Many Bloomberg software engineering candidates never take an online assessment: they go straight to a live technical phone screen. When there is an OA, it is commonly reported as a short HackerRank test. This page covers what the Bloomberg online assessment is, its format and timings, how it is scored, the rules to know before you start, how to prepare and a practice plan.
What the Bloomberg online assessment is
Bloomberg publishes no official description of an OA, so this page reflects candidate reports from 2025 and 2026. Formats vary by role and office.
Format and timings
| Part | What it involves | Time and questions |
|---|---|---|
| No OA (many 2025 to 2026 reports) | Straight to a live technical screen with easy to medium problems | Usually about an hour |
| HackerRank OA (some reports) | One to three coding problems | 60 to 90 minutes |
| London new-grad report (older) | Multiple-choice questions plus coding | 60 minutes |
Total: when an OA is used, commonly reported as 60 to 90 minutes.
How it is scored
- Auto-graded on test cases when there is an OA.
- In live screens, interviewers judge your explanation as much as the code.
Rules to know before you start
- Ask your recruiter whether your track uses an OA.
- Outside help is not allowed in either format.
How to prepare
- Prepare for a live screen even if you expect an OA.
- Practice explaining data-structure solutions out loud.
- Review linked lists, merging sorted arrays and designing simple data structures, which candidates report.
- Have one project ready to discuss in depth.
A practice plan
- Day 1: read the platform's candidate guide and try its practice environment.
- Days 2 to 4: two timed problems a day in your test language, writing your own edge-case tests.
- Day 5: one full mock under the real time limit.
- Day 6: review mistakes and the input and output rules.
- Day 7: take the test in one sitting with a stable connection.
Related guides: what an online assessment is, the HackerRank assessment guide, Bloomberg coding interview questions.
On the day, and the mistakes to avoid
- Check the platform, the allowed languages and the time limit in the invitation.
- Try the practice environment or tutorial so the editor and run buttons are not new.
- Use a reliable computer on a stable connection, with other apps and tabs closed.
- Read every problem before starting, and do the quickest ones first.
- Write and run your own edge-case tests before submitting.
- Keep a few minutes at the end to check output formats and resubmit if needed.
Mistakes that cost candidates:
- Writing an elegant solution that fails large hidden tests because of its complexity.
- Mismatched output formats: extra spaces, prompts or debug prints.
- Spending most of the time on one hard problem while easier points go unclaimed.
- Pasting code you did not write, which integrity settings can flag.
- Not reading the input limits, so a solution that works on samples times out.
What happens after the Bloomberg online assessment
If you pass, the next stage is usually a technical interview, and some interviewers ask about your assessment solution. Be ready to explain your approach and its complexity out loud, and prepare two or three behavioral stories for the conversations that follow. For the next stage, see software engineer behavioral answers.
Where CoPilot Interview fits
Online assessments are tests you take on your own: outside help is not allowed, and proctoring settings can flag other apps, tab switches or a second voice. Practice beforehand instead. CoPilot Interview is an AI interview assistant; its free AI mock interview prepares you for the interviews that follow the assessment, with questions built from your résumé and the job description and each spoken answer scored out of ten. The free plan gives 15 minutes a day of live help in sessions of up to 15 minutes, with AI mock interviews included. Read the invitation carefully and follow your employer's rules.
Disclosure: CoPilot Interview is our product, so weigh what we say about it accordingly.
Frequently asked questions
Does Bloomberg have an online assessment?
Often not: many candidates report going straight to a technical phone screen. Some report a HackerRank OA.
What platform does Bloomberg use?
HackerRank is most commonly reported, with CoderPad mentioned for some screens.
What questions come up?
Candidates mention linked lists, merging sorted arrays and implementing data structures, at easy to medium difficulty.
How should I prepare?
Practice explaining solutions aloud and expect a live screen; treat any OA as a bonus round.
Can I use AI tools during the Bloomberg online assessment?
No, unless the instructions explicitly allow it. Assessments are meant to be taken on your own, and proctoring settings can flag other apps, tab switches or pasted code. Use AI tools to practice beforehand, and follow your employer's rules.
Practice this interview before the real one
The AI mock interview builds questions from your resume and the job description, reads them aloud and scores each spoken answer out of 10. Included on the free plan.
Start a mock interview