PwC Interview Questions

Graduate Application Process

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(Also see interview questions and answers about PwC interviews on the WikiJob forums)The process for applying to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) is as follows:

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Application Preparation

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Before starting your application you should also read the PwC wesbite's hints and tips section and company information about the firm's selection process.

PwC Online Application

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The online application form comprises sections on personal information, academic achievement, career motivation, and demonstration of key personality traits such as teamwork.

The application will be referred to in both interviews. Make sure you retain a copy for your records.

Improve your job applications, CV and cover letters - click here

Psychometric Test

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PwC use an online psychometric test to find out more details about each candidate's personality. You can take a practice version of this test here

PwC Application Questions

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Business and Client Service

  • "Please provide us with your understanding of the services offered by the firm and in particular, the work undertaken in your chosen line of service (maximum 150 words)."
  • "PwC is passionate about providing our clients with exceptional services that contribute to their business success. From a business perspective, if you were to join PwC, which organisation would be your ideal client and what services do you think PwC would be providing to enhance the organisation’s continued business success (maximum 150 words)? Please note the organisation does not have to be a current client of PwC."

Tips for answering this question:

This question requires you to demonstrate:
  • An understanding of what makes a good business.
  • An understanding of the services PwC offers to clients and how PwC helps clients improve their performance.

It is better to select a business you are familiar with to answer these questions, such as a high-street store. Online businesses such as Google, Facebook and internet gaming websites make poor examples to use as they are generally less well understood by older generations and their business model is still young and developing. Avoid discussing any technical types of business such as insurance or banking. If possible, select a business that is not a client of PwC as you may be interviewed by someone who knows a lot more about them than you do.

Examples of services PwC could offer to clients might include:

Take a practice course to prepare for difficult interview questions from employers in your industry - click here.

PwC Online Test

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Candidate's will typically be invited to take PwC's online test within two days of their online application.

The online test is comprised of three parts:

The reasoning tests are designed by SHL.

You will see practice questions before each section enabling you to familiarise yourself with the style of question asked. You will require a calculator, some paper and a pencil.

The diagrammatic reasoning is a short test requiring you to infer solutions using logic. The problems are of a visual nature.

The test is timed so you must apportion time correctly to each question. If you do not understand a question or cannot complete it in time, you should choose one answer and move on. You will not be able to return to previous questions.

‘’’you can perform better at SHL tests with practice - try these SHL simulator questions’’’

First Interview

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(also see general interview advice and competency based questions)

Your first interview will be a competency based interview conducted by a PwC Manager or Senior Manager from the line of service to which you've applied. It will last approximately 45 minutes. The interview will focus specifically on your application form and previous experiences.

During your interview you will be assessed on core competencies PwC has decided are important for all employees to possess. These are:

Interview questions at PwC, just like the rest of the Big 4, are standardised. Graduate candidates are usually asked some of the following interview questions:

  • What do you consider to be your strengths?
  • What are your development areas?
  • Why do you want to leave your present job?
  • How do you structure your time at university ensuring you balance your personal life?
  • Tell me about a difficult experience at work and how you dealt with it.
  • What made you decide to join this Professional Services?
  • What do you know about our business?
  • Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
  • What are your major achievements to date?
  • What do you do in your spare time?
  • Describe how you see the role of a graduate at PwC?
  • What is the biggest mistake you have made? What did you learn from this mistake?
  • Tell me about a time when you have worked in a team? What was your role?
  • Have you applied for any other graduate jobs?
  • How does PwC add value to its clients?
  • How is PwC Assurance divided and in what division would you like to work? (see PwC Audit & Assurance)
  • Tell me what you know about the qualification which you will be studying?
  • Explain when you have been in a situation where you were working towards a deadline and the parameters have been changed? (i.e. you have been asked to deliver something slightly different)

This site gives some advice on tackling these questions. The questions are designed to be open ended and to allow you to talk freely about your achievements and goals.

Take a practice course to prepare for difficult competency based questions in your PwC interviews - click here.

In addition, you may well also be asked competency based questions which force you to demonstrate evidence of past experience relating to PwC's core competencies:
  • Give me 2 examples of when you have worked in a team to achieve a goal. (Teamwork)
  • Give me 2 examples of where you have had to lead a team. (Teamwork)
  • Give me 2 examples of where you have been in a situation of conflict, and explain how you choose to do the right thing.
  • Can you discuss any recent developments which have strongly affected PwC and the accounting industry? (Commercial Awareness)
  • What do you anticipate you will be doing in your first year at PwC?
  • What can you tell me about the (ACA) qualification to which you have applied?
  • What can you tell me about the line of work to which you have applied?
  • What do you think you will be doing in your first year at PwC?
  • Discuss a recent piece of financial news that has been in the press?

You should bear PwC's Global Core competencies in mind during your interviews as this is what you will be mainly tested on. At interview you must be able to give examples of how you have demonstrated these competencies in the past. You will be expected to give responses based on experiences within university years (work, education, extracurricular). School or College experiences are too far in the past.

Overall, the PwC interview will be more of a flowing conversation between interviewer and candidate. Although the interview is competency based, the examples you are asked for may be linked in with your application form or as part of a general discussion about yourself and your achievements. Generally speaking, this makes the interview easier and a more pleasant experience than interviews at other firms.

Take a practice course to prepare for competency based questions in your upcoming job interviews - click here.

Assessment Day

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Numerical & Diagrammatic Test

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The test is designed by SHL. This is a multiple choice test. You will require a calculator, pencil and eraser. These will be provided for you if you do not bring your own. If possible, try to bring a calculator you are familiar with.

The numerical test consists of 20 questions to be answered in 20 minutes. The questions are harder than those on the online test although the format is roughly the same.

The diagrammatic reasoning test consists of 40 questions in 20 minutes.

There will be extreme time pressure. You must apportion your time correctly and move on if you get stuck. Unlike the online test, this test will be extremely challenging, and you should prepare yourself for this. Candidates from a non-mathematical background may struggle with the math part of the test, and you should spend the time attempting the questions you are most likely to get correct.

The diagrammatic questions are also difficult, and will become more difficult as the test progresses.

Practice SHL style tests here.

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It is worthwhile practicing diagrammatic tests beforehand. Pages 7-23 of Professional Level Psychometric Tests book by Sam Al-Jajjoka may prove useful.

Do not be disheartened if you struggle during these tests. PwC hire a great number of people from artistic backgrounds and considers the entire application for every person in perspective.

You should read the information PwC have provided related to these tests prior to the assessment day. It can be found here.

Group Exercise

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There will be between three and six candidates who take part in the group exercise at along with two PwC observers in the room. You will be given some general information about a company and its situation. Additionally each person will receive some extra information particular to them explaining their role at the company. You will have 20 minutes to read the information and then 30 minutes to discuss it with the group. The group exercise requires you to communicate and discuss with other candidates all points of view, and to finally reach a conclusion. There is no presentation element.

You can practice group exercises online here


Make sure everybody speaks, watch time closely, expand on other people's points, and be persuasive. Consider that PwC might want to provide future consulting services to the firm they are advising in the case study.

Partner Interview

[Edit] The PwC partner interview will focus principally on the following competencies:
Typical questions arising from these competencies would be:
  • Why do you want to work for PwC? Why PwC instead of another Big 4 firm?
  • Where do you see yourself in 5 years time? At PwC, in 5 years you can reasonably expect to finish 'Manager' position and be moving into managing staff and clients on your own.
  • What recent events have affected PwC and the accounting industry? (This would include the Sarbanes-Oxley Act).
  • What factors do you think are important to make a successful business?
  • If you were senior partner at PwC, what would keep you up at night?
  • Give me an example of a business you think is performing well/badly and explain why you think this is so?
  • If you had £1 million, how would you invest it?
  • Tell me about a time when you have had to motivate someone?
  • Tell me when you learnt something new?
  • Tell me about a time when you have to resolve a disagreement diplomatically.
  • What/where do you expected to be in 5 years?
  • If you met the CEO of M&S and were asked for advice from an auditory point of view, what would you say?
  • If you were unsuccessful with PwC what would you do?
  • Give two examples of when you've had to make and stick to a budget

This interview preparation course can help you get on to the graduate scheme at PwC

For further information about the interview questions and assessment process at PwC ask questions in the WikiJob interview discussion forum.

Also see - PwC Working Culture for information about working at PwC or visit the WikiJob forums to ask questions about PwC Interview Questions (PricewaterhouseCoopers).