Houlihan Lokey · Online Assessment
Houlihan Lokey screens candidates through Suited before any interview. Below: the exact format, what each section tests, and how to practise it in identical conditions until you walk in confident.
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The format
Sits pre-interview, immediately after resume submission and before any human review. You must clear the OA threshold before a recruiter pulls your resume or issues the HireVue.
Most online assessments split into 3-5 sections, each with its own clock. Speed and accuracy both count.
Modern formats get harder if you answer correctly, easier if you struggle. Your final score reflects what you can actually do under time pressure.
Houlihan Lokey sets a pass mark per test type. Below it, you don't progress regardless of how strong the rest of your application is.
Completion window. 72-120 hours (3-5 days) to complete once the link lands; about 15-30 minutes of active testing depending on the battery.
By division. A unified cognitive and behavioral benchmark across all client-facing US tracks: Corporate Finance, Financial Restructuring and FVA face the same interface and engines.
Recent changes. The firm moved to Suited over the last several cycles to reduce the bias and stress of legacy providers (SHL Verify G+, AON cut-e) and deeply integrated its predictive models into the US campus pipeline.
The provider
Houlihan Lokey configures its own selection of Suited modules. Below: the exact products in the suite, why they were chosen, and what the provider's reputation is across the candidate pool.
History at Houlihan Lokey. An AI-driven predictive screening platform built for banking, legal and capital-markets recruiting; the firm ran its existing successful analysts through it to build an ideal cognitive and behavioral profile.
Candidate reputation. A clean, straightforward interface that minimizes random guessing, but an invisible black-box algorithm with no feedback, which makes it highly competitive. Key quirk: single-profile persistence means a Suited score from another bank this cycle (William Blair, Lazard, Lincoln International) auto-links.
Section breakdown
Each section has its own format, timer and trap pattern. Worked examples below show exactly what you will see and where candidates drop points.
As many as you can solve in the window · Strict overall limit, typically about 15 minutes
What it tests. Mental-math agility, data-pattern recognition and basic financial math under pressure.
Worked example. If revenue jumps from $14.2M to $19.1M, round to 14 and 19, see the change is slightly over 35%, and match the closest option in seconds.
Common traps. Getting bogged in multi-step calculations that look like they need a formula but only need rapid estimation.
How to handle it. Keep a clean scratchpad and a basic calculator, drill rapid division and percentage changes, and estimate aggressively.
Strict
What it tests. Fluid intelligence and non-verbal problem solving, mirroring sorting unstructured data into a clear narrative.
Common traps. Hyper-focusing on one variable while missing others; a shape may rotate while its fill alternates and its corner count decreases.
How to handle it. Isolate variables systematically: look only at orientation first, then only at shading or item count.
No strict limit, but answer intuitively
What it tests. Cultural alignment, grit, attention to detail, teamwork and coachability.
Common traps. Gaming the system by marking every hyper-aggressive statement ("I never make mistakes") triggers low choice-consistency or artificial-responding flags.
How to handle it. Be consistent but strategic: prioritize project ownership, meticulous attention to detail and a structured approach to ambiguity; avoid the zero-collaboration red flag.
Pass mark
There is no universal raw pass mark. Suited uses a predictive, norm-referenced percentile ranking tailored to Houlihan Lokey's cultural model, mapping your results against its ideal-performer benchmark.
Methodology. A partially compensatory model with firm floors: a very high cognitive score (e.g. 95th percentile) allows wider behavioral variance absent red flags, but a weak cognitive score is rarely saved by an exceptional behavioral profile.
Response time. Automated, so your profile reaches the recruiting dashboard within minutes; a pass updates your resume to "Under Review" or triggers the next stage within days to a week.
Score visibility. No score report, raw grade or feedback is provided.
How to practise
Same provider, same section structure, same time pressure. With a scored report after every test so you can fix the weakest section before the real one.
Free practice section, scored. Keep practising free on Intervyo.
Why candidates fail
Specific failure patterns documented across past applicants. Most are avoidable with structured preparation.
Over-calculating the math
Treating the section like a calculus exam; two minutes on one question tanks total question velocity.
Mismanaging the cognitive clock
Leaving items blank because time ran out hurts more than rapid educated guesses on the last few.
Over-curating the behavioral profile
Projecting a flawless, unshakeable analyst; the algorithm cross-checks wording variations and surfaces inconsistencies.
Poor testing logistics
Noisy dorm, public Wi-Fi or a smartphone; a dropped connection or notification breaks focus in a short window.
The hero complex
Marking that you would solve every crisis yourself without looping in your Associate or VP, signaling a misread of banking hierarchy.
What works
Concrete habits drilled by candidates who clear the cut-off, drawn from applicant accounts and practice patterns.
Master rapid estimation
Simplify expressions (456,800 / 1,210,500 becomes about 4.5 / 12, roughly 37.5%) and match the option instantly.
Prioritize answer velocity
If a puzzle does not click within about 20 seconds, make an educated guess and keep momentum.
Protect response consistency
Read every behavioral prompt carefully so core answers stay aligned across the section.
Optimize the physical setup
Large external monitor, wired connection, physical mouse, notebook and a basic calculator.
Clear the mindset hurdle
Treat the OA with the same focus as a modeling test or a final-round Superday.
From past applicants
Anonymised candidate accounts of how recent applicants approached the Houlihan Lokey assessment. Each covers the prep, the experience, and the outcome.
Corporate Finance, New York Office
Prep. Had already completed a Suited assessment a few weeks earlier for a different bank.
Experience. The Suited invite hit within two hours of the application dropping. On logging in, the portal showed the profile was already on file and submitted, so no questions were retaken.
Outcome. A recruiter emailed three days later to set up an interview. Lesson: protect your very first Suited test of the cycle.
Financial Restructuring, Chicago Office
Prep. Knew the FR screening bar would be exceptionally high.
Experience. The cognitive section was an intense 15-minute sprint of abstract logic and matrix questions. Stayed calm, kept speed up and made quick educated guesses; behavioral answers consistently highlighted ownership, attention to detail and low ego.
Outcome. Advanced straight to a first-round interview with a line banker.
Practice strategy
Because Suited uses a specific format, standard prep apps are not a perfect fit. Split time between speed-based math estimation and abstract logic.
Targeted platform practice
Use modules tailored to modern cognitive tests and the Suited format (JobTestPrep, AssessmentDay).
GMAT-style logic
Practice GMAT Integrated Reasoning graphics interpretation and non-verbal matrices for the logical section.
Mental-math drills
Run 10-15 minute speed drills on percentage changes, fractions and estimation (Tradermath, RankYourBrain).
Time investment. Plan 10-15 hours of focused prep over the week before, split evenly between speed math and abstract logic.
Time management
FAQ
No. The Suited platform uses a single-profile architecture, so your existing scores automatically populate your Houlihan Lokey application portal. This is why your first Suited test of the cycle matters so much: if you take it for William Blair, Lazard or Lincoln International first, that result follows you to HL. Treat your earliest Suited sitting of the season as if it were for your top-choice firm.
The other rounds
Online Assessment is one of four rounds. Practise each one free on Intervyo.
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Intervyo is not affiliated with or endorsed by Houlihan Lokey, SHL, Pymetrics, Cubiks, AON or any other assessment provider. Test details are sourced from past applicants and published guidance; verify on the firm's careers site before applying. Sector: Investment Banking.
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