Impact Graduate Programme SJT, Interview and Assessment Centre

Quiz Impact The Local Government Graduate Programme Practice Test

Understanding the Impact graduate selection stages

Impact recruits graduates for local government through a staged process that begins with an application and situational judgement test, then progresses to a video interview, virtual assessment centre and council interview. This guide explains the published Cohort 29 stages and offers practical ways to practise judgement and communication while keeping your preparation aligned with the Local Government Association’s official guidance.

Know the current application window

The Local Government Association’s timeline lists the Cohort 29 application stage from 7 October 2026 to midday on 6 January 2027. Candidates complete an application form, confirm that they meet the programme’s eligibility requirements and take a situational judgement test. Check the current programme page before submitting, because dates and instructions are tied to the relevant recruitment cohort.

The programme is aimed at graduates seeking a route into local government management. The official programme information describes a minimum 2:2 degree requirement and the need to have the right to work in the UK for the programme’s duration. Always check the current eligibility information directly; do not rely on a summary or assume that a requirement from another scheme applies here.

What the situational judgement test measures

The official Impact timeline says the test presents real-life scenarios drawn from general management trainees’ work in a local government context. Each scenario is followed by three possible responses, and candidates select the most and least appropriate. The test contains 24 scenarios and measures the programme’s key skills and behaviours. The published guidance says it is untimed, typically takes around 30 to 45 minutes and can be paused between questions. Candidates may return to complete it by the application deadline.

This format rewards careful reading. First identify the central issue in the scenario, the people affected and what the trainee is being asked to achieve. Then compare the options against the programme’s skills and behaviours rather than choosing whichever response sounds most confident. Local government problems can involve competing needs, collaboration and public impact, so consider whether an option listens, works constructively and responds to evidence.

The LGA provides sample questions through its official programme material. Use those examples to understand the style, not to predict the live questions. Avoid memorising a fixed ranking of actions: the best response depends on the circumstances in each scenario. After practice, explain to yourself why the strongest option fits and what makes the weakest option less effective.

Prepare for the video interview

Candidates who pass the SJT are invited to a video interview. The timeline says it begins from January 2027 and contains three questions about key skills and behaviours. The interview is timed, but candidates receive one chance to re-record each answer. The LGA says assessors mark the audio responses; the video may be checked for independent completion or technical issues. The guidance estimates 20 to 30 minutes for the assessment and recommends setting aside about an hour to use the practice function and get comfortable with the platform.

Build a small bank of truthful examples from study, employment, volunteering or other experiences. The programme does not expect applicants to have worked in a related job, so focus on transferable evidence: how you collaborated, handled a challenge, communicated clearly or learned from feedback. Use a simple structure that makes the context, your actions and the outcome understandable, but answer the specific question rather than reciting a rehearsed script. Practise speaking concisely and leave enough time to check the recording environment.

Understand the virtual assessment centre

Candidates who pass the video interview are invited to a half-day virtual assessment centre scheduled for February to March 2027. The published tasks are a written exercise, group discussion and presentation. The exercises are specific to local government and assess the programme’s key skills and behaviours. Candidates receive access instructions in advance, and the LGA advises joining at least 15 minutes early to check sound and video.

For a written exercise, practise extracting the main issue from a short brief, organising relevant points and making a clear recommendation supported by the information provided. In group discussions, contribute constructively: listen, build on useful ideas, invite clarity where needed and help the group progress. For a presentation, state the main message early and organise supporting points so they are easy to follow. These are general practice methods, not claims about undisclosed scoring rules or exact live tasks.

Council interviews and practical checks

After the assessment centre, successful candidates are asked for preferences among participating councils and receive information about those councils. The LGA cautions that preferences may not guarantee a first choice. Council interviews are scheduled for May to June 2027 and may be online or in person; some candidates may have more than one interview. If successful, the candidate receives an offer from a council, with a start date planned for autumn 2027, subject to pre-employment checks.

Review the council information made available to you and prepare to explain why local government interests you. Avoid assuming every council has identical priorities or interview arrangements. Check the specific invitation, format and location details before each interview.

Use official material and request support early

The LGA’s Impact application timeline is the best source for current stage dates and descriptions. Candidates who need reasonable adjustments should contact the programme team early, as the official guidance notes that some adjustments cannot be arranged retrospectively. Keep an eye on the programme’s updates, follow the instructions for the stage you are completing, and use practice to build sound judgement rather than to imitate supposedly ideal answers.