What is typically included in a graduate assessment centre?

Most assessment centres include 2-3 of the following: in-tray/email exercise (prioritisation), group task (with or without a role), individual interview (competency-based), presentation, case study, and psychometric tests. A typical AC runs 4-8 hours.

How much time should I spend preparing for an assessment centre?

If you reach the AC stage, you've already passed initial screens. Spend 20-30 hours on AC-specific prep: 10 hours on exercise technique, 10 hours on firm-specific knowledge, 10 hours on mock interviews.

Should I use WikiJob if I can't afford paid tools?

Yes. WikiJob is the best free resource. Combine it with TargetJobs' free tier and you have excellent coverage. Only pay if you need interactive simulations (AssessmentDay) or integrated prep (Intervyo).

Are in-tray exercises worth practising separately?

Yes. Most candidates spend zero time practising in-tray exercises and it shows. Spending 5-10 hours on in-tray practice moves you into the top quartile. Use AssessmentDay for this.

What's more important: knowing firm-specific details or having good interview skills?

Interview skills matter more. A candidate with excellent communication who knows basic facts about the firm will outperform someone with encyclopaedic firm knowledge but poor interview skills. Spend 60% of time on skills, 40% on firm knowledge.

Can I improve at group tasks by practising?

Yes, substantially. Common mistakes in group tasks are: not listening, talking too much, building on others' points poorly, and not managing time. Awareness of these improves performance significantly on the first AC you attend.

Should I use ActualAC/AssessmentDay or just read guides?

If you have budget, AssessmentDay is worth it. Timed practice under pressure improves performance noticeably. If you don't, read WikiJob and TargetJobs guides carefully — understanding the format is most important.

How many assessment centres do graduates typically need to attend to get an offer?

Most candidates attend 2-4 ACs before receiving an offer. If you're prepared, you typically need 2-3. If you're underprepared, you may need 5+. Good preparation reduces the number substantially.

Honest Comparison · 2027

Best Assessment Centre Prep Tools 2027 — Compared

Honest comparison with real pros and cons. We acknowledge where competitors are better.

Quick verdict

TOP PICKIntervyo

Best for integrated prep. Assessment centre guides plus HireVue, psychometric tests, and CV tools in one platform.

WikiJob

Most comprehensive written guides. Free access to extensive assessment centre articles and tips.

AssessmentDay

Best for interactive AC simulations. Practice in-tray exercises and group tasks with detailed feedback.

TargetJobs

Excellent firm-specific AC guides. Detailed walkthroughs of each firm's exact assessment centre format.

Feature comparison

Tool	Features	Firms	Price
Intervyo	AC guides, interview practice, psychometric tests, HireVue, case practice, video feedback	40+ firms	£29.99/mo
WikiJob	Extensive written guides, AC walkthroughs, interview tips, firm-specific advice	100+ firms	Free (ads)
AssessmentDay	In-tray exercises, group task simulations, written feedback, timer-based practice	Generic	£19.99/mo
GraduatesFirst	AC guides, in-tray tips, group task strategies, firm-specific walkthroughs	UK firms	£9.99-£19.99/mo
TargetJobs	Firm-specific AC guides, interview walkthroughs, detailed process breakdowns	80+ firms	£9.99/mo or free limited

Detailed reviews

Intervyo

Intervyo combines assessment centre preparation with HireVue, psychometric tests, and case interview practice. It's the most integrated platform for end-to-end graduate scheme prep.

Pros

All-in-one platform — AC prep + HireVue + tests + CV + cases

AI-scored interview feedback

Firm-specific AC content for 40+ firms

Free demo available

UK-focused pricing and support

Video walkthroughs of AC scenarios

Cons

Smaller AC library than WikiJob

No interactive in-tray simulations

Newer platform with smaller user base

Best for: UK graduates applying to specific firms seeking integrated end-to-end prep.

WikiJob

WikiJob is the most comprehensive free resource for assessment centre preparation. It covers 100+ firms with detailed, step-by-step guides written by former assessment centre participants.

Pros

Completely free (ad-supported)

Covers 100+ firms

Detailed walkthroughs written by real candidates

Covers all AC exercise types

Firm-specific strategies

Very active community

Cons

No interactive practice or simulations

Written guides only — no video

Quality varies across different firm pages

No feedback mechanism

Best for: Budget-conscious candidates who prefer reading detailed guides to interactive practice.

AssessmentDay

AssessmentDay provides interactive assessment centre simulations including in-tray exercises and group task practice with written feedback.

Pros

Interactive in-tray and group task simulations

Realistic time pressure and exercise formats

Written feedback on your responses

Affordable (£19.99/mo)

Also covers psychometric tests

Free demo available

Cons

Limited firm-specific content

No video walkthroughs

Feedback is template-based, not personalised

Smaller user community than WikiJob

Best for: Candidates wanting interactive AC simulations with timed practice.

GraduatesFirst

GraduatesFirst specialises in UK graduate recruitment with firm-specific AC guides and exercise walkthroughs targeting entry-level candidates.

Pros

Affordable (£9.99-£19.99/mo)

UK graduate scheme focused

Firm-specific walkthroughs

Clear explanations for all exercise types

Also covers psychometric tests

Free tier available

Cons

Smaller library than WikiJob

No interactive simulations

Less comprehensive than TargetJobs for firm-specific detail

Best for: UK graduates wanting affordable AC prep with some firm specificity.

TargetJobs

TargetJobs is the most detailed firm-specific resource, with walkthroughs of 80+ firms' exact assessment centre formats, interview questions, and assessment tasks.

Pros

Most detailed firm-specific AC guides

Covers 80+ firms with exact format breakdowns

Interview question lists for each firm

Former participants' experiences

Affordable (£9.99/mo or free limited)

Cons

No interactive practice or simulations

Written guides only

Less comprehensive for exercise technique than AssessmentDay

Smaller user community

Best for: Candidates wanting to know exactly what to expect at a specific firm's assessment centre.

Pricing comparison

Tool	Monthly	Annual	Free trial
Intervyo	£29.99	£199.99	Yes — full demo
WikiJob	Free	Free	N/A (ad-supported)
AssessmentDay	£19.99	~£240	Yes
GraduatesFirst	£9.99-£19.99	~£120-£240	Yes
TargetJobs	£9.99 (or free limited)	~£120	Free limited version

Who each tool is best for

Intervyo

UK graduates seeking integrated end-to-end prep (AC + HireVue + tests + CV) for specific firms.

WikiJob

Budget-conscious candidates who prefer detailed reading guides to interactive practice.

AssessmentDay

Candidates wanting realistic interactive in-tray and group task practice with feedback.

GraduatesFirst

UK graduates wanting affordable AC prep with some firm-specific guidance.

TargetJobs

Candidates wanting to know exactly what to expect at a specific firm's assessment centre.

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