UKCAT: UKCAT Test Guide: 4 Secrets to UKCAT Success 2020
• Watson-Glaser: Watson-Glaser Test: Everything You Need to Know to Pass
• Mechanical Comprehension: Mechanical Comprehension Test Guide 2020

EY Online Assessment 2024: Practice Guide & Examples

The EY Online Assessment is designed to help EY examine their candidates’ mental capability and personality fit with the firm. The test is common across most EY offices and practices, so every applicant to EY should come well-prepared.

To help you with that, this article will present the most updated overview of the test formats, breakdown of the question types and detailed preparation steps.

Table of Contents

EY Online Assessment overview

What is ey online assessment.

EY Online Assessment or EY Strength Assessment is the second screening round in the EY recruitment process , right after the resume. The test can include one of the following components:

• Aptitude test : comprises separate mini tests on numerical, verbal, logical, situational judgement skills , used to assess applicants on their cognitive capability and workplace behavior. It is a computer-based test, though some offices require physical attendance.
• Written test : a test containing multiple choice questions on specialized knowledge, general knowledge, IQ test and an essay . This format measures a candidate’s knowledge, mental and language skills.
• Game-based assessment : an online test format which requires candidates to play a game while their behavior and results are recorded. EY uses these data to examine the behavioral styles, personality traits and abstract thinking.

With the online assessment round, EY can eliminate the obviously unqualified candidates while avoiding letting a star candidate slip away. This helps the firm reduce resources invested in organizing the subsequent rounds.

Although the exact details of the tests vary from place to place and from position to position, the overall logic and format are fairly standardized and predictable , so there is a general approach to preparation. 

EY recruitment process

In general, the Recruitment of EY can be divided into five stages:

• Application : Applicants either submit their resume or fill in the application form on EY websites (information required includes personal details, academic backgrounds, work experience, and motivation and career path questions).
• Online Assessment : applicants are invited to complete the test online or in the EY office. The test format may include: aptitude test, written test, and game-based assessment.
• Job Simulation : workplace scenario questions in multiple formats (fill-in-the-blanks, multiple choice, list arrangement, video-answer questions, etc.).
• Assessment Center (or EY Experience Day) : an event (mostly virtual nowadays) where candidates take part in many activities like group exercise and case study. It helps EY see candidates clearly in their working role. 
• Final Interview : one or several interviews with a senior representative from EY about yourself, career path and motivation to apply for the expected role at EY.

Unlike consulting standardized tests like McKinsey PST or BCG Potential Test, the exact formats and details of the tests vary across locations as each EY office is entitled to their own recruitment format. However, most offices will use a combination of the aforementioned formats.

EY Online Assessment cut-off rate

EY Online Assessment cut-off score is estimated at over 80% . And as little as approximately 40% of the candidates are passed for the next round .

This test can be tough and challenging, especially for those who fail to prepare sufficiently. In the next part, we will look at common questions types and preparation steps towards nailing this test.

EY Aptitude Tests

What is the ey aptitude test.

EY Aptitude Test is a screening test used by EY in their online assessment round, which follows the format of standard aptitude tests . This test is developed by Saville Consulting and Capp to evaluate candidates on cognitive ability, personality and behaviour in work situations.

The test comprises multiple mini tests, including: numerical reasoning, verbal reasoning, inductive reasoning, situational judgement test .

The test is designed to evaluate candidates’ pure mental capability, so  no prior knowledge is required . EY recommend their candidates to take the test via computers, rather than smartphones, to minimize technical problems.

EY numerical reasoning test

The numerical reasoning test gives numerical data in the form of charts, graphs or tables with corresponding multiple choice questions .

Applicants are required to do  simple calculations, data comparisons and data interpretations to arrive at the final answers.

There are usually 12-15 questions with a limited amount of time . A calculator is usually allowed, but remember to double check with your target office.

EY uses this test to assess a candidate’s ability to understand numerical information and make correct decisions from statistical data .

Example from Saville Assessment:

QUESTION 1 What was the total volume of sales (in millions) or Online, Mail Order and Telephone channels combined?

Answer : Option B

The table shows that total volume of sales (in millions) for Online was 2,232, for Mail Order was 1,512 and for Telephone was 972. The total of these three channels is 4,716.

QUESTION 2: If Online sales volume increases by 14% next year, what will be the approximate volume (in million units)?

Answer : Option D

14% of 2,232 is approximately 312. Therefore the approximate volume of Online sales would be 2,544 if it increased by 14%.

QUESTION 3: The Online sales channel had the lowest proportion of transactions by repeat customers during the year.

C. Not possible to say

Answer : Option A

The percentage of transactions by repeat customers were higher at 60% (Retail Outlets), 72% (Mail Order) and 35% (Telephone).

QUESTION 4: How many Mail Order transactions were made during the year?

D. 7,200,000

Answer : Option C

The table shows that the volume of Mail Order sales was 1,512 million units and 2,100 units were purchased per transaction on average. 1,512,000,000 divided by 2,100 is 720,000.

EY verbal reasoning questions

Verbal Reasoning Questions presents candidates with text passages, each followed by questions in different formats , including: vocabulary, grammar, and reading comprehension . This test helps EY measure candidates’ ability to understand and interpret complex written information.

Example from Saville Assessment :

Consumer Trends

Stick to traditional eating times and formal eating habits is no longer the norm for most people. The prevalence of eating on-the-go, both snacks and meals, is increasing significantly. The three meals a day maxim no longer holds true because more consumers are eating outside of the home and at times to suit their lifestyles. Breakfast, in particular, is now more commonly skipped and those who do eat breakfast are taking less time to prepare it. Consumers are developing more complex and paradoxical eating patterns and demanding products that are more convenient and healthier, i.e. guilt-free indulgence.

QUESTION 1: Eating on-the-go is an increasingly common habit

A. True on the basis of the passage

B. False on the basis of the passage

C. Not possible to say if the statement is true or false on the basis of the passage

The passage mentions “The prevalence of eating on-the-go, both snacks and meals, is increasing significantly.”

QUESTION 2: Which of the following would meet the emerging consumer demands described?

A. Breakfast clubs

B. Cooking lessons

C. Healthy snacks

D. Nutritional advice

In the last sentence: “Consumers are developing more complex and paradoxical eating patterns and demanding products that are more convenient and healthier, i.e. guilt-free indulgence.” Guilt-free indulgence is typically indulgent but made healthy by fortifying them with supplements for added nutrition. So, “healthy snacks” is a kind of guilt-free food.

QUESTION 3: Which of the following provide the best summary of the main point of the passage?

A. Eating habit have changed

B. Manufacturers need to produce healthier food

C. Meals and snacks need to be quick to prepare

D. People want to be able to eat quickly

Answer : Option A

The main idea is presented in the first sentence: “Stick to traditional eating times and formal eating habits is no longer the norm for most people.”

QUESTION 4: Most people do not have time to eat breakfast in the morning?

C. Not possible to say if the statement is true or false o the basis of the passage

The passage only says “Breakfast, in particular, is now more commonly skipped and those who do eat breakfast are taking less time to prepare it.”, but doesn’t mention that whether people have time to prepare or not.

EY logical reasoning questions

Logical reasoning tests are used to measure candidates’ ability to analyse abstract problems logically through extracting rules and structures. There are three types of logical reasoning questions: inductive, deductive and abductive .

It is reported that the inductive reasoning questions are the most common in EY Online Assessment. 

INDUCTIVE REASONING

Inductive reasoning questions require candidates to  derive the general rule from specific observations .

The most popular question type is the diagrammatic reasoning question , which presents a series of shapes, patterns or numbers and asks candidates to determine the next one by extracting a rule .

The result reflects the candidates’ ability to handle abstract concepts in unfamiliar situations.

Example from Saville Assessment

The series is based on two symbols of the same size. Each circular rotates by 90 degree and the shaded corner for both symbols also rotates by 90 degree from one symbol to the next.

EY situational judgement questions

In Situational Judgement questions, candidates are presented with different workplace scenarios, followed by a number of possible responses .

They have to  choose the most likely response or rank their response according to their preferences .

Through this test, EY looks at how a candidate handles situations to determine his/her behavioural style and personal traits . There are no right or wrong answers, but EY can compare your result with that of a typical star employee to decide if this candidate is a good fit for their working culture.

Example from Cappfinity

You have been working hard on a project report for the last two days, and have almost completed it. You suddenly receive some new information from a colleague which could be of use, but have little time left to make any changes. You need to submit the report by the end of the day.

What do you do?

Please RANK ORDER the options below, with 1 being what you are most likely to do and 5 being what you are least likely to do:

A. You decide to continue working on the report as it is, and will look over the new information if you have time once you are finished. B. You scan through the new information, and check whether there is anything important to include. Although it is close to the deadline, you are willing to adapt the report. C. You feel confident in submitting the report without using the new information. You know you do not have enough time to make any changes to your report so close to the deadline. D. You read through the new information, and change the report to include it. You are happy to make last-minute changes. E. You submit the report as it is. You will wait for your manager’s feedback before you decide whether or not to include the new information.

It is crucial to submit the report on time as other people are waiting to read it. Once you’ve made sure the report is complete, you can further refine it according to your colleague’s comments.

It’s a good thing to consider new ideas, but you could be late for the deadline if you follow this option.

This option may indicate little respect for your co-worker’s suggestions, and you can miss some valuable information.

Like option B, this response can affect your compliance with the due date. Moreover, last-minute changes may not be thorough and include unexpected errors as you have little time to review them.

This is also an effective option as you have followed the due date. However, the addition of new ideas should be decided by you proactively, not depending on your manager.

EY written test – Accounting/Tax/Audit Test

What is the ey written test.

The EY Written Test or EY Entrance Exam is a written test on specialized knowledge, general knowledge and language. This is a paper-based test with around 60 multiple-choice questions and one essay to be completed in 90 minutes .

This test format is reported less frequently and is mostly used for internship or junior position recruitment. But it’s no harm familiarizing yourself with the written test to avoid unpleasant surprises, especially when this requires intensive learning and preparation.

EY entrance exam format

The test is used to assess candidates on knowledge, so there are questions on multiple aspects. Normally divided into 4 sections:

• S pecialized knowledge (around 45 questions): questions on basic knowledge of accounting, tax, audit, and finance with proportion depends on the applying position.
• General knowledge (8 questions): questions on accumulated knowledge about general issues such as trade agreement or international relations.
• IQ Test (6 questions): takes after the formats of logical reasoning questions
• Essay : write an essay to express viewpoints, discussion on a social issue

EY Motion Challenge Game

What is the ey motion challenge game.

The EY Motion Challenge Game is a game-based assessment format peculiar to EY, testing candidates’ problem-solving and abstract-thinking capability .

It requires candidates to  drag objects and bars to clear the path for the red ball to come to its destination with as few moves as possible.

How to pass the EY Motion Challenge Game?

• Intensive practice : to pass the EY Motion Challenge, it is important to finish as soon as possible. So practice and practice to familiarize yourself with the game format, and figure out a suitable thinking style.
• Simulate the test environment : get acquainted to the test environment to prepare mentally
• Use pen and paper : keep track of your strategy for better implementation

EY Online Assessment preparation guide

Step 1: verify test format and familiarize yourself with the test principles.

Before jumping into practice, make sure you practice for the right question types .

Leverage your connection, contact HR, ask seniors, do research online, do whatever it takes to find out the test version you’re going to encounter. Once you’ve gathered enough information about your test version, start preparing right away .

First thing first, get familiar with the test principles and formats to come up with an efficient and effective preparation strategy . If you find your target office uses an unfamiliar test version, then only being familiar with the test formats can put you at a major advantage to other applicants.

Step 2: Practice numerical reasoning and mental math

Math is one unavoidable element in the EY Online Test. The numerical reasoning questions require candidates to be fast and accurate with their calculation. If you find yourself a little rusty in math, invest time and effort into practice. Remember, the more you practice, the higher chance you have at passing the aptitude test.

Don’t know where to start? Let me help you get the ball rolling.

Consulting Math Prep Guide

How to Pass Numerical Reasoning Tests?

Step 3: Practice verbal reasoning and speed reading

Your test-taking period is strictly timed , and there is a lot of information to process . The questions format requires candidates to consume a large amount of written information in a short timeframe.

So to ace the EY Online Assessment, fast reading is one essential skill. My  Speed Reading Techniques article will provide two methods for faster reading and better comprehension :

• Trackers and pacers : Pencils can be used as trackers and pacers to guide your readings, making it smoother and faster.
• Perceptual expansion : In this technique, you only focus on center words in each line and let your peripheral vision do the rest. This is because if you focus on one word, you can still perceive the and register the sides of it.

Step 4: Revise specialized knowledge and writing skills

If you find yourself facing the knowledge-intensive Written Test, knowledge revision and writing practice is an absolute necessity.

Make sure you are comfortable with the basic principles in Accounting/Tax/Audit/Finance before moving on to advanced ones. 

Don’t walk into the test only to find that your writing and knowledge is too rusty.

Although you are not sure your test format is this, spend some time going over the material. It will help in later round or on-the-job anyway

Step 5: Practice answering questions accurately and quickly

To pass the online test, speed and accuracy is the key criteria .

In the beginning, spend as long as it takes to dig deep into the questions, crunch each number to get an accurate result .

It’s important to  get as many correct answers as possible . Finishing early means nothing if you got the wrong answers. So in the first place, try to understand the underlying reasoning within each question without worrying about the time limit.

Once you’ve mastered the logic and nailed almost every question quickly, it’s time for speed improvement. The more you practice, the faster you get. Also, it’s important to embrace some test-taking tips and techniques to finish faster. 

Step 6: Perform full mock test

A full mock test helps you see through your weaknesses in a real test-taking environment . This is when you come back to the previous steps to improve wherever necessary. The mock test result helps to allocate an appropriate amount of time to each practice segment.

It’s important to take full mock tests under the simulated environment several times before walking into the real one. EY does not provide mock tests so you need to piece together different question formats.

What comes after EY Online Assessment?

If you successfully pass the online assessment, it is important to be well-prepared for what’s lying ahead. As I have stated, the recruitment process varies across locations. So here is a list of the most common tests coming next.

Job Simulation/EY Video Assessment

The EY Job Simulation Assessment comprises questions in multiple formats: written response, multiple choice, listing arrangement and the most prominent one is short video responses .

The questions will be about your response in a hypothetical workplace scenario at EY.

Before taking this test, keep in mind that you have to record yourself answering questions, so dress professionally and practice your language and communication.

EY Experience Day/Assessment Center

All candidates passing the second round will be invited to one of the firm’s assessment centers, a one-day event with interactive activities, done either individually or in cooperation with other candidates including:

• Aptitude Tests : A paper-based test to validate your result in the previous round. These tests are longer and more difficult.
• Group Discussion : Candidates are divided into small groups of 4-6 and given a broad work-related topic for discussion. Then you are required to present their discussion result to a board of assessors and go through a Q&A session.
• Case Study : Candidates receive information on a hypothetical company coming to EY for advice. You must analyse the given data to come up with an action plan, and prepare a written report.
• E-tray Exercise : You will be given a number of emails to sort through. You must prioritise the more urgent ones and justify your choices to your assessor.
• Interview : An informal discussion with EY partner or a HR interview can take place in this round.

Prepare to encounter more than just one interview (HR Interview – Senior Interview – Manager Interview). The interviews cover broad areas, from personal questions to competency-based interviews . The questions are sometimes reported as unpredictable and unusual.

Scoring in the McKinsey PSG/Digital Assessment

The scoring mechanism in the McKinsey Digital Assessment

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EY Aptitude Test, Assessment Center, Hiring Process & Interviews Online Preparation – 2024

• Information
• Example Interview Questions
• Free Practice Questions

As a Big Four firm, Ernst & Young is a very popular option for job seekers in the field of accounting. Being popular means getting a foot in the door is rather competitive. This article aims to provide you with some insight and meaningful tips to help with the recruitment process.

What Is Ernst & Young?

Ernst & Young now formally known as EY is one of the Big Four accounting firms . EY dates back as far as 1849 but did not adopt the name Ernst & Young until a merger in 1989.  In 2013, the company underwent a rebranding exercise and started operating as EY, which was used informally prior to the company adopting the name officially. Services offered by EY include:

• Advisory Services

Employing 365,000 people, EY has over 700 offices in 150 different countries including its headquarters in the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, The Cayman Islands, The British Virgin Islands, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and Australia to name a few.

Employees at EY can expect to enjoy benefits such as:

• Annual Bonuses
• Professional certification bonus and reimbursement
• Dental Coverage
• Retirement Plan
• EY Navigate™
• Bereavement Benefit
• Group Legal Plan
• Paid Vacation
• Parental Leave
• EY Corporate Responsibility Sabbaticals

What Is EY’s Hiring Process?

Being a Big Four firm, EY gets many applications, but only a few are chosen at the end of their selection process. Below is an outline of EY’s recruitment process, and how you can best make it work for you.

Online Application – Learning about you

So, you’ve decided to apply for a job at EY. Applications to EY are filled out online, and job seekers need to create a profile on EY’s website. After creating an account, the candidate will be required to choose their program (undergraduate, graduate, apprenticeships, or work experience) and answer some questions about themselves. Once this is done, the candidate will receive a link to move on to the second phase.

First Round Interview

Once recruiters are pleased with your online application, you will be invited for a face-to-face interview. This is generally done at the office that you have applied to and usually lasts no more than one hour. This interview provides you with the first opportunity to ask questions, as well as verbally express anything that’s in your application that may need some clarification.  Be prepared to discuss your strengths, weaknesses, previous positions of leadership, your hobbies, and any co-curricular activities you might have taken part in.

EY Assessment Tests

Depending on what position you’ve applied for, EY may require that you attend an Assessment Center Day. This may include anything from psychometric/aptitude tests, team meetings, cases studies or even an interview with a director or partner. The structure of this day is heavily dependent on the job for which you’ve applied, as the positions all utilize different skillsets. EY will provide candidates with information about what to expect when they’re invited to attend the Assessment Center Day. Once provided with the details, it would be wise to practice for the tests.

Some of the assessments that candidates can expect are:

• EY Case Study This is a 40-minute assessment in which candidates are provided with details about a decision which they need to consider. The candidate is required to analyze this information and provide recommendations regarding the decision. This should be done as either a PowerPoint presentation or a Word Document. The proposal should include schedule, delegated tasks, contingencies, and check-point/progress review schedules. Learn more about case studies .
• EY Group Exercise This exercise requires no preparation, and it is used to assess the candidate’s ability to reason, prioritize tasks, and communicate effectively. The candidate will be presented with work-related information associated with a problem for which they will use reasoning to determine the best solution. It is advised to outline the solution in a step-wise manner that is easily comprehensible.

Online Aptitude & Personality Tests

In some jurisdictions, prior to attending the Assessment Center Day, candidates are required to complete a number of online assessments. These personality tests are administered by some of the leading testing agencies, such as Capp , SHL Talent Management , and Saville Assessment . These may include:

• Situational Strengths Test (SJT) In this assessment, the candidate is presented with 16 work-related scenarios. Along with the scenarios are options which the candidate may take to handle the situation. The candidate is required to rate these options from 1-5, providing the examiner with an indication of how you would most likely tackle the situation. Read more about SJT tests .
• Verbal Reasoning Test This is essentially an English test designed to assess the candidate’s ability to understand and use written information. Candidates are presented with paragraphs followed by a statement about the paragraph. The candidate needs to then state whether the statement is true, false or express that there is not enough information to determine whether the statement is true or false. Learn more about verbal tests
• EY Numerical Reasoning Test Being an accounting firm, it is expected that a candidate’s mathematical reasoning ability is above average. This is a math-based assessment which tests the candidate’s ability to do basic calculations, read charts, and perform calculations using ratios and percentages. Candidates have just about one minute to answer each question, which can make the assessment very stressful, essentially mimicking what can be expected during crunch time at EY.
• Business Behaviors Test The business behaviors assessment is pretty similar to the situational strengths test, but the candidates are asked to rank the options based on how they would most likely behave. It is key to note that the candidate’s responses will determine the subsequent questions.
• Diagrammatic/Logical Reasoning Test The purpose of this test is to evaluate a candidate’s reasoning ability. The candidate is presented with sequences which include shapes or patterns. Each sequence will have a missing piece. Candidates are to choose the correct missing item from the list of choices. Expand your knowledge of diagrammatic reasoning and logical reasoning tests .
• Excel Test In some jurisdictions, candidates may be required to take an Excel test. This test serves as an evaluation in the candidate’s proficiency in Microsoft Excel. The test assesses the candidate’s ability to manipulate the software to perform basic calculations, work with tables, and use formulas.

The Job Offer

Within 48 hours of completing the assessment, candidates will be contacted by EY with the outcome of the evaluation. If a candidate is successful, EY will make a formal offer. In the unfortunate circumstance that a candidate was not successful, EY will provide the candidate with the opportunity to get some feedback on their interview. Whether successful or not, it is important that candidates remember that this is also a learning process.

What Qualities Are EY Recruiters Looking Out For?

EY is continually looking for high caliber talent. As stated on their website, EY is looking for diverse individuals who all share the same primary values. These values include:

• Integrity – These people have a strong sense of accountability, whether personal or professional and always strive to do the right thing.
• Team Players – These people like sharing and are open to working with people that are different than themselves.
• Respectful – These people understand and recognize the value of different opinions and perspectives.
• Up for a challenge – Ready to adapt to changing tides, face the task head on, and properly
• Meets EY’s technical requirements – These candidates fulfill the academic requirements of EY and are willing to continue taking professional certification exams and accounting tests as well as travel when necessary to get the job done.
• Ambitious – These candidates strive to be the best at whatever they do.
• Energetic, Enthusiastic & Ready to Lead – These candidates are passionate and are always excited to get work done. They seek out ways to grow and help others around them to develop.

How to Prepare for EY’s Interview Process?

Being a popular destination for many in the accounting field, it won’t hurt to seek tips to aid in preparing your job application. EY has outlined some tips and hints to help applicants; they are outlined below.

• Try to learn as much as you can about EY. Learn about their services, and ensure you can package your strengths in a manner which aligns them with the company’s direction, so that the interviewer can get an idea of how well you will fit into the organization.
• Remember that the interview is a two-way street; not only is the recruiter learning about the candidate, but the candidate is learning about the job and work environment. Candidates should prepare questions for the interviewer so that they may establish whether the environment is suited for them.
• Candidates should note that making it to the interview means EY has a vested interest in them. EY tries their best to ensure the interviews are designed to get the best out of the candidate. That being said, simply relax and give it your best.
• Candidates should try their best to attend open events (g. job fairs/recruitment fairs) being hosted by EY. This gives them the opportunity to ask questions about the organization in a stress-free environment, as there is nothing on the line at that time.
• Candidates should never hesitate to use a career help service. This is specifically recommended for university students. Visit the campus career services center and speak to a rep. They can guide candidates through the process and in some cases even organize a mock interview.
• Make sure to come prepared for the EY assessment tests after practicing various aptitude tests and personality assessments.

Like any recruitment process, candidates need to do their best to prepare so that they may put their best foot forward. That candidate’s talents and skills are on display, and they should do their best to show the recruiter how these talents will be of benefit to the company and the company’s clients.

All the best with your preparation!

Common Interview Questions at Ernst & Young:

• Do you have any questions for me? It is always advisable for candidates to walk into their interview with a pen and paper and take notes. Whenever the interviewer asks this question, it helps to have questions on hand. This shows that you’re attentive, and you have a vested interest in the job opportunity.
• Do you work well under pressure? Recruiters want candidates to answer this question with examples of high-pressure situations in which they performed well. Simply answering yes or no is not enough.
• What are your strengths? This is a typical interview question, which candidates should be well prepared to answer. This question gives candidates a clear opportunity to strut their stuff. Candidates should capitalize on this and speak of their strengths which are relevant to the job.
• Why do you want to join audit/tax/advisory? This question seeks to find out what motivates a candidate and if this motivation falls in line with the goals of the organization.
• Do you need to be an expert at something in order to lead a team? Recruiters use this question to assess the leadership potential of candidates. Candidates should respond to show confidence and demonstrate how they would lead a group of individuals who might be more senior to them.
• How do you handle working with someone you don’t like? The question serves to assess how well candidates work in teams. Recruiters expect candidates to demonstrate how well they work with persons of differing opinions with as little friction as possible.
• Have you ever done something differently the second time around? This question is intended to find out from the candidate if they learn from previous experiences. The candidate is expected to explain why they altered the process, outlining the advantages of the new process.

Practicing for Your Assessment

Practicing for EY assessments is the key to scoring higher and increasing your chances of getting your desired job. Our team developed example questions so you can experience test questions of similar topics. The following aptitude questions focus on a few main topics that are common in this assessment, such as: numerical reasoning, verbal reasoning, and logical reasoning. In addition, you can find free SJT practice questions here .

Free Sample Questions for Practice

• Sally likes all dogs except golden retrievers.
• Donald likes dogs. Joe owns a dog.
• Joe does not own a poodle.
• Sally does not like Joe’s dog.
• II & IV
• III & V
• I, II, & II
• I, IV, & V
• The last week of each month
• At the end of the same day she filled it out

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How I did it: My virtual Experience Day at EY

We caught up with Bright Network member Lutfha, who recently completed a virtual Experience Day (assessment centre) with EY, to hear all about her experience and her top tips for other Bright Network members looking to prepare for virtual assessments. 

What was the structure of the day?

Prior to the day, EY sent across a schedule of the experience and instructions on how to join the virtual meetings on Microsoft Teams. We had a timetable for when all of our personal assessments would be, so you would log on and off ready for each activity. I checked my internet connection on the morning of the Experience Day, and I was ready to go.

To start the day, everyone had a welcoming introduction from the Head of Student Recruitment at EY, James Gordanifar, and heard about his story. Then we jumped straight into the first exercise.

After the first exercise, I logged off for a while and logged back on when it was time for my next activity. This consisted of two parts in a one-hour block. The first was a case study exercise followed by an email activity. To help you throughout, there was a chat function that was opened at the start, so if you had any issues or connection problems, then you wrote your question in the chat and someone from EY would be ready to help. 

What was it like meeting the team?

It was a really new experience meeting the team virtually. Before the experience I hadn’t even used the technology before, but it was exciting as you become one of the first people to go through that experience with them. Everyone I came across was super friendly – and it was actually the first time for my assessor too which was nice to bond over.

How did you feel about it being a virtual event?

I was quite nervous at the start as I thought it would feel different to an in-person assessment. Although being virtual meant we weren't able to network with other candidates, once it started it became a one-on-one conversation with an EY team member, so it didn’t seem as daunting. It was also really nice to be in my own space and feel really comfortable. 

How did you prepare for the virtual assessment centre?

I had a phone call with Phil from Bright Network before, which was really useful in helping me to understand what to focus on in preparing for the day, such as research about technology that EY is working with clients on, and consequently I was able to feel really comfortable in the case study.

What are your top tips for other members going through or preparing for virtual assessment centres?

• Make sure you know your way around the software being used and be confident in your use of it – it will make you feel more prepared and set up for the day which will ease your nerves. It’s important to still prepare for the day in the same way you would for a normal interview – it’s still a few hours of assessment with multiple people from EY involved.
• Be comfortable in your own space and because I was at home, I actually felt I could converse more naturally – but prepare the same way you would for a video interview – i.e. be aware of your surroundings and make sure everything is tidy

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Full Guide on EY Application Process and EY Assessment Tests (2024)

Ernst & Young, one of the Big Four accounting companies, is now officially known as EY. EY goes back as far as 1849, yet it didn’t take the name Ernst & Young until 1989, after a merger. The firm began to be known as EY in 2013, and eventually officially adopted this new name. EY provides the following services and more: Tax, Consulting, Assurance, and Advisory Services. The company employs 270,000 individuals and boasts over 700 offices in 150 countries.

Stages of the EY Application Process

The EY recruitment process is comprised of six stages:

Registration

To begin with, you need to register and open an account with EY. This will let you select which program you wish to apply for, and your desired work location.

Application form

You will then need to complete an application form, according to the graduate program you choose. You will need to give your personal information, work experience, and education details.

Aptitude tests

Following this, you’ll be required to complete several online tests and case studies. This will last approximately 60 minutes. You will need to display different skills. Including, verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning, and situational judgement.

Job simulation

If you successfully complete the aptitude tests, you will need to answer 14 questions about real work situations. You will need to provide written and video-recorded answers. This will take around 45 minutes.

Assessment center

If you pass your job simulation, you will be asked to attend an EY Experience Day. This will take place at an assessment center close to you.

Final interview

Lastly, you’ll have an interview with a senior representative at EY. You will discuss your reasons for wanting to join the company.

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EY Test types

Let’s take a look at the different EY test types in detail.

EY Situational Strengths Test

This aptitude test features a series of difficult situations that one could encounter in their place of work. And then presents several possible responses to the challenging situations.

You will need to watch 16 videos. These videos will outline specific situations. You will need to say which approach you would take in reaction to each situation. You could be asked to rank possible responses from one to five or select one answer from several options. If asked to rank your answer, you’ll need to decide how likely each answer choice is.

The exam takes around 30 minutes to complete. It is desirable to complete it as soon as you can once you get the link.

EY Numerical Reasoning Test

This is made up of 24 questions, which are to be answered in 20 minutes. The questions are about graphs, tables, and percentages. You will be required to analyze data and select the correct answer from a series of multiple-choice answers.

You don’t need any specialized maths knowledge to answer these questions. A firm grasp of basic GCSE-level maths is likely to be sufficient. EY wants to see how well you can apply reasoning to numerical information, and how you perform when in a pressurized and timed setting.

You will have a very limited time for each question, less than a minute. So you must practice before you get to test day so you are used to the pressure.

EY Verbal Reasoning Test

Verbal ability exams are created to measure your level of verbal and written comprehension. They also test your capacity to analyze tests well and quickly. And, your communication skills.

In the EY verbal reasoning test, you’ll be shown a passage of text, and some questions based on the text. You will need to decide if the answer is ‘True’, ‘False’, or ‘Cannot say’.

Ideally, you should take EY verbal reasoning test as soon as possible, after you receive the link.

EY Logical Reasoning Test

You could also be requested to sit a logical reasoning exam as part of your application process. This is a non-verbal test that measures your skill at problem-solving. You will be given a series of questions that relate to sequences of patterns and shapes.

In each of the questions, there will be a missing stage. You will be given several possible answer choices. This type of psychometric exam is often known as a diagrammatic reasoning exam.

EY Job Simulation

If you finish the online assessment stage and pass, you will be asked to proceed to the job simulation. This part of the process strives to find your strengths. It aims to see how good a fit you are for the EY job or program you have chosen to apply for.

The job simulation is made up of 14 questions. These questions are founded on real workplace situations, which you may experience when working at EY. For certain questions you will be asked to rank your responses in order; two of the questions will ask you to record your answer as a video, and others will ask to provide a written answer. Some of the questions come with a time limit.

You must complete this section in one sitting. It should take about one hour to finish.

You should dress well as you will need to record some of your answers.

You will be given a chance to practice recording yourself, however, when you record your answer you will not be able to re-record. Once you finish this part, EY will provide feedback on your strengths and how you can foster these areas.

EY Assessment Center (Also Known as EY Experience Day)

The EY Experience Day – also known as the assessment center – is the top stage of the application process. This day is made up of activities, exercises, and interviews. The aim is to measure your qualities and strengths. You should also develop an understanding of life at EY.

Throughout the day you will partake in a case study and a group exercise. You may also need to attend your partner interview.

EY Group Exercise

Throughout the experience day, applicants will be divided into groups of four. They will be provided with a package of information about work-related situations or tasks. You will be given 15 minutes to read through the information alone. Then you will have 30 minutes to discuss what you learned as a group. As a group, you will need to decide how you will handle the situation.

You will be examined on how well you work as a team member. You should pay attention to other applicants and respond to their ideas with respect. But also don’t be afraid to voice your ideas.

EY Case Study

In this part of the process, you will be given information about a made-up company. The company will need to make some challenging business decisions. You will also be given other relevant material and documents. You will have 30 minutes to read the information. You will need to study the scenario and develop an action plan.

You will need to show your findings to the EY assessors. They will ask you questions about how you chose to tackle the case study. You will need to work to discover the key problems in the information given to you.

EY Partner Interviews

Your interview could be scheduled for the end or start of your experience day, or for any other time. The interview will usually take about 25 minutes. The questions typically revolve around your strengths. You may be asked about what motivates you and your achievements.

You must put in the effort and set aside time to prepare yourself to succeed in the EY assessment. Prepterminal has the right materials that can help you in your performance.

Ace EY Assessment with Prepterminal’s Course

EY Assessment Test is challenging and will demand that you put in your best effort. At Prepterminal your success is our priority. That’s why we have created an EY assessment test preparatory course. Our course will help make your process of job success smooth and enjoyable.

Prepterminal’s EY assessment test course provides you with all the material you need to thoroughly understand the material that you will be presented with on the EY test. Our comprehensive course is accessible and easy to follow. Make sure you prepare with the top material on the market. Choose Prepterminal today and work towards acing your EY exam.

Created by: Michael Lerner

Bsc, psychometric tutor, prepterminal test expert, 754 students, 4.4 , 148 reviews.

Hey, welcome to our actionable Ernst & Young Prep Course page. I’m Michael, PrepTerminal’s Ernst & Young Prep Course in-house expert. I am here to assist you with any queries about the Ernst & Young Prep Course. Don’t hesitate to contact me at [email protected] .

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Talking technology: HRs' future

How to choose your Learning and Talent technology partner in the current climate

Getting ready for whatever comes next...

EY's virtual assessment centres to overcome Covid-19 challenges

How to cook up a storm with recruitment analytics

Is the future of HR artificial?

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A post-pandemic glimpse, using payroll and people understanding to drive success, raising your game and remote experience with hr automation, employee engagement: a people-centric approach to 'what comes next', employee experience: how to build successful performance management, workforce of the future, putting hr centre stage post-covid, what will the new way of working look like, a modern framework for culture design.

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EY is one of the world’s Big Four accounting firms. They provide professional assurance, tax and advisory services to market-leading clients around the world.

The firm’s purpose is to build a better working world for its people, clients and community – a world where economic growth and sustainability are inclusive. EY always strives to improve the quality of their services while investing in people and innovation.

The sudden escalation of the coronavirus pandemic has forced organisations to change the way they find future talent. But, with change comes opportunity – and many forwardthinking companies are moving towards virtual recruitment solutions to combat COVID-19. In response to the risks of COVID-19 in the workplace, EY implemented an organisationwide policy that prevented group gatherings. This encompassed the firm’s early talent assessment centres, which had already been planned, scheduled and booked.

EY understood that cancelling assessment centres would risk losing candidates’ trust and attention. Candidates expect employers to react effectively to change, and not being able to provide a fast-paced solution could leave them disengaged from the process altogether. They needed a recruitment technology solution that would enable them to discover next generation potential without raising risks or sacrificing candidate experience.

As leading experts in early talent acquisition, we had already introduced EY to Impact – our digital platform for paperless assessment centres. Digitally streamlining the recruitment process has proven to be an ultra-efficient solution that saves time, money and the planet. The ever-changing circumstances prompted by COVID-19, however, called for the platform to be rapidly transformed into a virtual assessment centre. Candidates needed to enjoy the same engaging, immersive and realistic experience while protecting against the travel and social distancing challenges posed by the coronavirus.

The future of assessment is digital, virtual and paperless. Based on our existing cutting-edge technology, we worked closely with EY to redefine their digital assessment process. Impact is not only a dynamic, interactive and highly engaging platform for managing volume recruitment, it can also be easily adapted to avoid unnecessary risk during these uncertain times.

By creating a virtual assessment centre, we enabled assessors to safely engage with candidates during back-to-back private video calls with screen-sharing facilities. Candidates could interact using their own devices as part of an exciting experience that reflected real-life roles and delivered more authentic assessments.

New schedules were created for each assessor, detailing the video meeting rooms they needed to host. The same information was communicated with candidates to make sure they attended the meetings. Studies have proven that Impact can save 96% of the time it takes to plan assessment centres – freeing up valuable resources.

We also supported EY in making their digital assessment assets, such as case studies, role playing exercises and behavioural measures, available to assessors and moderators. These were then securely presented to candidates to protect the integrity of assessments.

“We had 48 hours to turn these virtual events into reality and Amberjack really went above and beyond our expectations. The virtual assessment centres went really smoothly and EY is incredibly pleased with the results produced.”

Student Recruitment Manager, EY

Our ability to act with agility was showcased by working with EY to successfully convert two digital assessment centres into virtual assessment centres within the space of 48 hours. As a virtual assessment tool, Impact achieves the same accurate, consistent, time and costsaving results that help organisations make better informed volume hiring decisions.

Candidate experience didn’t suffer as a consequence. Candidates remained engaged in the recruitment process, using their own devices to access personalised schedules and task instructions, complete exercises, communicate in real-time and share information in the same way they would in real-life scenarios.

To find out more please visit www.weareamberjack.com or get in touch directly at [email protected]

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EY-Parthenon Case Interview Guide (process & prep)

Consulting interviews at EY and its strategy subsidiary Parthenon are tough. EY-Parthenon uses a combination of case interviews and behavioural interviews to evaluate candidates, with group case presentations also used sometimes.

This might sound overwhelming. But don't worry! We've helped thousands of applicants land consulting jobs, and this is our ultimate guide to EY-Parthenon interviews.

Learn all about the company, the interview process, EY case studies, which questions to expect and how to answer them. By following the information below, you'll be one step closer to getting an offer at EY. 

Here's an overview of what we'll cover:

• About EY-Parthenon
• Interview process
• Case interviews
• Interview questions
• Group presentations
• Preparation tips

Click here to practise 1-on-1 with consulting ex-interviewers

1. ey consulting is bigger than bcg and bain.

With   $13.5bn in consulting revenue   in 2022, EY's consulting business line is bigger than BCG and Bain, and on a par with McKinsey.

EY's broader consulting (or advisory) business can be divided into EY Advisory, and EY-Parthenon:

• Performance Improvement  works across industries to help clients create streamlined processes and powerful systems. For example, helping an international firm like Nike reduce costs through strategic changes to their supply chain.
• Performance Technology  applies technology solutions to drive business performance. For example, using social media to help a firm like Disney market their vacation resorts to customers who are already interested.
• Risk  focuses on identifying, evaluating, and addressing risks faced by client businesses. For example, helping a financial institution like Morgan Stanley develop a response plan to prepare for a data breach.
• EY-Parthenon focuses on strategy and management consulting. The type of work you'd do here is very similar to the work you'd find at McKinsey , BCG or Bain.

You can learn more about how EY compares to MBB firms in our MBB vs. Big 4 comparison article .

If you're interested in applying for a consulting role at EY then it's important to know what specific area you're interested in. 

This will help you be more focused in your application, and it will also show your level of preparedness to recruiters. It's not uncommon to be asked about specific areas of interest during interviews, and having a prepared answer using the company's own terms can really impress your interviewer.

For the rest of this post, we'll be focusing on the steps you'll need to take in order to land a job in EY-Parthenon. If you're applying for a role in EY Advisory, don't worry. There will likely be some differences, but 95% of the below guide is still relevant, and will provide an excellent overview of the consulting interview process.

2. EY-Parthenon interview process overview

The application process varies depending if you apply as an experienced hire or on a graduate or student recruitment program.

We'll start off by looking at experienced hires. Note that t hese steps outline the typical process, but the exact steps can vary based on location and role. Ask your HR contact if they can provide more details on the specific steps for your interview track.

2.1 Process for experienced hires

EY-Parthenon generally has 3 steps in their application process for experienced candidates:

• Resume and application screening
• First round interviews
• Second round interviews

Let's zoom in on each step.

2.1.1 Resume and application screening

First, recruiters will look at your resume/application and assess if your experience matches the open position. This is the most competitive step in the process—we’ve found that 90% of candidates don’t make it past this stage.

You can use  this free resume guide  and this  free cover letter guide  to help tailor your application to the position you’re targeting.

And if you’re looking for expert feedback, you can also get input from our  team of  ex-MBB recruiters , who will  cover what achievements to focus on (or ignore), how to fine tune your bullet points, and more.

2.1.2 First-round interviews

After the initial application, you'll move onto the interviews. In the first round, you can expect:

• Phone interview with someone in HR
• One or two case interviews (45mins-1hr)

HR phone interviews will fous on your resume and your motivations for becoming an EY-Parthenon consultant. Then first-round case study interviews are usually with EY-Parthenon managers or consultants, usually via via video call.

2.1.3 Second-round interviews

Second-round interviews usually consist of:

• One or two case interviews (45-60 mins)
• A behavioural interview (45-60 mins)

Second-round case interviews are usually with senior members of the firm, such as directors, while the behavioural interview will most likely be with a partner. These interviews may be done in person at an EY office, or via video call.

As we said, the exact process varies across regions and roles, and some candidates have reported that each of their interviews had a mix of questions. So be prepared to be asked behavioural questions at the start of your case interviews.

In some cases, you may also need to do a written assignment or attend an assessment centre (see section 2.2.3 below).

Given the variation in the process, we strongly recommend that you ask your EY recruiter to confirm exactly what to expect.

We'll explain how to prepare for EY case interviews further down in section 3 and section 6 .

2.2 Process for graduates, "Career Starters", etc

If you're still studying or recently graduated, your journey through the EY-Parthenon interview process will consist of four stages:

• Resume or application screening
• Online assessment
• EY Experience Day
• Final interview

Let's dive into each of those stages.

2.2.1 Resume or application screening 

In most cases you'll apply via the EY careers website . The HR team will assess your application and get back to you.

A large percentage of candidates don't make it past this stage, so make sure your consulting resume is top notch and consider booking a session with one of our coaches to help you with your application.

2.2.2 Online assessment

For "Career Starter" and similar positions, you'll need to take an online test, where you'll need to answer different types of questions, including ranking various options, giving writing answers and also giving video answers.

Depending on your position, you may be given a numerical reasoning test, too.

Do practice tests on the EY website .

2.2.3 EY Experience Day (with case study interview)

If you score highly enough in the online assessment, you'll be invited to an EY Experience Day. This is sometimes referred to as a "Super Day" or "Assessment Centre", but is now usually done virtually via Microsoft Teams.

Here you can expect to be put in a group with around 5 other candidates and given a group case study problem to solve. You'll get around 40 minutes to discuss the problem with your peers, before presenting together.

After that, you can expect to be given a written task to complete on your own.

Below in section 4 we'll cover how to ace your group case presentation.

2.2.4 Final interview with a partner

If you get through the EYX (EY Experience Day) you'll face an interview with a EY partner.

This will consist of behavioural and motivation questions, as they'll be wanting to make sure you're the right fit for EY and are highly motivated for the role.

" The partner interview is the final stage in our process and is very much about getting to know you as a person. We want to know why you have applied to this specific office and specific service line & what your career motivations are. We also ask you questions to test your commercial awareness of our industry & that you know about the firm and our competitors. Finally due to the new virtual nature of our assessment days we will also be asking about your teamwork and collaboration during the final interview ." Clare H, Talent Attraction Advisor at EY.

Now that you have a good overview of the EY-Parthenon interview process, let's go deeper into the kind of questions to expect and how to approach them.

3. EY-Parthenon case interviews

Case interviews at EY-Parthenon are candidate-led. The style is similar to what you will experience in a   BCG or a   Bain case interview . This is different to firms like McKinsey or Capital One who use interviewer-led cases.

For a candidate-led case interview, there are 7 types of questions you need to prepare for:

• Framework development
• Framework exploration
• Quant question – Data provided
• Quant question – No data provided
• Creativity question
• Recommendation

EY-Parthenon case interviews often include a quant question where too much data is provided (a "data dump") and part of the challenge is for you to evaluate which information is useful and what isn't'. ( source: Reddit ).

You can read more about case interviews and how to prepare in our free case interview guide .

Candidates can also expect market sizing questions, such "estimate how many tacos are sold in Boston each year". To prepare, see our market sizing questions guide .

If you want to get a sense of what candidate-led case interviews are like, watch the video below. As we mentioned, case interviews at EY-Parthenon are typically candidate-led and therefore use the same format as BCG and Bain.

4. EY-Parthenon behavioural interview questions

At EY-Parthenon, there are two main categories of behavioural interview questions:

• Fit questions. These are generic questions such as “Why consulting?” or “Why EY?”.
• Personal Experience Interview (PEI) questions. These are questions such as “Tell me about a time when you led a team through a difficult situation.” Or “Tell me about a time where you had to manage a team conflict”

Here are the top 5 fit and PEI questions you should prepare for at EY-Parthenon or other top consulting firms .

Top 5 fit questions:

• Why consulting?
• Walk me through your resume
• Tell me about something not on your resume
• Tell me about your greatest accomplishment

Top 5 PEI questions. Tell me about a time when ...

• You led a team through a difficult situation
• You worked in a team and had to manage a conflict
• You had a disagreement with a colleague / boss
• You had to change someone's / a group's mind
• You overcame a really difficult challenge

Don't fall into the trap of under-preparing for these types of questions. While they may seem easier than the case interviews, they are extremely important to get right.

You’ll need to prepare several ”stories” or “examples” from your personal and professional experience to demonstrate that you have the traits that EY is looking for.

To learn more, check out our guide to consulting fit / PEI questions .

5. EY-Parthenon group case presentation

As mentioned in the overview above, EY-Parthenon frequently uses group case presentations in the interview process. Here is the key information you need to be aware of for this type of interview:

• Candidates get divided into groups of 3 to 5
• Each group is given information about a case (i.e. a client facing a problem)
• You are given ~45 mins to review and prepare a 15 minute group presentation
• An interviewer will watch during your prep time, but they won't intervene
• After your group presents, the interviewers will ask questions for 15-20 minutes

This interview format is fairly unique, but it is similar to a written case interview, so you may find our free guide on written case interviews helpful . When you perform group exercises, your interviewers will be focusing on your ability to work well with others. And there are a handful of things you should make sure you do (and don't do).

Here are the   top 4 things you should aim to do :

• Speak with a purpose. This applies to the preparation and presentation. A lot of candidates will want to speak their minds as they know participating is important. But, participation alone is not enough. The QUALITY of your input is crucial. Sometimes, it's better to let two or three people speak first, and then make a very thoughtful point based on how they started the discussion. Focus more on the quality of your input, and less on the quantity.
• Involve everyone. During preparation, keep an eye on who's participating in the conversation and who's not. If you identify a member of the group who's struggling to make themselves heard, you should not hesitate to help them by saying something like: "We haven't heard everyone's opinion on this yet. John, Rebecca what do you think?". This is a sign of leadership, and will also help you develop a more thoughtful and balanced presentation. 
• Summarise. Plan to summarise key points during both preparation and the presentation. This will position you as the person bringing everyone together and making sure all candidates are on the same page. Aim to do this at least once during your prep time. For example, summarise the assignments of each group-member, or recap the group's key points at the end of the 1-hour prep time. This is a skill used by partners in real-world conversations with clients. You can also do this when presenting, by clearly recapping your main points.
• Anticipate questions. During your preparation, you may notice some weaknesses in your analysis. It's good to carve out 5 minutes, to think through how you would answer challenges from the interviewers. It can also be helpful to ask yourself questions, like "if I was hearing this for the first time, what would I ask about?". The interviewers won't always ask the questions you most expect, but if they do, you'll be prepared with a thoughtful response.

And the   top 4 things you should really avoid doing :

• Looking nervous. A group interview is a good time to use your poker face. Everyone is stressed, but you need to come across as confident. A good way to do this is to focus on basic body language: look at people in the eye, sit confidently, don't cross your arms, etc.
• Interrupting others. Consultants need to be client-friendly, and interrupting someone in a discussion is not client-friendly at all. You should listen carefully to what others are saying. Try to have a genuine interest in what they think. Before making your point, summarise their point to show that you understand what they mean.
• Spending too much time reading. It's important to understand the case materials, but if you're not careful it could consume your full preparation time. A great way to prepare efficiently, is to first scan through the provided materials (just a couple minutes), and to agree upon one or two initial hypotheses. This allows you to then search for specific data points, that confirm or disprove it, before you finalise your approach. 
• Dominating speaking time. Some candidates are so eager to participate that they end up completely dominating the rest of the group without realising it. Avoid doing this during the 1 hour prep time, and during the presentation itself. Recruiters will be paying close attention to both situations. A practical way of doing this, is to keep an eye on how much time you talk. If you are in a 5-person group you should aim to speak 20% (1/5th) of the time and really no more than 25%. 

Your performance in individual interviews and the group case presentation will play a big role in the firm's decision to give you an offer. If you'd like to learn more about how to prepare, check out our separate in-depth guide to group case interviews .

6. EY-Parthenon case interview preparation plan

Now that you know what to expect in EY-Parthenon interviews, let's discuss the steps you should take to prepare.

6.1 Learn the case interview essentials

The best starting point for your case interview prep is our case interview prep guide . It'll take you through all the different types of questions you may be asked in your case interview, show you how to draw from different frameworks to structure your answer, and give you example cases to practise with.

For further practice, EY Port Jackson Partners, a boutique consulting firm bought by EY in 2020, shares some nice EY case study interview examples on its website. Practise outlining your approach before clicking "show answer" to see their suggestions.

6.2 Become really confident at maths

You don't have to have a perfect GPA or GMAT score to succeed at case interview maths. However, during your EY-Parthenon interviews, you will be expected to quickly perform accurate mental maths.

In order to do this, it’s essential to know the formulas for common metrics, like return on investment or breakeven point. And it’s also helpful to know a few maths shortcuts to help you solve problems more quickly. To learn more about these topics, check out our free guide to case interview maths . 

In our experience, the most successful applicants start their interview preparation by practising maths skills, so make sure you prioritise this step.

6.3 Research the company

EY interviewers want to hire candidates who are deeply motivated to work for their firm. And while the firm no longer explicitly talks about wanting a team that is "smart, nice, driven", that was the mantra for many years and still is a fairly accurate summary of what it's looking for.

So make sure to read up on EY-Parthenon values and culture and present yourself accordingly.

Also, you'll want to make sure you're up to date in the latest developments in the area of the company you're applying to join. Here are some useful links to help you continue your research:

• EY case studies UK
• EY-Parthenon homepage
• EY news in the Financial Times

In addition, do some networking so that you can show you've made the effort to reach out to current staff.

6.4 Do mock interviews

How you solve each case is important, but your interviewers will also be evaluating how you COMMUNICATE your answers. It's important to speak in a structured way that makes it easy to clearly understand your points.

The best way to hone your communication skills is to practise interviewing out loud, and you can do that in three main ways:

• Interview yourself (out loud)
• Practise interviewing with friends or family
• Practise interviewing with ex-interviewers

To help you with this process, here is a  broad  list   of consulting interview questions  you can practise with.  Practising by yourself is a great way to get started, and can help you get more comfortable with the flow of a case interview. However, this type of practice won’t prepare you for realistic interview conditions.

After getting some practice on your own, you should find someone who can do a mock interview with you, like a friend or family member.

We’d also recommend that you practise 1-1 with ex-interviewers from EY-Parthenon . This is the best way to replicate the conditions of a real case interview, and to get feedback from someone who understands the process extremely well. Meet our MBB ex-interviewers who’d love to work with you.

Related articles:

EY Online Assessment & Job Simulation-What You Need to Know

• Last Updated: June, 2024

EY is a global accounting and consulting firm that gets tens of thousands of job applications every year. To help the company decide who to interview, they use a variety of online tests that vary based on the position you’re recruiting for.

You need to know what the EY online assessment looks like so you know how to prepare. We’ll also tell you what to expect if you pass the assessment and move on to the EY job simulation.

We’ll Cover:

• What the EY Online Assessment Looks Like & Skills Assessed
• 7 Tips to Pass the Online Assessment
• What the EY Job Simulation Looks Like
• What Comes Next in the EY Recruiting Process

Let’s get started!

What Does the EY Online Assessment Look Like?

What comes next in the ey recruiting process, our 7 tips for passing the ey online assessment, what does the ey job simulation look like.

EY is a huge organization, and the EY online assessments vary by geography and by the type of role you apply for. In this article, we’ll focus on the relevant assessments for strategy consulting roles. 

The EY online assessment can include: 

• Numerical reasoning
• Verbal reasoning
• Logical reasoning
• Situational strengths

Numerical Reasoning

The numerical reasoning portion of the EY online assessment tests your ability to work with numbers and make recommendations with very limited time constraints. You can expect 12 – 15 questions. You’ll be provided with data, charts, or graphs and asked to perform simple calculations. 

The math questions won’t be difficult, but you should refresh your memory on fractions, percentages, and growth rate calculations prior to the test. Do some easy math exercises to get “back in shape” with your quick math. 

You will probably be allowed to use a calculator, but check with your recruiter to be sure. Even with a calculator, numerical reasoning tests can be stressful. So take a breath, focus, and answer one question at a time.

Verbal Reasoning

In the verbal reasoning test, you’ll be presented with a paragraph and asked to interpret that paragraph to either confirm a statement or answer a question. 

If you’re asked to evaluate a statement, you can confirm the statement is “True,” “False,” or select that you “Cannot determine if the statement is True or False.” If you’re unsure about the answer, reread the statement to be sure that you are interpreting the statement correctly. 

You may be asked another type of question, such as identifying the main point of the paragraph. Focus on the multiple-choice answers provided and select the best option. 

You should only refer to the information in the paragraph provided to choose your answer. Do not consider your own opinion or any outside information.

Logical Reasoning

This portion of the EY online assessment requires you to identify patterns or trends and predict what will come next. Typically, you’ll be presented with a series of images and asked to select the next image in a pattern. 

This type of test is not something most of us are familiar with. The best approach is to practice logical reasoning tests so you can learn how to quickly assess the pattern. If you’re really stuck on a question, use the process of elimination to narrow down your choices.

Situational Strengths

This test evaluates your responses to real-world business scenarios. The test will give you 16 scenarios (either via video or text) and ask you to evaluate 4 or 5 possible responses. Your answer could be a single choice (best/worst), a ranking, or a short video recording of your response. 

You should review EY’s values before you take this test. Incorporate those values into your own authentic responses. 

See our Online Consulting Test Roundup for sample questions and their answers.

Most EY assessments don’t have time limits, but that doesn’t mean you should take too long to complete them. The numerical test is time-recorded, and the time it takes you to complete that test will impact your score. Also, some tests do have time limits within the online assessment. 

Depending on the office or role you apply for, you may be asked to take additional assessments before an interview or assessment center invitation, including:

• Written exam: this exam may cover a specialized subject or test your general IQ and can include multiple-choice questions and essays. 
• Game-based tests: these types of tests are very common and test your personality, how you think, and your working style. There are many varieties of game-based tests (personality, judgment, strategy, etc.), so be sure to ask your recruiter which types of game-based tests you will be taking. 
• EY Mindset questionnaire: a personality test to assess how well you will fit in at EY. Answer honestly, but avoid being too extreme in any direction so you can demonstrate an adaptable nature! 

It may be intimidating to ask a recruiter too many questions, but don’t hesitate to clarify which assessments you will be asked to take and what they are like. Take the time to write a great email with your questions to demonstrate your structured thinking!

1. Prepare. (Don’t Wing it!)

Given how many applications EY gets, the company uses these tools to screen out a lot of candidates. Research indicates that 50-80% of candidates are screened out after the logical and numerical tests. 

Prepared students perform better on these types of tests. Take advantage of all the tools you can and practice before you take an EY online assessment. 

There are many tools available for you to practice for your EY online assessment. Some free brain training apps include Elevate , Peak , and Mensa Brain Training .

2. Select A Time When You Can Be Your Best

You will need to be energized and focused to take your online assessment. So be sure to block out a few hours so you can get prepared and handle any delays. Also, make sure you don’t have too many other commitments that day that might tire you out or distract you.

3. Check Your Computer Settings

Be sure your computer is plugged in and has a great wifi connection for so you won’t have trouble with video recordings. Take full advantage of online tutorials to ensure your sound, mic, and camera are working properly.

4. Find A Quiet Space

Even in the most silent places, every second counts on these tests. You won’t get to hit the reset button if you get distracted during your EY online assessment. 

Set yourself up for success by finding a place where you won’t be disturbed. Be sure to let any housemates know that you should not be disturbed during the test window.

5. Review Questions Thoughtfully

The questions on the EY online assessment won’t be very difficult, but they can be tricky. Don’t skim the questions – be sure to read them in detail and take in exactly what is being asked. If you’re stuck, reread the question again before doing anything else.

6. Pause And Reset Your Focus

You may start to feel your temperature rising and your breath escalating during the EY online assessment. If so, take a few seconds to close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and think about the reward you’ll give yourself after the test (Oreo milkshake, anyone?)

Now that we’ve covered the EY online assessment, let’s move on to the next step of EY’s recruiting process.

Nail the case & fit interview with strategies from former MBB Interviewers that have helped 89.6% of our clients pass the case interview.

The EY online assessment includes a simulation about what it’s like to work for EY. The simulation should take about 1 hour but has no time limit. The simulation includes 6 sections:

1. Your Thinking

You will be given 6 pieces of information, including graphs, charts, or tables, and asked 10 questions. The questions will be focused on interpreting the data you’ve been given. 

For example: If you’re provided charts of the 2020 – 2023 populations of major metropolitan areas in the US, you may be asked the following question: Based on the chart above, which metro city grew the fastest from 2020 – 2023?

2. Making Connections

This section tests your ability to build relationships. You’ll be provided information on a workplace scenario (perhaps two emails for context). You’ll then be asked either to rank a series of next steps or to explain your course of action either in writing or a video message. 

If you need to record a video, you will have a few minutes to prepare your response and then a few minutes to record the video.

3. Solving Problems

This test evaluates how you structure your work and quickly assess information. You will be given 8 pieces of information (emails, graphs, etc.) and asked to respond to a few scenarios. Your response will either include ranking options, writing a response, or recording a video response. 

For example:  You may be provided a detailed table of manufacturing costs over a series of months and be asked to give a high-level summary of the table. You should always start by describing what’s included in the table at a high-level, and then include top takeaways, such as the largest item in the table, or any major changes that you can quickly spot.

4. Developing Solutions

You will again be provided with information and asked to rank actions you would take in response, or describe what you’d do next in some other way. This section will focus more on analyzing and interpreting information and developing client recommendations.

5. Implementing Change

This portion of the test will evaluate how well you respond to new ways of working and adapting to technology. You will be provided with information and asked to rank options for how to respond or to write a response (e.g., a sample email).

Pro tip: If you are writing an email, take the time to structure it almost like a synthesis page. Put the key hypothesis near the top of the email and then explain your rationale. 

Since each office is different, you may also find tests that include role-play or a simulation of handling a customer service issue. No matter the scenario, structure your response into 3-5 key points (which may include subpoints), and you will be off to a great start.

This portion of the test is all one-way videos about you and why you want to join EY. You will be asked about 5 questions such as: 

• What excites you about a career in consulting? 
• Why did you apply to this office? 
• What qualities of yours would help you succeed in consulting? 
• How did you prepare for a career in consulting? 
• When you have challenging times in your career or school, how do you stay motivated? 

Read more about the EY One Way Video .

Once you make it through the online assessments and the EY job simulation, you may be invited to an assessment center or for what’s known and an EY experience day. This can include: 

• Written aptitude tests: these tests may be longer and more difficult than the online assessments.
• Group discussions: Candidates may be divided into small groups and given a topic for discussion. The group will need to present the highlights of the discussion to some assessors and respond to questions. 
• Case study : you will be given information on a hypothetical company. You’ll need to analyze information and possibly prepare a written report. Some offices host a group case interview, where you will be put in a group of 3 – 5 people. The group will be asked to solve a case within 45 minutes and give a 15-minute presentation. 
• E-tray exercise: you may be asked to read through several emails and prioritize the most important or urgent emails.
• Interviews: you might also interview with senior leaders from EY about your career path, why you want to work for EY, and what excites you.

It can be overwhelming to participate in Group interviews! Keep in mind 2 points: 

• Contribute confidently when needed. Someone in the group will either jump in right away or they won’t. If you hear crickets as the group gets started, you can be the one to start to structure the discussion in a way that invites people in. If someone else jumps in with a way to structure the problem you’ve been asked to solve, think about the piece of the case that’s most interesting to you and what you want to say about it. 
• Don’t interrupt other candidates. It may be hard to hold back if you think one of the candidates is going down the wrong path, but your best course of action is to think of a way to redirect the group once they’re finished rather than jumping in while they are talking. 

For more tips, see our article on Group Interviews .

EY may also host final interviews with senior leaders at a different time. Remember, every office chooses its own recruitment process, so there’s no problem with asking your recruiter for clarity on the next steps in your application process if they have not provided them.

– – – – – – –

In this article, we’ve covered:

• An overview of the EY Online Assessment
• Our top 7 tips to ace the EY Online Assessment
• What you need to know about the EY Job Simulation
• Your next step in the EY recruiting process

Still have questions?

If you have more questions about the EY online assessment, leave them in the comments below. One of My Consulting Offer’scase coaches will answer them.

Other people prepping for EY online assessment found the following pages helpful:

• Our Ultimate Guide to Case Interview Prep
• Consulting Behavioral Interviews
• The MCO Guide to Online Consulting Tests
• EY video interview
• EY Case Interview (including Parthenon)
• Group Case Interviews

Help with Case Study Interview Prep

Thanks for turning to My Consulting Offer for advice on the EY online assessment. My Consulting Offer has helped 89.6% of the people we’ve worked with to get a job in management consulting. We want you to be successful in your consulting interviews too. For example, here is how Christian was able to get his offer from EY.

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EY (Ernst & Young) Situational Judgement Test, Numerical Reasoning & Verbal Reasoning Tests Online Preparation – 2024

• Interview Questions

As a Big Four firm, Ernst & Young is a very popular option for job seekers in the field of accounting. Being popular means getting a foot in the door is rather competitive. This article aims to provide you with some insight and meaningful tips to help with the recruitment process.

What Is Ernst & Young?

Ernst & Young now formally known as EY is one of the Big Four accounting firms. EY dates back as far as 1849 but did not adopt the name Ernst & Young until a merger in 1989.  In 2013, the company underwent a rebranding exercise and started operating as EY, which was used informally prior to the company adopting the name officially. Services offered by EY include:

• Advisory Services

Employing 365,000 people, EY has over 700 offices in 150 different countries including its headquarters in the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, The Cayman Islands, The British Virgin Islands, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and Australia to name a few.

Employees at EY can expect to enjoy benefits such as:

• Annual Bonuses
• Professional certification bonus and reimbursement
• Dental Coverage
• Retirement Plan
• EY Navigate™
• Bereavement Benefit
• Group Legal Plan
• Paid Vacation
• Parental Leave
• EY Corporate Responsibility Sabbaticals

What Is EY’s Hiring Process?

Being a Big Four firm, EY gets many applications, but only a few are chosen at the end of their selection process. Below is an outline of EY’s recruitment process, and how you can best make it work for you.

Online Application – Learning about you

So, you’ve decided to apply for a job at EY. Applications to EY are filled out online, and job seekers need to create a profile on EY’s website. After creating an account, the candidate will be required to choose their program (undergraduate, graduate, apprenticeships, or work experience) and answer some questions about themselves. Once this is done, the candidate will receive a link to move on to the second phase.

First Round Interview

Once recruiters are pleased with your online application, you will be invited for a face-to-face interview. This is generally done at the office that you have applied to and usually lasts no more than one hour. This interview provides you with the first opportunity to ask questions, as well as verbally express anything that’s in your application that may need some clarification.  Be prepared to discuss your strengths, weaknesses, previous positions of leadership, your hobbies, and any co-curricular activities you might have taken part in.

Assessments

Depending on what position you’ve applied for, EY may require that you attend an Assessment Center Day. This may include anything from psychometric/aptitude tests, team meetings, cases studies or even an interview with a director or partner. The structure of this day is heavily dependent on the job for which you’ve applied, as the positions all utilise different skillsets. EY will provide candidates with information about what to expect when they’re invited to attend the Assessment Center Day. Once provided with the details, it would be wise to practice for the tests.

Some of the assessments that candidates can expect are:

• EY Case Study This is a 40-minute assessment in which candidates are provided with details about a decision which they need to consider. The candidate is required to analyse this information and provide recommendations regarding the decision. This should be done as either a PowerPoint presentation or a Word Document. The proposal should include schedule, delegated tasks, contingencies, and check-point/progress review schedules. Learn more about case studies .
• EY Group Exercise This exercise requires no preparation, and it is used to assess the candidate’s ability to reason, prioritise tasks, and communicate effectively. The candidate will be presented with work-related information associated with a problem for which they will use reasoning to determine the best solution. It is advised to outline the solution in a step-wise manner that is easily comprehensible.

Online Assessments

In some jurisdictions, prior to attending the Assessment Center Day, candidates are required to complete a number of online assessments. These personality tests are administered by some of the leading testing agencies, such as Capp , SHL Talent Management , and Saville Assessment . These may include:

• Situational Strengths Test (SJT) In this assessment, the candidate is presented with 16 work-related scenarios. Along with the scenarios are options which the candidate may take to handle the situation. The candidate is required to rate these options from 1-5, providing the examiner with an indication of how you would most likely tackle the situation. Read more about SJT tests .
• Verbal Reasoning Test This is essentially an English test designed to assess the candidate’s ability to understand and use written information. Candidates are presented with paragraphs followed by a statement about the paragraph. The candidate needs to then state whether the statement is true, false or express that there is not enough information to determine whether the statement is true or false. Learn more about verbal tests
• Numerical Reasoning Test Being an accounting firm, it is expected that a candidate’s mathematical reasoning ability is above average. This is a math-based assessment which tests the candidate’s ability to do basic calculations, read charts, and perform calculations using ratios and percentages. Candidates have just about one minute to answer each question, which can make the assessment very stressful, essentially mimicking what can be expected during crunch time at EY.
• Business Behaviours Test The business behaviours assessment is pretty similar to the situational strengths test, but the candidates are asked to rank the options based on how they would most likely behave. It is key to note that the candidate’s responses will determine the subsequent questions.
• Diagrammatic/Logical Reasoning Test The purpose of this test is to evaluate a candidate’s reasoning ability. The candidate is presented with sequences which include shapes or patterns. Each sequence will have a missing piece. Candidates are to choose the correct missing item from the list of choices. Expand your knowledge of diagrammatic reasoning and logical reasoning tests .
• Excel Test In some jurisdictions, candidates may be required to take an Excel test. This test serves as an evaluation in the candidate’s proficiency in Microsoft Excel. The test assesses the candidate’s ability to manipulate the software to perform basic calculations, work with tables, and use formulas.

The Job Offer

Within 48 hours of completing the assessment, candidates will be contacted by EY with the outcome of the evaluation. If a candidate is successful, EY will make a formal offer. In the unfortunate circumstance that a candidate was not successful, EY will provide the candidate with the opportunity to get some feedback on their interview. Whether successful or not, it is important that candidates remember that this is also a learning process.

What Qualities Are EY Recruiters Looking Out For?

EY is continually looking for high calibre talent. As stated on their website, EY is looking for diverse individuals who all share the same primary values. These values include:

• Integrity – These people have a strong sense of accountability, whether personal or professional and always strive to do the right thing.
• Team Players – These people like sharing and are open to working with people that are different than themselves.
• Respectful – These people understand and recognise the value of different opinions and perspectives.
• Up for a challenge – Ready to adapt to changing tides, face the task head on, and properly
• Meets EY’s technical requirements – These candidates fulfil the academic requirements of EY and are willing to continue taking professional certification exams and accounting tests as well as travel when necessary to get the job done.
• Ambitious – These candidates strive to be the best at whatever they do.
• Energetic, Enthusiastic & Ready to Lead – These candidates are passionate and are always excited to get work done. They seek out ways to grow and help others around them to develop.

How to Prepare for EY’s Interview Process

Being a popular destination for many in the accounting field, it won’t hurt to seek tips to aid in preparing your job application. EY has outlined some tips and hints to help applicants; they are outlined below.

• Try to learn as much as you can about EY. Learn about their services, and ensure you can package your strengths in a manner which aligns them with the company’s direction, so that the interviewer can get an idea of how well you will fit into the organisation .
• Remember that the interview is a two-way street; not only is the recruiter learning about the candidate, but the candidate is learning about the job and work environment. Candidates should prepare questions for the interviewer so that they may establish whether the environment is suited for them.
• Candidates should note that making it to the interview means EY has a vested interest in them. EY tries their best to ensure the interviews are designed to get the best out of the candidate. That being said, simply relax and give it your best.
• Candidates should try their best to attend open events (g. job fairs/recruitment fairs) being hosted by EY. This gives them the opportunity to ask questions about the organisation in a stress-free environment, as there is nothing on the line at that time.
• Candidates should never hesitate to use a career help service. This is specifically recommended for university students. Visit the campus career services centre and speak to a rep. They can guide candidates through the process and in some cases even organise a mock interview.

Like any recruitment process, candidates need to do their best to prepare so that they may put their best foot forward. That candidate’s talents and skills are on display, and they should do their best to show the recruiter how these talents will be of benefit to the company and the company’s clients.

All the best with your preparation!

Commin Interview Questions at Ernst & Young:

• Do you have any questions for me? It is always advisable for candidates to walk into their interview with a pen and paper and take notes. Whenever the interviewer asks this question, it helps to have questions on hand. This shows that you’re attentive, and you have a vested interest in the job opportunity.
• Do you work well under pressure? Recruiters want candidates to answer this question with examples of high-pressure situations in which they performed well. Simply answering yes or no is not enough.
• What are your strengths? This is a typical interview question, which candidates should be well prepared to answer. This question gives candidates a clear opportunity to strut their stuff. Candidates should capitalise on this and speak of their strengths which are relevant to the job.
• Why do you want to join audit/tax/advisory? This question seeks to find out what motivates a candidate and if this motivation falls in line with the goals of the organisation.
• Do you need to be an expert at something in order to lead a team? Recruiters use this question to assess the leadership potential of candidates. Candidates should respond to show confidence and demonstrate how they would lead a group of individuals who might be more senior to them.
• How do you handle working with someone you don’t like? The question serves to assess how well candidates work in teams. Recruiters expect candidates to demonstrate how well they work with persons of differing opinions with as little friction as possible.
• Have you ever done something differently the second time around? This question is intended to find out from the candidate if they learn from previous experiences. The candidate is expected to explain why they altered the process, outlining the advantages of the new process.

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Case Study Assessment - Learn How to Pass

A case study assessment is a popular tool used in assessment centres for evaluating candidates by presenting them with complex and previously unknown scenarios . After analyzing the information and identifying the most relevant parts, candidates answer questions that provide the employer with insights regarding important aspects of the candidate's knowledge, cognitive abilities, and personal attributes. 

Like other tests, preparing for the case study assessment can make a huge difference to your score. On this page we will review useful information that can help you arrive at your case study assessment better prepared and maximize your chances to pass and land the job you're after. 

JobTestPrep is a leading test prep company that offers accurate practice simulations for hundreds of pre-employment tests. Since 1992, it has helped 1M+ candidates. If you have any additional questions about the Assessment Centre Test, feel free to send us an email , we usually reply within 24 hours.

What is a Case Study Assessment

A case study assessment is a test in which candidates are presented with a scenario related to the position or the company's wider operations, followed by several questions that are designed to measure specific abilities. Through the candidate's answers, employers gain insight into their ability to handle tasks similar to those they might be responsible for in the future, thus indicating their problem solving abilities and compatibility with the job description. 

Typically, a case study assessment introduces a series documents such as reports and data from recent market research, which may relate to hypothetical or real-life situations. You are asked to analyze the case at hand, make business decisions, and/or give a brief verbal or written report of your recommendations. You may be asked to complete the case study as an individual exercise or as part of a group, which allows assessors to evaluate your teamwork.

The Two Main Types of Case Study Assessment

An assessment center case study will typically belong to one of two main categories:

Subject-related Case Study Assessment

In this type of case study assessment, specific and professional knowledge of the subject is required. In cases of candidates applying for a position in which industry knowledge is essential, the content of the case study will be directly relevant to that role . In these cases, candidates are required to use their existing knowledge and experience to identify key information from the brief.

For instance, project managers may be asked to plan for the release of a new product, which incorporates scheduling, budgeting and resourcing.

General Case Study Assessment

These case studies are designed for a broad audience of candidates who are tested for various positions. Answering the case study questions does not require any specific prior knowledge , and most questions can be answered with common sense. Any information that is required for answering the case study questions is provided by the assessor, whether orally or through additional documentation.

These case studies are much more popular as they can be completed by a large number of candidates applying for a wide array of positions.

What the Case Study Assessment Measures

The advantage of the assessment center case study is that it measures a number of elements simultaneously, giving the employer a picture which combines soft skills with cognitive abilities and even personality attributes. Through your answers, the employer can learn about your:

• Judgement and understanding of the situation at hand
• Thoroughness of analysis
• Logical presentation of ideas
• Practicality of the proposed solutions
• Creativity and innovation in problem solving
• Presentation abilities & communication skills
• Ability to answer off the cuff comments
• Commercial awareness
• Organizational skills
• Decisiveness

Which Types of Companies Use Assessment Centre Case Studies

• The first type of assessment centre case study exercise is those for various positions in finance, banking , audit, marketing, IT, and others. These case studies are based on a large file of documents such as company reports you must quickly read and analyze. They may be completed as part of an assessment day or given at the employer's office as part of the interview. 
• Another type of case study assessment you can find in assessment centres is for consultancy and business management companies. The scenario is usually described by the interviewer or is limited to a few pages. Generally, the task revolves around mathematical problems, estimation questions and strategic thinking. The candidate is expected to ask the assessor for more details in order to understand the problems at hand.  Learn more about these tests here .

Leading companies that Use Assessment Centre Case Studies:

• EY (Ernst & Young)

Popular Assessment Center Case Study Topics

Case studies can be about virtually anything - however there are some topics or that appear more frequently than others. Below is a list of ideas you may encounter in your case study assessment:

• Strategic decisions in global or local business contexts.
• Expansion of departments, acquisition of new companies or products.
• Entrance into new fields of development and product lines.
• Exploring new markets.
• Reconstructing organizational trees.
• Creating advertising campaigns.
• Competition analysis

Tips for Approaching Your Case Study Assessment

• Immerse yourself in the case study -  try to imagine you really are in the scenario, and put yourself in the shoes of the decision maker and those he needs to report to. 
• Time management -  as you will have a lot of data and documents to make sense of in a short period of time, your time management skills are being put to the test here. The key to success is learning how to identify key points and prioritize relevant information while ignoring the irrelevant, giving you the ability to work efficiently on the actual assessment day.
• There is more than one ‘correct’ answer - a case study assessment usually has more than one right answer, and as long as you can logically justify your recommendations and they stand up to questioning by the assessor, your analysis can be regarded in a positive light.
• Don't get lost in the nuances of a particular industry you are presented with in the case studies. Focus instead on tackling common challenges faced by most businesses. 
• Client focus - all companies want to keep their clientele happy. If there is a client in the case study, put plenty of emphasis on them and their needs.
• Be confident but not arrogant. When presenting, try to convey an air of knowledge and authority - without appearing overconfident or arrogant.
• Practice your presentation skills with friends or family to reduce the pressure at the actual assessment centre. 

Common Questions in the Assessment Center Case Study

There are two main types of questions that can be asked by the assessors in an assessment center case study.

Quantitative questions involve basic mathematical operations, using of the four basic operations, percentages and ratios. Qualitative questions will relate to strategic decisions, future projections, and market analysis. Popular questions would be:

• What penetration strategy do you find suitable for the market in question?
• What are the changes that company Y must go through if it seeks the preservation of existing markets?
• What are the approximate annual developmental costs of company X?

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We designed a fully customised talent centre and a range of career diagnostic tools for internal EY training and development.

Home » Resource Library » Case Studies » EY Case Study

EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transactions and advisory services and each year trains tens of thousands of new recruits to become fully qualified executives.

To help their newly qualified execs decide on the right career path, EY required the design of a Talent Centre service to provide personal career coaching and guidance.

EY believe that an integral part of building a better working world is ensuring that their employees are well matched to their role in terms of values, attitudes and motivations. EY endeavoured to create a service to help in this process as well as avoid people moving elsewhere.

Having had extensive experience of providing high volume online development services for other large clients within the finance sector, Clevry could provide a bespoke solution that was both cost effective and efficient.

• To enable Qualified Executives to understand their personal career-development profile and explore its implications on their experiences in their career to date, and on their further career path.
• To ensure that the 1:1 career coaching interventions provide powerful insights for the individual and form the basis for transforming their career to the next stage.
• To provide a service that implicitly and explicitly communicates attraction messages to encourage Level 2 (Qualified Executive) individuals to develop their career within the business rather than look for external opportunities.

Our Approach

We worked closely with existing Qualified Executives to conduct thorough role research, using focus groups to explore EYs career development themes. In parallel, we worked closely with key stakeholders including line managers, coaches and L&D managers to establish priorities for the content of the development tools.

We fed back our findings to EY and used this knowledge to develop an elegant solution tailoring existing online career diagnostic instruments to meet EY’s precise needs.

This approach offered the benefits of drawing on established, extensively researched and validated assessments, and minimised development time, whilst still enabling the inclusion of bespoke features such as:

• Tailored diagnostic content to measure the attributes critical to career development within EY.
• EY branded bespoke candidate report structure and content.

The dimensions measured by the  personality questionnaire   were selected from the Clevry library of scales to reflect the rewards, demands and challenges of different EY career paths. The EY personal strengths questionnaire illuminated the Qualified Executives’ emotional style, drivers and key behavioural strengths.

Individuals then worked alongside coaches to understand how to exploit these in order to maximise their career opportunities.

The bespoke development guidance report was designed to drive the subsequent career development process and was structured around the EY values. It included:

• Detailed narrative description of the results of the career diagnostic.
• Their potential key strengths.
• Potential career derailment factors – ‘too much of a good thing?’
• Development priorities and opportunities.
• Activity reflection page.
• Career guidance advise – potential career success areas and career turn-offs.

We also ran training workshops for the coaches to ensure that they could interpret the results confidently, with a thorough understanding of the scoring and how to give best practise feedback to the individuals.

The Results

System Launch: the program launched in 2015 with fantastic levels of enthusiasm and excellent take up from their Qualified Executives.

Feedback from individuals who had completed the process and received 1:1 sessions with the trained coaches showed:

• Increased engagement in their career development.
• Increased loyalty to EY and clearer picture about their progression path.
• Improved self awareness of strengths and areas for personal growth.

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https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2024/08/20/gcse-results-day-2024-number-grading-system/

GCSE results day 2024: Everything you need to know including the number grading system

Thousands of students across the country will soon be finding out their GCSE results and thinking about the next steps in their education.   

Here we explain everything you need to know about the big day, from when results day is, to the current 9-1 grading scale, to what your options are if your results aren’t what you’re expecting.  

When is GCSE results day 2024?  

GCSE results day will be taking place on Thursday the 22 August.     

The results will be made available to schools on Wednesday and available to pick up from your school by 8am on Thursday morning.  

Schools will issue their own instructions on how and when to collect your results.   

When did we change to a number grading scale?  

The shift to the numerical grading system was introduced in England in 2017 firstly in English language, English literature, and maths.  

By 2020 all subjects were shifted to number grades. This means anyone with GCSE results from 2017-2020 will have a combination of both letters and numbers.  

The numerical grading system was to signal more challenging GCSEs and to better differentiate between students’ abilities - particularly at higher grades between the A *-C grades. There only used to be 4 grades between A* and C, now with the numerical grading scale there are 6.  

What do the number grades mean?  

The grades are ranked from 1, the lowest, to 9, the highest.  

The grades don’t exactly translate, but the two grading scales meet at three points as illustrated below.  

The bottom of grade 7 is aligned with the bottom of grade A, while the bottom of grade 4 is aligned to the bottom of grade C.    

Meanwhile, the bottom of grade 1 is aligned to the bottom of grade G.  

What to do if your results weren’t what you were expecting?  

If your results weren’t what you were expecting, firstly don’t panic. You have options.  

First things first, speak to your school or college – they could be flexible on entry requirements if you’ve just missed your grades.   

They’ll also be able to give you the best tailored advice on whether re-sitting while studying for your next qualifications is a possibility.   

If you’re really unhappy with your results you can enter to resit all GCSE subjects in summer 2025. You can also take autumn exams in GCSE English language and maths.  

Speak to your sixth form or college to decide when it’s the best time for you to resit a GCSE exam.  

Look for other courses with different grade requirements     

Entry requirements vary depending on the college and course. Ask your school for advice, and call your college or another one in your area to see if there’s a space on a course you’re interested in.    

Consider an apprenticeship    

Apprenticeships combine a practical training job with study too. They’re open to you if you’re 16 or over, living in England, and not in full time education.  

As an apprentice you’ll be a paid employee, have the opportunity to work alongside experienced staff, gain job-specific skills, and get time set aside for training and study related to your role.   

You can find out more about how to apply here .  

Talk to a National Careers Service (NCS) adviser    

The National Career Service is a free resource that can help you with your career planning. Give them a call to discuss potential routes into higher education, further education, or the workplace.   

Whatever your results, if you want to find out more about all your education and training options, as well as get practical advice about your exam results, visit the  National Careers Service page  and Skills for Careers to explore your study and work choices.   

You may also be interested in:

• Results day 2024: What's next after picking up your A level, T level and VTQ results?
• When is results day 2024? GCSEs, A levels, T Levels and VTQs

Tags: GCSE grade equivalent , gcse number grades , GCSE results , gcse results day 2024 , gsce grades old and new , new gcse grades

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