When you choose to start a program at Flatiron School, we know that you are investing both financially and an investment of your time. That’s why it’s essential that you are the right fit for the program and vice versa that our program is the right fit for you. One way we ensure the program is a good fit is through an admissions assessment test.
The admissions assessment is a cognitive aptitude test that analyzes your problem-solving skills, critical thinking skills, attention to detail, and your ability to learn new information. There are three different styles of questions: verbal, math, logic, and spatial reasoning. Think of the questions more like brain teasers, not about coding, computers, or cybersecurity.
After all, in addition to your experience and skills so far (if any!), we are more interested in understanding your ability to learn and pick up the skills taught in our courses.
The test is 15 minutes long and can include up to 50 questions. But don’t stress. We don’t expect you to complete all the questions. Less than 1% of people complete all 50 questions.
How many questions should I complete?
Try to answer as many questions as possible in the allotted 15 minutes, with the minimum goal of answering at least 25.
Don’t get caught up in any one question, though. If you’re feeling stumped, take a guess and move on. It’s more important to maintain a decent pace and keep moving through the questions, rather than to stress over scoring perfectly on one question.
Remember, you have a 15-minute time cap, so you’ll want to move through as many questions as you can efficiently. Again, less than 1% of people complete all 50 questions, so don’t stress yourself out about finishing all the questions.
Here are two examples of the types of questions you might see on the admissions assessment.
1. Sample Verbal Question: (Source)
Choose the word that is most nearly OPPOSITE to the word in capital letters: LENGTHEN
- abdicate
- truncate
- elongate
- stifle
- resist
2. Sample Math Question: (Source)
A group of 3 numbers has an average of 17. The first two numbers are 12 and 19. What is the third number?
- 17
- 19
- 20
- 23
- 30
How to prepare for the admissions assessment
Looking for more example problems? Check out our free Practice Tests!
- Complete the assessment on a laptop or desktop; the evaluation is not mobile-friendly.
- Set aside 15 minutes of uninterrupted, dedicated time.
- Remove any distractions so you can focus for 15 minutes.
- Have a piece of paper and a pencil for notes.
- Relax and don’t overthink it.
Remember, it’s not about being perfect; it’s about getting the best score you can. Don’t get caught up in one question. Keep moving at a decent pace. There is a time clock on the page so you will know how many questions you have completed and how much time remains.
How does the test affect my admissions decision?
Our admissions process includes three phases: a written application, the admissions test, and an admissions finalization. The test is one factor in the admissions process.
What score should you get? We do have a target score for each one of our study programs, but don’t worry about that upfront. Only worry about making sure you have 15 minutes of dedicated time, and then do your best.
Your score will be measured against the target score to determine if you will be a good candidate for the program. Remember, you can retake the assessment until you pass. Students who persist and improve over time make great students.
How do we determine target scores?
We asked our current students and graduates of our program to take the admissions test. We created our target scores based on the performance of our successful students.
Then, the company that prepares the test provided scores from successful professional software engineers, data scientists, cybersecurity engineers, and AI engineers. And that’s how we came up with the target score for applicants.
What happens after I take the admissions test?
After you finish and submit the admissions test, your score is recorded in our system. If you passed, then you will be admitted and your next step is to register for your class in our Student Information System: Genius.
Remember, the test is one factor in your admission decision, and you can retake it as many times as you need. We know persistent students who improve over time make great students. Ready to start your admissions process? Apply now.
