Number Sequence Practice
Number-series pattern recognition, on its own — today's free daily drill is a rotating set from a fixed 180-day pool. No signup, runs entirely in your browser.
15 questions · 3 minutes · today's set
Number-series pattern recognition — arithmetic, geometric, quadratic, Fibonacci-like and alternating-step sequences. +1 per correct answer, −1 per wrong answer, skips are free. Same 15 questions for everyone today — a rotating daily set from a fixed 180-day pool.
Today's set comes from a fixed 180-day rotation — the app generates a truly new set every day.
What this drill trains
Every question shows a handful of terms and asks for the next one. The generator draws from five pattern families, and each has a distinct tell once you know what to check first:
| Arithmetic | Constant difference between terms — 4, 7, 10, 13, → next is 16 (+3 each step). |
|---|---|
| Geometric | Constant ratio between terms — 3, 6, 12, 24, → next is 48 (×2 each step). |
| Quadratic-feel | The gaps between terms grow by a constant amount — 1, 2, 4, 7, → next is 11 (the gaps themselves are 1, 2, 3, 4). |
| Fibonacci-like | Each term is the sum of the previous two — 2, 3, 5, 8, → next is 13. |
| Alternating-step | Two step sizes alternate — 5, 8, 6, 9, → next is 7 (+3, −2, +3, −2, …). |
Why pattern recognition shows up in quant OAs
Firms rarely label a section "sequences," but "what comes next" items are a standard ingredient in the broader numerical and logical-reasoning batteries used earlier in the funnel. CTC's online assessment, for example, mixes a numerical-reasoning component with spatial, verbal and logic reasoning — see the Realistic OA Trial for a full-length simulation of that format. The underlying skill is the same one tested by Fermi estimation and structured brain-teaser reasoning: finding the rule behind a small set of data points quickly, under time pressure, without being told in advance what kind of rule to look for.
Want probability & EV instead?
That's a separate skill with its own daily drill — see Probability & EV Practice. Or try the original combined 60-question Sequences & Probability test.
Related practice
- Realistic OA Trial — CTC-style, numerical/spatial/verbal/logic mixed
- Mental Math Practice — arithmetic speed drills and firm-specific formats
- How to prepare for a quant trading interview — the full pipeline and a study plan
FAQ
What kinds of sequences are in the daily drill?
15 questions in 3 minutes, mixing arithmetic (constant difference), geometric (constant ratio), quadratic-feel (constant second difference), Fibonacci-like (each term is the sum of the previous two), and alternating-step patterns. Each is built by actually iterating the rule, not a hand-derived formula, so the "next term" is always provably correct.
What's a good score on this drill?
11 of 15 is a comfortable bar here — this is a daily habit-building tool, not a firm's actual cutoff, so there's no official pass mark to chase. Once you're consistently above that, the app's full-length, firm-specific formats are the next step up.
How do I get faster at spotting the pattern?
Compute the differences between consecutive terms first, every time, before guessing at a named sequence. Arithmetic and geometric patterns reveal themselves immediately in that first-difference (or ratio) row; quadratic-feel patterns reveal themselves one row down, in the differences of the differences. Only reach for Fibonacci-like or alternating-step once constant difference and constant ratio are both ruled out — checking in that order is faster than pattern-matching from memory.
Why is this separate from probability & EV now?
They're unrelated skills — pattern recognition in a series versus probability and expected-value calculation — bundled together in one legacy test only because they're both "generic firm-test" formats. This page is pattern recognition only; see the separate Daily Probability & EV drill for probability.
Is there a longer, combined version?
Yes — the original 60-question Sequences & Probability test mixes both skills in one realistic-length fixed set. This daily drill is a shorter, sequences-only, rotating alternative for regular practice.