Summary

Applying to PwC? Look no further than this guide to accelerate your PwC assessment practice.

This article includes comprehensive candidate recruitment, assessment, and practise materials for anyone applying to UK and global jobs, internships, and graduate programmes at PwC.

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

Check here for Premium game-based assessments, aptitude assessment tests and video interviews to practice and prepare for your PwC digital assessments.

If you are aiming to apply to PwC or have a PwC assessment test coming up, our text below is the best place to start.

Not sure if you should practice to prepare for the PwC assessments? Many large employers are leveraging gamified assessments as part of their recruitment processes (Institute of Student employers, 2018). A few of these major companies include Unilever, PwC, HSBC and RBS.

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

Bradley et al (2019)
In a nutshell:
  1. How to pass PwC assessment tests and process
  • Fill in your PwC application online
  • Match your application to PwC core competencies
  • Use their language/keywords from the job post in your resume
  1. Prepare for the Career Evaluation: PwC Situational Judgement Test

PwC conducts Situational Judgement tests only for experienced candidates. Practice Situational Judgement Tests (SJTs) and consider a company’s values and the skills they are looking for when completing these assessments.

  1. Practice for PwC Online Assessment Tests and PwC Game based Assessments

There are a variety of PwC aptitude tests. These may include:

Understand the many Arctic Shores game assessments used as part of the PwC game based assessments. Learn what they measure, what you need to do, and how much time they take. Practice game-based assessments similar to those used by PwC.

  1. Career Conversation: PwC Video and Telephone Interviews

Practice for your video or telephone interview by answering questions that typically come up in accountancy and consultancy interviews. Your answers need to flow and be timely. Avoid filler words. Your verbal communication should be convincing and filled with content that presents you in the best way for the job.

by running mock interviews and answering typical consultancy interview questions. For PwC interview practice, use:

  • a smartphone
  • Zoom or
  • our video interview practice platform

Our video interview practice platform contains predefined competency and industry questions and emulates the experience you will have in platforms used for employers’ interviews (Hirevue, Pymetrics, Sonru). Always record your answers and watch them develop your interview technique, timekeeping and words used. Repeat recordings until you feel satisfied.

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

  1. Career Focus: PwC Assessment Centre

There are a variety of competitive exercises during the Career Focus PwC assessment centre to find the right candidates. Ensure that you practice a variety of exercises including:

Hone your written and spoken communication techniques. Research online, prepare and practice presentation of as many business case studies as possible.

Be aware; not many get to this stage. The competition is very fierce.

  1. Get ready for your Final PwC Interview

Prepare for your 3 rounds of one-on-one interviews. Expect and practice for behavioural, technical and competency-based questions. Aim to stand out. They have interviewed dozens or hundreds of candidates at this final stage.

Refine your technique for your final PwC interview to showcase your:

  • deep knowledge 
  • understanding of the role
  • business acumen
  • passion
  • critical thinking and the ability to think on your feet

For your final interview, use the video interview platform and record yourself answering the interview questions using the STAR method.

Continue reading to get answers to these critical questions:

  1. What is the PwC hiring process?
  2. How do I pass the PwC assessment test? 
  3. What is PwC game based assessment? 
  4. How to ace the PwC video interview? 
  5. How do I prepare for PwC assessment day?

Looking into assessments with PwC, simply use your fingertips to click on the table below to practice assessments relevant to your assessment process!

Relevant Assessments to PwCPractice Now
Situational JudgementStart Practicing
Logical ReasoningStart Practicing
Verbal ReasoningStart Practicing
Numerical ReasoningStart Practicing
Game AssessmentsStart Practicing
Video InterviewsStart Practicing
Assessment CentreStart Practicing

Practice your PwC aptitude tests with us to improve your results and get ahead of your competition.

Before we dive into the PwC hiring process, let’s go over the basics of what you’ll need to know about the company.

Who is PwC?

PwC, or PricewaterhouseCoopers provides innovative solutions for operations, customers, sales and marketing, human capital and change management, finance, programme and portfolio management are offered by PwC Management Consultants. 

PwC has offices across more than 150 nations, with its headquarters in London. Price Waterhouse and Coopers & Lybrand merged to form PwC in 1998, while each of the original businesses dates to the middle of the 1800s.

PwC’s growth has allowed it to join the “Big Four,” the four largest international professional services networks.

Below are some of the business areas and job functions available at PwC that you can apply for:

PwC Business AreaJob Functions
AssuranceAudits
Regulatory compliance & reporting
Financial accounting
Risk Assurance services
TaxCorporate tax planning & Advisory
International tax structuring
Outsourced Payroll and accounts
Visa processing services 
Internal Firm ServicesClients and Markets Risk and Quality
Human Capital
Office Administration

Unsure of which of these areas is of interest to you? Explore these careers and more with the PwC Virtual Insight Programme which offers you the chance to learn valuable skills and discover which career path is of most interest to you.

To ace your application to any of the roles at PwC, research into the company is essential. You should be aware of the company values, mission and vision statements.

What are the PwC Company Values?

The PwC 5 Core values and behaviours are:

  1. Act with integrity: Expect and provide high quality service. Even when it feels difficult, speak up for what’s right.
  1. Make a difference: The actions should have an impact on our co-workers, clients, the environment and society.
  1. Care: Encourage others to develop and work in ways that bring out their best qualities.
  1. Work together: Overcome barriers to cooperate and share relationships, concepts, and knowledge.
  1. Reimagine the possible: Be open to the possibilities in every concept. Innovation and learning to try new ideas.
PwC Mission statementIn an increasingly complex world, we help intricate systems function, adapt and evolve so they can benefit communities and society – whether they are capital markets, tax systems or the economic systems within which business and society exist. 
PwC Vision statementOur purpose is to build trust in society and solve important problems. Our values define who we are, what we stand for, and how we behave.

When can I apply for PwC?

Apply as EARLY as possible. PwC reviews job applications on a rolling basis, so the sooner you apply, the higher the chances of your application being reviewed. Check your email regularly in case PwC’s HR department contacts you for more details.

Gain key insights into the PwC recruitment process and how you can master your preparation to get ahead with this short video:

PwC Online Assessments and Interview (2024) | Master in 5 Steps

With this, it’s time to jump on to the PwC Recruitment and Assessment Process. 

Let’s get started!

PwC Recruitment Process

There are hundreds of applications made for each available spot – so you need to prepare well and smash every stage of the recruitment process. 

What is the PwC application process?

Whilst the assessments used may vary depending on the entry-level or programme, the PwC recruitment process is typically made up of the following stages of assessment: 

  1. PwC Online Application Form
  2. PwC Career Evaluation: Situational Judgement Test
  3. PwC Aptitude Tests
  4. PwC Career Unlocked Game Assessments
  5. PwC Career Conversation: Video Interview
  6. PwC Career Focus Day: PwC Assessment Centre
  7. PwC Final Interview

Without further ado, let’s dive into the PwC hiring process, starting with the application form.

PwC Online Application Form

What is the PwC online application form?

The first step on your journey through the PwC application process is the online registration form and to set a good impression. To complete your PwC job application form, you will be required to fill in the following:

  • Personal and contact details
  • Education and employment history
  • Skills and qualifications
  • Adjustments due to disability or medical condition
  • Equal opportunities (optional)
PwC assessment application form
PwC Assessment Application Form
Source: PwC Careers

PwC Application tip: make sure that you meet the minimum requirements for experience and qualifications for your role. For example, many roles may require a bachelor’s degree or higher.

During your PwC application form, you will be required to submit a CV/Resume as well as additional attachments which can include an ID photo and other documentation such as transcripts, education certificates and a reference letter.

PwC Application tip: To increase your chances of getting your application accepted, put in some extra effort in building a Resume or CV. Adapt your CV with the PwC values, mission and vision in mind and use similar keywords.

When writing your CV/Resume for your PwC application, you should also avoid these 3 most common CV mistakes:

  1. Picture: Some managers may automatically reject your CV to avoid factors including discrimination. Alternatively, you may submit an ID photo during the online application.
  1. Experiences: Try to avoid listing all of your previous experiences. Instead, focus on ‘relevant’ work experiences which demonstrate the required skills listed on the job description.
  1. Errors: While this may be more obvious, it is crucial that your CV is error-free. Check your CV for errors such as spelling mistakes before you send it off as first impressions count!

For even more CV tips to ace your PwC application, check out our short video below:

How to Write the Past Experiences Section on your CV | CV Writing Guide #shorts

PwC Career Evaluation: Situational Judgement Test

What is the PwC Career Evaluation?

The PwC situational judgement test measures a candidate’s competence in areas deemed necessary for job performance. For example, this PwC behavioral assessment may look at the level of your interpersonal abilities, your capacity for teamwork, and your dispute-resolution techniques. 

What will the PwC Career Evaluation involve?

You will be presented with a video scenario and asked how you would tackle a problem. Your task is to identify and select the “best” and “worst” course of action, based on what you think a PwC employee should do.

Discover more professional hints on how to pass a PwC situational judgement test with this quick video!

What is a Situational Judgement Test (SJT)? | 2024 Candidate Guide (PwC, Deloitte, Accenture)

Good to know: PwC no longer uses situational judgement tests when recruiting for their School & College Leaver, Undergraduate or Graduate programmes. If you’re applying for one of these, it is unlikely that you’ll need to take this PwC behavioral assessment.

So what can we expect in this PwC behavioral assessment? Check out what our PwC-style Situational Judgement exercise question may appear as with our sneak peek example designed by our experts:

PwC-Style Situational Judgement Test Example

PwC Career Evaluation SJT example

So how do we ace these situational tests? We’ve got you covered with these 4 easy tips below!

4 Quick Tips to Pass your PwC Situational Judgement Test

  1. Practice various SJTs available online; this will help you prepare for and understand the format of PwC tests.
  1. Research the role. The scenarios are likely to be around what you can expect on the job, so check the job to see what tasks you may take and how to best approach these.
  1. Research PwC’s culture. This gives you a better understanding of how the company would approach various scenarios.
  1. Read all the information in your test invite email first. PwC often leaves further useful tips and guidance that you can use before you begin!

Start your PwC situational judgement test preparation, sign-up for GF’s Situational Judgement Test package today to access real questions, live test reports, and progress charts!

What other online assessments do PwC use to hire? Keep reading to find out!

PwC Online Aptitude Tests

What are the PwC aptitude tests?

PwC uses a variety of other aptitude assessment tests from SHL in their recruitment processes to assess more experienced roles. Depending on the role, your PwC assessment tests will typically include:

Good to know: The PwC Occupational Personality Questionnaire may also be used as part of PwC online tests though it won’t have as a significant impact on whether you are selected. The company uses the PwC personality test to better understand your behavioural preferences and working style.

Let’s check out what to expect in each of these assessments, starting with the PwC logical test.

PwC Logical Reasoning Test

What is the PwC logical reasoning test?

The PwC logical reasoning tests may be referred to as an abstract reasoning test. In this test, you will have 18 minutes to complete 18 questions regarding a series of 5 shapes. You will be required to identify a common rule and determine which shape comes next in the sequence.

Want to know more about logical tests? Gain key insights in this 1-minute video about this logical reasoning test you may come across in your PwC application:

What is a Logical Reasoning Test? #shorts

PwC Logical test tip: Some people find it easier to cross out all the answers that do not follow the pattern you have identified, in order to find the right answer. It might also be helpful to try to follow the pattern with your fingers on the desktop, to save time drawing the diagrams on paper.

6 Top Tips to Pass the PwC Logical Reasoning Test

We have you covered with these following 6 key tips to pass your PwC SHL logical reasoning test:

  1. Prepare by practising logical reasoning tests: Practice is key to familiarising yourself with the format and the common rules used in these tests.
  1. Take the test in a calm setting: This test requires focus, so aim to take the logic assessment in a place where you won’t be distracted.
  1. Read the instructions very carefully: Don’t assume you know what to do! Ensure to check the question before answering.
  1. Take the test one question at a time: To ensure maximum focus, concentrate on each question individually. If stuck, take an educated guess and move on.
  1. Eliminate the wrong answers first: as we covered above, reduce your number of options by seeing which ones more clearly don’t follow the pattern first.
  1. Manage your time: You will only have 1 minute per question, so ensure to keep track of the time. If you start to run over, move on to the next question.

Bonus PwC Logical test tip: Practise a variety of games, models and flow charts that all require you to think logically and sequentially. Over time, look to increase your speed when solving these types of problems.

For more hints on how to pass logical reasoning tests, don’t miss this short YouTube video where we break down our 5 best tricks to help you ace your PwC logical reasoning test.

Top 5 Logical Reasoning test tips and tricks (2024) #shorts

Practice a FREE logical reasoning test with us today, or have a go at this PwC-style logical reasoning practice question designed by our experts below:

 PwC Logical Reasoning Test Example

PwC logical reasoning test example

 In the example above you will have ONLY around 45 seconds to notice that:

  • the arrow moves around the diagram
  • shapes change from triangle to circle to square and
  • the long line is either horizontal or vertical, and then to find the right answer! There is a lot of time pressure which often leaves candidates anxious and harms their performance.

Got the answer cracked? Check out if you aced this question at the bottom of the page.

If you are looking for PwC-style Logical Reasoning Tests with answers, worked-solutions and professional score reports including personalised tips based on your performance, then GF has you covered.

What other tests do PwC use to hire? Keep reading as we cover another common PwC assessment: the verbal reasoning tests.

PwC Verbal Reasoning Test

What is the PwC verbal reasoning test?

The PwC Verbal Reasoning Test assesses your ability to accurately extract key information from a previously unseen passage of text to analyse whether the subsequent statements are true, false, or impossible to say based on the information contained in the passage.

You will be presented with statements relating to a certain passage. It’s crucial that you only base your response on the text of the paragraph, not on assumptions you could make or any prior knowledge of the subject matter.

PwC Verbal test tip: You may also be required to take questions that require you to identify synonyms or antonyms of specific words from the passage. 

The  PwC verbal reasoning test also aims at examining the candidate on the basis of their comprehension and observational skills. 

How do I pass the PwC Verbal Reasoning Test?

Check out our quick video below for 5 top tips you can use to ace your upcoming PwC verbal reasoning test:

  1. Understand the answer options. Remember that the ‘true’ answer option is for statements that are fully supported in the text, whilst ‘false’ is for fully unsupported statements. ‘Cannot say’ is when you cannot determine whether the statement is true or false based on the passage alone.
  2. Avoid outside knowledge. You need to base your answer on the passage and the passage alone.
  3. Read more. Reading is a great way to hone your verbal reasoning, practice understanding what a writer (both non-fiction and fiction) is trying to achieve with their text. What conclusion/s do they want the reader to make?
  4. Play crosswords or word puzzles. Such activities can help build your knowledge of words and help in drawing meaning from passages with more difficult words and phrases.
  5. Rest the night before! Often, candidates will attempt to do too much the night before an assessment. It is far better to get some quality sleep to make sure you are at your best.
Top 5 Verbal Reasoning Test Tips and Tricks (2024) #shorts

Bonus PwC Verbal test tip: Expand your knowledge and vocabulary by reading articles, blogs, websites and newspapers around business-related content relevant to the job you’re applying for.

Now that you know what the PwC verbal reasoning test is like, it’s time to test your verbal skills with a FREE verbal reasoning test or check out the following PwC-style Verbal Reasoning Test Example Question.

Remember, you will have around 45 seconds to answer questions like the following:

PwC-style Verbal Reasoning Test Example

PwC verbal reasoning test example

Got the answer? Check it out at the bottom of the page.

Good to know: Looking for even more PwC-style Verbal Reasoning Test with answers, worked solutions and professional score reports including personalised tips based on your performance? Then we’ve got you covered. 

Now that we’ve covered the PwC logical and verbal test, let’s check out another key assessment: the PwC numerical test.

PwC Numerical Reasoning Test

What is the PwC numerical reasoning test?

The PwC numerical test assesses your capacity to interpret numerical and graphical data and respond to questions around your analysis of the supplied data. Your accuracy and speed will be evaluated by the numerical test.

How long is the PwC numerical reasoning test?

The PwC online numerical test will have between 12 or 18 questions, and you’ll have 17 minutes to answer.

What will the PwC numerical reasoning test involve?

This PwC test will consist of multiple questions regarding a number of data tables, graphs, and charts. For each table, graph, or chart on the test, expect two questions.

You will be required to select an answer from the list of five options for each question that is related to the data table, graph, or chart that is displayed next to it.

Discover the top 3 reasons employers like PwC use numerical reasoning tests with this short YouTube Video: 

Top 3 Reasons Employers use Numerical Reasoning Tests #shorts 

How do I pass the PwC Numerical Reasoning Test?

If you haven’t done maths in a while, don’t worry! All you need is a short refresh of  basic mathematics such as ratios, percentages, and reading data off charts. The numerical reasoning test from PwC is challenging not because of the knowledge being tested, but because of the stress and time pressure.

4 Top tips to ace the PwC Numerical Reasoning Test 

  1. During taking the test, keep the necessary tools close by, such as a pencil, scale, rough sheet, etc.
  2. Explore data tables, charts, and graphs relevant to the business to gain practice.
  3. Refresh and practice a variety of calculations, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, percentages, and ratios.
  4. Practice your mental arithmetic as well as using a calculator to improve your speed and accuracy in your answers.

PwC Numerical test tip: Practice as much as you can, be mindful of time management, and read the questions carefully before responding. You can improve your chances of getting hired by keeping these suggestions in mind.

Feel free to take a FREE numerical reasoning test or kickstart your PwC assessment practice with our example numerical reasoning question below!

PwC-Style Numerical Reasoning Test Example

PwC numerical reasoning test example

Check if you got the correct answer at the bottom of the page.

If you are looking for a PwC-style Numerical Reasoning Test with answers, worked solutions and professional score reports including personalised tips based on your performance – then GF has you covered.

PwC often uses psychometric games to assess their Early Careers candidates. Continue reading to discover more about these new game-based assessments.

PwC Career Unlocked Game Assessments

What is PwC Career Unlocked?

The next stage will be the PwC game based assessments developed by Arctic Shores to gauge your cognitive talents, basic behavioural preferences, and capacities for mathematical reasoning. 

What do PwC game assessments measure?

These games assess your key skills such as: 

  1. Your speed of reaction
  2. Ability to make decisions
  3. Perseverance
  4. How well you change tactics

How to prepare for PwC game based assessment

PwC game assessment tip: It’s important to maintain your concentration throughout the entire game. To help keep focus, ensure you have a stable internet connection in a location you won’t be disturbed.

Discover more about PwC game based assessments used in recruitment in our full article, and uncover the best tips to prepare for and ace these assessments.

In this stage, PwC will ask you to take up any of the following 9 game-based tests developed by Arctic shores based on the position you are applying for.

PwC Game AssessmentSkills PracticedGF Game Practice
PwC Tickets GameAttentionCognition-A™
PwC Leaflets Game, PwC Tile Sequence Game & PwC Repeat the Sequence GameMemoryCognition-M™
PwC Balloons Game, PwC Box Scramble and PwC Cave Gem GameRisk taking, Preferences & PersonalityBART
PwC Emotions GameEmotion Recognitioni-EQ™
PwC Arrows Game and PwC Bulbs & Cogs GameAttentionFlanker Task
PwC Security Lock Game and PwC Rocket Launcher GameAttention and ResiliencePassCode™
PwC Staff Rota GameLogical Reasoning AbilityLogical Reasoning Tests
PwC Power Generators GameOrganising, Attention, and Multi-Tasking MTA-Tray™
PwC Team Selling GameRisk taking, Preferences & PersonalityBART
 Mental ArithmeticMathBubbles™

Good to know: Depending on the role, PwC may also assess you using the Team Selling game. This assessment will measure your team working, risk-taking, decision making and emotional intelligence skills.

Discover more about each of these PwC game assessments and how you can pass for them in our in-depth Arctic Shores guide here.

Start your PwC game based assessment preparation journey with GF. We provide practice game-based assessments similar to those developed by Arctic Shores assessments to help you get familiar with the most common styles of assessments.

Once we have completed the PwC games, we will shortly receive an invitation to progress to the next stage of the PwC Recruitment Process; the PwC Video Interview.

PwC Career Conversation: Video Interview

What is the PwC Career Conversation?

The PwC video interview is a pre-recorded interview. The questions are pre-set with a time limit to record your answers. The software will record your answers which will then be reviewed. This is your opportunity to tell them why you’re interested in a career with PwC. 

What does the PwC video interview involve?

There are three main sections of the PwC Video Interview: 

  1. Motivational and competency-based questions
  2. Questions on how you’d respond to different situations in the workplace.
  3. A client-based scenario with data you’ll need to analyse. You’ll need to propose a solution to the problem you’re presented with.

Curious about what your PwC video interview may be like? Watch this short video to develop your understanding of video interviews:

What is a Video Interview? #shorts

7 Key Tips to Ace the PwC Video Interview

  1. Practice your answers in front of the mirror or use technology to mimic the experience, answer predefined questions for consultancy interviews, analyse your recorded answers and get feedback. When answering skills/ job experience-related questions use the STAR framework.
  2. Dress smartly. Make sure you’re well-presented and dressed as if you are going to work. Although it’s a video interview, first impressions still count!
  3. Get the room ready. Position your camera at eye level and make sure your microphone is working ahead of the interview.
  4. Head to somewhere quiet. Make sure you are in a quiet space with no distractions in the background.
  5. Access the invitation link ahead of time, and test that everything works well. DO NOT leave this task till 5 minutes before the start of your interview!
  6. Have a pen and paper ready. Before you record your answer to each question, you will be given 30-60 seconds of prep time to analyse what is being asked. Take this time to plan your response and write down some notes.
  7. Maintain eye contact. During the recording, it’s important to look up and keep your eyes focused on the camera, so try not to rely on your notes too much. Answer with confidence.

Use GF Practice Video Interviews to record yourself, practice your answers, observe your behaviour and improve as you go – prepare yourself to make the best impression during your video interview.

PwC career conversation interview questions

Once you’ve aced your PwC interview, you will shortly be invited to the next and final stage in the recruitment process: the PwC assessment day.

PwC Career Focus Day: PwC Assessment Centre

What is the PwC Career Focus day?

The PwC assessment centre is the final stage of your assessment process, during which senior representatives will evaluate you virtually based on how you behaved during numerous exercises that represented working in a real-world situation.

The assessment tasks you’ll take depend on the role, and often include:

Let’s find out more about each of these exercises below!

What is the PwC Written Communication Exercise?

The PwC written exercises are tests used to evaluate your written communication skills, as well as your knowledge in the field you are applying for. These written exercises often include a case study or scenario based around the requirements of the role.

Good to know: For example in marketing, a potential candidate is expected to write a report or an email. A Written excercise will provide employers with an understanding of the candidate’s verbal comprehension, job knowledge, and communication skills needed to carry out specific activities required in the role.

7 Tips to Ace your PwC Written Exercise

  1. Research the company and the role: Researching a company before an assessment is crucial, as it helps to understand the behaviours and skills required.
  1. Learn the industry language: Researching the industry vocabulary will help in better understanding the task at hand.
  1. Practice: PwC practice tests will help prepare you. For example, ensure you engage in written exercises provided online to get yourself familiarised with the tasks you may encounter during the written exercise.
  1. Keep an eye on the time: Keep a check on the time as you progress and spread your time across smaller tasks to ensure you progress and finish on time.
  1. Stay calm and focused: Written assessments are known to make candidates nervous. Stay calm and remember how well-prepared you are for the assessment.
  1. Proper comprehension and communication: Clear writing is still vital as there is no guarantee of an assessor’s objectivity if they have to spend a significant part of their time trying to understand what you have written. 
  1. Re-read before you submit: After you have completed your written assessment, make sure to check for any grammatical errors or spelling.

What are the PwC Aptitude Tests?

You’ll be asked to retake some of the aptitude tests you previously took online (typically numerical or logical reasoning tests) on the assessment day.

  • These tests are given to check your speed as well as your accuracy, and are often used to verify your results of the previous round of online assessments.
  • And these aptitude tests can be more challenging than the previous PwC online tests because here the environment will be much more stressful as you may be monitored.

What is the PwC Individual or Group In-tray Exercise?

The PwC in-tray exercise is a simulation of a real work scenario used in the selection process for certain job roles. This assessment aims to evaluate your work behaviour and attitudes, as well as your time management and communication skills.

What happens during a PwC in-tray exercise?

For the majority of PwC in-tray exercises, you will typically be given the following information:

  • Role description or brief: A scenario or context describing the role and responsibilities of the individual in the simulated work environment
  • Tasks: A set of tasks or documents related to the role, such as emails, memos, reports, or other information
  • Instructions: Specific instructions or questions to guide the individual in completing the tasks
  • A list: A list of key staff and employees that you may need to contact or interact with during the exercise
  • A calendar of the upcoming months
  • Time frame: A timeline or deadline for the completion of the tasks
  • Evaluation criteria: what the assessor will be looking for.

Good to know: We understand the importance of being well-prepared for an in-tray exercise. That’s why our team at GF provides practice in-tray assessments to help you hone your skills and feel confident on the day of the real assessment.

What is the PwC Presentation Exercise?

During the PwC presentation exercise, you will be given a candidate brief and asked to prepare a presentation on a given case study. The presentations do not require any preparation ahead of the PwC assessment centre, and the topic will depend on the role you’re applying for. 

5 Top Tips to Pass the PwC Presentation Exercise

  1. Practice timing: These are often timed, so ensure that your presentation fits comfortably within the time limit. Ensure the presentation flows well.
  2. Monitor your body language: Make sure that your body language conveys confidence and professionalism. Keep relaxed eye contact and use subtle hand gestures.
  3. Make sure to pronounce your words clearly: Your spoken communication and confidence will likely be assessed, so ensure to speak clearly and monitor your tone.
  4. Write down the essentials: Take note of all the essential information provided in the brief. Use the information given to support your presentation.
  5. Engage the audience: Allow time for questions and ask the assessor if they’re looking for anything specific before you begin

Good to know: Practice assessment centre exercises and boost your confidence in advance of your PwC Career Focus day by preparing with our complete sample assessor marking guidelines and expert guidance to help ace your PwC assessment centre exercises.

Final PwC Interview

Congratulations, you’re almost there!

What is the final PwC interview?

The final PwC interviews stage is a series of one-to-one interviews with the partner or director from the business area you want to join. These conversations are mainly to check how you will fit with the company culture and the team.

What is the PwC interview process?

The PwC interview process consists of 3 Rounds:

  1. HR Round

The questions in this round will focus mostly on your resume, prior experiences, and general HR inquiries. This round also assesses your communication skills and behaviours. 

PwC Final Interview tip: To improve your answers for this round, ensure you understand the company’s mission statement and guiding principles in the ‘About PwC’ section of their website.

Common questions asked during a PwC HR interview

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions during a PwC HR interview:

  • Describe your resume in detail.
  • Why PwC?
  • In five or ten years, where do you see yourself?
  • Tell me about a challenging circumstance you had to handle.
  • What long-term ambitions do you have?
  • What do you consider to be your strong and weak points?
  1. Technical Round

This round measures your technical abilities and competencies for specialised roles such as data analytics and cyber security. This is a very important and difficult stage to crack, so make sure you keep calm, take a deep breath and then answer the question asked to you. 

During the technical round, your interviewers will thoroughly go over your CV and ask you questions about the prior projects and technologies you listed on your resume. 

Depending on the role, you should be proficient in at least one of the programming languages, such as C, C++, Java, or Python.

PwC technical interview question examples

The following are some examples of technical interview questions:

  1. What is the difference between C & C++?
  2. What is the difference between linear and non-linear data structures?
  3. How does merge sort work?
  4. How complex is the merge sort in terms of time and space?

PwC Final Interview tip: Don’t be afraid to ask for a moment to think about your answer or to repeat the question. They are looking for how you think on your feet using your technical skills. 

  1. Partner Round

This round is quite simple compared to the technical round. Here they test how well you can handle pressure. They will provide you with hypothetical situations, where you will be required to answer questions and complete tasks. This round aims to assess your prioritisation and time management skills. 

Here are 5 tips to ace the PwC Partner Round interview:

  1. Keep it conversational. Your responses should be short and clear. Demonstrate active listening through making notes and asking questions.
  1. Make notes on the facts. Ensure you are aware of the key information provided by the interviewer before you answer, including any data or sources given.
  1. Consider PwC’s culture. When approaching these scenarios, think about PwC’s values and how you can reflect these in your answer.
  1. Know your resume inside-out. Be prepared to talk about each section as you will be asked questions based on what you have written.
  1. Prepare a set of questions to ask. Be it regarding the job or asking their views on the trends in the industry. This will also show you have done your research.

PwC Final Interview tip: Ensure that examples used in your answers for any behavioural questions demonstrate: leadership, management and Relationship building skills.

Ready to take your interviewing skills to the next level? Discover what top employers such as PwC, Deloitte, Amazon and Google commonly ask candidates with over 39 employer interview sets with our video interview practice platform today.

Once you have impressed in your PwC Career Focus day and interviews, you will shortly receive an offer and be invited to the PwC Career Launch event. Congratulations!

But wait! Are you a recent graduate and want to kickstart your career with PwC? 

You have come to the right place. Let us walk you through the opportunities that PwC has for students and graduates.

PwC Student and Graduate Programmes

There are plenty of PwC Internships, apprenticeships and graduate scheme placements that will pave your way to a brighter future. On their website, you may learn more about the campus activities and submit an online job application.

Here, are the three main career options available for students and graduates at PwC:

Let us discuss each of these options briefly. 

PwC Apprenticeships

You can join PwC after your A-levels or equivalent and start earning while you work towards a professional accounting qualification.

PwC Higher apprenticeship (CI) could be right for you; working in any of the following industries:

  • Advisory: PwC Advisory teams use local and global knowledge to help challenge conventions and introduce and deliver strategies that work specifically for the client.
  • Assurance: Assurance is the largest of PwC’s business areas.Organizations must have a thorough understanding of a client’s business in order to provide advice that is truly well-informed. 

This includes markets, technology, people, management, and money.

  • Tax: PwC’s expertise covers every conceivable area of tax from corporate to personal.

PwC look after their local and international clients – UK companies, and multinationals, but also trusts, partnerships and private individuals.

What will you learn while undergoing training?

  • PwC introductory training will give you a good grounding in book-keeping, and auditing or tax-specific skills.
  • Formal study, on-the-job experience and coaching from colleagues mean you’ll continually pick up new skills and develop your business knowledge.
  • Regular feedback on your performance and use it to keep your career moving forward.

Eligibility Requirements

PwC seeks outstanding A-Level school graduates with at least 112 UCAS points.

Check their website for current openings and to join the largest network of professional services firms in the world. 

PwC Student Programmes

During the program, you’ll undertake challenging and relevant work through client engagements, networking events and other exciting opportunities. You’ll go through an induction during the first few days with the firm.

A supervisor will be given to you, to supervise and mentor you throughout the duration of your internship. 

You can be given the option of accepting a full-time position with the company after the internship, depending on the needs of the company. Different student programmes include:

  • Tax Apprentice Programme (TAP): TAP is a structured internship programme that provides on-the-job training, formal training, client involvement, coaching and mentorship from industry leaders, and more. 
  • Co-op placement at PwC: Several universities need work experience as a requirement for your degree programme. During this time, you will normally spend three periods of three months learning practical skills for your academic programme.
  • PwC Associates Programme: You will benefit from a professionally planned programme at PwC, as well as unrestricted support from a variety of experts. A coach will be assigned to you, and you’ll collaborate with various managers on client engagements.

PwC Graduate Programmes

To finish the PwC Graduate Program is a journey. An experience built around key stages that provides everything you could look for in a programme, all the while teaching new skills and revealing more about PwC.

Here are some of the PwC Graduate programmes:

  • Accounting Graduate Programme
  • STEM Graduate Programme
  • Commerce Graduate Programme
  • Law Graduate Programme

Ensure to check the PwC website regularly for the current opportunities that you can apply for!

Keep reading to discover even more answers to frequently asked questions about the PwC application process.

PwC Assessment FAQs

Can I submit more than one PwC application at once?

Absolutely, however PwC screens one application for an open position at a time. If your first choice is not available, they might still take you into consideration for your second choice. This will be subject to the business needs and requirements.

What should I do if I can't locate a position that suits my qualifications?

If you are a graduate, experienced professional, or intern and are unable to discover a position that matches your qualifications, search for terms “talent pool.” A talent pool is a repository of applicant profiles interested in working with PwC.

Are PwC assessments challenging?

Although PwC test evaluations might be challenging, they are also tremendously rewarding. The assessments are made to assess your cognitive abilities and knowledge, but also your behaviours and workplace personality. Many candidates tend to fail at this stage.

How long is the PwC internship?

Although it differs from business area to business area, each has a standard format and lasts 6 to 8 weeks. Most likely, the first week will be a residential training session to familiarize you with your clients, and colleagues.

Practice and Register with GF to get your job with PwC first time

Do you want to pass your PwC assessments the first time? Sign up for tools offered by GF, the only aptitude practice test experts that provide tests to over 100 UK universities and their students, and also across Asia and continental Europe.

Go to GF now and select from the range of products we offer at no risk. We offer a comprehensive premium package with a full set of assessment tools for job candidates (numerical, logical, verbal reasoning, situational judgment tests, assessment centre exercises and more). Buy with peace of mind without commitment to a full 100% money-back guarantee.

Answers to questions:

Logical reasoning test: C

Numerical reasoning test: C

Verbal reasoning test: B

VIEW OUR TEST OPTIONS