- KPAT training covers two stages: an untimed Skills Assessment and a 36-minute timed Cognitive Assessment.
- KPMG itself points candidates toward SHL behaviour-based and general-ability practice materials.
- The Skills Assessment asks you to rank scenario responses; KPMG suggests budgeting about 20 minutes.
- Use a desktop or laptop for testing, and request adjustments in advance if you need them.
What KPAT Training Actually Means
When people search for "KPAT training," they're usually preparing for the KPMG Assessment Test used in KPMG UK's student and graduate recruitment pipeline. This isn't a professional certification you study for over months and renew periodically - it's a hiring gateway that sits after your application and before later interview stages. If you're still unclear on the basics, our What Is KPAT? guide and KPAT Meaning breakdown are good starting points before you dive into preparation.
Because KPAT is tied to a specific employer's recruitment process rather than an independent credentialing body, "training" here means something practical: understanding the exact format of the two online assessments, practicing the reasoning skills they test, and getting comfortable with the ranking-style questions used in the behavioural portion. There's no syllabus to memorize and no textbook to buy - the goal is familiarity and speed, not rote knowledge.
The Two Assessments You're Training For
After submitting your application, KPMG asks candidates to complete two online assessments back to back. Understanding the structure of each one is the single most useful thing you can do before you start practicing, and it's the foundation of everything in our KPAT Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 2 Content Areas article.
Domain 1: Skills Assessment
An untimed assessment built around workplace scenarios. You're asked to rank how you would think, feel, or respond in each situation - not simply pick a right answer, but order several plausible responses from most to least like you.
- Untimed, though KPMG recommends allowing around 20 minutes
- Scenario-based, workplace-oriented questions
- Ranking format rather than single best-answer multiple choice
- Aligned with SHL behaviour-based practice materials
Domain 2: Cognitive Assessment
A timed, 36-minute test of numerical and logical reasoning. Expect tasks built around interpreting information, running calculations, and drawing logical conclusions from data presented in tables, charts, or short passages.
- Fixed 36-minute time limit
- Numerical reasoning: interpreting figures and performing calculations
- Logical reasoning: drawing valid conclusions from given information
- Aligned with SHL general-ability practice materials
If you want a deeper sense of how tough this combination feels in practice, read How Hard Is the KPAT Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026, which unpacks the pressure points of each format separately.
Training for the Skills Assessment
Because the Skills Assessment is untimed and scenario-driven, training for it looks different from typical exam prep. You're not racing a clock - you're building consistency in how you present your judgment and behaviour across dozens of workplace situations.
Practical ways to prepare:
- Read every scenario twice before ranking responses. Untimed doesn't mean unlimited - KPMG's own guidance of about 20 minutes suggests a working pace, not a leisurely one.
- Think in terms of KPMG's workplace context - client service, teamwork, and professional judgment scenarios are common themes.
- Use SHL behaviour-based practice sets, since KPMG explicitly points candidates toward this style of material rather than generic personality tests.
- Avoid overthinking "correct" answers - ranking assessments look for consistent, authentic patterns rather than one ideal response.
Key Takeaway
Treat the Skills Assessment as a consistency exercise, not a puzzle to solve. Practice ranking exercises so the format feels familiar, then answer honestly and steadily rather than trying to "game" a perceived ideal profile.
Training for the Cognitive Assessment
The 36-minute Cognitive Assessment is where most candidates concentrate their revision time, and understandably so - it's timed, numerical, and logically demanding. Training here should focus on speed and accuracy under a fixed clock.
- Numerical reasoning drills: percentages, ratios, averages, and data-table interpretation are the backbone of this section.
- Logical reasoning practice: work through short passages or diagrams and practice drawing valid conclusions quickly, since this mirrors the "logical conclusions" element KPMG describes.
- Timed mock sessions: simulate the 36-minute limit repeatedly so pacing becomes automatic rather than something you calculate mid-test.
- SHL general-ability materials: since KPMG directs candidates toward this specific style, prioritize practice sets that mirror SHL's format over generic reasoning tests.
For a full breakdown of how KPMG evaluates results and what "success" looks like on this section, see KPAT Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass and KPAT Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows.
A Realistic Preparation Timeline
Since KPAT prep is compressed compared to a multi-month certification, a short, focused timeline works better than an elaborate long-term study plan. Here's a structure that maps directly onto the two domains rather than generic study techniques.
Format Familiarization
- Read through the structure of both assessments end to end
- Try a handful of SHL behaviour-based sample scenarios untimed
- Note which scenario themes (teamwork, client situations, prioritization) feel least intuitive
Cognitive Assessment Drills
- Practice numerical reasoning sets focused on tables and percentages
- Run logical reasoning exercises without a timer first, then with one
- Complete at least one full 36-minute timed simulation
Combined Practice and Refinement
- Alternate between Skills Assessment ranking practice and timed Cognitive drills
- Review any adjustment requests early if you'll need them for test day
- Confirm you'll be testing on a desktop or laptop, as KPMG recommends
If you'd rather follow a more detailed, day-by-day plan, our KPAT Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt expands on this same structure with additional practice recommendations.
Tools KPMG Actually Recommends
One thing that separates useful KPAT training from generic exam prep is that KPMG tells candidates fairly specifically what to use. Rather than guessing at third-party materials, anchor your practice around what's actually recommended.
| Recommendation | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| SHL behaviour-based practice | Mirrors the ranking-style questions in the Skills Assessment |
| SHL general-ability practice | Mirrors the numerical and logical reasoning style in the Cognitive Assessment |
| Desktop or laptop device | KPMG's suggested setup for completing both assessments smoothly |
| Adjustment requests | Available for candidates who need them - worth arranging ahead of test day |
| Personalised feedback report | Provided after completion, useful for understanding your own results |
You can run through timed practice sets that mimic this exact format using our practice test platform, which is built around the same numerical and logical reasoning skills the Cognitive Assessment measures.
What Comes After the Online Stage
Training doesn't stop at the two online assessments for every applicant. Depending on the role and stage, KPMG may follow up with a six-question recorded video interview and, later, an in-person Launch Pad event. These aren't part of the online assessment's domains, but they're worth knowing about early so you're not caught off guard mid-process.
- Recorded video interview: six questions, typically recorded without a live interviewer present - practice concise, structured verbal answers.
- Launch Pad: an in-person stage that comes later in the recruitment journey, distinct from the online Skills and Cognitive Assessments.
Since these stages sit outside the core KPAT domains, most dedicated "training" should stay focused on the two online assessments first. For a broader look at where KPAT fits into the overall hiring journey, see KPAT Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify and KPAT Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.
Common Preparation Mistakes
A few recurring habits slow candidates down or hurt their results, regardless of how much time they've spent preparing.
- Treating the Skills Assessment like a timed test. It's untimed - rushing through scenario rankings to "beat a clock" that doesn't exist often produces less thoughtful answers.
- Skipping timed practice for the Cognitive Assessment. Because it's fixed at 36 minutes, practicing without a timer builds false confidence.
- Using generic reasoning tests instead of SHL-style materials. KPMG points candidates toward SHL formats specifically - practicing with mismatched question styles wastes prep time.
- Ignoring device setup. Testing on an unsupported or unstable device can create avoidable friction on assessment day.
- Not requesting adjustments in advance. KPMG offers adjustments, but these need to be arranged ahead of time rather than during the assessment.
Curious how this compares to other roads into KPMG or how much time and cost this whole process really involves? Our KPAT Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown and Is the KPAT Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 articles cover that ground, while KPAT Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts gives you a fast reference before test day.
Frequently Asked Questions
KPMG doesn't run a dedicated training course for the assessment. Instead, it recommends SHL behaviour-based and general-ability practice materials that mirror the Skills Assessment and Cognitive Assessment formats.
There's no fixed requirement, but a few focused weeks split between scenario-ranking practice and timed numerical and logical reasoning drills is generally more effective than last-minute cramming.
Yes. The Skills Assessment is untimed and scenario-based, so training focuses on consistency and authentic responses. The Cognitive Assessment is a strict 36-minute timed test, so training should emphasize speed and accuracy under time pressure.
KPMG recommends using a desktop or laptop computer for both online assessments, so it's worth practicing on the same type of device you'll use on assessment day.
No. KPAT is a hiring assessment used in KPMG's recruitment process, not a certification with a validity period or renewal cycle. Results feed into that specific application's recruitment decision.