Verbal reasoning — sample item
Passage (abridged): 'Acme's retail division reported flat sales across Q3. Management cited weather but did not break out figures by region. Analysts noted that the home-improvement category is typically weather-sensitive.'
Statement: 'Acme's home-improvement sales fell in Q3 because of bad weather.'
Correct answer: Cannot Say. The passage notes weather sensitivity in the category and flat division sales, but does not state that home-improvement specifically fell or that weather was the cause. The trap is combining the two true facts into a third claim the passage never makes.
Numerical reasoning — sample item
Region A revenue grew 8% from $240M to a new value. Region B revenue is 1.4x Region A's new value. What is Region B's revenue (to the nearest $5M)?
Approach: A new = 240 × 1.08 = 259.2. B = 259.2 × 1.4 = 362.88 ≈ $365M. A calculator is allowed in Sova — use it, but round aggressively to spot errors fast.
Logical reasoning — sample item
You see a sequence of five panels. In each, a triangle rotates 90° clockwise and a small circle moves one position around the triangle's perimeter. The fifth panel is missing.
Strategy: isolate one transformation at a time (rotation, then position) instead of trying to spot both rules at once. Most logical items follow this two-rule structure; once you see one rule, the other usually pops.
Personality questionnaire — sample item
You're shown four statements. Pick which is MOST like you and which is LEAST like you. Example: (a) 'I deliver results even when the path is unclear', (b) 'I prefer to plan thoroughly before I act', (c) 'I challenge my team's assumptions in meetings', (d) 'I check in often on how teammates are feeling'.
For Bain-style consulting traits, (a) and (c) lean toward results-focus and outsider perspective; (b) and (d) lean toward planning and team-care. There is no single right answer — but consistency across the roughly 40 forced-choice blocks (and any repeated rephrased items) is what scoring rewards.
Put it into practice
The fastest way to internalize the format is timed practice that mirrors the real test.
Try a free numerical drill