KPMG Launch Pad Group Exercise: How It's Scored & How to Shine
The kpmg group exercise puts you in a room with 5–8 other final-round candidates to solve a business problem together while assessors watch every move. It's part of the KPMG Launch Pad assessment centre for the 2027 intake. It's scored individually — your teammates aren't your competition, but your behavior is.
KPMG Group Exercise: What It Is
The group exercise is one of the core components of KPMG Launch Pad, the firm's final assessment stage for the 2027 intake. Your group receives a business scenario — often a client-style problem with data, conflicting stakeholder views, and a decision to reach — and must discuss it and agree on a recommendation within a time limit. Assessors sit around the table (or observe the call) taking structured notes. You're not told the "right" answer because the discussion process is what's being scored.
KPMG Group Exercise: How It's Scored
Each candidate is scored individually against KPMG's strengths: collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and leadership behaviors like driving the group forward. Assessors track specific observable behaviors — who builds on others' ideas, who manages the time, who summarizes and moves the discussion toward a decision, who listens and who steamrolls. Two failure modes dominate: the invisible candidate who barely speaks (assessors have nothing to score) and the dominator who talks over everyone (scored down on collaboration). The sweet spot is visible, constructive contribution: speak early, invite quieter members in, challenge ideas respectfully, and push for conclusions.
KPMG Group Exercise: How to Shine
Prepare behaviors, not scripts. Open with something substantive in the first few minutes — silence early is hard to recover from. Use the "build and bridge" pattern: acknowledge a teammate's point, add your angle, then connect it to the decision. Volunteer for timekeeping or summarizing — these roles make your contribution visible without dominating. When you disagree, disagree with the idea and offer an alternative; never make it personal. Practice with friends on a timed case so the behaviors feel natural. Our 2027 KPMG Online Assessment and Video Interview Tutorials covers the strengths assessors score in the group exercise and the behaviors that earn top marks.
The Assessor's Notebook Doesn't Lie
Here's what candidates forget: the assessor writes notes in real time, and at the end of the KPMG Launch Pad group exercise, your row in that notebook is either full or empty. There's no partial credit for thinking good thoughts silently. Every strong candidate who failed the group exercise has the same story: "I had good ideas but didn't get to say them." In a timed group discussion, unspoken ideas don't exist. Speak, contribute, and make sure your name is attached to the group's progress. For 2027 intake logistics, check KPMG's official careers page.
KPMG Group Exercise FAQ
How many people are in the KPMG group exercise? Typically 5–8 candidates per group, observed by one or more assessors.
Should I aim to lead the group? Leadership behaviors score well, but dominating scores badly. Facilitate and drive — don't command.
What if someone in my group is aggressive? Stay calm, don't escalate, and keep contributing constructively — assessors notice who handles difficult dynamics professionally.
Is the group exercise in person or virtual? KPMG runs Launch Pad in both formats depending on region; the scoring behaviors are the same either way.
Preparing for KPMG's assessment centre? Our 2027 KPMG Online Assessment and Video Interview Tutorials has the exact questions and answers — $79 one-time, instant download.
