Written Exercises at Assessment Centres – Complete Guide 2025
Sep 11, 2025
Many employers include written exercises as part of their recruitment process to assess a candidate’s communication skills and their suitability for the job.
Written exercises can take a variety of formats, depending on the job and industry.
Some employers will ask that you complete written exercises as part of their application, but in this article we will look at the type of written exercises you might face at an assessment center.
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What Do Written Exercises Assess?
The specifics of a written exercise at an assessment center will vary depending on what the employer wishes to know about you and the requirements of the job you apply for, but the skills that may be assessed include:
Comprehension
This will test how well you can:
- Read through the provided information, question and understand it
- Retell that information in your own words
- Ultimately reach a logical conclusion
Communication
Your communication skills will also be assessed.
How well can you make yourself understood, in the correct tone and method for the situation, in a written medium such as a report or email?
Grammar and Vocabulary
In a job where you will be asked to regularly communicate with colleagues, managers, contacts outside the company and/or customers, you will generally be expected to have good literacy skills; such as grammar, spelling and knowledge of the relevant vocabulary to use.
Analysis
How well can you pick out the key points in the question and information provided, or interrogate multiple data sources and reach a logical conclusion?
Effective Time Handling
How did you spend your time on the different questions of the written exercise?
Did you take too much time to answer certain questions, panic through others, finish early or run out of time to complete the exercise?
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What Is Not Assessed in Written Exercises?
In the case of written exercises in paper and pen format, you will generally not be assessed on your handwriting.
However, it is always wise to make your written answers as clear and easy to read as possible.
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What to Expect on a Written Exercise in 2025
As part of a recruitment process, written exercises will generally reflect the type of tasks that you would perform in the job you have applied for.
These may include:
You may be asked to write an email as if you were an employee.
This might seem like a simple task to complete, but remember you will be expected to represent the company through the tone of voice and vocabulary you use.
Emails are generally brief communications, so avoid making it too long.
For instance:
Write an email to members of your team, asking that they attend a group meeting regarding a new client. Introduce the client in the email, using the information provided. Make it clear that you will expect their input at the meeting.
Letter
Letters are generally more formal than emails and have a set format.
You will be expected to know the correct way to lay out and write a letter – for instance, where to include your name and address at work and the name and address of the recipient, and how to sign off the letter.
For example:
As a new employee of [company name] inheriting a client base from your predecessor, draft a letter that you can send out to each client, introducing yourself.
Report
If you are asked to produce a report as part of your assessment, you will be provided with information to draw your report from.
However, knowledge of the industry and the correct vocabulary to use will always be an advantage.
The employer will assess your ability to create a professional layout and pick out the key information to be included in your report.
For instance:
Drawing on the provided information, write a report for the management team on the key findings of the gap analysis.
Press Release
A press release is an official statement, generally about new developments, services or products, that is communicated to the general press or a more targeted section of the media.
The content should be informative, easy to understand and persuasive.
The exercise may state the format that you should follow when writing the press release or, alternatively, this may be a test of what you already know about writing press releases.
For instance:
Write a press release to local media outlets describing the launch of a new product, [product name]. Drawing from the information provided, use the following format:
- Headline
- Location
- Introductory paragraph that makes it clear what the press release is about
- Body made up of at least three paragraphs
- Description of the company
- Yourself as press contact
Precis
A precis is a summary of a longer piece of text – for instance, taking the key points of an article and summarising in your own words in a neutral manner.
You will be expected to know the rules and format of a precis, such as writing in a concise way.
For instance:
Read the following article on [article title] and write a precis that summarises the key findings.
Proofreading
You may be asked to proofread a document – that is, check it for errors such as spelling and grammatical mistakes and wrongly placed punctuation.
This exercise assesses your literacy, your skills of concentration and whether you have an eye for details.
In-Tray
An in-tray exercise will include a combination of tasks, including any of the previously mentioned written exercises, in a work scenario pertinent to the job you applied for.
In-tray exercises assess your likely on-the-job performance.
For instance:
You are the marketing manager of a publishing firm, [name of the company].
You have returned from holiday to find a number of emails waiting for you. In what order will you deal with these and why? How will you respond to each?
- An email from a literary agent asking for news on the marketing of her author client’s debut novel.
- An email from the CEO asking for a report on the projected marketing costs for the next two quarters. This email is dated the first day of your one-week holiday.
- An email from the Financial Director asking for a meeting to discuss marketing budgets for the next two quarters.
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Example Written Exercise Questions
1. Email Writing
You are the team leader of a customer support unit. Draft an email to your team reminding them of a new policy: all customer emails must now be acknowledged within two hours. Explain why the change has been made and encourage compliance.
Tips for success:
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Keep it short and to the point (no more than 3–4 paragraphs).
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Use a clear subject line (e.g., New Customer Email Response Policy).
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State the change, explain the reason, and encourage compliance in a positive tone.
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Avoid jargon and keep the language professional but approachable.
2. Formal Letter
You have just joined a consultancy firm. Write a formal letter to a new client introducing yourself as their main point of contact. Explain your role, how you will be supporting them, and invite them to get in touch with any immediate questions.
Tips for success:
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Use the correct business letter format (addresses, date, salutation, formal closing).
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Be polite and professional—this is about building trust.
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Highlight your role and reassure the client about continuity of service.
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Keep it concise, ideally one page.
3. Report Writing
You are provided with sales data showing that revenue has declined by 15% in one region but increased by 10% in another. Write a short report for management summarising the key findings, possible causes, and recommendations for next steps.
Tips for success:
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Use a clear structure: Introduction, Key Findings, Analysis, Recommendations.
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Present numbers accurately, using percentages and comparisons.
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Focus on solutions (e.g., marketing campaigns, regional analysis).
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Write in a neutral, professional tone—no exaggerations.
4. Press Release
Your company is launching a new eco-friendly product. Draft a press release with a headline, introduction, three body paragraphs, company description, and press contact details. Your goal is to attract attention from the local media.
Tips for success:
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Start with a catchy but informative headline.
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Use the inverted pyramid style: most important info first, then details.
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Keep paragraphs short and easy to scan.
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End with company info (“About Us”) and press contact details.
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Write persuasively but remain factual.
5. Precis Writing
Read the provided article on workplace wellbeing programmes. Write a concise precis (maximum 100 words) summarising the key points in a neutral tone. Avoid personal opinions and do not add information not included in the text.
Tips for success:
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Capture only the main points—no examples or anecdotes unless essential.
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Write in your own words; don’t copy directly.
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Stay neutral—no opinions or interpretations.
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Keep it well within the word limit (e.g., 80–100 words if max is 100).
6. Proofreading
You are given a one-page company announcement riddled with spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors. Proofread and correct the document, ensuring it reads professionally and accurately.
Tips for success:
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Read the document twice: once for grammar/spelling, once for flow/clarity.
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Watch for homophones (their/there/they’re), apostrophes, and subject-verb agreement.
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Ensure formatting and punctuation are consistent.
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Aim for clarity: remove overly complex sentences if needed.
7. In-Tray Exercise
Imagine you are a project coordinator who has returned from a two-day training course. You find the following emails waiting for you:
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An urgent request from your manager for a project update by 3.00pm today.
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A client asking for clarification on a proposal, marked as "high priority."
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A colleague asking if you can cover a meeting tomorrow morning.
Decide the order in which you would handle these tasks, justify your reasoning, and draft appropriate responses.
Tips for success:
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Prioritise urgent/managerial tasks first, but justify your choices.
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Explain your reasoning (e.g., “The client query is time-sensitive because…”).
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Draft clear, concise responses for each message.
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Show you can balance multiple demands logically.
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Keep professional tone in all replies—even internal ones.
How to Prepare for a Written Exercise in 2025
You may not know what will be included in the written exercise you face, but there are ways you can prepare in the run-up to exam day.
Practice
One of the best ways to prepare for a written exercise is to use practice papers and sample questions.
How do you source these?
You can find out if the employer provides practice materials or sample questions. Or you can search online for written exercises to practice on.
Alternatively, practice the types of written exercises you think you may face, such as report-writing or in-tray exercises.
Revise Spelling and Grammar
Whichever written exercise you face on the day, you will be expected to have a good knowledge of spelling and grammar usage.
An easy way to brush up on your grammar and spelling skills is to use online resources – for instance, Grammar Girl and Daily Grammar.
Make a list of the words you regularly misspell and practice, practice, practice.
Read extensively and widely, from books to online news to magazines and relevant industry journals.
Research
First, research the job for any clues as to what kind of written exercises you are likely to face at work.
For instance, does the job description mention report writing or responsibility for an emailed newsletter? Your findings should give you a good idea of the type of written exercises you may face on the day.
Second, research the etiquette for different written forms, such as how to lay out a formal letter or the correct order of items in a press release.
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Top Tips on Approaching Written Exercises at Assessment Centers in 2025
When it comes to the day of the assessment, there are more ways you can improve your chances of a successful performance.
Pick Out the Key Points of the Exercise
Read the instructions for the written exercise carefully and pick out the key points:
- What have you been asked to do?
- What are the constraints – for instance, time limit or word count?
- Which words in the question may give extra clues as to what the question is designed to assess?
Keep these key points in mind when writing your response.
Make Notes and Plan the Structure First
In addition to the above, make notes on what you need to do and plan the structure of your response.
For instance, if you have been asked to write a press release, you will generally be expected to write:
- A headline
- Introductory paragraph
- Body of the press release
- Details on the company
In fact, almost any written communication will have an introduction, body and tie-up ending.
Consider what is pertinent to include in each section.
Be Concise and Never Exceed a Word Limit
Many written exercises will include a word limit, but even where there is no maximum set, you should always aim for concise writing.
Say only what is necessary to answer the question.
Where there is a word limit, never write past this. Aim for quality over quantity.
Keep to the Information Provided
For the purpose of the assessment, your written responses must rely on the information provided.
Keep that block of text central to your response.
Find the Right Tone of Voice
Is this a formal document, such as a letter to a client, or a less formal, internal communication like an email?
The written format, be that letter, report or precis, will be your first clue as to the right tone of voice to use.
The second clue will be found in the information provided as part of the written exercise.
Finally, your knowledge of the employer and their industry may further inform you on the tone of voice to use.
Consider In-Tray Contents Both as a Whole and Separately
If you are presented with an in-tray written exercise, you should respond to each part of the exercise separately, but also in regard to the other parts.
For instance, in the example given earlier in this article, you are asked to respond to three emails.
Which is the most urgent? Which relies on responding to another of the emails? What does the entire written exercise assess?
Avoid Complex Sentences or Vocabulary
Use language that is clear and straightforward. This is not the time to show your knowledge of the industry by throwing in jargon and technical terms, unless they are stated in the information provided in the exercise.
Neither should you use long, grammatically convoluted sentences to demonstrate your writing skills.
Keep your response relevant, straightforward and concise.
Allocate Time for Proofreading
Once you know how many written exercises you will be asked to complete within the time limit, allocate time for each exercise that includes the chance to proofread your response.
This will allow you to check for spelling mistakes, grammatical errors and anything you may have missed.
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Conclusion
Should you be asked to complete a written exercise at an assessment center as part of a recruitment process, it will not always be made clear what that assessment will include.
However with the correct preparation, you can greatly improve your chances of a successful outcome.
