Trading firm maths tests compared: timing, scoring and strategy

Optiver's 80 in 8, the Flow Traders 60 in 6, and the maths tests at Maven, All Options, Akuna, Da Vinci and Mako: rules, negative marking and pacing. 6 min readUpdated 11 November 2026By the Prepper team

Trading firms screen with arithmetic tests that look alike and are scored very differently. The scoring rule decides your strategy, so learn it before you practise.

The formats

Optiver: 80 multiple-choice questions in 8 minutes, with a point deducted for each wrong answer. Later stages add sequences and probability games.
Flow Traders: 60 questions in 6 minutes, plus one for a right answer, minus one for a wrong one, and no skipping. A sequences test of 26 questions in 25 minutes follows.
All Options: an 80-question maths test and a 26-question sequences test in 25 minutes.
Maven Securities: a very short maths test of about 5 minutes and sequences in about 4, then a probability assessment.
Akuna Capital: maths and sequences tests, an options course with a quiz, and a grid game.
Da Vinci: a 12-minute numerical quiz, then interviews on options basics and probability.
Mako: a 15-minute aptitude test of 37 questions mixing arithmetic, logic, probability and patterns.

Strategy follows the scoring rule

Negative marking with skipping allowed. Skip anything you cannot do in about five seconds. A blank costs nothing; a wrong guess costs a point you already earned.

Negative marking without skipping. You must answer, so accuracy comes first. Slow down slightly; ten careless errors wipe out ten correct answers.

No negative marking. Never leave a blank. Guess when you are stuck and move on.

What to practise

Multiplication of two-digit numbers and squares up to 30.
Fractions to decimals for halves through twelfths.
Decimal multiplication and division, tracking the decimal point by estimation.
Elimination by last digit and size. With multiple choice, the last digit of a product or a rough estimate often leaves one option.

Six seconds a question is the benchmark for the fastest tests. Most candidates reach it after two to three weeks of daily ten-minute sessions. Technique tips are in the mental maths guide, and other test types are covered in trading online assessments.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good score on the Optiver 80 in 8?
Firms do not publish pass marks. Candidates who progress usually report net scores well above half, with few wrong answers. Accuracy matters as much as volume because of the penalty.
Should I guess on a trading maths test?
Only when there is no penalty for wrong answers, or when you can rule out enough options to make the guess worth it.
Are calculators allowed?
No. These tests measure mental arithmetic, and several are run under proctoring or on site.

What is a good score on the Optiver 80 in 8?

Firms do not publish pass marks. Candidates who progress usually report net scores well above half, with few wrong answers. Accuracy matters as much as volume because of the penalty.

Should I guess on a trading maths test?

Only when there is no penalty for wrong answers, or when you can rule out enough options to make the guess worth it.

Are calculators allowed?

No. These tests measure mental arithmetic, and several are run under proctoring or on site.