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Excel in Assessment Centres

In addition to interviews, many companies use assessment centres to assess a candidate's skills and potential in a hands-on, practical setting. This might involve activities like group exercises, presentations, or problem-solving tasks that mimic workplace scenarios.

Discover the most common types of assessments and how you can gain access to valuable resources to practice and hone your skills in order to excel in assessment centres!

01 Case Interviews

The case interview method is used by several types of organisations to recruit for consulting and strategy roles

Consulting Firms

All the major consulting firms, like McKinsey & Company, Boston Consulting Group (BCG), and Bain & Company use a rigorous multi-stage interview process, including case interviews.

Investment banks

Many investment banks incorporate case interviews into their recruitment process, particularly for positions in investment banking, private equity, and corporate finance.

Strategy Firms

Strategy firms, like Oliver Wyman and Deloitte which focus on assisting companies with long-term planning and growth strategies, often employ case interviews to evaluate candidates' analytical thinking, strategic mindset, and problem-solving capabilities.

Technology Companies

Technology companies such as Google, Amazon, and Microsoft may incorporate case interviews into their recruitment process, particularly for roles with a strong emphasis on data analysis and problem-solving, to select candidates who can solve complex problems systematically.

Other Companies

Other companies may also use the case interview or case study method as part of their recruitment process. If you are targeting an analytical role in a competitive industry, gaining practice in this method will help you develop the skills to succeed.

Case interviews take various formats

In a case interview, you will be presented with a business case and asked to provide a solution to the business problem in real time. This can take any of the following formats:

Individual, Verbal

You are presented with a problem statement and expected to break down the issue, probe for data and additional information, and drive the overall discussion.

Individual, Written

A broad range of information or data, as well as a brief, will be provided to you prior to the interview. On the day of the assessment, you will have time to prepare and present your recommendations in person, usually accompanied by a deck of slides.

Group Case

You will be assigned to a group and given a case with some time to prepare, discuss within the group, and present recommendations to the interview panel.

What is being tested?

Personal Attributes	Organizational/Industry Related
Quantitative and logical reasoning Structuring problems and breaking them down into solvable parts Clear, concise and effective communication skills Poise, composure, intellectual curiosity and the ability to cope with challenging questions Ability to think on your feet	Overall fit with the organisation Business acumen and fundamentals, industry awareness How well you work with a team, in the case of group case interviews

How to prepare for case interviews

It is essential to practice applying the most used business frameworks to guide your thinking process. These include, but are not limited to the following:

Porter’s Five Forces — Threats to New Entrants, Competitive Dynamics, Supplier Power, Buyer Power, Threat of Substitutes
3 “Cs” — Company, Competitors, Customers
4 Ps — Product, Price, Promotion, Placement
SWOT Analysis — Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats
BCG Growth Matrix — Market Share Vs Growth

To practise for case interviews, NUS students can apply for access to CaseCoach via this sign up link.

02 Aptitude Tests

Employers use aptitude tests to assess candidates' specific skills, such as problem-solving or numerical reasoning. They assess how you think rather than what you know, and your scores will indicate whether your level of ability matches the job requirements.

Common Types of Aptitude Tests

Numerical Reasoning Tests

In this type of test, you might be asked to interpret data from a chart or table, such as "Based on the sales graph, which quarter saw the highest percentage increase in sales?"

Familiarise yourself with:

Profiling Tests

Profiling tests, often referred to as personality tests, are used by employers to assess a candidate's character traits, behavioural tendencies, or cultural fit for a role or organisation.

Verbal Reasoning Tests

A verbal reasoning test is used to evaluate a candidate's ability to understand and interpret written information. In this test you would be presented with a passage of written text, followed by a series of statements or questions to test your verbal comprehension, critical thinking, and reasoning skills.

Situational Judgement Tests (SJT)

These tests assess how you would respond to hypothetical workplace situations, such as dealing with a difficult customer. You would typically be asked to choose the best course of action from a set of options and the assessor will evaluate how well your response fits with the expected values and behaviours of the business.

Game-Based Assessments

These are designed to be fun, engaging, and interactive, to elicit your real behavioural tendencies. Pymetrics is a popular test platform used by employers. On this platform, you might be required to play up to twelve different games such as inflating a balloon as much as you can before it bursts. There are no right or wrong answers to these games. Instead, assumptions about your characteristics are made based on how you play the game, such as how quickly you learn from mistakes, your appetite for risk, and your ability to remain focused under pressure.

03 Other Typical Assessments

Role Play Exercises

These exercises typically involve handling a hypothetical situation related to the job. Students can prepare by understanding the role they are applying for, researching potential scenarios, and practicing active listening and clear communication.

Group Discussions and Presentations

Group Discussions & Presentations

These activities assess your ability to collaborate, negotiate and problem-solve in a group. Taking an active role in student societies and group projects is a great way to prepare, by contributing constructively to group discussions and presentations.

Intray Exercises

These are designed to test your ability to prioritize tasks under pressure. In an intray exercise, candidates are presented with a simulated work environment and given a set amount of time to respond to the various tasks or situations presented. You may be asked to prioritise the tasks, determine appropriate responses or actions, and organise your workload effectively.

Download this guide on Role Play Exercises

Download this guide on Group Discussions & Presentations

Download this guide on Intray Exercises

04 How to Get Practice

Sharpen your skills with these resources from CFG

Career Booster

Receive live training with experts from to gain practice and receive constructive feedback. CFG invites employers and industry trainers to conduct workshops on How to Crack Case Interviews and Excel in Asessment Centres as part of the Career Booster workshop series. Places are limited so sign up early.

Learn more

AmplifyMe Pathways

Get practical, accredited finance experience through progressive live simulations, on-demand learning, and expert-led masterclasses across markets, banking, and quant. Track applications, build a performance-powered Finance CV, compete on live leaderboards, and for top performers, access referrals to partners like Morgan Stanley and UBS.

To access this platform you can:

Refer to the student guide for AmplifyMe Pathways to find the unique verification code and URL for your respective student type.
Complete the required profile details.
Verify your account via the verification code sent to your NUS email.
Log in and begin booking sessions and using the platform.

Resources

Note: NUS Centre for Future-ready Graduates (CFG) only facilitates student access to AmplifyMe Pathways. All information you submit on AmplifyMe, including use of your NUS email, is collected, stored, and protected by AmplifyMe under its own privacy and data-security practices. For any questions, data‑access or privacy requests, please contact pathways-support@amplifyme.

Graduates First

CFG also provides students with a subscription to the test practice platform Graduates First. On this platform, you can practice the full range of assessments and tests used by leading employers, including psychometrics, numerical and verbal reasoning and digital assessments.

To access this platform, you can:

Register and attend any of the Advanced Interview/ Assessment Skills workshops under our Career Booster series.
Send an online request via this link. A Career Advisor may get in touch with you first to better understand your needs.

Explore instructional videos to help you navigate the platform and maximise your practice sessions!

CaseCoach

To acquire all the skills necessary for case interviews and gain practice with drills and cases, register for CaseCoach. CFG provides NUS students with free-of-charge access to the leading Case Interview practice platform CaseCoach platform. Aside from the online resources, you can also practice with from leading universities around the world via the ‘Practice Room’.

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