Ace Your EY Online Assessment With EY Aptitude Tests Full Preparation [2024]

This PrepPack™ includes practice for each test you will encounter during the Ernst & Young recruitment process.

These include Capp-style situational judgment tests (SJT), critical, numerical and verbal thinking assessments.

Continue reading to learn more about the EY aptitude tests and how they play into the EY recruitment process. 

Being one of the world's major or ‘Big 4’ consultancy firms, landing a job at Ernst and Young can be quite difficult.

Note: EY has EY member firms and affiliates like 'Studio Legale Tributario', 'Allied for Accounting and Auditing' and MANCERA, S.C.. 

The stages included in the EY hiring process are:

Step 1: Online Application 

All applications for EY jobs must be completed online from their website. You will find two portals for jobs once you are there: those for experience professionals and students/entry-level jobs. Once you find a suitable position to apply for, you will be prompted to create a new user account. From there, you will need to complete the online application and upload your CV. 

Step 2: Online Assessments

If your application and CV have passed the initial screening process, you should receive an email with instructions to complete various recruitment tests. You will have up to 72 hours to complete the online tests.  

Step 3: Telephone Interview

If you successfully passed the online testing round, you may be asked to participate in an interview over the phone. Expect questions regarding your application, CV and why you feel you are the best fit for the role. 

Step 4: Assessment Centre (EY experience Day)

In this stage of the hiring process you will meet with other applicants to participate in group and role play activities, case studies and presentations (depending on the role you have applied for). Remain open during each exercise and be mindful of your behaviour while completing them as well as how you are interacting with the other applicants and the interviewer(s).  

Step 5: Final Interviews

This is the last stage before the company makes their decision as to whether to hire you. These interviews may be held one-on-one, in a group with other applicants or before a hiring panel. Depending on the role, you may need to sit more than one interview.  

There are several assessments you will encounter during the EY hiring process regardless of the role you have applied for. These assessments include:  

EY Situational Strengths Test (SST) – The Situational Strengths Test or SST is a type of situational judgment test (SJT). The SST includes 16 questions, each accompanied by a video and text depicting a work-related scenario.

These questions will come with 5 possible responses for how you would resolve the situation at hand. You must rate each of these responses on a scale from 1 (most likely) to 5 (least likely).  

For example:  

You have finished your assigned work early for an existing client. There are several other tasks that you must accomplish within the next two weeks, but nothing is urgent for today. You must produce an article for the company’s blog as well as some other administrative jobs to take care of.  

What do you do?  

1. Spend some time learning more about the task you have just completed.  
2. Email your manager asking for a meeting to discuss your work plans.  
3. Work on the blog.  
4. Email other graduates asking them if they need any help on anything.  
5. Look at your calendar and see what time you must complete your administrative tasks.  

EY Business Behaviours Test – This assessment is very similar to the SST in that it presents you with work-based scenarios likely to come up during your time of employment with EY.

Just like with the SST, you will encounter many different options for dealing with each new situation. You will need to rate each of these options from 1 (most likely) to 5 (least likely) regarding how you would respond. This test is in text rather than video format. 

For example: 

11:00 - You are scheduled to meet a client with your supervisor, but she has just told you that she is running late and has asked you to start the meeting without her. 

What do you do? 

1. Make small talk with the client until your supervisor arrives. 
2. Give a brief summary of what you and your supervisor are going to be talking about so that the client is prepared. 
3. Speak to the client about yourself, how long you’ve been with the company and how you are enjoying your job so far. 
4. Begin the meeting. Your supervisor will be able to pick up where you left off. 
5. Tell the client you are both running late. 

If you chose to give the client a brief summary, your next question will be regarding the summary you gave. 

EY What’s Your Mindset Questionnaire - This is a short test that focuses on five specific characteristics: 

• Learning a new language 
• Attention to detail 
• Problem-solving 
• Like and understand new technology 
• Ability to concentrate 

There are four sets of questions and in each category, you need to rank the five characteristics, either how they most or least relate to you.

This test is like a personality test as you are asked similar questions repeatedly.  

Depending on the role, you may be required to take one or both of the following assessments.  

Numerical Reasoning Test
The numerical test looks at your aptitude for maths through a series of questions using tables and graphs. In each question, you are shown the numerical information needed to answer using basic mathematical functions.

Some of the questions are multiple choice while others ask you to provide the answer. You are evaluated based on the accuracy of your answers and how long each question takes you to complete.  

Verbal Reasoning Tests
The purpose of a verbal reasoning test is to assess your written and verbal communication skills, as well as your ability to quickly analyse text.

You will be presented with a passage of text that will either be in the form of an instructional manual or discussing a topic. There are two types of questions in this test: In the first, a word that is highlighted and you need to decide which of the options given is the closest to this word contextually.

In the second, you have to decide if a statement on the passage is true, false or impossible to say based on the passage itself. 

The assessment centre is divided into two parts: the group exercise and the case study. Continue reading to find out more about each assessment day activity:  

EY Group Exercise: The group activity will usually consist of an in-tray exercise. The purpose of this exercise is to see how well you can analyse a piece of information and use your reasoning to suggest the best solution and your teamwork skills. 

EY Case Study: This task is like those you will face as a consultant with the Ernst & Young firm. You are given all the details and relevant information regarding the decision a company is considering making. You will need to scan through, analyse and understand a series of information then prepare your recommendations to address the issues the company is facing. You will also be asked to prepare a plan to manage the team including creating a work schedule, individual tasks, contingency plans and progress checks. 

Additional Assessments: Keep in mind that for some positions at EY, you may be required to retake some of the assessments you took online. This allows the recruitment team to ensure that your skill level has remained consistent from the first time you took the original round of tests. 

Being one of the major consultancy firms in the world, Ernst & Young employs very strict hiring practices.

If you are serious about earning a role at EY, you must strive to score above the 80th percentile in all your aptitude tests.

For this reason, our team of trained psychologists and test developers have created this specialised PrepPack™. 

This PrepPack™ is designed to cover assessments and required exercises for a variety of Ernst and Young positions including EY consulting, associate and internship roles.

Not only does this pack include full-length practice tests for each assessment you will face, it also includes additional drills and study guides to ensure you are in peak test-taking condition. Start practising! 

1. Brush up on your numerical, verbal and critical thinking skills. These skills are essential for working at a firm like EY. Brushing up on these skills will allow you to work quickly through each of your tests and assessment centre activities as well.  

2. Time management. Many of the psychometric tests you will encounter during the EY recruitment process are timed. Practising beforehand will allow you to quickly and accurately answer each question giving you a better chance at beating the clock. 

3. Practice in a quiet place free from distractions. This is an essential tip if you wish to grasp the material you are going to be tested on. Make sure that you have time set aside where you will not be disturbed, put your mobile on silent and out of reach during your preparation sessions. This will allow you to remain focused through the duration, thus helping you to further improve your answering speed and accuracy. 

4. Learn from your mistakes. It is essential to use practice materials that can track incorrect responses as well as your progress over time. That way you will be able to see where you are falling short and continue to improve prior to your test day. 

5. Answer behavioural questionnaires openly and honestly. Knowing how to answer certain behavioural questions while remaining true to yourself is the key to passing this sort of test. Another tip for personality and behaviour-based tests is to review the general competencies EY is looking for as well as the specific competencies mentioned in the description of the job you applied for. This will give you a better understanding the sought-after personality and behavioural traits looked for by the company.  

6. Always read the instructions carefully and make full use of the examples provided. This is a given. You should never begin a test unless you fully understand what is expected of you for each question. Carefully reading the instruction preceding each new section will say you from incorrect answers and embarrassing mistakes. 

7. Make sure you are relaxed. If you wish to earn a high score come test day, previous practise is the way to go. Knowing what to expect will help you enter your assessments with an air of confidence, thus improving your ability to remained relaxed and focused.