KPMG assessment exclusion examples and practice guide
See how exclusion questions appear in KPMG assessments and what to look for when identifying the shape that does not fit the pattern.
Exclusion in the KPMG assessment
If you are preparing for a KPMG assessment via LTP or Harver (NOA), exclusion can be one of the abstract reasoning components you may encounter. In this type of task, you look for the shape that does not follow the same rule as the others. The focus is on careful comparison, not on speed alone.
The invitation email usually gives the clearest signal about which components matter most in your case. For KPMG, the assessment can combine cognitive ability tests with additional questionnaires or other measures, so it helps to prepare in a focused way. Exclusion is especially useful for building the habit of checking properties one by one before choosing an answer.
Try a sample question right away
This gives you an immediate feel for the question style and the value of the practice environment.
How exclusion is used in practice
In exclusion tasks, four out of five shapes typically share a rule based on number, shape, size, position, fill, lines, or angles. Your job is to identify the one item that breaks that pattern. The key is to compare the shapes systematically instead of relying on a quick visual impression.
For KPMG preparation, this matters because the assessment can ask you to reason accurately under time pressure. A good approach is to scan for the most obvious shared feature first, then test whether the same rule holds across all items. If one feature does not match, that is often the strongest candidate for exclusion.
Concrete examples of the kind of reasoning involved include spotting a shape with a different number of sides, one figure with a unique fill pattern, or an item placed in a different position within the set. These are not fixed test items, but they reflect the type of comparison the module expects.
Example situations to watch for
When you practice exclusion, it helps to think in terms of common mismatch patterns. In KPMG-related assessments, the challenge is often to find a rule that applies to most items and then identify the single exception with confidence.
- A shape differs only in fill, while the others share the same outline.
- One item has a different number of lines or angles than the rest.
- The positions do not line up, even though the shapes themselves look similar.
- A figure changes size while the other four stay consistent.
- One element breaks the pattern in orientation or direction.
These examples are useful because they mirror the kind of decision-making you need in the assessment. The aim is not to memorize one visual trick, but to train yourself to compare details in a disciplined way. That approach is especially helpful when the figures look close to one another.
A practical way to work through each item
Start by checking one feature at a time, such as shape, fill, or number of elements. If that does not separate the set, move to the next feature rather than guessing early. This keeps your reasoning clear and reduces the chance of overlooking the rule that actually matters.
If several features seem possible, use elimination to rule out the shapes that clearly fit the majority pattern. In many cases, the correct answer becomes easier to spot once you have identified what the four matching items share. This is why a steady, methodical pace is often more effective than rushing through the question.
Because KPMG assessments may include different components depending on the invitation, it is sensible to keep your preparation aligned with the email you receive. If exclusion is part of the package you need to practice, focus on repeated comparison, accuracy, and maintaining concentration under time limits.