NATO Internship Assessment: Games, Interview & How to Prepare (2026)
The NATO Internship Programme uses the same first-round format as the Young Professionals Programme: a set of timed cognitive games followed by a short recorded video interview about your motivation.
Practise the games free →What to expect
Interns report the same line-up candidates see in the YPP: quick mental maths (Numerosity), recalling sequences of numbers or letters that later run backwards (Digit Span), remembering an order then summing values (Disco Numbers), matching rotated or spinning grids (Shape Dance), and an N-back working-memory game (Flashback). A brief recorded interview about your motivation follows the games. The exact line-up can vary by intake, so follow your official invitation.
See the dedicated NATO YPP assessment guide for a fuller breakdown - the games are the same.
How to prepare
- Train the specific game mechanics, not generic puzzles: Numerosity, Digit Span, Disco Numbers, Shape Dance, Flashback.
- Rehearse under a real timer so the format feels automatic on the day.
- Find your single weakest sub-skill and drill that one until it improves.
Because the games are identical to the YPP, the same prep works: rehearse each game under a real timer, and prepare two or three concise reasons for why NATO and why this internship for the recorded interview. If you are also applying to the YPP, your practice carries straight over.
FAQ
Is the NATO Internship assessment the same as the YPP?
In practice yes: the internship first round uses the same HireVue-style cognitive games and a recorded motivation interview as the Young Professionals Programme. The exact games can vary by intake, so follow your official invitation.
How do I prepare for the NATO Internship assessment?
Practise the exact game mechanics under a timer, target your weakest game, and rehearse your motivation answer out loud for the recorded interview. Free practice for every game is available on Prepwise.