KPMG UK's graduate process starts with two online assessments: an untimed skills assessment where you rank responses to work scenarios, and a 36-minute timed cognitive assessment of numerical and logical reasoning. Successful candidates then record a six-question video interview before an in-person Launch Pad. This page covers what the KPMG online assessment is, its format and timings, how it is scored, the rules to know before you start, how to prepare and a practice plan.
What the KPMG online assessment is
KPMG publishes its own stage-by-stage guide. The skills assessment works like a situational judgment test: you rank responses to work scenarios by how much each is like you, and KPMG suggests allowing about 20 minutes. The cognitive assessment covers numerical and logical reasoning, including interpreting information and drawing conclusions. KPMG links to SHL practice tests for both; earlier cycles used Cappfinity job simulations and, according to one prep provider, game-based tasks, which is why older guides describe a different format.
For the interviews that follow, see the KPMG interview process and Big Four interviews in the UK.
Format and timings
| Part | What it involves | Time and questions |
|---|---|---|
| Skills assessment | Rank responses to work scenarios by how much each is like you | Untimed; KPMG suggests about 20 minutes |
| Cognitive assessment | Numerical and logical reasoning, interpreting data and drawing conclusions | Timed: 36 minutes |
| Video interview | Six pre-recorded questions presented by an AI avatar named Leah, with set preparation time | Allow 40 minutes |
| Launch Pad | Half-day in-person event with assessed and non-assessed activities | Offer within two working days if successful |
Total: about 56 minutes for the two online assessments, then about 40 minutes for the video interview, according to KPMG's guide.
How it is scored
- Results from the two assessments decide whether you are invited to the video interview.
- A member of KPMG's Student Recruitment team reviews and scores the recorded video answers.
- Applications a few grades short of the entry criteria are still reviewed alongside assessment performance, KPMG says.
- Everyone receives a personalised skills feedback report after the online assessments.
Rules to know before you start
- KPMG says assessments must be completed independently, without outside help or AI, and breaches can lead to withdrawal.
- Use a desktop or laptop with a stable connection; KPMG recommends Chrome.
- KPMG says it may re-test elements of the online assessments later in the process.
- The job preview quiz at the application stage is not assessed.
How to prepare
- Do the SHL practice tests KPMG links to for both the behaviour-based and cognitive assessments.
- For the cognitive test, practice drawing conclusions from tables and short data sets under a 36-minute clock.
- Rank skills-assessment options as you would actually behave; consistency matters more than looking perfect.
- Rehearse six video answers aloud with a preparation pause, covering motivation for KPMG and your chosen line of service.
- Book a Launch Pad date early if invited; KPMG lists dates in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol, Glasgow and Leeds for 2026 to 2027.
A practice plan
- Day 1: read the employer's invitation for which tests you will take, then do the publisher's official practice questions untimed.
- Days 2 and 3: timed practice on your weakest test type, reviewing every mistake.
- Days 4 and 5: full timed runs in the same browser and device you will use.
- Day 6: rest, check your setup, and plan a quiet time slot.
- Day 7: take the test in one sitting, early in the deadline window.
Related guides: UK assessment centres, the Watson Glaser test, the SHL assessment.
On the day, and the mistakes to avoid
- Open the invitation early and note the deadline, the tests included and the time each takes.
- Use a laptop or desktop with a current browser, on a stable connection, with notifications silenced.
- Have paper, a pen and, if the instructions allow it, a calculator ready before you start.
- Read every instruction and example screen; formats differ more than people expect.
- Take the tests in a quiet room in one sitting, at a time of day when you are sharp.
- If something breaks, take a screenshot, note the time and contact the employer straight away.
Mistakes that cost candidates:
- Treating untimed or 'as many as you can' tests casually: speed and accuracy are usually both recorded.
- Bringing outside knowledge into reasoning items that must be judged only on the information given.
- Answering personality questions as the 'ideal' candidate instead of honestly, which shows up as inconsistency.
- Starting on a phone when the publisher recommends a computer.
- Leaving the test until the deadline, when any technical problem becomes fatal.
What happens after the KPMG online assessment
Results usually go to the employer, who compares them with the profile for the role. Shortlisted candidates move on to a video interview, an assessment centre or a first interview, so start preparing for those while you wait. For the next stage, see our guide to online assessments.
Where CoPilot Interview fits
Online assessments are tests you take on your own: outside help is not allowed, and proctoring settings can flag other apps, tab switches or a second voice. Practice beforehand instead. CoPilot Interview is an AI interview assistant; its free AI mock interview prepares you for the interviews that follow the assessment, with questions built from your résumé and the job description and each spoken answer scored out of ten. The free plan gives 15 minutes a day of live help in sessions of up to 15 minutes, with AI mock interviews included. Read the invitation carefully and follow your employer's rules.
Disclosure: CoPilot Interview is our product, so weigh what we say about it accordingly.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the KPMG cognitive assessment?
36 minutes, according to KPMG. The skills assessment before it is untimed, with about 20 minutes suggested.
Is the KPMG skills assessment a situational judgment test?
In effect, yes: you rank responses to work scenarios by how much each is like you.
What is the KPMG video interview like?
Six pre-recorded questions presented by an AI avatar called Leah, with preparation time before each answer. A member of the recruitment team scores it, and KPMG suggests allowing 40 minutes.
What is the KPMG Launch Pad?
An in-person half-day event with assessed and non-assessed activities. KPMG says successful candidates get an offer within two working days.
Can I use AI tools during the KPMG online assessment?
No, unless the instructions explicitly allow it. Assessments are meant to be taken on your own, and proctoring settings can flag other apps, tab switches or pasted code. Use AI tools to practice beforehand, and follow your employer's rules.
Practice this interview before the real one
The AI mock interview builds questions from your resume and the job description, reads them aloud and scores each spoken answer out of 10. Included on the free plan.
Start a mock interview