SHL
Updated November 5, 2026Can you retake the SHL test?
SHL builds the test, but it does not decide whether you get a second go. The employer does, and the big US recruiters that use SHL have written their rules down. The short version for summer 2028: treat the first attempt as the only one, and expect that score to follow you to your next application at the same firm.
1 attempt
BCG and EY SHL assessments
per application or validity period
1 year
BCG reuses a US result
no new CCA needed
120 days
PwC result stays valid
applied to new applications
24 hours
EY submission window
2025 FAQ
Quick answer
Usually not for the same application. The firm that sends the SHL link sets the rule, and the US firms that publish one give you a single attempt: BCG says its SHL assessment cannot be retaken, and EY allows one attempt per validity period. Instead of a retake, your result is reused: BCG keeps it for a year and PwC for 120 days.
Key points
- BCG's US assessment, built by SHL, cannot be retaken, and a BCG US result from the past year is reused if you apply again.3
- EY allows one attempt during the validity period, and a still-valid result is applied to a new application automatically.4
- PwC applies a result for 120 days, so a second PwC application in that window does not mean a second test.5
- A score from another firm's SHL test does not carry over to BCG, because BCG's version is customized.3
Who decides, and what the US rules say
SHL runs the platform, but each employer sets the attempt rules for its own assessment. The clearest US example is BCG. Its Consulting Career Assessment is designed and administered by SHL, and BCG's FAQ for US applicants answers "I messed up, can I take it again?" with a plain no.3
EY's early careers assessment, sent from SHL's talentcentral@shl.com address, works the same way: one attempt during the validity period. In EY's 2025 FAQ that period ran to 11:59 p.m. ET on December 31, 2025, and EY asked applicants to complete it thoughtfully the first time.4
PwC does not use the word retake, but its rule has the same effect. A result is valid for 120 days, and if you apply again inside that window, the link tells you a result is already on file and no further action is needed.5
Reuse is the real rule
At these firms a second application does not bring a fresh test. BCG lets a US applicant who completed its assessment in the past year skip it on the next application.3 EY applies a still-valid result and may not send a new link at all.4 PwC shows the completed result on the assessment homepage.5
That cuts both ways. A strong result helps every application in the window; a weak one sticks. If you plan to apply to several roles at the same firm in the summer 2028 cycle, the first sitting is the one that counts for all of them.
Reuse does not cross firms at BCG. Its assessment is customized, so an SHL test taken for a different company does not replace it.3 Plan for a separate sitting at each firm unless the firm says otherwise.
How to get a practice run without using your attempt
SHL's own practice page is the safe place to try the formats: numerical, verbal, inductive and deductive tests, situational judgment and personality questionnaires, some with a score report. SHL notes that the practice difficulty may not match your real test exactly, and that practice results are for your use only.1
For timed reasoning tests, the practice matters more, because the scored versions are adaptive and run in one sitting. Verify G+, for example, allows 36 minutes for up to 30 questions.2 Barclays' New York SHL test for summer 2027 was heavily timed, with numerical, logical and situational judgment questions, and pacing decided more than difficulty.6
If something goes wrong mid-test, such as a crash, contact support straight away rather than starting over: BCG points to SHL's candidate support, PwC links SHL's support form, and EY lists an assessment support line and chat.3,4,5 SHL also suggests asking the employer for feedback after an assessment if it is not offered.7
US firms that use it
Each line links to that firm's own process page.
- BCG: No retake of the SHL-built Consulting Career Assessment; a BCG US result from the past year is reused.3
- EY: One attempt at the SHL skills assessment per validity period, submitted within 24 hours of the email.4
- PwC: One untimed work-style assessment, with the result valid for 120 days across applications.5
- Barclays: A timed SHL test a few days after you apply, before the HireVue and superday.6
How to prepare
- 01
- 02
Practice on SHL's free tests first
Use SHL's practice tests to see the question types before the scored sitting, since that sitting is your only one.1
- 03
- 04
This answer is general guidance for orientation, not a guarantee. Test formats, timings and employer cut-offs change, so verify the details on the provider or employer site before you apply. Last updated November 5, 2026.
Sources
- 1.Practice Tests and Assessments, SHL. Read Nov 5, 2026.
- 2.Verify G+ Test, test fact sheet, SHL. Read Nov 5, 2026.
- 3.Consulting Career Assessment (CCA) FAQs, Applicants to US offices (Jul 2024), BCG. Read Nov 5, 2026.
- 4.Early Careers skills assessment, frequently asked questions (archived Sep 30, 2025), EY, via the Wayback Machine. Read Nov 5, 2026.
- 5.Entry Level Assessment FAQs, PwC. Read Nov 5, 2026.
- 6.Candidate report on a public forum: Summer Analyst interview, Investment Banking, New York (Feb 2026). Read Nov 5, 2026.
- 7.About Assessments, SHL. Read Nov 5, 2026.