Preparation guide
D. E. Shaw Aptitude Questions
Overview
This page has D. E. Shaw aptitude questions with full solutions - numerical ability, verbal, and logical reasoning - in the style students report for the D. E. Shaw Online Test. Start with the timed mock quiz, then work the solved set and log every miss by topic.
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
D. E. Shaw aptitude topics students usually practice
- Numerical / quantitative: percentages, profit and loss, ratios, time and work, averages, SI/CI, speed-distance
- Logical reasoning: series, coding-decoding, blood relations, seating, syllogisms
- Verbal ability: grammar, vocabulary, error spotting, idioms
Numerical ability questions
Q1: Alligation milk
Problem: Milk at ₹40/L and ₹50/L mixed to get ₹44/L. Ratio of quantities?
Solution: Alligation: (50−44):(44−40) = 6:4 = 3:2.
Answer: 3:2
Q2: Work efficiency
Problem: A is twice as efficient as B. Together they finish in 12 days. How many days does A alone need?
Solution: Let B = x days, A = x/2. 1/(x/2) + 1/x = 1/12 → 2/x + 1/x = 1/12 → 3/x = 1/12 → x = 36. A alone = 18 days.
Answer: 18 days
Q3: Consumption cut
Problem: If the price of an item rises by 25%, by what percent should consumption fall so that expenditure stays the same?
Solution: Required reduction = r/(100+r) × 100 with r = 25. = 25/125 × 100 = 20%.
Answer: 20%
Q4: Geometry triangle
Problem: A right triangle has legs 6 and 8. Hypotenuse?
Solution: √(36+64)=√100=10.
Answer: 10
Q5: Average of averages
Problem: Average of 10 numbers is 25. Average of first 6 is 20. Average of last 4?
Solution: Total = 250. First 6 sum = 120. Last 4 sum = 130. Average = 130/4 = 32.5.
Answer: 32.5
Q6: Loss to profit shift
Problem: An article sold at 10% loss would give 5% profit if sold for ₹60 more. Find the cost price.
Solution: 0.9P + 60 = 1.05P 60 = 0.15P P = 60 / 0.15 = ₹400.
Answer: ₹400
Q7: Consecutive integers
Problem: If the sum of three consecutive integers is 72, what is the smallest of these integers?
Solution: Let the integers be x, x+1, and x+2.
x + (x+1) + (x+2) = 72 3x + 3 = 72 3x = 69 x = 23
So the integers are 23, 24, and 25.
Answer: 23
Q8: Man days leftover
Problem: 15 men can do a job in 20 days. After 5 days, 5 men leave. How many more days to finish?
Solution: Work done in 5 days = 15×5 = 75 man-days. Total = 300. Left = 225. Remaining men = 10. Days = 225/10 = 22.5 days.
Answer: 22.5 days
Q9: Distance from speed
Problem: A vehicle travels at 60 km/h for 2.5 hours. How far does it go?
Solution: Distance = speed × time = 60 × 2.5 = 150 km.
Answer: 150 km
Q10: Profit on a pen
Problem: If the cost price of a pen is ₹40 and it is sold at a 25% profit, what is the selling price?
Solution: Profit = 25% of 40 = ₹10. Selling price = 40 + 10 = ₹50.
Or SP = CP × 1.25 = 40 × 1.25 = ₹50.
Answer: ₹50
Verbal ability questions
Q11: Antonym - opaque
Problem: Choose the best antonym of ‘opaque’.
Solution: ‘Opaque’ means not transparent. Opposite: transparent / clear.
Answer: Transparent
Q12: Spelling
Problem: Which spelling is correct: Acommodate / Accommodate / Acomodate / Accomodate?
Solution: Correct spelling has two c’s and two m’s: Accommodate.
Answer: Accommodate
Q13: Synonym - resilient
Problem: Best synonym of ‘resilient’?
Solution: Able to recover quickly → tough / flexible.
Answer: Tough / adaptable
Q14: Error spotting subject
Problem: Identify the error: The list of items are on the table.
Solution: ‘List’ is singular → ‘is’ not ‘are’.
Answer: are → is
Q15: One-word substitution
Problem: A person who speaks many languages is called a:
Solution: Polyglot.
Answer: Polyglot
Q16: Synonym - abundant
Problem: Choose the best synonym of ‘abundant’.
Solution: ‘Abundant’ means present in large quantity. Closest match: plentiful.
Answer: Plentiful
Reasoning ability questions
Q17: Series alternate
Problem: Find next: 2, 3, 5, 8, 12, ?
Solution: Differences +1,+2,+3,+4,+5 → next diff 5 → 17.
Answer: 17
Q18: Matrix letter
Problem: If in a code A=1, B=2, … Z=26, what is the value of CAB?
Solution: C=3, A=1, B=2; sum = 6 (if additive coding).
Answer: 6
Q19: Direction return
Problem: You walk 2 km east, 3 km south, 2 km west. How far from start?
Solution: East/west cancel; 3 km south from start.
Answer: 3 km south
Q20: Series multiply
Problem: Find the next number: 3, 9, 27, 81, ?
Solution: Each term is multiplied by 3. Next = 81 × 3 = 243.
Answer: 243
Q21: Odd one out
Problem: Find the odd one out: 3, 5, 7, 9, 11
Solution: 3, 5, 7, and 11 are prime. 9 = 3×3 is composite, so it is the odd one out.
Answer: 9
Q22: Coding letter shift
Problem: If CAT is coded as DBU, how is DOG coded in the same way?
Solution: Each letter moves +1 in the alphabet: C→D, A→B, T→U. D→E, O→P, G→H → EPH.
Answer: EPH
Timed practice tips for D. E. Shaw
- First pass: only high-confidence questions
- Mark and skip time sinks early
- Keep verbal accuracy high - these are easy marks if you stay calm
- Run the mock quiz at least three times a week under real timing
- Sleep properly the night before; fatigue hurts DI and calculation accuracy
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