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PwC Interview Questions (PricewaterhouseCoopers)

Graduate Application Process


(Also see interview questions and answers about PwC interviews on the WikiJob forums)

The process for applying to PwC is as follows:

Before starting your application you should also read PwC's own hints and tips and company information about their selection process.

Online Application

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

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

Application Questions

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 offer 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:

Online Test

Typically you will be invited to take the online test within 2 days of your application.

The online test is comprised of three parts:

  • Numerical reasoning (basic skills: interpreting data from tables, fractions, percentages, ratios, time/date calculations, foreign currency conversion)
  • Comprehension
  • Diagrammatic reasoning.

The test is 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 move on and return if you have any time at the end.

If you would like more information regarding recruitment assessment at PwC, visit the firm's website.

First Interview


(also see general interview advice and competency based questions)

Your first interview will be a competency based interview conducted by a manager or director from the line of service to which you've applied. It will last for approximately 50 - 60 minutes. The interview will focus specifically on your application form.

During your interview you will be assessed on core competencies PwC have 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 questions:

  • Tell me a little bit about yourself?
  • What do you consider to be your strengths?
  • Do you have any weaknesses?
  • Why do you want to leave your present job?
  • Tell me about a difficult experience at work and how you dealt with it.
  • What is your current salary?
  • What made you decide to join this profession?
  • What do you know about our business?
  • Do you work well under pressure?
  • 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.
  • What is the biggest mistake you have made? What did you learn from this mistake?
  • Do you prefer working with others or working alone?
  • Do you make your opinions known when you disagree with the views of your supervisor?
  • Have you applied for any other jobs?
  • How does PwC Assurance/Tax add value to it's clients?
  • How is PwC Assurance divided and in what division would you like to work? (see PwC Audit & Assurance)

The questions are designed to be open ended and to allow you to talk freely about your achievements and goals.

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 key 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 is unlike interviews at other Big 4 firms. This interview will be more of a flowing conversation between interviewer and candidate, rather than a one sided interrogation. 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.

Assessment Day


Numerical & Diagrammatic Test

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.


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

There will be between three and six candidates who take part in the group exercise along with two 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.

Karen Poulton, an officer in the Student Recruitment Team in London, offers the following advice:

"Be inclusive and self assess yourself about half way through. You need to contribute otherwise we can't assess you and if you know that you are prone to being quiet - or quite dominant in a group you may need to moderate your communication so that you include yourself and other people. Make sure that you follow the instructions that are given to you - and ensure that you link information back to the brief that you are given. Try and prioritise, watch the time (but make sure that you are accurate!) I would advise against using people's names unless you are 100% sure that you are correct!"


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

The 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 'Executive Level 2' 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?
  • 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 about a time when you have to resolve a disagreement diplomatically.
  • What/where do you expected to be in 5 years?

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

Also see PwC Working Culture for information about working at the firm.

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