Lazard · Online Assessment
Lazard screens candidates through Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test (CCAT) 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
Issued with the HireVue early in the process; about 3 days to complete both.
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.
Lazard 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. Around 3 days for the assessment and HireVue together.
By division. Broadly consistent across Financial Advisory tracks.
Recent changes. No major format changes recently; the early-stage screen remains a short, strictly timed test, and the exact provider has varied by cycle.
The provider
Lazard configures its own selection of Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test (CCAT) 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 Lazard. An early-funnel screen that filters for analytical speed and accuracy before the phone screen.
Candidate reputation. Demanding, mainly because of the time pressure across mixed question types.
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.
Mixed within the test · Strict
What it tests. Fast arithmetic, ratios, percentages and data interpretation.
Common traps. Spending too long on one hard item.
How to handle it. Move quickly, skip and return, keep a clean scratchpad.
Mixed within the test · Strict
What it tests. Comprehension and logical evaluation of short passages.
Common traps. Using outside knowledge instead of the text.
How to handle it. Answer strictly on the passage; decide and move on.
Mixed within the test · Strict
What it tests. Pattern recognition, sequences, matrices and syllogisms.
Common traps. Matrices and syllogisms catch out the unpracticed.
How to handle it. Isolate one rule at a time and eliminate options.
Pass mark
Scored on speed and accuracy across mixed question types, benchmarked against the applicant pool.
Methodology. A genuine cut: below-threshold scores end the application for the cycle.
Response time. 1-2 weeks to the phone screen.
Score visibility. Candidates do not see raw scores or detailed feedback.
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. Full report unlocks with the Pack.
Why candidates fail
Specific failure patterns documented across past applicants. Most are avoidable with structured preparation.
Poor pacing
Over-investing in early hard questions leaves too little time for the rest.
No format-specific practice
Meeting matrices and syllogisms cold under time pressure costs points.
What works
Concrete habits drilled by candidates who clear the cut-off, drawn from applicant accounts and practice patterns.
Timed practice
Rehearse full-length sets under the clock so pace is automatic.
Sharpen mental math
Drill percentages, ratios and quick arithmetic to free up time.
From past applicants
Anonymised candidate accounts of how recent applicants approached the Lazard assessment. Each covers the prep, the experience, and the outcome.
Financial Advisory, Summer Analyst (NY)
Prep. Two weeks of timed cognitive and numerical practice, focusing on abstract patterns and quick math.
Experience. Mixed question types under a tight clock; the abstract section was hardest, so I isolated one variable at a time and kept moving.
Outcome. Cleared the assessment and advanced to the phone screen.
Practice strategy
Preparation should match a timed, mixed-format reasoning test rather than a single test type.
Intervyo timed aptitude practice
Numerical, verbal and abstract sets under realistic time pressure, scored with a per-section debrief so you can see which type is dragging your pace.
Mental-math drills
Short daily percentage, ratio and arithmetic drills to build speed.
Time investment. Around 10-20 hours of timed practice over two to three weeks is typical for strong scorers.
Time management
FAQ
The provider has varied by cycle: most recent reports describe the CCAT, though some cite an SHL-style numerical and verbal test. The format is consistent either way, timed numerical, verbal and abstract reasoning, so practice all three under a strict clock rather than betting on one provider. You get about three days to complete it alongside the HireVue.
The other rounds
Online Assessment is one of four rounds. The Pack covers all four end to end.
Lazard Pack
Practise the exact Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test (CCAT) format ahead of time, scored against the Lazard pass mark. One Pack covers HireVue, online assessments, live interviews and the superday.
Get the Lazard Pack · $89Intervyo is not affiliated with or endorsed by Lazard, 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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