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KPMG Apprenticeship Group Exercise — What Assessors Look For
The group exercise is one of the most misunderstood parts of the KPMG assessment centre. Most candidates focus on winning the argument. Assessors are watching something entirely different.
What Actually Gets Scored
Contribution without domination
Speak early and regularly — but listen more than you talk. Assessors need to see you engage. Silence is not being safe; it's a fail.
Building on others
Reference what others have said: 'Building on what Alex said...' or 'That's a good point — and I'd add...' This shows collaboration, not just performance.
Moving the group forward
If the discussion stalls or goes in circles, step in to summarise or refocus. This is often the highest-scoring single behaviour in a group exercise.
Clarity under pressure
When asked to present or summarise, speak clearly and avoid jargon. The group exercise is also a communication test.
The Scenario Format
Group exercises typically involve a business case — a client situation, a strategic decision, or a resource allocation problem. You'll be given materials to read before the discussion starts (usually 10–15 minutes).
- Read the brief properly — candidates who miss key details in the brief score poorly
- Identify the 2–3 most important issues before the discussion starts
- Have a position ready — but be open to changing it based on the group discussion
The most common group exercise failures
- Talking over others — being the loudest is not the same as being the best
- Staying quiet to avoid saying something wrong
- Focusing on being right rather than helping the group reach a good outcome
- Not listening — giving an answer that ignores what was just said
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KPMG Apprenticeship Prep Pack
Application stages, competencies, real interview questions, commercial awareness, and a pre-submission checklist — in one complete pack.