UK Graduate Assessments: What You Need to Know Before Applying for Jobs

When you’re applying for a graduate job in the UK, you’re not just handing in a CV—you’re stepping into a UK graduate assessment, a structured evaluation process employers use to test skills, personality, and fit before offering a role. Also known as graduate recruitment tests, these assessments are now standard for most big companies, from banks to tech firms and public sector roles. They’re not about how well you wrote your personal statement. They’re about how you think under pressure, solve problems quickly, and react to real workplace scenarios.

Most psychometric tests, standardized evaluations used to measure cognitive ability and personality traits in job applicants form the core of these assessments. You’ll likely face aptitude tests, timed exams that check numerical reasoning, verbal logic, and diagrammatic thinking from providers like SHL, Kenexa, or Cut-e. These aren’t school exams. They’re designed to filter out candidates who can’t keep up with fast-paced environments. But here’s the good news: they’re beatable. Practice makes a bigger difference than your degree. Someone with a 2:2 who’s done 10 mock tests will outperform someone with a First who’s never opened a practice paper.

It’s not just about tests, though. Many graduate schemes now include group exercises, video interviews, and case studies. Employers want to see how you collaborate, communicate, and think on your feet. That’s why so many students fail—not because they’re not smart, but because they didn’t prepare for the format. You wouldn’t show up to a football match without training. Don’t show up to a graduate assessment without practice.

The good news? You’re not alone. Thousands of UK students go through this every year. And the resources to help you succeed are already out there. Below, you’ll find real guides on how to pass SHL tests, what to expect in a graduate interview, how to handle group exercises without sounding rehearsed, and how to spot the red flags in employer assessments. Whether you’re applying for a job in London, Manchester, or Edinburgh, these posts give you the exact tools you need—no fluff, no theory, just what works.