Trading
Make mental maths automatic. Then practise probability, expected value and market-making questions out loud.
Prepare for Optiver interviews
Optiver interviews vary a lot by role. Trading focuses on fast maths, probability and decision-making, while research and software interviews are more technical in their own areas.
Probability & EV
Fast numeracy
Market decisions
Research
Engineering
Recruiting context
About Optiver interviews
Optiver trading interviews are fast and quantitative. You need strong mental maths, probability and expected-value skills before the harder interview questions start.
Trading interviews often move from short calculations into probability and market-making problems. You should be able to explain your reasoning clearly and update your answer when the setup changes.
Research roles put more weight on statistics, modelling and coding. Software roles focus on technical problem solving, coding and design choices, so prepare for the stream you applied for.
Research
Focus on statistics, modelling, coding and explaining how you would test an idea.
Software engineering
Practise coding and technical problem solving. Be ready to explain your approach and trade-offs.
Prepare deliberately
Choose your Optiver preparation path
Different roles reward different preparation. Start with the closest path, then use the resource sections below.
Path 1
Quantitative Trading
Build speed first, then practise probability and market-making questions in interview conditions.
- 1
Start with the Optiver trading guide to understand the process and the skills that matter most.
- 2
Practise the assessment formats in your invitation until the timing feels comfortable.
- 3
Use the Optiver question bank for probability, expected value and trading-style problems.
- 4
Finish with market games and live-style questions where the setup can change.
Path 2
Quantitative Research
Focus on probability, statistics, modelling and coding.
- 1
Start with the quantitative research guide for the role-specific process.
- 2
Refresh probability and statistics, then practise quantitative questions in a research setting.
- 3
Prepare to discuss model choices, noisy data, validation and coding.
Path 3
Software Engineering / FutureFocus
Use the software-engineering or FutureFocus guide for the stream you applied to.
- 1
Start with the guide that matches your application.
- 2
Practise the technology assessment if it appears in your process.
- 3
Work on coding, technical problem solving and explaining design choices.
Interview practice
Optiver interview questions
Use the question bank for probability, expected value and trading-style reasoning that fits Optiver interviews.
Timed practice
Optiver online assessments
Practise the assessment formats that appear in your invitation. Focus on speed and accuracy until the timing feels comfortable.
Online assessment
Optiver Mental Maths Tool
Make common arithmetic operations automatic so calculation speed is not the bottleneck in later trading problems.
Online assessment
Optiver Sequences Tool
Build the pattern-recognition speed needed to spot a plausible sequence rule without burning time on dead ends.
Online assessment
Optiver Probability Tool
Practise short probability decisions where recognising the right setup quickly matters as much as doing the arithmetic.
Technology assessment
Optiver Technology Tool
Drill the technology-screening knowledge and timing that can otherwise distract from the harder technical stages.
Cognitive assessment
Optiver Number Box Tool
Train quick visual and numerical inference so you can move through Number Box-style items without overthinking each one.
Role-specific direction
Optiver interview guides
Choose the guide for your role or programme. Trading, research, software engineering and FutureFocus need different preparation.
Trading guide
Quantitative Trading at Optiver
Go deeper on the trading process, the level of quantitative fluency expected and how to practise market-facing decision problems.
Research guide
Quantitative Research at Optiver
Prepare for interviews where model judgement, statistics, coding and noisy market data matter more than raw calculation speed.
Engineering guide
Software Engineering at Optiver
Prepare for collaborative technical problem solving, coding judgement and the trade-offs that matter in the engineering stream.
Programme guide
Optiver FutureFocus Guide
Use a programme-specific plan for FutureFocus instead of assuming the standard graduate interview path applies unchanged.
Fill the gaps
Strengthen the underlying skills
Firm-specific preparation works best on top of solid fundamentals. Use these only where they address a real weakness in your preparation.
Common questions
Optiver interview preparation FAQ
Short answers for broad questions; use the dedicated guides, assessment tools and interview-question bank for deeper practice.
How should I prepare for an Optiver trading interview?
Build strong mental maths first, then focus on probability, expected value and market-making problems. Practise explaining your reasoning and updating your answer when the setup changes.
Does every Optiver candidate take the same online assessments?
No. The assessment mix can vary by role, office and recruiting cycle, so prepare the formats listed in your own invitation.
How should Optiver software-engineering preparation differ from trader preparation?
Software engineering is much more technical. Focus on coding, problem solving, systems and explaining your design choices clearly.
What should an Optiver quantitative-research candidate prioritise?
Focus on probability, statistics, modelling, coding and data analysis. Be ready to explain your assumptions, validation approach and what could make a model fail.
Keep moving
Turn the plan into practice.
Start with the Optiver question bank, then work through the specific assessment or role guide that matches your next stage.