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Here’s what you’ll uncover in this guide:
The NHS virtual assessment centre aims to evaluate you on different assessment centre exercises and interview sessions. The assessment centre exercises as part of your NHS graduate scheme assessment centre may include individual and group exercises, including interviews.
During your NHS assessment centre, you can expect the following exercises:
NHS Group Assessment:
The NHS group assessment exercise aims to evaluate your interpersonal skills and ability to work in a team. Here, your recruiters will observe how you will collaborate with the other 4-6 candidates to best solve the given task.
NHS Job Simulation Exercise:
Depending on the job role, your recruiter may require you to attempt a variety of NHS job tests as part of your NHS assessment centre. These NHS job tests help recruiters screen you for the technical and soft skills necessary for the job role.
NHS Role Play Exercise:
The NHS role-play exercise aims to assess your ability to play the job role you are applying for. You can expect this exercise as part of your hiring for the NHS graduate scheme and apprenticeship.
NHS In-Tray Exercise:
The NHS in-tray exercises are usually part of the NHS graduate scheme recruitment process. This paper-based simulation of a real work scenario helps recruiters assess your potential to handle the role’s responsibilities, including your work style.
NHS Case Study:
The NHS case study exercise is part of the NHS recruitment process for roles like the clinical psychologist. Here you will be given a case study to solve and prepare a report with your suggestions, followed by a Q&A round.
NHS Presentation Exercise:
The NHS presentation exercise aims to assess your confidence and presentation skills. You can usually expect this exercise in the final interview round of your NHS graduate scheme and apprenticeship hiring process.
NHS Final Interview:
The NHS final interview evaluates you with 3-4 rounds of interviews that may include a group interview, panel interview and one-on-one interview, each lasting 30-45 minutes.
Good to Know: Depending on the location you are applying for in the NHS, the types of virtual assessment centre exercises that you may attempt may vary.
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Read on to discover the hiring process for NHS jobs.
The NHS hiring process depends on the role that you are applying for. Along with the assessment centre stage, the NHS recruitment process could typically have the following stages:
Discover all the stages of the NHS application process here!
Read on for our top tips on how to pass the NHS assessment centre.
Discover our top tips to pass the NHS assessment centre to boost your preparation below!
Practice assessment centre exercises with our practice package to prepare for the NHS assessment centre.
Let’s use the tips above to practice some NHS interview questions below.
Your NHS interview questions may range from competency-based, strength-based, motivational, value-based and technical. Here are some of the common types of questions to prepare beforehand, before sitting for your NHS final interview.
Below are some practice NHS interview questions, along with practice tips on how to answer them.
How to Answer: This question aims to assess your organisational and time-management skills, especially under time pressure. Answer using the STAR+R format in a way that demonstrates your learning experience.
Good Answer:
Situation:
During my last clinical psychology internship, I had to shadow my supervisor and also prepare a report for an urgent case presentation by the end of the day.
Task:
My task was to ensure I could attentively shadow the therapy session while also completing the report before the end of the day.
Action:
I prioritised the therapy session first since the diagnosis was similar to the one to be covered for the case presentation. Later, I immediately headed down to prepare the report.
Result:
My supervisor appreciated my ability to use my insights from the therapy session in the case presentation report. She was also impressed by my ability to handle both tasks effectively under time pressure.
Reflection:
Looking back, my ability to prioritise and incorporate creative problem-solving and efficient planning skills helped me tackle both tasks smoothly.
How to Answer: This question helps the recruiter assess your counselling skills, like empathy and open-mindedness, alongside emotional regulation. Use STAR+R to outline how you approach the situation and how this learning experience built your skills for the job role.
During my last internship at a clinic, my supervisor asked me to help a frustrated patient calm down ahead of the counselling session.
My goal was to empathise with and validate his struggle and ensure that he could be positive about the recovery ahead of his counselling session with my supervisor.
I maintained my composure and used my counselling skills to build rapport and allowed him to vent. I helped him build confidence in his recovery.
The patient calmed down and expressed gratitude for making him feel heard. My supervisor lauded my patient handling skills as she could see a significant change in his attitude, and his trust in the therapeutic process improved.
Looking back, effective counselling skills and maintaining calm under pressure with a patient-oriented approach helped me defuse the situation. This helped me as a medium to restore the patient’s trust in his recovery and healthcare.
Want to know what questions could come up in your NHS interviews? Practice the Essentials with us and discover more potential NHS interview questions with our Question Identifier Tool (QIT)!
Once you’ve impressed your NHS interviewers using our super helpful tips, you may shortly receive an offer from the area you’ve applied to. Congratulations!
But wait, before you go, you should go ahead and read about the NHS early career opportunities you can apply to.
This NHS graduate scheme assessment centre aims to evaluate you on its core values, along with the following skills:
The NHS group assessment exercise mainly aims to assess your ability to:
The NHS role play exercise requires you to demonstrate a short 10-minute role play in the given job role. The recruiter will evaluate your persuasion skills, communication skills and understanding of the role’s responsibilities through a Q&A round.
Depending on the job role, your recruiter may aim to assess you for skills, such as organisational and prioritisation skills, necessary for the job role. Following exercises as part of your NHS in-tray exercise round:
In the NHS case study exercise, depending on the job role, the 3-member panel may assess your clinical skills and effective problem-solving skills. You will be given 15 minutes to read the case and then prepare the plan of action.
The NHS presentation measures your ability to demonstrate a professional presentation under time pressure, usually through a short 15-minute presentation.
Your NHS final interview can be either in-person or online and individually or with a group, depending on the location and job role. This NHS interview round usually combines with the NHS assessment centre exercises to facilitate comprehensive candidate evaluation.
Prepare for the NHS assessment centre with our expert-made assessment centre practice exercises used by over 150 UK universities and their students, and also across Asia and continental Europe. Practice with peace of mind with commitment to a full 100% money-back guarantee if you do not pass your job tests.
Prepare for the NHS assessment centre with our expert-made assessment centre practice exercises used by over 150 UK universities and their students, and also across Asia and continental Europe.
Practice with peace of mind with commitment to a full 100% money-back guarantee if you do not pass your job tests.
Click the links below to uncover more about the NHS recruitment process:
This article was last updated on 9 June 2026. All information provided is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication, based on publicly available sources. For the most up-to-date details, please verify directly with the employer.
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