EY Experience Day 2027: What the Assessment Centre Involves
The EY Experience Day is the final stage of EY’s UK early careers process, and the closest thing EY has to an assessment centre. This guide uses EY’s own How to apply, Graduates and Undergraduates pages for stages, dates and rules, and marks anything EY does not publish.
One honest limit up front: EY does not publish the exercises on the Experience Day, how they are scored, or pass rates. We do not describe them as fact. For the programme itself see our EY graduate scheme page.
EY process at a glance
| Stage | What EY says | Timing | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Application | Create an account, choose programme and location, complete the form | Open now, closes when filled | Official |
| 2. Online assessments | Realistic Job Preview (teamwork and learning capability) and a behavioural skills test, with a practice hub in the portal | Deadlines sent after you apply | Official |
| 3. EY Experience Day | Final stage: meet future leaders, showcase skills, ask questions | November 2026 to April 2027 | Official |
| 4. Final interview | Only if your programme includes one, after the Experience Day | 2 to 3 weeks later | Official |
| Exercises on the day | Not published by EY | Not published | Not published |
Sources: EY How to apply, EY Graduate programmes and EY Undergraduate programmes.
Each stage in detail
Stage 1: application
Create an account on EY’s candidate portal, choose your programme and location, enter personal details and qualifications, read the instructions and proofread before submitting. EY says you can only apply for one programme every six months. Keep an eye on the email you used, because EY sends assessment deadlines there.
Stage 2: online assessments
EY describes a Realistic Job Preview as the first online stage, including teamwork and learning capability, followed by a behavioural skills test. Complete them early, as EY recommends. Practise in the preparation hub inside the portal, and with our situational judgement and psychometric tests guides.
Stage 3: EY Experience Day
You are invited if you succeed at the online stages. EY says reaching it means you have already shown the potential, mindset and skills it looks for. Read more in the next section.
Stage 4: final interview
If your programme has one, it usually happens two to three weeks after the Experience Day. Our graduate assessment centre guide covers how interviews fit into these days.
The EY Experience Day
EY calls this the final stage and presents it as a chance to meet people who are developing into future leaders, show your skills, ask questions and connect with others. EY does not list the exercises. Experience Days run from November 2026 to April 2027, so check the details in your invitation as soon as it arrives.
“I joined as an intern and returned as a graduate.”
Sukhmani, Tax Graduate at EY — EY Graduate programmes page
That is one graduate’s statement, published by EY, and it is about her route in rather than the Experience Day itself. We found no named EY graduate describing the Experience Day exercises in a source we could verify, so we have not included one.
The eight skills EY looks for
EY lists eight key skills on its early careers pages. Tick the ones you can already give a real example for.
Skills self-check
0 of 8 done
Applying rules and adjustments
- One programme every six months, and a six-month wait after rejection for graduate or undergraduate vacancies, three months for apprenticeships.
- Adjustments include extra time on assessments (usually up to 25%), speech-to-text and magnification software, closed captions and early access to venues.
- EY does not require medical evidence for adjustments during recruitment, though a professional body may later.
- Request adjustments through the form in the application portal or your recruitment contact.
How to prepare
- Use the practice hub in the assessment portal before the real assessments.
- Prepare one example for each of the eight skills above.
- Check your invitation for the Experience Day format, location and timings rather than relying on guides.
- Read our Deloitte assessment centre guide and PwC assessment centre guide to compare how firms run final stages.
- Plan for a possible interview two to three weeks afterwards.
How EY compares
For pay, programmes and locations see EY graduate scheme, and read Deloitte vs EY, KPMG vs EY and our KPMG Launch Pad guide. The full list is on our Graduate Scheme hub.
Frequently asked questions
What is the EY Experience Day?
EY describes the Experience Day as the final stage: you meet people already developing into future leaders, showcase your skills, ask questions and connect with others. You are invited if you succeed at the online assessment stages.
When are the EY Experience Days for 2027 entry?
EY’s graduate and undergraduate pages both say Experience Days run from November 2026 to April 2027.
Is there a final interview after the Experience Day?
If your programme includes a final interview, EY says it usually takes place two to three weeks after the Experience Day, subject to a successful outcome.
What does the EY online assessment involve?
EY’s How to apply page describes a Realistic Job Preview, a first online stage including teamwork and learning capability, and a behavioural skills test measuring the skills required for the role. A practice hub sits inside the assessment portal.
Can I get extra time or adjustments?
Yes. EY lists adjustments such as extra time on assessments, speech-to-text and magnification software, closed captions and early access to assessment venues. It says the maximum extra time it can usually offer is 25%, and that it does not require medical evidence during recruitment.
How many times can I apply to EY?
EY says you can only apply for one programme every six months, and that if you are rejected at any stage you must wait six months before applying to another graduate or undergraduate vacancy.
Does EY publish the Experience Day exercises?
Not on the pages we checked. Some third-party guides describe a case study and group exercise, but we could not confirm that from EY, so treat any exercise list as unverified.
