PwC (formerly PricewaterhouseCoopers) is one of the largest professional service businesses in the world, helping organisations and individuals with assurance, tax and advisory services. With a presence in more than 135 countries and employing more than 360,000 people, PwC is a highly sought-after place of employment, with a competitive application process.
PwC’s UK early-careers process uses SHL-hosted behavioural and cognitive assessments. The cognitive part covers numerical, inductive and deductive reasoning. Video interviews and later assessments follow for selected candidates.
Use the route that matches your vacancy. The guidance below identifies the programme or location it covers.
SHL assessments, video and assessment centre
The SHL-hosted stage includes an untimed behavioural profile and a timed cognitive test covering numerical, inductive and deductive reasoning. A recorded video interview and virtual assessment centre follow. Graduate applicants are then matched to a business area before the final in-person business assessment.
Process sources checked 11 September 2026 · Your invitation takes priority for role and location details.
Read a staffing table and calculate a department’s share of the workforce. This is independent practice from Practice Aptitude Tests, not an actual PwC assessment question.
Practise with our independent preparation tests, then review the working behind each answer.
As one of the ‘Big Four’, PwC is consistently voted one of the world’s best places to work and receives hundreds of thousands of job applications a year. Yet fewer than 40% of those who take the aptitude tests as part of the PwC application process will pass.
Whether you’re interested in a career in law, auditing, consulting, HR or tech, there’s a huge range of opportunities at PwC. As well as helping you to grow in your chosen field, PwC also invests in your personal development, making it a great place to work at any stage in your career journey.
The graduate schemes and senior management roles in particular attract some of the UK’s brightest minds and best talent, so it’s important to go into the application process ready to work hard and thoroughly prepare for the different tests and questions you’re likely to come up against.
The hiring process can take up to six weeks from your online application to the final assessment day.
The PwC application process will vary depending on the level of the role you’re applying for, and the industry.
As with any application process, the best way to start is to find out as much information as you can about the process and what’s expected of you. Doing additional research into the role, the company’s values, and the job description will help you to shape and tailor your application accordingly.
Throughout the process, PwC will assess you against its key competencies: the attributes you’ll need to be a good fit for the role and the company. Those competencies are:
The online application is the first stage of the process, and your first opportunity to make a good impression.
As well as information about your education and work history, the form will require you to answer a few motivational questions. It’s worth reiterating that it’s essential the information you provide is honest and accurate, so take time to review and edit it before sending.
It can be tempting to wait until the deadline to send your application, but with PwC the earlier you apply the better chance you give yourself of moving onto the next step of the process. This is because applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
PwC’s UK early-careers assessment is hosted on SHL. An unscored activity, Bringing our values to life, helps you consider the working culture. The assessed stages include an untimed behavioural profile and a timed cognitive assessment covering numerical, inductive and deductive reasoning.
Use the preparation resources supplied at the start of your application. Check the on-screen timing rather than assuming the former Career Unlocked game format still applies.
Numerical reasoning is part of the UK early-careers cognitive assessment. Practising charts, tables, ratios and percentages can help you become more confident with business data.
As with most numerical reasoning tests, you’ll be expected to analyze and calculate information from a table or graph using fractions, ratios, or percentages.
The test will be multiple choice, but don’t be fooled into thinking this makes it easy. You’ll have a tight time limit in which to answer the questions, so it’s important to find a balance between speed and accuracy.
If you’ve made it through the testing portion of the process, you’ll then be asked to take part in an on-demand video interview hosted on SHL.
This is your first real encounter with anyone at PWC, so it’s important to make a good first impression. Even though it’s over the video, interview preparation is key. Dressing smartly, remembering to speak clearly, and looking at the interviewer when you’re talking to them is essential.
The video interview is your chance to sell yourself and show how passionate you are about a career with PwC. You may be asked why you want to work for PwC, what interests you about the role, and other similar questions.
Use the preparation and recording time shown on screen. Keep your response focused and support it with a clear example from your experience.
The virtual assessment centre helps PwC assess the skills needed for its early-careers roles. Use the resources supplied with your invitation for the exercises. For graduates, matching to a business area and office comes before the final business assessment.
This final assessment is an in-person interview with a senior leader in the matched business area. Prepare to discuss your experience, motivation and what you learned during earlier stages.
It’s an achievement to make it this far. And if you do, for some roles your assessment will culminate in a final one-on-one interview with a partner, manager or director.
The key focus for your potential employer is to determine whether you’d be a good fit for the role and to get evidence of your experience.
Try to remain calm, listen carefully to the questions and reply clearly and confidently.
What candidates ask us most often
Like any challenge, the PwC tests can be tough if unprepared. They’re designed to measure aptitudes that are critical in the high-stakes world of auditing and it’s essential to go in with a clear mind and sharp focus.
Preparing for PwC tests is best achieved through practice. The more you familiarize yourself with the test types and formats, the better your performance. Practice Aptitude Tests offers a wide range of practice tests and resources tailored for this very purpose.
The recruitment process at PwC can vary based on many factors, including role and department. While some steps are swift, it can take several weeks or even months to go through the entire process from application to final decision.
PwC’s stated values are to act with integrity, make a difference, care, work together, and reimagine the possible. Throughout the hiring process, PwC looks for people who can demonstrate these values in how they work.
Rated 4.9 out of 5 across 119 reviews. A selection:
The main challenge was beating the time constraint. The questions in itself were not that difficult, but the answers require time to be worked out
I like that the test allowed us to skip questions and come back. I enjoyed that a handful of questions were designated per topic
Overall, the test was very well designed.
PwC is a trademark of its respective owner. Practice Aptitude Tests is not affiliated with PwC and our practice tests are not endorsed by them. Visit PwC careers.
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