This time it's my recently concluded SIG I would like to share my interviews with SIG students while my memories are still fresh and give them a little bit of reference. In general, the interviews at SIG are very fast-paced and demanding, and each round is like a "high-intensity brain competition". However, the good thing is that the interviewers are quite friendly and will not deliberately make things difficult for people, focusing on your reasoning process and way of thinking.
Round 1: Online Assessment (Time-Limited Reactive Test)
The first round is a classic OA from SIG that completely tests reaction time and math intuition.
Each question has a strict time limit, and when you're done, you move on to the next question; you can't look back.
The questions broadly include:
- Rapid mental math
- The laws of numbers and logical reasoning
- basic probability question
The whole set of questions is like a "quick thinking" test, not a traditional written test.
The pace can be a little panicky at first, but really the key is to keep the pace steady and not let time disrupt your thoughts.
Often, you don't need to do the math completely, you can get points for thinking right and being able to quickly determine where to go.
Tip:
To practice mental math, you can use an app like MentalUP or Quantitative Aptitude. A few minutes of practice every day to familiarize yourself with the rhythm will make it much easier.
Round 2: Onsite Quant Round (logical reasoning + mathematical thinking)
The second round was a face-to-face Quant Round (some students were interviewed remotely by video).
The round was very fast paced, with interviewers speaking at a high pace and intensive questions, but the overall atmosphere was not tense.
Interviews include:
- Simple math problems (expected value, combinations, conditional probability)
- Dynamic follow-up: the interviewer will keep changing the conditions to see if you can quickly adjust your thinking
- Open for discussion: you can tell your own path of thinking as you write
I was particularly impressed that when I miscalculated midway through a question, the interviewer didn't interrupt, but let me continue reasoning. At the end he said, "Your thinking is good, there's just a small error in arithmetic here."
It made me realize that the SIG is really looking at how you think, not just the results.
The whole round was a real brain burn, but at the same time it was very enjoyable. The feeling of being pushed to the limit and still having to maintain clarity of expression can only be experienced in a quantitative interview.
Round 3: Game Theory & Probability Round (Game Theory + Probabilistic Thinking)
The third round is SIG's signature - the Game Theory round.
This round was very representative, with much discussion, questioning, and distortion.
Typical issues include:
- Derivation of the Nash equilibrium in game theory
- Benefit Analysis of Player Strategies
- Dynamic reasoning for probabilistic scenarios
The interviewer will analyze it with you, for example:
"What if the opponent is irrational?"
"In a different hypothetical, would your optimal strategy change?"
This round is more of a "debate of ideas" than a mere judgment of right and wrong.
What they want to see is how you think about your opponent's behavior, how you quantify uncertainty.
Even if you can't answer, you can actively express the logic of reasoning, which will add to your score instead.
Summary and Preparation Recommendations
Overall, SIG's three rounds of interviews focused on the following:
| module (in software) | Main Examination Points | preliminary direction |
|---|---|---|
| OA | Mathematical intuition + speed of reaction | Practice mental math, number sequence pattern questions |
| Quant Round | Logical clarity + Mathematical reasoning | Mastery of probability, combinatorial, and conditional reasoning |
| Game Theory | Game theory thinking + Expressive skills | Learning basic game theory models and practicing "counting while talking" expressions |
Recommendation:
- Simulate a few more time-limited reasoning exercises with a friend to familiarize yourself with the rhythm.
- Practice verbalization (verbal reasoning) so that you can talk while you count.
- Don't memorize game theory, just understand payoff matrix, dominant strategy.
SIG interviews are not looking for a "calculator", but for someone who can maintain logical clarity under pressure.
As long as you dare to think and express yourself, the interviewer will be able to see your highlights.
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