— GUIDE —
SIG ONLINE ASSESSMENT GUIDE
SIG uses online assessments for some campus roles. Quant trading candidates should be comfortable with probability, expected value, counting, and numerical reasoning. Check your invitation before assuming anything more specific.
UPDATED 2026-08-12 · 8 MIN READ · BY THE VARIANCE TEAM
Checked against SIG job postings in August 2026. Several current roles include an online quantitative assessment, and at least one regional posting names Mercer | Mettl as the provider. That does not mean there is one universal SIG test. Be skeptical of fixed question counts and time limits unless they appear in your own invitation.
What is the SIG online assessment?
It is an early screen used in some Susquehanna recruiting tracks. A trading assessment may lean toward mathematical decisions. Equity and macro analyst postings can include finance knowledge too. The job title matters here; do not prepare for “the SIG test” as if every candidate receives the same paper.
What should quant trading candidates study?
| Topic | Core tools |
|---|---|
| Probability | Complements, independence, conditioning, Bayes' rule, and symmetry |
| Expected value | Fair prices, repeated games, indicators, and comparing bets |
| Combinatorics | Permutations, combinations, arrangements, and avoiding double counting |
| Numerical reasoning | Fractions, percentages, algebra, estimation, and clear arithmetic |
How do you approach expected-value questions?
Write down each payoff, multiply by its probability, and add the results. Costs are negative cash flows. A game costs $3 and pays $8 when a fair coin lands heads: EV = 0.5 × $8 − $3 = $1. A fair entry price is $4; paying less creates positive expected value.
Pair this with our probability shortcuts and worked interview questions.
Representative practice questions
- Two dice are rolled. Probability the sum is 8? Answer: 5/36.
- A fair coin is flipped until heads. Expected flips? Answer: 2.
- Choose 3 people from 7. How many groups? Answer: C(7,3) = 35.
- A bag has 3 red and 2 blue balls. Two are drawn without replacement. Probability both red? Answer: 3/10.
- A bet pays $12 with probability 1/4 and loses $2 otherwise. EV? Answer: $1.50.
These are original representative questions, not SIG questions.
A useful final week
- Day 1: diagnose probability, counting, and arithmetic separately.
- Days 2–3: drill complements, conditioning, independence, and Bayes' rule.
- Day 4: practice combinations and structured counting.
- Day 5: solve expected-value and fair-price problems under time.
- Day 6: complete a mixed simulation using your invitation's rules.
- Day 7: review mistakes and rehearse the shortest valid solution to each.
SIG online assessment FAQ
Is the SIG online assessment the same for every role?
No. Current postings show role-specific assessments, including quantitative and finance-focused versions.
Should I memorize previous SIG questions?
No. Learn transferable probability and EV methods. Firms can change numbers, wording, platforms, and question sets between cycles.
Is poker knowledge required?
Poker can help develop expected-value thinking, but the safer priority is probability, decision-making under uncertainty, and explaining your reasoning cleanly.
Official source and accuracy note
Check the process in the relevant SIG careers listing and your assessment invitation. Variance is not affiliated with or endorsed by Susquehanna International Group.