Mastercard 2024 aptitude
Quantitative, reasoning, and verbal drills with solutions
Mastercard Placement Papers 2024
Overview
This page collects Mastercard placement papers from 2024 with practice questions, worked solutions, and the exam pattern students reported that cycle. Use it when you want drive history: what the first round looked like, which topics repeated, and how to approach solutions. Work the sets below under a timer, then compare with newer material so your prep matches both established Mastercard patterns and recent shifts.
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Mastercard 2024 coding
DSA practice aligned to Mastercard online assessments
Mastercard interview experience
Round structure and tips from student reports
Mastercard prep guide
Study plan and weekly schedule
Mastercard 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
Find the next number: 6, 11, 21, 41, ?
×2−1 pattern → 81.
Quantitative
A number is first increased by 25% and then decreased by 20%. Find the net percentage change.
Let number = 100 After 25% increase: 100 + 25 = 125 After 20% decrease: 125 - 20% of 125 = 125 - 25 = 100 Net change = 0%
Quantitative
The ratio of ages of A and B is 3:5. After 10 years, the ratio becomes 5:7. Find the present age of A.
Let present ages be 3x and 5x After 10 years: (3x + 10)/(5x + 10) = 5/7 7(3x + 10) = 5(5x + 10) 21x + 70 = 25x + 50 4x = 20 x = 5 A's present age = 3 × 5 = 15 years
Reasoning
If BOOK is coded as 43 (sum of letter positions), PEN is coded as:
P+E+N = 16+5+14 = 35.
Reasoning
A is taller than B but shorter than C. D is shorter than B. Who is tallest?
C > A > B > D → C is tallest.
Quantitative
A sum of money amounts to ₹9800 after 5 years and ₹12005 after 8 years at the same rate of simple interest. Find the rate of interest per annum.
Let Principal = P, Rate = R% After 5 years: P + (P × R × 5)/100 = 9800 After 8 years: P + (P × R × 8)/100 = 12005 Subtracting: (P × R × 3)/100 = 12005 - 9800 = 2205 P × R = 73500 From first equation: P + (73500 × 5)/100 = 9800 P + 3675 = 9800 P = 6125 Rate R =
Verbal
Fill in: She is good _____ mathematics.
Good at a subject.
Quantitative
A shopkeeper gives two successive discounts of 10% and 20% on an item. What is the effective discount percentage?
Let MP = ₹100 After first discount: 100 - 10% = ₹90 After second discount: 90 - 20% = ₹72 Effective discount = (100 - 72) / 100 × 100 = 28%
Reasoning
Find the next number: 5, 10, 20, 40, ?
×2 each → 80.
Verbal
Synonym of "Abundant":
Abundant means plentiful.
Quantitative
A number is increased by 25% and then decreased by 25%. Find the net percentage change.
Let original number = 100 After 25% increase: 100 + 25 = 125 After 25% decrease: 125 - (25% of 125) = 125 - 31.25 = 93.75 Net change = 100 - 93.75 = 6.25 Net percentage change = (6.25/100) × 100 = 6.25% decrease
Reasoning
In a row of 40 students, A is 11th from left. Rank from right is:
From right = 40 − 11 + 1 = 30.
Verbal
Identify the correctly spelled word:
Accommodate has double "c" and double "m".
Quantitative
Find the HCF of 24 and 36.
Correct answer: 12
Verbal
A shopkeeper buys an article for ₹500 and sells it for ₹600. Find his profit percentage.
Correct answer: 20%
Your score
0/15(0%)
Review
Mastercard exam pattern 2024
| Section | What shows up | Prep focus |
|---|---|---|
| Online assessment | Coding and/or MCQ filter | Weekly timed mocks |
| Technical rounds | DSA, CS fundamentals, projects | Live problem solving |
| HR / hiring manager | Motivation and communication | Specific, evidence-based answers |
First round: Mastercard Codility / OA
Skills emphasized: DSA, payments concepts, system design
Languages: Java, Python, C++
Sample Mastercard questions with solutions
These are practice-style questions aligned to patterns students report for Mastercard drives around 2024. They are not leaked live papers. Work them timed, then read the solutions only after you have an answer.
Quantitative aptitude (2024)
Q1: Permutation basic
Problem: In how many ways can 5 different books be arranged on a shelf?
Solution: Arrangements of 5 distinct items = 5! = 120.
Answer: 120
Q2: 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
Q3: Train and pole
Problem: A train 150 meters long passes a pole in 15 seconds. What is its speed in km/h?
Solution: Distance = 150 m = 0.15 km. Time = 15 s = 15/3600 h = 1/240 h. Speed = 0.15 ÷ (1/240) = 0.15 × 240 = 36 km/h.
Faster check: 150/15 = 10 m/s → 10 × 18/5 = 36 km/h.
Answer: 36 km/h
Q4: 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
Q5: A and B together
Problem: A can finish a job in 10 days and B in 20 days. How long will they take working together?
Solution: A’s one-day work = 1/10. B’s one-day work = 1/20. Together = 1/10 + 1/20 = 3/20 per day. Time = 20/3 ≈ 6.67 days (6 days 16 hours).
Answer: 20/3 days
Q6: Sum of naturals
Problem: What is the sum of the first 50 natural numbers?
Solution: Sum of first n naturals = n(n+1)/2. For n = 50: 50 × 51 / 2 = 1275.
Answer: 1275
Q7: Average speed
Problem: A person covers a distance at 60 km/h and returns at 40 km/h. What is the average speed for the whole trip?
Solution: For equal distances, average speed = 2ab/(a+b). = 2×60×40 / (60+40) = 4800/100 = 48 km/h.
Do not take the arithmetic mean (50); that would be wrong here.
Answer: 48 km/h
Q8: Marked price discount
Problem: A shopkeeper marks goods 20% above cost and then gives a 10% discount. What is the profit percentage?
Solution: Let CP = ₹100. Marked price = ₹120. Discount = 10% of 120 = ₹12. SP = 120 − 12 = ₹108. Profit % = 8%.
Answer: 8%
Coding practice (2024)
Coding Q1: Binary tree level order
Problem: Given the root of a binary tree, return the level-order traversal (breadth-first) as a list of levels.
Approach: Use a queue. For each level, drain the current queue size, collect values, and enqueue children for the next level.
Complexity: O(n) time, O(n) space
Mastercard tip: Restate the problem, sketch a brute-force idea, then tighten it. Call out edge cases (empty input, single element, overflow) before you write code.
Coding Q2: Coin change (min coins)
Problem: Given coin denominations and an amount, return the fewest coins needed to make that amount, or -1 if it is impossible.
Approach: Unbounded knapsack DP: let dp[x] be the minimum coins for amount x. For each coin, update dp[c..amount]. Initialize dp[0] = 0 and the rest to a large sentinel.
Complexity: O(amount × coins)
Mastercard tip: Restate the problem, sketch a brute-force idea, then tighten it. Call out edge cases (empty input, single element, overflow) before you write code.
Coding Q3: Binary search
Problem: Given a sorted array of distinct integers and a target, return the index of target or -1 if missing.
Approach: Maintain lo/hi. Compare mid with target and shrink the half that cannot contain it. Careful with overflow-free mid and empty arrays.
Complexity: O(log n) time
Mastercard tip: Restate the problem, sketch a brute-force idea, then tighten it. Call out edge cases (empty input, single element, overflow) before you write code.
Coding Q4: Move zeros
Problem: Move all zeros in an array to the end while keeping the relative order of non-zero elements.
Approach: Two pointers: write non-zeros toward the front, then fill the remainder with zeros. Or swap zeros as you scan.
Complexity: O(n) time, O(1) space
Mastercard tip: Restate the problem, sketch a brute-force idea, then tighten it. Call out edge cases (empty input, single element, overflow) before you write code.
Coding Q5: Rotate array
Problem: Rotate an array to the right by k steps. Example: [1,2,3,4,5,6,7], k = 3 → [5,6,7,1,2,3,4].
Approach: Normalize k %= n. Reverse the whole array, reverse the first k elements, then reverse the rest. That yields the rotation in place.
Complexity: O(n) time, O(1) space
Mastercard tip: Restate the problem, sketch a brute-force idea, then tighten it. Call out edge cases (empty input, single element, overflow) before you write code.
Coding Q6: First unique character
Problem: Find the first non-repeating character in a string and return its index, or -1 if none exists.
Approach: Count frequencies in one pass (hash map or array of 26 for lowercase). Second pass returns the first index with count 1.
Complexity: O(n) time
Mastercard tip: Restate the problem, sketch a brute-force idea, then tighten it. Call out edge cases (empty input, single element, overflow) before you write code.
Coding Q7: Stack with min
Problem: Design a stack that supports push, pop, top, and getMin in average O(1) time.
Approach: Keep a parallel min-stack (or store pairs). When pushing, also push the new minimum. When popping, pop both stacks.
Complexity: O(1) per operation amortized
Mastercard tip: Restate the problem, sketch a brute-force idea, then tighten it. Call out edge cases (empty input, single element, overflow) before you write code.
Coding Q8: Maximum subarray sum (Kadane)
Problem: Given an integer array, find the contiguous subarray with the largest sum and return that sum. Example: [-2,1,-3,4,-1,2,1,-5,4] → 6 (from [4,-1,2,1]).
Approach: Keep a running sum. If the running sum drops below 0, reset it to 0 before taking the next element (or track the best ending-here value). Track the global maximum as you scan once from left to right.
Complexity: O(n) time, O(1) extra space
Mastercard tip: Restate the problem, sketch a brute-force idea, then tighten it. Call out edge cases (empty input, single element, overflow) before you write code.
Deep prep notes for Mastercard
How the Mastercard Codility / OA usually feels
Students usually say the first round is time-tight - easy marks vanish if you sit too long on one hard question. For Mastercard, skim the paper in a couple of minutes, mark what you can finish cleanly, and protect accuracy. Languages people commonly use: Java, Python, C++.
Topic weight hints
| Area | Why it matters at Mastercard |
|---|---|
| DSA | What usually helps you clear the first round |
| Core CS (OOPs / DBMS / OS) | Technical interview depth |
| Payments Networks awareness | Helps in managerial / HR conversations |
| Communication | Explain your approach clearly; keep a few real examples ready for HR |
14-Day sprint
- Days 1-3: Learn the 2024 pattern and take two sectional mocks
- Days 4-7: Closed practice on weak topics from your error log
- Days 8-10: Full mocks every other day; review the same day
- Days 11-14: Practice explaining projects out loud, light revision, sleep and IDs ready
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