The EY assessment process, explained

Understand EY’s SHL assessments in the UK and US, their timing, and how to practice for the role you actually applied to.

Practice SHL reasoning tests Practice interview View assessment details View hiring process

By the Game Assessment Prep research teamUpdated September 28, 2026How we research

Key takeaways

  • EY runs its early-career online assessments on SHL in the UK and US, but never names the specific SHL tests.
  • US: three sections, two untimed and one timed, typically 45–60 minutes, completed within 48 hours and once per recruitment cycle.
  • UK: a Realistic Job Preview and a behavioral skills test with chart, pattern and rule-based questions, then an Experience Day.
  • EY UK allows one program application every six months; after a rejection you wait six months (three for apprenticeships).

The EY hiring process at a glance

  1. 1Application — Choose the country, business area and program before comparing assessment advice. EY UK lets you apply for one program every six months. After a rejection, you wait six months to reapply for a graduate or undergraduate vacancy, or three months for an apprenticeship or Career Starters vacancy.
  2. 2Online assessment — On SHL in both countries. UK: a Realistic Job Preview and a behavioral skills test. US: a required skills assessment with one timed section, for applicable early-career roles.The EY SHL assessment SHL G+ practice All SHL tests
  3. 3Later selection — UK Experience Day and any final interview; other roles follow their local invitation.Process differences
  4. 4Decision — Assessment results are reviewed under the rules for that country and recruitment route.
Explore the reported assessment formatsSHL skills assessment, timed section (US) SHL interactive reasoning formats (UK)

What to expect in the EY assessment

EY runs its early-career online assessments on SHL in the UK and the US but does not name the specific SHL tests. The US timed section assesses how you analyze information and solve problems under time constraints, and the UK FAQ lists chart, pattern and rule-based questions that match SHL’s interactive reasoning formats. Match practice to the task named in your invitation.

SHL skills assessment, timed section (US)

Similar format

Official source

EY US describes one timed section "designed to assess how you analyze information and solve problems under time constraints" and says it is "not uncommon to reach the end of the timed section before completing every question." You can try practice questions in the platform before you start. EY does not name the SHL test.

SHL’s Verify Interactive G+ covers numerical, inductive and deductive reasoning in one timed test, so it is the broadest SHL practice for an unnamed reasoning section.

Source: EY US — Early Careers skills assessment FAQs

SHL Verify Interactive G+ practice
All SHL tests

SHL interactive reasoning formats (UK)

Category practice

Official source

EY UK names SHL as its online assessment platform, and its FAQ lists the question formats: interpret a table, chart or graph; move or change information on screen; drag items into the correct position; identify a pattern or apply a set of rules. Those match the tasks in SHL’s interactive numerical, inductive and deductive tests. The linked practice uses original questions, not EY’s.

Source: EY UK — Early Careers FAQs; EY UK applicant privacy notice

SHL Verify Interactive Numerical Reasoning practice
Interactive inductive Interactive deductive

If your EY invitation names an SHL test, compare every SHL test, its format and time limit and practice that one.

Good to know: Use the official sample questions first: EY lets you try practice questions in the platform before the timed section. Independent question banks are preparation aids. Neither EY country names the specific SHL tests, and an EY interview practice page does not establish the questions in your invitation.

The EY video interview: researched questions

Our EY question set supports preparation for the video interview stages described in this guide. Each question is labeled by its evidence: officially published, candidate-reported, or a practice question written for this company or role. Use the timed mock to practice answering aloud.

  1. 1The culture here at EY is very important to us — what is it about the EY culture that appeals to you in the pursuit of your CPA?Reported by multiple candidates
  2. 2Why do you want to work for EY?Reported by multiple candidates
  3. 3Tell me about yourself.Reported by multiple candidates
All 10 researched EY questions Take the EY mock interview

Which EY roles and programs does this guide cover?

Start with the country and business area in your vacancy. A UK graduate application, a US internship and an experienced consulting role should not share a single preparation checklist. The sections below separate those routes and distinguish an assessment platform from the content you may actually receive.

The useful preparation question is what you will have to do: interpret information, explain a decision, discuss an experience or demonstrate technical judgment. A provider name alone cannot answer that question. Keep the invitation and any official practice material beside your preparation plan.

UK students and graduates

EY publishes different routes for Career Starters, apprenticeships, Discover EY, internships, placements and graduates. The latter group has three or four stages; summer internship Experience Days are virtual.

Official source

Source: EY UK — How to apply

US early careers

Applicable vacancies require an SHL assessment after application. It covers experience, work style and problem solving; results form one part of a broader application review.

Official source

Source: EY US — Early Careers skills assessment FAQs

Experienced professionals

The UK experienced-hire guide describes interviews and a possible written assessment. Structure and content vary with the service line and role, so the student process is not a reliable template.

Official source

Source: EY UK — How we hire

How does the EY assessment work?

SHL runs EY UK’s online assessments

Official source

The UK applicant privacy notice states that "SHL is the platform on which online assessments, prior to assessment centre and interview stages, will be conducted." It names TopScore for scheduling, running and scoring virtual assessment center and final interview events. The notice names the platform, not the specific SHL tests.

Source: EY UK — Applicant privacy notices

The US skills assessment is an SHL assessment

Official source

EY US says the personalized invitation comes from talentcentral@shl.com after you apply, and the assessment is required for applicable Early Careers roles. You complete it within 48 hours, once per recruitment cycle, in English. EY does not share individual scores.

Source: EY US — Early Careers skills assessment FAQs

US assessment length

Official source

The US FAQ describes three sections, two untimed and one timed, with 45–60 minutes typical overall. That is working time, separate from the submission deadline.

Source: EY US — Early Careers skills assessment FAQs

UK question formats

Official source

EY UK’s FAQ says online assessment questions can ask you to choose an answer from several options, interpret a table, chart or graph, move or change information on screen, drag items into the correct position, identify a pattern or apply a set of rules, or record a video response. The assessment has a time limit, with instructions and example questions before the timed section begins.

Source: EY UK — Early Careers FAQs

UK timing is mixed

Official source

The UK FAQ says the assessment has a time limit and shows instructions and example questions before the timed section. Most untimed assessments let you return later if you are interrupted, so follow the instructions for each section rather than treating everything as a speed test.

Source: EY UK — Early Careers FAQs

Strengths and motivation

Official source

The UK framework includes adaptability, curiosity, collaboration, learning agility, resilience and relationship building. It also considers integrity, ownership, motivation, written communication and numerical skills.

Source: EY UK — Strengths

No universal game list

No evidence found

These sources do not establish a named set of HireVue or pymetrics games for all EY applicants. Recorded answers and game-based tests are different formats; one does not prove the other.

Source: EY UK — Applicant privacy notices

What happens in the EY hiring process?

UK early-career route

The application page is the primary guide to the sequence for each program.

  1. 1Submit the program-specific application. You can apply for one program every six months; after a rejection, the wait is six months for graduate and undergraduate vacancies and three months for apprenticeships and Career Starters.
  2. 2Complete the online assessments: a Realistic Job Preview covering teamwork and learning capability, then a behavioral skills test.
  3. 3Attend the Experience Day if that route includes it.
  4. 4Complete a final strengths and motivation interview where required.

Source: EY UK — How to apply

Experienced-hire interviews

The experienced-hire guidance puts the job description and relevant professional experience at the center of preparation.

  1. 1Identify the requirements of the vacancy and the service line.
  2. 2Prepare to discuss relevant experience and current developments in the sector.
  3. 3Use the interview to explore expectations, role scope and how you would work with the team.
  4. 4Complete any written exercise specified for that role.

Source: EY UK — How we hire

When is the EY assessment?

Application closing dates, invitation expiry and assessment working time are different. Use the rules for your location.

CycleApplication datesLikely assessment windowEvidence
US early-career invitationWithin 48 hours of receiptTypically 45–60 minutes overallOfficial source

The published US FAQ sets the completion window. Request needed accommodations before starting; its accommodation guidance explains how related delays are handled.

Source: EY US — Early Careers skills assessment FAQs

UK recruitment cycleCheck the live program listingUse the invitation deadlineOfficial source

The UK application page states that 2027 applications are open for some programs, and that Consulting and EY-Parthenon opportunities and apprenticeship, internship and insight programs will open shortly. Check the live listing for your program.

Source: EY UK — How to apply

How to prepare for the EY assessment process

The suggestions below are practice tasks, not predicted interview questions. Choose examples with enough detail to explain your individual contribution and the effect on other people.

1. Build a service-line explanation

Prepare a short account of why the actual work interests you. For assurance, explain a situation where reliable evidence mattered; for tax, a complex rule you investigated; for consulting, an operational problem you helped clarify. Tie it to the advertised team rather than reciting EY slogans.

2. Practice concise decisions

Take a short business article and write a recommendation in five sentences: issue, evidence, options, choice and limitation. Then record a spoken version. Review whether the conclusion follows from the evidence and whether someone unfamiliar with the subject could understand it.

3. Review numerical basics if relevant

Use small tables to practice percentage change, proportions, units and comparisons. Explain an error before repeating the exercise. Practice under time pressure only after the underlying method is reliable, and use the exact official sample format when supplied.

4. Make examples concrete

Prepare an example of learning something quickly, changing your approach after feedback and working through a disagreement. Note what you did personally, what changed and what you would do differently. Avoid memorizing a script that cannot adapt to a follow-up question.

5. Prepare questions with a purpose

Ask about the type of client work a new joiner would own, how feedback works and what good performance looks like in the first months. These questions help you assess whether the role fits your interests while showing that you understand the work.

Explore SHL assessments

EY assessment FAQ

What is the EY SHL assessment?

It is EY’s early-career online assessment, delivered on SHL’s platform. In the US it has three sections: two untimed sections about your experiences, work style and approach to situations, and one timed section on analyzing information and solving problems. It typically takes 45 to 60 minutes, must be completed within 48 hours of the invitation, can be taken once per recruitment cycle and is offered only in English.

How do I prepare for the EY SHL assessment?

For the timed section, practice reasoning with tables and charts, patterns and rule-based problems under time pressure, and use the practice questions EY offers in the platform. Our SHL Verify Interactive G+ practice covers numerical, inductive and deductive reasoning in one timed test, and our SHL hub lists each SHL test by name if your invitation names one. For the untimed sections, answer from real examples of work, school, volunteering and activities.

Does EY use SHL or HireVue?

SHL. EY UK’s applicant privacy notice says SHL is the platform for online assessments before the assessment center and interview stages, and EY US skills assessment invitations come from talentcentral@shl.com. Neither names a specific SHL test, and processes differ by country, program and stage, so follow your invitation.

Do all EY applicants take numerical reasoning?

No standalone numerical test is published for every applicant. EY UK’s FAQ lists table, chart and graph questions among possible formats, and the US timed section assesses how you analyze information and solve problems. Experienced-role assessments are specified separately.

Can I retake the US assessment?

The US FAQ allows one attempt during its validity period. Responses remain valid for the recruitment cycle; a later-cycle application may require another assessment.

Is the Experience Day always in person?

The UK guidance differentiates routes: graduate, placement and apprentice events normally use UK offices, while summer internship events are virtual. Follow your event instructions and any agreed adjustments.

How should I use interview practice?

Practice organizing real examples and answering follow-ups. The goal is a clear, specific explanation of your experience, motivation and judgment, rather than memorizing an alleged question list.

Sources and references

The sources below support this guide. Claim labels distinguish official information, candidate reports, and research inferences.

  1. How to apply

    EY UK · Accessed

  2. Early Careers FAQs

    EY UK · Accessed

  3. Early Careers skills assessment FAQs

    EY US · Accessed

  4. Data protection privacy policies for applicants

    EY UK · Accessed

  5. Strengths

    EY UK · Accessed

  6. How we hire

    EY UK · Accessed

Game Assessment Prep is independent and is not affiliated with EY or its assessment providers. Employer processes can change by program, role, country, and recruiting cycle. Follow your invitation over this guide. This guide was reviewed on . Claims are labeled by evidence strength. How we research and label claims.

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