Bain Online Test: Complete Guide [2024]

Table of Content:  

1. What is Bain Online Test?
2. Bain Situational Judgment Test (SJT)
3. Bain Aptitude Test: Format & How to Prepare
   • Numerical Reasoning
   • Verbal Reasoning
   • Inductive Reasoning
   • Deductive Reasoning
4. Bain Personality Assessment
5. Bain Video Interview
6. The Importance of Practicing Bain Aptitude Test

When you submit an application to Bain, you may encounter one or more online assessments before being invited to interview. It's important to note that Bain's online tests are not standardized and can differ depending on the specific office and position you are applying for. However, as of now, the most commonly reported format for the Bain Online Test is the Bain SOVA Test.

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What is Bain Online Test?

The Bain Online Test, also known as Bain Online Assessment is a component of Bain & Company's widely used online screening assessment. This test sits in between resume screening and case interview. It's designed to filter out candidates who may not have the needed skills or traits before investing time in interviews. This helps make the hiring process more efficient and effective. (Click to see all screening tests by McKinsey, BCG and Bain!)

This is 75-minute evaluation that you can take on your own device from virtually anywhere. While the test may not impose strict time limits on individual questions or sections, it’s important to note that your speed will influence your overall score.

This assessment is designed to gauge how you handle various scenarios and how effectively you process new information. Powered by Sova assessments, the test is structured into four distinct sections:

• Situational Judgement Test (SJT)
• Aptitude/Reasoning Test
• Personality Assessment
• Video Interview

Unlike more traditional exams like the SAT, which typically separate different types of knowledge into distinct sections, the Bain online test is a blended assessment. This means you’ll encounter multiple types of questions within each section, challenging you to demonstrate a wide range of skills all at once.

The Bain online assessment is structured to evaluate your situational awareness, numerical and verbal aptitude, and logical reasoning. Given the layered and complex nature of this test, it’s a good idea to practice beforehand so you can approach it with confidence and clarity.

Bain Situational Judgment Test (SJT)

The Bain Situational Judgment Test (SJT) is designed to assess how you would handle real-world scenarios that consultants often encounter. This part of the Bain Online Assessment isn’t just about testing what you know—it’s about evaluating how you think, make decisions, and respond under various circumstances.

During the SJT, you’ll be presented with scenarios in different formats, such as text, videos, images, or animations. For each scenario, you’ll be asked to select the “Most Effective” and “Least Effective” responses from a list of 3-4 options.

How to Approach the SJT

• Stick to the Facts: Make sure your choices are based solely on the information provided in each scenario. Avoid letting personal biases or previous experiences influence your decisions.

• Know Bain’s Core Values: Before the test, take some time to familiarize yourself with Bain’s core values. This knowledge can serve as a guide when deciding which responses best align with what Bain is looking for.

• Think Like a Bain Consultant: If you’re uncertain about which response to choose, consider how someone who embodies Bain’s values would act. Aligning your choices with these values can enhance your performance in the SJT. For example: Bain highly values collaboration. So, if a scenario asks whether you should help a teammate, the best choice is typically to offer assistance—unless there’s a compelling reason not to, such as jeopardizing your own deadline when another team member is available to help.

Succeeding in the SJT

Approaching the Bain SJT with a solid understanding of Bain’s values, and focusing on the specific details of each scenario, will equip you to navigate this part of the assessment with confidence. This is your opportunity to demonstrate how you handle the types of challenges you’ll face as a consultant, making it a crucial step in your journey toward joining Bain.

Bain Aptitude Test: Format & How to Prepare

It evaluates candidates in verbal, numerical, and logical reasoning through a series of 25 to 30 multiple choice questions, typically completed within a 30 to 50 minute time frame. While these assessments are typically computer-based, certain offices may mandate physical attendance at proctored testing locations.

This test sits in between resume screening and case interview. It's designed to filter out candidates who may not have the needed skills or traits before investing time in interviews. This helps make the hiring process more efficient and effective.

The Bain Aptitude Test comprises three types of questions:

1. Numerical reasoning
2. Verbal reasoning
3. Logical reasoning

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Numerical Reasoning

Numerical reasoning in the Bain Aptitude Test assesses your ability to work with quantitative data. There are two question formats: Word Problem and Data Interpretation. 

1. Word Problem:

Objective: Your goal is to solve mathematical word problems presented in business context

What You Will Encounter: You'll encounter word-based mathematical questions framed within business contexts, requiring you to analyze data, perform calculations, and provide solutions.

Traits Assessed by Bain: This test assesses your ability to apply mathematical reasoning and problem-solving skills to practical business scenarios, reflecting skills essential for consulting roles.

How to Approach the Questions: 

1. Understand the Scenario: Read the word problem carefully to grasp the situation and what's being asked. Identify key information, numbers, and any relationships mentioned in the problem.
2. Build Math Equation: Transform the verbal description into mathematical equations or expressions. Use your understanding of math concepts like fractions, percentages, ratios, and more to set up the problem.
3. Solve Systematically: Solve the math problem step by step, ensuring you maintain clarity and accuracy throughout. Pay attention to units and ensure your final answer aligns with the question's requirements. Double-check your work to avoid calculation errors.

2. Data Interpretation:

Objective: Your goal is to analyze and draw meaningful conclusions from data presented in various visual formats, such as charts, tables, and graphs, to solve real-world business problems.

What You Will Encounter: You'll encounter business scenarios accompanied by visual data representations, including charts, tables, and graphs. Your task is to answer questions based on the information provided in these visuals.

Traits Assessed by Bain: This test assesses your ability to interpret complex data, make data-driven decisions, and apply numerical reasoning skills within a business context.

How to Approach the Questions: 

1. Chart Analysis: Begin by thoroughly examining the provided chart or graph. Pay close attention to labels, scales, and any patterns or trends that emerge. Understand the data's structure and what each element of the chart represents.
2. Question Alignment: Carefully read the question associated with the chart. Identify the specific information or insights the question is asking you to extract from the chart. Note any calculations or comparisons required to answer the question accurately.

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Verbal Reasoning

This type of question assesses your capacity to comprehend and analyze written information, including text, passages, and statements, to draw logical conclusions and make informed decisions.

Verbal reasoning questions can come in 3 formats:

1. Analogy

Objective: Your goal is to identify a relationship between words and apply the same relationship to find a similar pair of words.

What you will encounter: You'll be presented with a pair of words that share a certain relationship, and you'll need to select another pair of words with a similar relationship from the options provided.

Traits Assessed by Bain: This test assesses your ability to recognize and apply word relationships, analyze language, and draw logical connections between terms.

How to Approach the Questions: 

1. Analyze Word Relationships: Study the relationship between the words in the given pair. Consider how they are related, such as synonyms, antonyms, or associations.
2. Find a Matching Pair: Search for a word in the answer choices that has a similar relationship to the provided pair of words. Apply the same logic and reasoning.
3. Verify Your Choice: Once you've identified a word that seems fitting, ensure that the relationship holds true for all parts of the analogy.

2. Reading Comprehension

Objective: Your objective is to understand and extract key information from a provided text.

What you will encounter: You'll be given a passage or text, followed by a set of questions. Your task is to read the passage carefully and answer the questions based on the information presented in the text.

Traits Assessed by Bain: This test assesses your reading comprehension skills, including your ability to grasp the main ideas, identify key details, and draw logical conclusions from written material.

How to Approach the Questions: 

1. Read Actively: Engage with the text actively by reading it carefully and paying attention to the main points, supporting details, and the author's perspective.
2. Understand the Questions: Before answering, make sure you thoroughly understand the questions. Pay attention to what the question is asking and the context within the text.
3. Refer to the Text: When responding to questions, refer back to the text to locate specific information that supports your answers. Avoid making assumptions not supported by the text.

3. Making Inference

Objective: Your objective is to make informed judgments based on the information presented in a text.

What You Will Encounter: You'll encounter statements about a given text and must determine whether they are true, false, or if there is insufficient information to make a conclusion.

Traits Assessed by Bain: This test assesses your ability to draw logical inferences, critically evaluate information, and make accurate judgments based on textual evidence.

How to Approach the Questions:

1. Analyze the Statement: Carefully read the statement and identify key information or clues within the text. Pay attention to details, such as specific facts, dates, or descriptions.
2. Evaluate Evidence: Examine the information provided in the text and determine if it supports the statement as true, contradicts it as false, or doesn't provide enough evidence to decide.
3. Avoid Assumptions: Base your judgment solely on the information presented in the text. Avoid making assumptions or drawing conclusions beyond what is explicitly stated. If there's insufficient evidence, choose "Cannot Say."

Sign Up for our FREE Bain Aptitude Test Practice to start practicing Verbal Reasoning.

Logical Reasoning

There are 2 types of logical reasoning: Inductive Reasoning and Deduction Reasoning

Inductive Reasoning

Inductive reasoning involves using a particular example to deduce broader principles. This usually require you to complete a logical sequence, which assesses your proficiency in handling abstract ideas and tackling unfamiliar information, a crucial skill for problem-solving.

Inductive reasoning can come in 3 formats:

1. Matrix

Objective: Your objective is to discover the underlying rules or patterns within a grid and logically complete it by placing the correct elements in the empty cells.

What You Will Encounter: You will be presented with a grid or matrix containing various visual elements, often with some cells left empty.

Traits Assessed by Bain: This test assesses your ability to identify patterns, make logical connections, and apply deductive reasoning to complete the matrix accurately.

How to Approach the Questions:

1. Presentation Analysis: Start by analyzing the matrix’s layout, observing its size, arrangement, and any noticeable patterns or organization of elements.
2. Identify the Rules: Focus on identifying the rules or patterns governing the placement of elements within the matrix. Look for relationships between rows, columns, or individual cells.
3. Systematic Completion: Approach filling in the vacant elements systematically, following the recognized rules or patterns. Begin with rows or columns that appear the easiest to complete accurately.

2. Figure Series

Objective: Your goal is to figure out the pattern or sequence in a set of visual images and predict what comes next.

What You Will Encounter: You will come across a series of visual figures or shapes, and your task is to determine the figure that logically continues the sequence.

Traits Assessed by Bain: This test assesses your ability to recognize visual patterns, make logical connections, and apply deductive reasoning to identify the next figure in the series.

How to Approach the Questions:

1. Recognize the Pattern: Start by closely looking at the images and find any repeating patterns, changes, or transformations.
2. Apply Logic: Once you identify a pattern, use logical thinking to predict the next image based on that pattern's rules.
3. Choose Best Fit Pattern: Double-check your prediction to make sure it matches the established pattern. Choose the image that best fits the recognized pattern.

3. Odd One Out

Objective: Your goal is to identify the item that differs significantly from the others within a group of items, making it the "odd one out."

What you will encounter: You'll be presented with a set of items, often visual elements, that share certain characteristics or attributes.

Traits Assessed by Bain: This test evaluates your ability to recognize patterns and distinctions among objects or concepts, demonstrating your aptitude for analytical reasoning.

How to Approach the Questions:

1. Examine the Group: Begin by closely examining each item within the group, paying attention to their characteristics such as shape, color, size, or arrangement.
2. Identify the Odd Item: Look for a unique feature or attribute that sets one item apart from the rest. This might involve spotting differences in patterns, symmetries, or structures.
3. Confirm the Odd One Out: Once you've identified the odd item, ensure that it genuinely stands out due to a significant difference, not a commonality with the others. Double-check your choice to ensure it is the true odd one out.

Deductive Reasoning

Deductive reasoning involves drawing logical conclusions based on established premises, applying a top-down approach to reach specific, accurate outcomes.

Deductive reasoning questions can come in 3 formats:

1. Syllogism with Quantifiers

Objective: Your objective is to assess the validity of conclusions based on given statements, particularly when quantifiers like "all," "some," or "none" are involved.

What You Will Encounter: You'll encounter a set of statements that include quantifiers such as "all," "some," or "none," and you'll be tasked with determining the truth of certain conclusions based on these statements.

Traits Assessed by Bain: This test evaluates your ability to apply logical reasoning and critical thinking to assess the accuracy of conclusions drawn from a given set of statements.

How to Approach the Questions:

1. Understand the Statements: Begin by thoroughly comprehending the statements provided, paying close attention to the quantifiers and their implications.
2. Analyze Conclusions: Evaluate each conclusion to see if it logically follows from the given statements, taking into account the meanings of the quantifiers.
3. Determine Validity: Decide whether each conclusion is valid, invalid, or if there's insufficient information to make a judgment based on the given statements.

2. Ordering & Arrangement

Objective: Your goal is to determine the correct sequence or order of elements based on the information provided in the statements.

What You Will Encounter: You'll encounter a series of statements that contain information about the relative positions or orders of items, and your task is to arrange these items accordingly.

Traits Assessed by Bain: This test assesses your ability to use logical reasoning and critical thinking to establish the correct order of items based on the given statements.

How to Approach the Questions:

1. Understand the Statements: Begin by thoroughly understanding the statements provided, focusing on any clues about the order or arrangement of items.
2. Organize Information: Organize the information logically to visualize the sequence of items. Use any numerical or positional details to your advantage.
3. Determine the Order: Establish the correct order or sequence of items based on the statements, ensuring that your arrangement aligns with the provided information.

3. Grouping

Objective: Your goal is to categorize or group a set of items based on the information provided in the statements.

What You Will Encounter: You'll encounter a series of statements containing information about the characteristics or attributes of items, and your task is to group these items according to their shared traits.

Traits Assessed by Bain: This test assesses your ability to use deductive reasoning and critical thinking to classify items accurately based on the given statements.

How to Approach the Questions:

1. Understand the Statements: Begin by thoroughly comprehending the statements provided, focusing on the traits or characteristics mentioned.
2. Identify Commonalities: Identify common traits or attributes among the items mentioned in the statements.
3. Group Items: Organize and group the items according to the shared traits you've identified in the statements, ensuring that your categorization aligns with the provided information.

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Bain Personality Assessment

The Bain Personality Assessment is a crucial part of the Bain Online Assessment, designed to uncover your behavioral preferences and see how they align with Bain’s work environment. Unlike other sections, this assessment isn’t about getting the right answer—it’s about understanding your natural tendencies and how they might fit into a consulting role at Bain.

What to Expect

The personality assessment typically includes two types of questions:

• Ranking Personal Preferences: You’ll be given several statements grouped together, and your task is to rank them from “Most Like Me” to “Least Like Me.” This helps Bain get a sense of your priorities and decision-making style.

• Evaluating Scenarios: Here, you might be asked to respond to hypothetical workplace situations. Your answers—whether True, False, or Cannot Say—along with your confidence level, will help Bain understand how you might react in various scenarios.

How to Approach the Assessment

• Be Authentic: There are no right or wrong answers, so focus on being truthful about your preferences. This is your opportunity to showcase your genuine personality, which will help both you and Bain determine if it’s the right fit.

• Reflect Bain’s Values: While it’s important to be yourself, having a good grasp of Bain’s core values can guide your responses. Consider how these values resonate with you and might influence your behavior in a consulting role.

• Think About Consulting Life: Before taking the assessment, it’s helpful to think about what a typical day as a consultant involves. Understanding the behaviors and traits that lead to success in this field can help you reflect on how your characteristics align with what Bain is looking for.

Approaching this assessment with honesty, a solid understanding of Bain’s values, and a reflection on consulting life will allow you to present a true picture of how you might thrive within their team.

Bain Video Interview

The video interview is a key component of the Bain Online Assessment, offering you the chance to showcase your communication skills and thought process. In this section, you’ll be presented with pre-recorded questions that appear alongside text. You’ll have about a minute to gather your thoughts before recording your response.

Given the brief preparation time, it’s a smart move to have a few key points or stories ready that highlight your experiences and align with what Bain values. This way, when a question comes up, you can quickly organize your response around these prepared insights.

What to Expect:

• Quick Prep: You’ll have a minute to read and think about each question before hitting record. Use this time wisely to structure your thoughts.
• Three-Minute Responses: Once recording starts, you’ll have up to three minutes to articulate your answer. Stay focused and clear.

Sample Questions:

Here are some examples of questions candidates might face:

• What motivates you to work at Bain?
• Describe your role at your current company and what success looks like in that position.
• What’s your proudest achievement, and how did you accomplish it?
• Why are you interested in this specific office?
• Are you exploring opportunities with other firms? What’s your timeline for making a move?

Tips for Success:

• Get Prepared: Reflect on your experiences and think about how they align with Bain’s values. This preparation will help you respond more confidently during the interview.
• Create the Right Environment: Choose a quiet, well-lit space with a clean, professional background. Make sure there are no distractions in view, like a flashy poster or clutter.
• Practice Makes Perfect: It’s natural to feel a bit nervous speaking into a camera, so practice beforehand. Record yourself a few times to get comfortable with the format and to refine your responses.
• Test Your Tech: Before you start, make sure your microphone and camera are working properly. Bain gives you a chance to test your setup with a practice question, so take full advantage of this.

Remember, while it might feel a bit strange to record your answers, approach it just like you would a face-to-face interview. Be genuine, stay calm, and let your personality shine through. This is your opportunity to show Bain who you are and why you’re a great fit for their team.

The Importance of Practicing Bain Aptitude Test

Practicing the Bain Aptitude Test is crucial for anyone who want to get into Bain & Company. This assessment evaluates your skills in logical, numerical, and verbal reasoning, which are fundamental in consultancy roles. Without proper preparation, candidates may struggle with the test's format and the nuances of its questions, potentially hindering their performance.

The Bain Aptitude Test can be challenging, even for individuals with strong analytical skills. Through practice, you can familiarize yourself with the test's question types, enhancing your ability to manage your time effectively during the actual assessment. This preparation helps you build confidence in tackling complex scenarios, ensuring that you're well-prepared to demonstrate your critical thinking and problem-solving capabilities during the test.

In the competitive consulting industry, Bain seeks candidates who can think critically, analyze data, and make sound decisions. By investing time in practice, you'll not only improve your test-taking skills but also increase your chances of showcasing your potential and securing a promising career in consulting.

With our FREE Bain Aptitude Test Practice, you can get comfortable with the test format, question types, and increase confidence.