Focused on the Akuna Capital Junior Quantitative Researcher CandiTech round that follows the HackerRank coding challenge.

Coverage: Junior Quantitative Researcher · New Grad · CandiTech math assessment · 2026–2027 hiring

The direct answer

This round is a fast probability and statistics test. The current invite shows 7 multiple-choice questions and 1 video response.

1. The pace is the main difficulty. A 2026 Junior Quantitative Researcher reported seven probability and statistics questions with a strict five-minute limit for each. Another recent Quant Researcher described about 30 minutes for the math round.

2. Probability and statistics should take most of your study time. Review conditional probability, independence, Bayes’ rule, expected value, variance, covariance, common distributions, and short stopping-time problems.

3. Expected value and moments matter. Earlier Junior Quantitative Researcher assessments included questions about moments, while later Quant Research assessments included short timed probability and Markov-chain reasoning.

4. The video response is technical. The clearest current report described the last task as an open-ended statistics design question. The answer should state the goal, assumptions, method, bias or uncertainty, and final conclusion.

5. Mathematical reasoning matters more than a polished speech. Explain why your method fits, keep talking while calculating, check one edge case, and correct mistakes directly.

6. Calculus and linear algebra are secondary review areas. After probability and statistics, refresh improper integrals, limits, eigenvalues, diagonalization, and basic optimization.

7. Do not spend most of your time on behavioral preparation. Keep a short Why Akuna and Why Quant Research answer ready, then return to math practice.

Best preparation order: probability and expected value; statistics and study design; moments and distributions; Markov chains; calculus and linear algebra; one recorded mock.

Current CandiTech format

1. The HackerRank coding challenge comes first.
2. The next assessment focuses on probability and statistics.
3. The current invitation shows seven multiple-choice questions and one video response.
4. A 2026 Junior Quantitative Researcher reported five minutes per math question.
5. Recent reports place the math round at about 30 to 35 minutes.
6. The recorded task comes at the end and uses an open-ended statistics question.

Other recent Akuna Quant Research assessment variants

These are separate reports from nearby Junior or full-time Quant Research hiring cycles. They show that Akuna has used more than one timed math format.

1. Three-question probability round: one 2026 Quant Researcher received three probability questions in 15 minutes, with five minutes to explain each answer. A live-coding interview followed about a month later.
2. Five-question Junior video round: one Junior hiring-cycle report described five math or brainteaser questions, five minutes each, with every solution explained on video.
3. Seven-question spoken probability round: one late-2025 Quantitative Researcher received seven probability questions, five minutes each, including several Markov-chain questions.
4. Five difficult recorded math questions: one 2024 Quant Research candidate described five difficult questions, five minutes each, with verbal explanations while being recorded.

Reported CandiTech and math OA questions

Current cycle

1. Open-ended statistics design: choose a statistical approach for a scenario, state the assumptions, explain possible bias or missing information, and give a clear conclusion on video.
2. Short probability and statistics questions: seven timed questions with about five minutes for each.

Earlier Akuna Junior and full-time Quant Research assessments

1. Work with moments of a random variable.
2. Decide whether an improper integral converges or diverges.
3. Given E[e^(tX)] = e^(t²), determine E[X²].
4. Roll a fair die until the cumulative sum is divisible by 3. Model the remainders as Markov states and find the expected number of rolls.
5. Evaluate a calculus limit involving cos(2x)/(x(e^x-1)).
6. Solve a combinatorics problem about assigning 30 hires to two offices under stated restrictions.
7. Work through several short Markov-chain probability questions under a five-minute timer.

HackerRank questions reported for Junior and New Grad roles

You already cleared this stage, so this should not take priority over CandiTech preparation.

1. Three coding problems, usually completed in 60 minutes; some versions asked candidates to complete any two, with the third treated as bonus.
2. Frequency Sort: sort numbers by frequency and use the number itself to break ties.
3. Delivery Management: traverse an unweighted graph from a starting node and order equal-distance nodes by node value.
4. Extraordinary Substrings: map letters to numbers and count substrings whose average meets an integer condition.
5. Choose two projects from cost and profit data to maximize total profit.
6. Find the maximum-sum k-star in a graph.
7. Handle tight runtime limits, clean implementation, and hidden edge cases without relying on extra libraries.

Junior and New Grad candidate timelines

01: The current seven-question math OA

Interview cycle: 2026–2027
Role: Junior Quantitative Researcher

1. The application was followed by a HackerRank assessment with three easy-to-medium coding problems.
2. The second OA focused on probability and statistics.
3. It contained seven questions.
4. Each question had a strict five-minute timer.

02: Five technical video questions

Interview cycle: 2021–2022
Role: Junior Quantitative Researcher

1. The first assessment contained three medium coding problems.
2. Candidates were asked to complete any two; the third counted as bonus.
3. The next round contained five technical math questions on video.
4. Reported topics included probability moments and divergent integrals.
5. Each response allowed five minutes for thinking and answering.

03: Three questions without libraries

Interview date: August 2023
Role: Junior Quantitative Researcher

1. The coding assessment contained three questions in one hour.
2. The candidate did not consider the problems unusually hard.
3. External libraries were not allowed.
4. The process ended after the skills test.

04: Strict-runtime New Grad coding OA

Interview cycle: 2024 New Grad
Role: New Grad Quantitative Researcher

1. The assessment contained three coding problems.
2. The tasks covered project-profit selection, graph visit order, and a maximum k-star.
3. The runtime limit was tight.
4. Two completed problems plus skeleton code for the third did not advance.

What to prioritize

Tier 1: Practice until automatic

1. Conditional probability, independence, and Bayes’ rule.
2. Expected value, variance, covariance, and moments.
3. Binomial, geometric, Poisson, and normal distributions.
4. Markov-chain states and expected hitting times.

Tier 2: Be ready to explain

1. Open-ended statistical study design.
2. Bias, confounding, missing data, and metric choice.
3. One complete technical explanation under a five-minute timer.

Tier 3: Supporting math

1. Improper integrals and limits.
2. Eigenvalues, rank, and diagonalization.
3. Basic derivative-based optimization.

Final checklist

Probability and statistics

☐ Solve five timed probability questions without notes.

☐ Review expected value, moments, variance, and covariance.

☐ Practice one Markov-chain hitting-time problem.

☐ Review common discrete and continuous distributions.

Video response

☐ Record one open-ended statistics answer in five minutes.

☐ Start with the goal and assumptions.

☐ Explain the method and main source of bias.

☐ End with one direct conclusion.

Full simulation

☐ Complete seven short math questions under a 35-minute timer.

☐ Finish with one recorded statistics-design answer.

☐ Rewatch it and remove long pauses, repeated sentences, and unstated assumptions.

More Akuna Quant Research questions: open the extended question bank