A long, versatile assessment that combines math and probability tests, a series of 9 gamified tests and a personality profiling questionnaire.
The Optiver online assessment is the initial stage of your hiring process with Optiver. It is one of the longest and most demanding preliminary assessments in the world of trading, and consists of 5 very different tests.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through all the parts of the assessment, including sample questions and inside tips.
The Optiver Online Assessment is a collection of tests designed and administered by Dutch assessment firm Zyvo. It will take an overall of about 3 hours, and will include the 5 following tests:
80-in-8
A quick math test, in which you are presented with 80 basic math drills. You have 8 minutes to answer as many questions as possible.
A test of number series growing increasingly more challenging. You need to find the next number in the sequence. 26 questions and 25 minutes to answer as many questions as possible.
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The 80-in-8 test is probably the most well-known test on the list. This test, or a variation of it, is used in the hiring process for multiple trading firms. Besides Optiver, two common examples are Akuna Capital and Maven.
The test contains 80 simple math questions to be solved in 8 minutes. The covered topics are addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of integers, fractions, and decimals.
Each question has 4 optional responses.
You are not allowed to use a calculator during the test, but you are allowed pen and paper.
You may not skip questions or change your answers to questions you have already answered. Once you have answered, you will automatically move to the next question.
For every correct answer you gain 1 point (+1), while for every wrong answer, you lose 1 point (-1).
The NumberLogic test is basically a test of number sequences that become increasingly more challenging.
You will be presented with a sequence of 5-7 numbers and will be asked to find the number that completes the pattern correctly out of 5 optional answers.
You are allowed to use a calculator, and I strongly recommend that you use one. Some of the sequences involve fractions or large numbers, where calculations may become annoying and time-consuming.
A correct answer will gain you 1 point, and a wrong answer will lose you 1 point. You may choose to skip a question and get 0 points for it. You may go back and change submitted answers, or retry questions you have skipped.
It is not recommended to guess in this test, as incorrect answers will deduct points, and it is usually better to skip questions you are unsure of.
The questions you skipped can be found in the bottom, so you can jump back directly to them at any point.
There is no need to solve all questions. According to the test instructions, a score of 15 should put you on the safe side.
Zap-N
The Zap-N test is the longest section of the assessment. It contains 9 short, gamified tests. Let’s go over them one-by-one.
Test 1 – Balloon
(Illustration)
TL;DR:
Round 1
Pump balloons to earn money
Cash in the money earned to move on to the next balloon
The balloon pops after a random number of pumps
If the balloon pops, all money earned for the round is lost
30 balloons
Round 2
Same rules as round 1, but:
20 balloons
Money earned for every balloon is doubled
You get a penalty if the balloon pops
In this game you will be required to pump balloons by clicking a button. Each pump will earn you money. At any time, you may cash in what you earned, and the game will move on to the next balloon.
However, every balloon might pop after a random number of pumps. If the balloon pops, you will lose all the money you earned for that round.
The game is divided into two rounds:
Round 1 – Earn 10 cents for each pump. If the balloon pops, all earned money is lost.
Round 2 – Risk-return tradeoff increases. Earn 20 cents for each pump. However, if the balloon pops, half of what you earned will be taken off your bank. For instance, if you pumped 5 times and were able to cash in, you get $1. If the balloon popd, 50 cents are deducted from your bank.
Pro Tip
While the game’s declared goal is to earn as much money as possible, it is actually a psychological test that measures your risk-taking. It is known as the Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART) (original study).
Test 2 – Skyscraper
(Illustration)
TL;DR:
Rearrange 3 towers to match an example
Only the top pieces can be moved
10 levels
In the Skyscraper game, you will be required to recreate three towers to match an arrangement presented to you.
Only the top pieces can be moved at any step.
You need to solve the puzzle in the least number of moves and time.
There are 10 levels that increase in difficulty.
Pro Tip
This is also a very well-known psychological test named the Tower of London (ToL). Apart from the speed and number of steps you took, the test will also consider your preplanning time. Short planning time indicates impulsivity and is generally not a desirable trait (study).
Test 3 – Shapeshift
(Illustration)
TL;DR:
Press the right arrow key if you see a circle, and the left arrow key if you see a square.
60 rounds
The Shapeshift test presents you with one of two shapes – a circle and a square. If you see the circle, press the right arrow key. If you see the square, press the left arrow key.
To distract you, the circle and square will appear for very short periods of time, and in random sides of the screen (for instance, the circle may appear on the left).
The test will not indicate whether your answer was correct or incorrect (although you are likely to figure it out yourself).
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Test 4 – CodeCompare
(Illustration)
TL;DR:
Find the identical sequence
3 to 5 seconds per round
30 rounds
This test is a simple data-checking test. It presents you with a sequence of numbers and/or letters, followed by four similar sequences. Only one of these sequences is identical to the original.
You need to find the identical sequence within a very limited time.
If you do not answer within the allocated time, the test will move on to the next question.
The difficulty increases during the test, and the time per question is gradually reduced from 5 seconds to 3.
Test 5 – Pincode
(Illustration)
TL;DR:
Round 1
Memorize and type number sequences
Sequences become increasingly longer
Round 2
Type sequences in reverse order (e.g., “452876” – “678254”)
Round 3
Type sequences by sorting the digits low to high (e.g., “426592” – “224569”)
In the Pincode game, you will need to memorize and type sequences of numbers that become increasingly longer.
After solving two sequences of the same length correctly, the sequence will become one number longer.
Answering two incorrect answers in the same level will end the game.
In the second round, you will need to type the sequence in reverse order (e.g., if the sequence is “452876”, type “678254”).
In the third and final round, you will need to type the sequence by sorting the digits from low to high (e.g., if the sequence is “426592”, type “224569”).
Pen and paper are not allowed in this game.
Test 6 – NumberBox
(Illustration)
TL;DR:
Create a given number by 4 other numbers and the 4 operations
10 rounds
NumberBox is a mathematical puzzle where you need to create the number shown in the middle by using four digits and the four operations.
You may give up after a given period of time and move on, although it isn’t recommended.
Pro Tip
In the beginning of the test, you may think you need to perform all actions in order (i.e., can’t use brackets) – that isn’t the case. For example, if you want to create the expression:
(5 + 7) x (10 – 8) = 24
Click 5 + 7 to create 12
Click 10 – 8 to create 2
Click 12 x 2 to create 24
Test 7 – Figure It Out
(Illustration)
TL;DR:
Find the hidden figure by guessing properties like shape, color, etc.
Get feedback about correct and incorrect properties
Least number of moves
5 rounds
Figure It Out is likely the longest and most mentally exhausting test in the Zap-N collection. The aim of the game is to guess the properties of a hidden figure – shape, color, pattern, etc.
With every attempt, you will be notified how many properties you got right.
Your aim is to plan a strategy of guessing and effectively using the feedback to find the hidden figure in the least number of attempts.
There are a total of 5 rounds, and with every round, the number of shape properties will increase.
Pro Tip
In the Figure It Out game, time does not affect your score. Rather, the overall number of steps matters. Therefore, it is a good idea to form a strategy in advance rather than using trial-and-error.
Test 8 – The Switch
(Illustration)
TL;DR:
Answer questions in alternating blocks
Simple math or visual perception
Speed test
35 rounds
In this very simple game, you will be presented with two blocks containing arrows and a simple math drill.
The buttons in the bottom are “Yes” and “No”.
If the top block is highlighted, you will need to indicate whether the result of the math drill is odd.
If the bottom block is highlighted, you will need to indicate whether the sets of arrows are identical.
Your speed and accuracy will be measured by the system.
Test 9 – Stock Master
(Illustration)
TL;DR:
Click the indicators when they are colored
2 minutes
The last game, Stock Master, will present you with a set of quickly shifting indicators.
You need to click on an indicator when the needle is in the colored area to “buy a stock”.
The indicators are constantly appearing and disappearing, and their speed greatly varies.
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The Beat the Odds game is probably the most math-oriented test on the list and requires the broadest mathematical knowledge.
The test assesses your knowledge and skill in probability theory. Most often, you are required to calculate the probability of a certain event revolving around dice, cards, or coin tosses.
There are 20 questions in the test, with a time limit of 90 seconds per question.
For each question there are 5 optional responses.
The scoring rules are similar to those on the NumberLogic test – a correct answer will gain you 1 point, and a wrong answer will lose you 1 point. You may choose to skip a question and get 0 points for it.
However, unlike the NumberLogic test, you may not navigate between questions, and once a question is skipped, you may not return to it.
It is not recommended to guess, as incorrect answers will deduct points, and it’s usually better to skip questions you are unsure of.
Pro Tip
The answers in the Beat the Odds test are quite confusing, as they are normally only estimates. For instance, the possible responses may be 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, and 1, while the actual answer is 0.45. In that case, you are expected to choose “0.5” as the correct answer.
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The final test is the Zap-Q test, which is basically a personality profiling questionnaire.
The test has about 150 questions, each containing two statements. You need to choose which of these statements better describes you.
Here are the 24 traits measured by the Zap-Q test, and their definitions:
Action Orientation – The extent to which one is focused on taking initiative.
Attention to Detail – The need to perform tasks accurately and with precision.
Cause Analysis – Tendency to view situations from different perspectives.
Empathy – The need to empathize with the feelings of others.
Focus – Ability to concentrate on a specific task.
Imagination – The extent to which imagination is used in coming up with solutions.
Impulse Control – The need for immediate response to impulses.
Influence Ability – The ability to influence and steer behavior in a certain direction.
Need for Attention – The desire to draw attention to oneself.
Need for Rules – The need to follow rules.
Need for Tension – The need to take risks.
Optimism – The extent to which one trusts in a positive outcome.
Perseverance – The need to achieve a specific goal.
Rationality – The extent to which feelings and facts play a role in making decisions.
Self-control – The extent to which emotions and feelings are displayed.
Self-esteem – Belief in one’s own value.
Self-interest – The extent to which one is focused on protecting their own interests.
Self-reliance – Belief in one’s ability to complete a task independently.
Self-responsibility – The extent to which one takes personal responsibility for their actions.
Sociability – The extent to which one is capable of making connections.
Stress Sensitivity – Sensitivity to pressure and stress.
Trust in Others – The extent to which one trusts the intentions of others.
Work Organization – The extent to which work organization is applied when completing tasks.
Work Tempo – Preferred pace when carrying out activities.
Pro Tip
The Zap-Q test uses a mechanism known as “forced choice”, which forces you to choose between two statements, even though you may agree or disagree with both. This is done primarily to rank your traits and to prevent you from gaming the system.
