Bain SOVA
A revenue table you can actually read, plus a calculator that works
Harbourline Retail, four quarters, $ million. Five interp questions and one pattern, six-minute advisory clock. Original sampler. CoachNed is independent and not affiliated with Bain.
Offices vary. If the invite names TestGorilla, switch guides. Full method sits in the Bain SOVA guide.
Timed sampler
Harbourline Retail
Five data-interp items on the exhibit, then one abstract pattern. Forward-only. Six minutes.
6:00 left
Exhibit 1 · quarterly revenue
| Quarter | Revenue ($m) | YoY | Stores |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 40 | +4% | 118 |
| Q2 | 44 | +6% | 121 |
| Q3 | 41 | −2% | 121 |
| Q4 | 55 | +11% | 126 |
| Full year | 180 | +5% | — |
Units are $ million. YoY is versus the same quarter last year, not versus the prior quarter.
Q1/6 · numerical
Q4 share of full-year revenue, nearest percent?
Calculator
Four-function. Estimate first.
0
Data interpretation
Read the asked-for row and unit before you calculate. Harbourline’s YoY and store columns are there to steal the wrong denominator.
Calculator discipline
Name the operation in words, estimate, then use the keypad. Copy the display into the answer box if you want the arithmetic off your hands.
Abstract pattern
One rule at a time: position, then opposition. Do not invent a story that needs three moving parts.
What this sampler is
A short, original stand-in for the numerical and logical families candidates most often report on Bain SOVA. It is not a leaked paper, a personality inventory, or a full 30–40 minute battery. The exhibit is Harbourline Retail: Q1 40, Q2 44, Q3 41, Q4 55 ($m), with a full-year total of 180. Extra columns (YoY, stores) exist so you practice ignoring them.
Live invitations sometimes include verbal reasoning or situational judgment. Those are not in this six-minute cut. Practice evidence-only reading on the numerical reasoning guide and keep PEI work on the behavioral page.
How to sit it
- Read the question before the table. Circle the period and the unit.
- Write the formula. Share-of-year is part / 180, not part / last year and not the YoY cell.
- Estimate. Q4 is a bit under a third of 180, so 31% should not surprise you.
- Use the calculator for the division. Then check you answered the asked-for quarter.
FAQ
Is this the official Bain SOVA test?
No. Original independent practice. Formats and vendors vary by office and year. Confirm the invitation, then use this sampler for the skills: table interp, ratio discipline, and a simple pattern rule.
Can I use a calculator on SOVA?
Most candidate reports say yes for the cognitive sections. The keypad on this page is a four-function stand-in. Estimate the range first, then punch. A correct number on the wrong row still misses.
How is Bain SOVA scored?
Cognitive sections are typically reported as percentiles, not a raw pass mark CoachNed can promise. Treat the score here as a drill result, not a Bain prediction.
What if my invite says TestGorilla?
Different test. Do not force this sampler onto it. Use the Bain TestGorilla guide and adjacent timed math instead.