Aptitude
Drills
D. E. Shaw placement papers 2025
Overview
Section titled “Overview”D. E. Shaw placement papers 2025. Primary filter: D. E. Shaw Online Test. Focus: Hard DSA, math, puzzles.
D. E. Shaw Aptitude Mock Quiz
Timed placement-style MCQs with score and explanations after you submit. Use it to check speed and accuracy before the real test.
Questions15
Time10 min
Reasoning
All pens are books. Some books are papers. Conclusion: Some pens are papers.
No definite overlap between pens and papers.
Reasoning
If in a code, CAT = 24 and DOG = 26, then BAT = ?
Sum of positions: B+A+T = 2+1+20 = 23.
Quantitative
A can do a job in 10 days, B in 15. Days together:
1/10+1/15=1/6 → 6 days.
Quantitative
$10,000 invested at 8% CI for 2 years. Final amount?
Correct answer: 10000 × (1.08)² = $11,664
Reasoning
Odd one out: 8, 27, 64, 100, 125
Others are perfect cubes; 100 is not.
Quantitative
If 3x + 5 = 20, then x equals:
3x = 15 → x = 5.
Reasoning
In how many ways can 5 people be arranged in a row if two particular people must sit together?
Treat the two people as one unit: 4 units to arrange = 4! ways The two people can be arranged among themselves in 2! ways Total = 4! × 2! = 24 × 2 = 48 ways
Verbal
The idiom "a piece of cake" means:
It means: very easy.
Reasoning
Find the missing number: 5, 11, 23, 47, 95, ?
Correct answer: 191
Verbal
One who loves books is a:
Bibliophile = lover of books.
Quantitative
A train 150m long passes a platform 200m long in 14 seconds. Find the speed of the train.
Correct answer: 90 km/hr
Verbal
"The committee have decided": correct form is:
Collective noun "committee" as one unit takes singular "has".
Quantitative
LCM of 12 and 18 is:
LCM(12,18) = 36.
Quantitative
Divide ₹1200 in the ratio 2:3:5.
Correct answer: ₹240, ₹360, ₹600
Verbal
Find antonym of "Benevolent"
Correct answer: Malevolent
Your score
0/15(0%)
Review
Sample D. E. Shaw Questions with Solutions
Section titled “Sample D. E. Shaw Questions with Solutions”Practice-style questions (not leaked live papers).
Aptitude / Reasoning
Section titled “Aptitude / Reasoning”Q1: Average of 5 numbers is 20. One number 30 replaced by 10. New average?
Answer: 16
Explanation: Sum 100 -> 80; avg 16.
Q2: A finishes in 10 days, B in 15. Together?
Answer: 6 days
Explanation: 1/10+1/15=1/6.
Q3: Probability of drawing an ace from a deck?
Answer: 1/13
Explanation: 4/52=1/13.
Q4: Pipe A fills in 6h, B in 8h. Together to fill?
Answer: 24/7 hours
Explanation: 1/6+1/8=7/24.
Q5: CP Rs.500, SP Rs.600. Profit percent?
Answer: 20%
Explanation: (100/500)*100=20%.
Q6: Find next: 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ?
Answer: 42
Explanation: n(n+1) pattern.
Q7: A train 120 m long runs at 54 km/h. Time to pass a pole?
Answer: 8 seconds
Explanation: 54 km/h = 15 m/s; t = 120/15 = 8 s.
Q8: Ratio of ages A:B = 4:5. After 6 years = 6:7. A present age?
Answer: 12 years
Explanation: 4x+6 / 5x+6 = 6/7 => x=3 => A=12.
Coding Practice
Section titled “Coding Practice”Coding Q1: Reverse a string in-place
Approach: Two pointers from ends.
Complexity: O(n)/O(1)
D. E. Shaw tip: Narrate brute force then optimize then edge cases before coding.
Coding Q2: Check prime
Approach: Trial division to sqrt(n).
Complexity: Handle n<2
D. E. Shaw tip: Narrate brute force then optimize then edge cases before coding.
Coding Q3: Valid parentheses
Approach: Stack matching.
Complexity: O(n)
D. E. Shaw tip: Narrate brute force then optimize then edge cases before coding.
Coding Q4: Two Sum
Approach: Hash map complements.
Complexity: O(n)
D. E. Shaw tip: Narrate brute force then optimize then edge cases before coding.
Coding Q5: Longest substring without repeat
Approach: Sliding window + last index.
Complexity: O(n)
D. E. Shaw tip: Narrate brute force then optimize then edge cases before coding.
Coding Q6: Merge intervals
Approach: Sort + merge.
Complexity: O(n log n)
D. E. Shaw tip: Narrate brute force then optimize then edge cases before coding.
Coding Q7: Top K frequent
Approach: Count + heap.
Complexity: O(n log k)
D. E. Shaw tip: Narrate brute force then optimize then edge cases before coding.
Coding Q8: Linked list cycle
Approach: Floyd tortoise-hare.
Complexity: O(1) space
D. E. Shaw tip: Narrate brute force then optimize then edge cases before coding.
Coding Q9: Level order traversal
Approach: BFS queue.
Complexity: O(n)
D. E. Shaw tip: Narrate brute force then optimize then edge cases before coding.
Coding Q10: Coin change min coins
Approach: DP unbounded.
Complexity: O(amount*coins)
D. E. Shaw tip: Narrate brute force then optimize then edge cases before coding.
Deep Prep Notes for D. E. Shaw
Section titled “Deep Prep Notes for D. E. Shaw”How the D. E. Shaw Online Test Usually Feels
Section titled “How the D. E. Shaw Online Test Usually Feels”Candidates describe a paced filter where easy marks disappear if you over-invest in one hard item. For D. E. Shaw, start with a three-minute scan, mark certainty levels, and protect accuracy. Languages typically include C++, Python, Java.
Topic Weight Hints (Candidate-Reported)
Section titled “Topic Weight Hints (Candidate-Reported)”| Area | Why it matters at D. E. Shaw |
|---|---|
| Hard DSA | Primary shortlist signal |
| Core CS (OOPs/DBMS/OS) | Technical interview depth |
| Quantitative Investment awareness | Managerial / HR differentiation |
| Communication | Especially for consulting and client-facing GSIs |
14-Day Sprint
Section titled “14-Day Sprint”- Days 1-3: pattern familiarization + 2 sectional mocks
- Days 4-7: weak-topic closed practice
- Days 8-10: full mocks every other day
- Days 11-14: interview narration + light revision
Related
Section titled “Related”Coding
DSA
OA
Assessment
Hub
D. E. Shaw
Similar Companies
Section titled “Similar Companies”Goldman Sachs · Bloomberg · Arcesium · BlackRock · Morgan Stanley · Google