A quick mental math test combined with 5 challenging gamified tests by Arctic Shores.
The Maven Securities hiring process begins with two back-to-back assessments – the Numerical Test and the Arctic Shores Assessment. In this guide, I’ll walk you through them, including sample questions and tailored tips.
Let’s briefly overview the two tests you’ll need to take during the initial stage of Maven’s hiring process. I describe each test in more detail in their dedicated tabs, so make sure to check them out.
Maven Securities Numerical Test
The Maven Securities Numerical Test contains 55 basic math questions of various topics, to be solved in 21 minutes.
The test is video-proctored, and you may not use a calculator, pen, or paper.
See the Numerical Test tab for detailed information + samples
(Illustration)
Arctic Shores Assessment
The second portion of the assessment is taking 5 Arctic Shores gamified tests. Each game lasts around 5-15 minutes, and is designed to measure one of five main traits:
Numerical ability
Pattern recognition
Focus
Empathy
Persistence
See the Arctic Shores tab for detailed information + samples
(Illustration)
Test Invitation
Two separate test invitations will be sent to you – one for the Numerical Test, and the other for Arctic Shores.
You will have 7 days to complete the numerical test and 14 days to complete the Arctic Shores assessment.
Numerical Test Invitation
Arctic Shores Assessment Invitation
Maven Securities Numerical Test
General Overview
The very first test you will need to take is the Numerical Test. It contains 55 math questions to be solved within 21 minutes.
Topics covered in the test are:
Basic calculations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division)
Number sequences
Approximations
Percentages
Powers
The test will randomly mix questions of these topics.
You will have 5 answer options for each question, only one of which is correct.
Advanced Tip
Unlike other numerical assessments, you can solve the questions on the Maven Numerical Test in any order you’d like. It may be a good idea to identify the areas in which you are more skilled and solve them first.
Administration and Proctoring
You will be recorded throughout the entire test, so you will need to have your webcam and mic on.
You are not allowed to use a calculator, pen, or paper during the assessment.
Navigating out of the test tab or window will immediately eliminate the session and will disqualify you.
Scoring
For every correct answer you will gain 1 point. Wrong answers or unanswered questions gain you no points. Therefore, it is always better to guess than leave a question unanswered.
Free Sample Questions + Tips
Here you’ll find sample questions adapted from the Maven Securities Numerical Test, in 2 main topics:
Calculations and approximations – You don’t need me to teach you how to calculate. Instead, I’ll show you some of the tips you can use during the test to save time.
Sequences – Here I will try to get you familiar with some common sequences used in the test.
Let’s go!
Question 1 – Calculations
8843 – 4569 – 327 = ?
3947
3944
3954
3949
4054
Answer + Tailored Tip
The correct answer is 3947.
Tailored Tip!
While at first glance, the answer options suggest that an accurate calculation is needed, that isn’t the case.
The last digit trick is going to help you to solve this problem instantly. Subtract only the last digits, in order:
(2)3 – 9 – 7 = 7
Hence, the last digit must be 7.
(The number in the brackets is provided just for explanatory purposes. It is quite simple to mentally perform this calculation).
Advanced Tip
That last digit trick is pretty basic! What if I have several options with the same last digit?
Check out the next question.
Question 2 – Calculations
10532 – 4335 – 1489 = ?
4718
4628
4778
4708
4758
Answer + Tailored Tip
The correct answer is 4708.
Tailored Tip!
In this case, all answer options end with the same digit – so this trick doesn’t help.
However, we can see that the tens digit is different in each response, so let’s find it:
Step #1 – Find out how many tens you need to borrow
Using the first digit trick:
(2)2 – 5 – 9
Without even looking at the result (8, naturally), we know that we need to borrow two tens to be able to complete the calculation of the ones.
Step #2 – Use the last digit trick on the second-last digit (subtracting borrowed)
(2)3 – 2 (borrowed) – 3 – 8 = (1)0
This means that the tens digit of the result should be 0.
Question 3 – Calculations
X / 9 = 4 / X
X = ?
1.5
2.25
4
6
12
Answer and Tailored Tip
The answer is 6.
The shortest way to solve such a question is:
X2 = 9 x 4 = 36
X = 6
Question 4 – Sequences
-1, 16, -81, 256, -625, 1296, 2401, ?
-5006
-4024
-3296
-4096
-5696
Answer and Tailored Tip
This sequence follows the rule an = (-1)nn4
Therefore, the next number in the sequence is -84 = -5096
Tailored Tip!
Since no aids are allowed during the test, it will come very handy to remember by heart things like commonly used powers.
Question 5 – Sequences
4, 12, 8.3, 24.9, 23.05, ?
66.15
67.15
68.15
69.15
99.15
Answer and Explanation
The correct answer is 69.15.
This series alternates between multiplying by 3 and subtracting a decreasing number, as follows:
4 x 3 = 12
12 – 3.7 = 8.3
3 x 4 = 24.9
9 – (3.7/2) = 23.05
Therefore, the next number should be 23.05 x 3 = 69.15.
Tailored Tip!
Oftentimes, one of the rules of the alternating series will be VERY hard to spot. However, before wasting valuable time trying to crack it, think if figuring out only one of the rules is enough to solve the question – as in the example we’ve just seen.
Arctic Shores
Once you complete the Maven Numerical Test, you will likely be required to take an Arctic Shores assessment.
The Arctic Shores Assessment is a collection of various gamified tests. Each employer may choose a different composition of these games to conduct to their candidates.
Maven conducts 5 tests of the Arctic Shores collection, taking around 40 minutes to complete:
Balance – Measures your numerical abilities. 10 minutes.
Order – Measures your ability to recognize patterns and understand rules. 17 minutes.
Direction – Measures your focus and attention. 3 minutes.
Expression – Measures your empathy. Untimed, approx. 4 minutes.
Security – Measures your persistence and willingness to learn. Untimed, approx.7 minutes.
(Illustration)
Below is an overview of each gamified test.
Balance
The Balance game measures your numerical abilities.
You will be presented with 2 or 3 scales, on which various shapes are balanced.
Your task is to interpret the information and fill in the missing shapes on the empty scale so that it is also balanced.
You have 60 seconds to complete this task.
There are a total of 10 rounds. Each round will be more challenging than the previous one.
Balance Sample Question
Answer and Explanation
The correct answer is two stars.
For convenience, we will denote:
S = Star ; E = Ellipse ; R = Rectangle
E + 2S = 2R
R = 2E
Substituting for R in equation 1:
E + 2S = 4E
3E = 2S
Order
The Order game measures your pattern recognition and understanding of rules.
You will be presented with a sequence of shapes and will need to decide what the next shape should be.
You will have to manually select the shape, color, position, rotation, and size from the bottom menu.
You have 60 seconds to answer the question.
There are a total of 17 rounds, each more challenging than the previous.
Order Sample Question
Answer and Explanation
The correct answer is:
The red circle changes position between the top left corner and bottom left corner.
The blue triangle does not change location, only size.
The yellow square both moves counterclockwise between the corners, and rotates 45 degrees with every move.
Direction
The Direction game measures your focus, attention, and concentration.
You will be presented with a set of arrows in various directions.
You must focus on the middle arrow and indicate its direction, ignoring all arrows on the sides.
However, sometimes the middle arrow will be surrounded by Xs. In that case, you should not indicate any direction.
The arrows will appear on the screen for a very short time – maintain your attention so you don’t miss them!
Throughout the test, you will receive feedback for whether your answers are correct, incorrect, or given too late.
There are a total of 80 rounds. The game lasts around 3 minutes overall.
Expression
The Expression game measures empathy and emotional intelligence.
You are presented with a computer-generated face showing some emotion. You need to identify that emotion, from a list of 7 options.
There is no time limit to choose the emotion
The expressed emotions can be very subtle and vague.
There is a total of 60 rounds.
Advanced Tip
Based on the recommendations of past test-takers, taking your time for just a little bit before choosing the emotion could increase your score.
Security
The last, and likely most notorious game of the Arctic Shores games is the Security game, also known as the Safe game.
Here, you will be required to open a safe door.
To open the door, you need to stop the rotating, colored area once it reaches the marked digit.
The rotation of the colored area grows increasingly more difficult in speed and pattern.
If you make an error at any point, the door will reset, and you’ll go back to the starting point.
The game has no time limit, and you can choose to end it any time.
Advanced Tip
Unlike what is commonly believed, the task here is not to “crack” the game (although it could be a fun bonus).
The game measures your persistence and learning, and therefore the more time you spend trying to solve it, and the more proactive and experimental your approaches become – the higher your score is likely to be.
