How EY Interviews in 2026: Process, Questions & What They Score
The complete process, reported questions, and what interviewers score.
EY / Interview snapshot
9
stages from
application to offer
24
reported questions
4-8
weeks, typically
23
public sources
Independent: SupaCV is not affiliated with or endorsed by EY. This is one well-documented shape of EY's interviews, not a script: processes change and vary by role, team, level, and region, so confirm specifics with your recruiter.
On this page
01 / For every EY candidate
The process, start to finish.
EY is a Big 4 professional services firm; its consulting-relevant hiring spans EY Consulting (technology, risk, people, and business consulting) and EY-Parthenon (EY's strategy-consulting arm, which runs a more MBB-style case process). Across sources, EY's process is consistently described as a mix of (1) a proprietary online "EY One Assessment" (Cappfinity-built situational strengths test plus numerical/verbal/critical reasoning), (2) explicit "behavioral interviewing" evaluated on relevant experience / action / outcome, and (3) for consulting and especially EY-Parthenon roles, case interviews and group exercises.
There is no single universally-applied number of rounds: it varies by service line, country, and seniority (campus/entry-level hiring runs through an "EY Experience Day" assessment center with an e-tray exercise, group exercise, and case study; experienced-hire and EY-Parthenon hiring runs through discrete phone/video interview rounds). Reported end-to-end timelines cluster around 4-8 weeks.
Glassdoor-reported time-to-hire averages are noisier than commonly quoted: roughly 29-30 days overall across EY, with EY-Parthenon specifically averaging closer to 31 days; treat any single precise number with caution since it varies enormously by role and region.
Stage 1: Online application & resume screening
Varies; part of an overall process averaging roughly 29-31 days from application to offer per Glassdoor-reported data
Standard online application and CV/resume review by EY's recruiting team; may include a fit questionnaire.
Stage 2: Online assessment (EY One Assessment)
Commonly cited as roughly 45-90 minutes total; the numerical section alone is often quoted at around 20 minutes, but this varies by version
Cappfinity-built assessment combining a Situational Strengths Test (16 video/text-based workplace scenarios, each rated across ~5 response options) with numerical reasoning (data tables/graphs), verbal/critical reasoning (passage-based true/false/cannot-say or multi-part reasoning), and logical/inductive reasoning (pattern recognition). Used heavily for campus/entry-level hiring; experienced hires may see a lighter version or skip it depending on role. Question counts and exact timing are reported inconsistently across prep sources (numerical section variously reported as ~12, ~14, or ~24 questions, and some Cappfinity-style formats are described as technically untimed); treat any single number as approximate.
Stage 3: Recorded/on-demand video interview
~15-20 minutes
Common for campus and entry-level roles: candidates record answers to preset behavioral and motivational questions (e.g., 'Why EY?') without a live interviewer, typically via HireVue.
Stage 4: Recruiter/HR phone screen
~30 minutes
Common for experienced-hire and consulting roles: an initial call with a recruiter covering background, motivation, and fit; largely behavioral.
Stage 5: First-round interview(s)
~30-60 minutes per interview
One to two interviews with consultants or managers mixing behavioral/STAR questions with a case-style or scenario discussion; for EY-Parthenon this is typically one behavioral/fit interview plus one candidate-led case interview, often back to back.
Stage 6: Written case exercise (consulting/strategy tracks)
~60-90 minutes
Reported specifically for EY-Parthenon and some EY Consulting roles: an independent written analysis of a data packet (commonly reported as ~15-25 pages), followed by preparing a short (~3-5 slide) presentation of findings.
Stage 7: Assessment center / EY Experience Day / group case (superday)
Half-day to full day
For campus hires, a full 'EY Experience Day' with an e-tray exercise, a group discussion exercise, a written case study, and interviews with senior staff. For EY-Parthenon/consulting, a group case interview with a small group of candidates (commonly reported as roughly 3-6) assessing collaborative business judgment.
Stage 8: Final-round interview(s)
~30-45 minutes per interview
Two to three interviews with managers, senior managers, or partners: typically one behavioral/fit interview, one individual case interview, and (for strategy-consulting tracks) sometimes a group case interview.
Stage 9: Offer decision
EY-Parthenon prep guides cite roughly 2-4 weeks after the final round; overall time-to-hire across EY roles is reported by Glassdoor at around 29-31 days on average, though this varies widely by role, country, and seniority
Decision communicated after final round.
Reported interview time, one scale in minutes
Where the minutes go
- Online assessment~20 to 90 min
- Recorded/on-demand video interview~15 to 20 min
- Recruiter/HR phone screen~30 min
- First-round interview~30 to 60 min
- Written case exercise~60 to 90 min
- Final-round interview~30 to 45 min
Not drawn: Online application & resume screening, Assessment center / EY Experience Day / group case and Offer decision, whose durations are not given in minutes.
02 / What EY scores
The framework.
No single trademarked, numbered list (nothing like a branded 'Leadership Principles' set), but EY does publicly and consistently name a 'mindset' framework, a branded strengths methodology, and a three-part behavioral rubric, so this is not purely unstructured prose
01
EY One Assessment, EY's branded online assessment platform (built with Cappfinity) covering: a Situational Strengths Test (candidates rate ~16 real-world scenarios), numerical reasoning, verbal/critical reasoning, and logical/inductive reasoning
02
Behavioral interviewing, explicitly named as EY's interview methodology on its own careers site, based on the premise that 'past behavior predicts future behavior'
03
Three stated evaluation criteria for behavioral answers (per ey.com/careers/interview-tips, quoted directly): (1) 'Did you provide a relevant experience that answers the question?', (2) 'Did you explain what action you took?', (3) 'Did you describe what your action led to?' (functionally a STAR-style rubric, though EY does not brand it 'STAR')
04
EY's 'mindset' framework (per ey.com 'What We Look For' pages, headers quoted directly): an 'agile, growth-oriented mindset,' 'an innovation mindset' ('challenge convention, collaborate on breakthrough ideas and drive disruption'), 'an analytics mindset' ('turn data into insight and insight into action'), and 'a global mindset' ('think, act and lead beyond borders'). The global/UK careers pages present all four under individual headers; the US page foregrounds three (innovation, analytics, global) plus 'we recruit people today based on their mindset, not just their skill set.' This is a real, consistently-used framework across EY's careers site, just not a single numbered/trademarked list.
05
A separate, dedicated EY 'Strengths' careers page describing the strengths-based approach explicitly (quoted): 'there's no right or wrong answer to strengths... always go with the answer that feels right for you' (an authenticity-over-polish rubric distinct from the STAR-style behavioral criteria above)
06
EY's purpose statement, 'Building a better working world,' used repeatedly by interviewers and prep sources as the values anchor candidates are expected to connect their personal motivation to
07
For case-based tracks (EY Consulting, EY-Parthenon): cases are evaluated on structured problem framing, quantitative analysis under time pressure, insight generation, a committed recommendation, and client-ready communication (a case-interview rubric similar to other consulting firms' but not published by EY itself as a formal named framework)
EY does not have one single numbered/trademarked competency list, but its criteria are not purely prose. Ey.com's own 'What We Look For' pages use consistent, individually-headed 'mindset' labels (agile/growth-oriented, innovation, analytics, global), and there is a separately branded 'Strengths' page with its own authenticity-first messaging. Treat any more specific 'framework' claims (e.g., a fixed set of named competencies per service line) as role- or country-specific and not centrally documented.
03 / Coach's notes
Coach's tips.
01
Prepare 10-15 flexible STAR stories, not 2-3. This is EY's own stated guidance (ey.com/careers/interview-tips: prepare '10 to 15 examples you can adjust on the fly to suit a question'). EY's behavioral rounds often probe the same underlying competencies (leadership, conflict, deadlines, integrity) from multiple interviewers across multiple rounds; contradictions between your answers in different rounds are noticed and hurt credibility.
02
Treat the strengths-based round as genuinely different from a standard behavioral round. EY's assessments and later interviews include rapid-fire questions about what energizes you and what you're naturally good at (built on Cappfinity's strengths methodology). EY's own dedicated Strengths page tells candidates 'there's no right or wrong answer to strengths' and to 'go with the answer that feels right for you'; these are scored on authenticity, not polish. Separately, EY's interview-tips page warns candidates recording video interviews not to 'memorize or read your responses from a script' because you don't want to 'sound too rehearsed'; the same principle applies even more strongly to the strengths round.
03
If you're on the EY-Parthenon or a strategy/EY Consulting case track, prepare for candidate-led cases at closer to MBB difficulty than typical Big 4 case interviews; you are expected to structure the problem yourself in the first few minutes and drive the analysis, not follow an interviewer's script. Given the concentration of PE-flavored cases (commercial due diligence, market attractiveness, EBITDA multiples), brush up on private-equity vocabulary and mental math (margin, CAGR, breakeven, payback period, MOIC/IRR approximations). Note this is specifically about the live case-interview portion; EY's online assessment does generally permit a calculator, but consulting-style case interviews (at EY-Parthenon as at most consulting firms) typically do not, so don't assume you'll have one in the room.
04
Do not treat 'Why EY?' as a throwaway question. Multiple sources note EY interviewers expect the answer to be tied to EY's stated purpose ('building a better working world'), a specific service line, and something concrete/current about EY rather than a generic Big 4 answer; generic responses are called out repeatedly as a weak point.
05
Take the online 'EY One Assessment' (numerical/verbal/logical reasoning plus a situational strengths test) seriously and practice under real time pressure beforehand. Reported details vary by source and test version: the numerical section is commonly cited at roughly 20 minutes, but question counts are reported anywhere from about 12 to 24, and a few sources even describe some Cappfinity-style sections as technically untimed. Don't bank on a specific number; just practice under pressure, because this is a hard gate before you reach any human interview.
06
If your process includes a final-round group case or an EY Experience Day/assessment-center exercise, practice case work in a group setting specifically; EY explicitly evaluates collaborative dynamics and business judgment in these exercises, which is a different skill than solo case performance.
04 / The research
Where this page comes from.
Compiled from public sources across 15 sites.
- sites
- 15
- coaching and prep guides
- 20
- candidate reports and forums
- 3
Source composition
Where the research comes from
Grouped by the kind of site that published each source: EY's own domain, candidate forums, and everything else.
- Coaching and prep guides20
- Candidate reports and forums3
05 / The questions
Reported questions, by category.
Showing questions for
Roles are grouped by the category each question fits, not by the source.
Case interview & business problem-solving
(EY Consulting / EY-Parthenon)
6 questions
Market-sizing style: 'How many people use [a given app/service] per day in the US?'
Profitability/breakeven case: a company is launching a new service with fixed one-time costs and ongoing variable costs. When does it break even and is it worth doing?
Private-equity commercial due diligence: should a PE fund acquire Company X, based on market attractiveness and an EBITDA-multiple/return analysis? (Commercial due diligence is reported as the single most common EY-Parthenon case type, appearing in a large share of first rounds.)
Market-entry case: should Company X expand into a new geography or segment, and what are the risks?
Growth-strategy case: how should Company X grow revenue over the next 3 years?
Cost/margin-compression case: a client's margins are shrinking. What's driving it and what would you recommend?
Service-line / role-specific technical questions
(varies by Assurance, Tax, Forensics, or Consulting sub-track; these are illustrative composites drawn from aggregated candidate reports, not verified official EY questions)
4 questions
Walk me through how you would review a Statement of Work (SoW) for completeness or risk.
Tests consulting delivery knowledge: checking a statement of work for scope completeness, assumptions, and commercial risk.
For forensics/fraud-focused roles: if you saw a case with an unusually high net worth relative to reported income, what investigative steps would you take to look into it?
Tests forensic accounting instincts: income-versus-assets red flags and structured investigative steps.
What do you understand about the current regulatory or market environment relevant to this service line?
Knowledge check on the service line's current regulatory and market environment; expects specifics, not generalities.
How would you explain a recent EY thought-leadership point of view or service offering to a client?
Tests client-facing communication: distilling a firm point of view into a clear, business-relevant explanation.
Reported problems, listed so you know what to expect. Practice them in your own editor or on the platform you prefer; SupaCV's practice mode coaches how you talk through them.
Every role
Behavioral / Fit questions
(STAR-style)
8 questions
Tell me about a time you led a team and drove a measurable improvement.
Describe a time you had to work in a difficult team or handle conflict with a colleague.
Tell me about a time you had to meet a tight or competing deadline.
Tell me about a time you demonstrated integrity or did the right thing under pressure.
Describe a time you had to deliver difficult news to someone.
Tell me about a time you had a different opinion than a colleague or manager: how did you handle it?
Tell me about a time everything seemed on track, but at the last minute you realized it wasn't: how did you respond?
Why EY? Why this specific service line or practice?
Every role
Strengths-based / motivational questions
6 questions
What are your top three strengths, and why?
What energizes you most at work?
Tell me about a time you were at your best: what were you doing?
What would your friends or colleagues say is your greatest strength?
Describe a task that comes easily to you but that others find difficult.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work, and why?
Your next step
Interviewing at EY?
Make sure your resume gets you to the first round.
Practicing for EY against your resume is in Interview Prep on Career.
Common questions
Quick answers.
How many stages are in EY's interview process?
EY has 9 stages, set out in The process.
What framework does EY use to evaluate candidates?
The framework behind EY's evaluation is set out in What EY scores.
What kinds of questions does EY ask?
EY's questions fall into 4 categories, grouped in The questions.
How reliable is this EY interview playbook?
It is compiled from public sources, and the evidence is in The research.
Sources (23)
Every public source this page was compiled from. Links open in a new tab.
15 sites, by sources
- ey.com4
- glassdoor.com3
- case-prep.com2
- managementconsulted.com2
- wallstreetoasis.com2
- myconsultingoffer.org1
- roadtooffer.com1
- igotanoffer.com1
- hackingthecaseinterview.com1
- casebasix.com1
- graduatesfirst.com1
- jobtestprep.co.uk1
- preper.app1
- resumeadapter.com1
- finalroundai.com1
- 01ey.com/en_us/careers/interview-tips
- 02ey.com/en_gl/careers/what-we-look-for
- 03ey.com/en_us/careers/what-we-look-for
- 04ey.com/en_uk/careers/students/strengths
- 05case-prep.com/firms/ey
- 06myconsultingoffer.org/case-study-interview-prep/ey-online-assessment
- 07roadtooffer.com/blog/ey-parthenon-case-interview-guide
- 08managementconsulted.com/ey-interview
- 09managementconsulted.com/ey-parthenon-case-interview
- 10igotanoffer.com/blogs/mckinsey-case-interview-blog/ey-parthenon-case-i…
- 11hackingthecaseinterview.com/pages/ey-parthenon-case-interview
- 12casebasix.com/pages/ey-parthenon-case-interview
- 13case-prep.com/firms/ey-parthenon-2026
- 14wallstreetoasis.com/company/parthenon-group-ey/interview
- 15wallstreetoasis.com/forum/consulting/ey-parthenon-types-of-cases
- 16glassdoor.com/Interview/EY-Consultant-Interview-Questions-EI_IE2784.…
- 17glassdoor.com/Interview/EY-Interview-Questions-E2784.htm
- 18glassdoor.com/Interview/EY-Parthenon-Interview-Questions-E30570.htm
- 19graduatesfirst.com/ey-assessment-tests
- 20jobtestprep.co.uk/ernst-young-assessment
- 21preper.app/guides/ey-behavioral-interview-prep
- 22resumeadapter.com/companies/ey/interview-process
- 23finalroundai.com/blog/ey-interview-process
Related reading
- STAR, XYZ, or CAR: Which Resume Bullet Formula Actually Works?STAR, XYZ and CAR all collapse to the same bullet in practice, why "quantify everything" is more contested than it sounds, and the one modern use of STAR that actually earns its keep.
- Is the One-Page Resume Rule Real?Where the one-page rule actually comes from, what recruiters say about it in practice, and a tiered way to think about length instead of a fixed cap.
How similar companies interview
Compare EY's process with other Consulting companies in this playbook: