zs case study questions

ZS Associates Case Interview 2024: Format, Samples & Guide

The ZS Associates case interview takes place in  the last round of the company’s recruitment procedure . It is the most important component to decide whether a candidate is hired by ZS Associates. 

In this article, we will discover the details of the ZS Associates case interview, from its format to question types and tips to pass. 

Table of Contents

What is ZS case interview?

Zs case interview is the last test to become an zs consultant.

The ZS case interview is the screening interview of ZS Associates, where candidates must solve business problems (or cases). The interview evaluates whether candidates possess the capabilities and qualities to become a ZS consultant.

ZS case interviews are candidate-led , requiring the candidate to lead and manage every step of the case-solving process, including structuring the issue, developing frameworks, requesting data, synthesizing findings, and providing solutions. The interviewer just presents the topic, instead of asking questions concerning the case.

Before getting to the case interview, you must pass the initial screening rounds, which include resume screening and aptitude test.

In the resume round, you’ll of course need a consulting resume, just like what you’d need for McKinsey, and a cover letter, then submit it on ZS’s website.

The aptitude test concerns numerical, verbal, and logical reasoning questions. It’s quite similar to McKinsey’s problem solving test before it was retired and replaced by the problem solving game.

These tests should take around 90 minutes. After taking the tests, you’ll join a video-based screening interview.

ZS cases are split into a written case and an oral case

The written case comes first, then after finishing it, you move on to the oral case.

In the written case, you will be provided with 5 to 6 graphs and charts depicting a business scenario and 4 to 8 questions based on the charts. This case is often 10 to 15 pages long and has a time limit of 30 to 45 minutes.

If you can’t answer all of the questions in the case, you should at least go through them and establish a logical approach to the case. It would be helpful in the next part. 

After the written case study, you will have a discussion with a recruiter about one or more business-related cases for around 30 minutes.

You need to present your approach to the case by asking relevant questions and finding out the root causes of the problems as well as the solutions. So, quite typical of consulting case interviews.

You may also be asked to discuss the written case study. This is the chance for you to present how you plan to approach and solve the incomplete questions (if any).

As with any case interview, how you approach the problem is more important than how accurate or complete your answers are . As long as you have a logical rationale for your approach, you can still pass the interview even if you haven’t answered every question in the case. 

ZS looks for those with achieving & analytical mindset

Just like all management consulting firms, ZS looks for those who want to make an impact. The main value ZS will look for are:

Outstanding academic achievement: Your GPA and school prestige. Your best bet? 4.0 at Harvard! But jokes aside, a 3.6 GPA should be good. Below that? Try to make focus points in other parts of your resume. This article might help!

Analytical ability: The ability to create a thorough, data-driven, insightful analysis and define the root cause and solutions to difficult problems. You show this in the case interview via constructing issue trees, answer guesstimate questions, etc.

Demonstrated leadership : The ability to inspire and motivate others. Consultants won’t simply look for “leaders” who just tell their subordinates what to do, but a guiding beacon, even for their superiors (very much like telling your boss what to do, but, think of it as inspiring ideas to them).

Collaborative approach : The ability to exchange facts and insights and effectively interact with people from various backgrounds and cultures. You’ll meet people hailing from mathematics, engineering, accounting, psychology, so play your collab cards right

Intellectual curiosity : The ability to actively and continuously seek and expand knowledge. To do this, start reading sơm business papers, and make sure you can absorb them 

ZS case interview questions

ZS focuses on 3 types of questions: chart insight, framework/issue true, and market sizing & guesstimate questions.

Chart questions are the core of the written case

The written case will present you with 5-6 charts and graphs, and your job is to answer some questions based on the charts. Bar charts, line graphs, pie charts, and scatter plots are the most common occurrences.

Here’s a bar chart question you might face:

Issue tree questions are staples of case interviews (of course)

Framework/issue tree questions are commonly used in ZS Associates’ oral case interviews, well, just like in any case interview from any consulting firm. For these questions, candidates are often asked to find the causes and solutions for a business problem.

Here’s a very simple issue tree, so you can get the idea:

You can also check out this dedicated article on issue tree to know more! It’s so popular in consulting that I believe this should be the first thing to understand when starting with case interviews.

Market-sizing & guesstimate questions are also present in oral cases

Another case interview staple! Of course ZS will test your ability to quantify something using logic and analytics. And remember, what your answer is isn’t important, but how you get to that answer. 

Here’s some example of market sizing questions:

How many mobile phones are sold in the USA in 2022?

If you open a plant shop, how much money can your monthly profit be?

What is the size of the watch market in Portugal?

Guesstimate questions are similar, just lacking the business stuff, like:

How many steps does one take to walk across Los Angeles?

How much air is needed to fill a hundred balloons?

How many cyclists are living in New York City at the moment?

These questions will test your ability in mental math, logical thinking, problem-solving, and background knowledge. When dealing with these questions, you should set up a work frame including structural steps and related questions.

It could be complicated at first, but anyone can answer market-sizing & guesstimate questions after practicing with the right approaches. To know more about those techniques, here’s a dedicated article on market-sizing & guesstimate questions!

And don’t forget the fit interview

Some may say fit interviews don’t matter, but I believe they set the tone for the later interviews, so you’d better make a damn good first impression. ZS will ask you some behavioral and typical HR questions, and everything should take some 30 minutes.

ZS actually lists some important questions on the website so you can prepare prior to the interview. Let’s check some of them out.

Q1: Tell us details about your challenges, goals, and the actions you’ve taken to meet the moment

These questions are competency-based. Using the STAR approach should be your best bet (framework, guys). Here’s how you go:

Situation : Start with the settings of your challenge

Task : Then move to what you needed to do to overcome the challenge

Action : Demonstrate specifically the steps you took to solve the problems. Be clear about the rationales behind your actions.

Result : Conclude with the outcomes of your efforts to show how result-driven and competent you are

Q2: Demonstrate that you are curious and a constant learner who can take on a variety of challenges

For this one, talk about some of your learning experiences. Maybe, when you took charge of a role you’d never been in before, or when you tried to pursue a challenging interest. The important thing is, show your eagerness to learn.

Q3: Show your capacity to leverage analytics and technology to bring innovative solutions to complex problems

ZS is quite a tech-savvy firm, so you should show how tech-savvy you are. Prepare yourself with both knowledge and experience in tech and business. If you haven’t had any practical experience, focus on your technical skills.

And I tell you what, if you don’t know where to start, start with ChatGPT. It’s AI at your disposal. Use it in some tasks like writing reports, train it to get better at those tasks. It may be small, but it’s a whole new world. 

Besides, it’s free. Why wait?

Q4: Talk about your experiences working with others and collaborating with teams, especially under challenging circumstances

Approach these questions the same way you do with the first types but concentrate on your teamwork. Emphasize your contributions to group work experiences and how the final results reflect your efforts. 

How to prepare for ZS case interview

Careful preparation is a must to ace ZS’ case. You can tackle each aspect of the interview step by step.

Start from getting used to candidate-led cases, then further out with business intuition, consulting math, fundamentals & frameworks of case interview, then finally conduct mock interviews.

Step 1: Get used to the candidate-led case interview, and written case interview

Examine examples of candidate-led case interviews to familiarize yourself with the case flow and how to interact with the interviewer.

You can also get familiar with more case interview samples and all instantly-effective tricks for case interviews with our Case Interview E2E Secret Program. Also, here’s our free video of a case interview example with an explanation and expert comments.

Step 2: Develop business intuition

Having business intuition significantly improves your performance in case interviews. Working on intuition is a gradual process that takes practice every day. You can improve your business intuition in two ways:

Written sources: Read business papers daily (Bloomberg is recommended). You can also find articles on McKinsey, Bain, and BCG’s websites. But be careful! The important thing is not your page count, but what you absorbed from them

First-hand experience and observations: Don't just do things like a machine; find out what the seniors are doing, why they did what they did, and how it has affected the organization. Everything is a learning process, and it’s up to you to squeeze out every bit of knowledge and experience

Step 3: Practice consulting math

Mental math is as consulting as MECE. Consultants work with quantitative data in just about every minute.

It is just takes too long to whip out a calculator every time they need to calculate something, and you’re definitely not impressing clients with that. That’s why interviewers place such high emphasis on mental math skills of interviewees. 

To improve your math, you can:

Train your head : Apply mental calculations on any daily occasion unless an EXACT answer is required

Start small : Use a piece of scratch paper, give yourself some margins of error (5% is a good start); once you get used to it, remove the paper and narrow down the margin of error.

Establish a routine : Spare time for daily practice and get better each day, just like exercise. You’ll never notice the little changes, but they stack up HARD, and when you realize it, you’re probably doing math thrice as fast

Step 4: Learn to read graphs & charts

The written case is charts galore, so you should at least grasp the purposes of each chart and develop your own approach to them.

Start easy, from bar, pie charts, then moving one to more advanced stuff like mixed charts or scatter plots (I myself would also suggest candlestick charts), you’ll get the hang of it in no time.

Step 5: Learn the fundamentals and frameworks of case interview

ZS case interviews (or any other case interview) are based on the fundamentals - using hypotheses and issue trees, the MECE principle, and the frameworks. So, knowing them is extremely important and you should practice the fundamentals until you are comfortable.

A common mistake candidates make during their case interviews is to go straight for the frameworks. Frameworks require extensive adaptation to match actual cases. To customize appropriately, you must understand the fundamental knowledge first.

To know more about case interviews, here’s a dedicated article .

Step 6: Conduct mock case interview

Mock interviews are a great way to simulate the actual case interview session. You should examine your cases in great depth during the mock case interview. Record your session, replay, note the comments, and look for ways to improve.

Find a former consultant to help you with your practice - they are the ideal people; they've been there, they’ll know what a candidate must be. Through their feedback, you can improve on what needs to be improved and boost your chance of getting an offer.

Techniques to approach problems in ZS Associates case interviews can be hard to master at first tries, hence the importance of practice. To be a competitive candidate for the company, you should spend time training with quality study materials. For a complete guide, covering everything you need, check out our Case Interview Program !

We can also help you connect with consulting coaches (all former consultants!) for a more personalized feedback. Book your mock case interview session with us now !

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The ZS Associates Interview: Our Ultimate Guide to Acing It

• Last Updated January, 2024

If you’re reading this article, you probably have a ZS Associates interview coming up. The ZS Associates interview includes case study questions, behavioral or fit questions, and a written case. That’s a lot to prepare for!

But My Consulting Offer is staffed by former recruiters and consultants from top consulting firms. We can tell you what to expect and how to prepare for the ZS Associates interview.

In this article we’ll cover:

• The history and culture of ZS Associates.
• The ZS Associates recruiting process.
• The ZS Associates case interview.
• The ZS Associates fit or behavioral interview.
• How to prepare for a written case interview.
• MCO’s top 3 tips on acing your ZS Associates interview.

Let’s get started!

ZS Associates History

The ZS Associates Case Study Interview

Zs associates values and culture, the zs associates behavioral interview, the zs associates application process, 3 tips to ace the zs associates interview, zs associates history: established by two college professors, now a key player across sales force optimization & healthcare.

ZS Associates is a global management consulting and professional services firm, designing solutions to solve difficult business problems.

ZS Associates was founded in 1983 by two college professors at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, Andris Zoltners and Prabhakant (Prabha) Sinha. Zoltners and Sinha met as Ph.D. classmates at the University of Massachusetts, where they researched the “knapsack” problem. The goal in solving the knapsack problem is to optimize the combination of items in the sack in order to get the maximum value from the combination of items while keeping the weight within a set limit.

Realizing that their research could be applied to solve resource allocation problems across multiple industries, the pair became pioneers in salesforce sizing and territory alignment models. They ultimately developed the world’s first personal-computer-aided territory mapping system. With their proven software, the pair worked off-hours to help companies improve their sales force efficiency.

Within 3 years of opening, ZS Associates helped 8 of the 10 largest pharmaceutical companies in the world align territories and resize their sales forces. Today, the firm continues to offer sales force alignment services alongside strong capabilities in analytics, strategy, sales, and marketing. ZS Associates is often quoted as experts in salesforce optimization topics, especially in the healthcare sector.

ZS now operates out of 28 offices across 4 continents, namely Asia, Europe, Latin America, and North America.

ZS Associates is gaining recognition as a great place to work thanks to its people and culture. In 2022, ZS Associates was ranked among the Top 25 Best Workplaces in Consulting and Professional Services by Great Place to Work ®.

Employees at ZS, or “ZSers,” live by 3 core values:

• Treat people right
• Get it right
• Do the right thing

ZS builds on a culture that values the unique qualities in every individual. The firm fosters a global community and a sense of belonging through education, leadership programs, networking, and more importantly, ZSer-led inclusion and diversity groups to drive positive change in the company.

The top 3 reasons employees stay at ZS Associates according to the report include: 

• They are given a lot of responsibility.
• They deliver excellent service and impact to their clients.
• Management is both competent and humble.  

ZS Associates has a 3-step application process.

Step #1 – Explore current open roles

Candidates can explore open roles at ZS Associates through campus recruitment drives or via the firm’s career page . Roles are classified based on the applicant’s experience level (e.g., undergraduate, Ph.D., MBA, Masters’, experienced professional, etc).

Step #2 – Apply with a resume

Applicants at campus drives are encouraged to submit their resumes on the spot. Online applicants are required to create a profile by completing an online form and uploading their resume and relevant transcripts before they can submit the application.

Step #3 – Attend the interview rounds

Selected applicants are invited for the interview rounds to be considered for an offer.

Similar to other management consulting firms, ZS Associates uses case interviews to assess the candidate’s ability to succeed in consulting.

If you are new to case interviews, our Ultimate Guide to Case Interviews explains what case interviews are and the 4-step approach to answering them. This encompasses:

• The opening – Check to make sure you understand the client’s problem.
• The structure – Think through the factors relevant to the problem and organize them so you can address them in a logical manner. Most candidates would use an issue tree to organize the factors at this stage.
• The analysis – Gather data to identify the factors most relevant to the client’s problem and develop recommendations.
• The conclusion – Present your recommendation to the “client” (the interviewer) in a well-structured and persuasive manner.

ZS Associates offers a broad array of roles, ranging from business consulting to more technical data and knowledge management roles. The interview rounds vary based on the country and role , as well as the application channel. However, the interview section can be broadly grouped into 5 key rounds.

1. Aptitude Test

An online test with multiple-choice questions tests candidates for verbal ability, logical thinking, and numerical reasoning. The purpose of the test is to measure the candidate’s ability to understand the information provided, organize it, and then use it to solve problems.

2. AI-Video Interview

A video interview leveraging AI is used to analyze the candidate’s body language, facial expressions, word choices, and tone of voice in reaction to 3 or 4 pre-set questions. Candidates need to record their answers and submit them within a set time limit.

3. Unstructured Case Interview

The unstructured case is an interview with a consultant or partner in which candidates are asked to solve an open-ended business question. These are similar to “interviewee-led cases” used by Bain and BCG.

The candidates are given 30 to 45 minutes to break the problem into key parts and lead the interviewer through their logic to solve the problem. While it’s called an “unstructured case,” that doesn’t mean your answer should be unstructured.

The ZS Associate’s unstructured cases include:

• Market sizing and market entry strategies
• Declining market share due to growing competition
• Operational process optimization
• Revenue and profit growth or maximization

4. Structured Case Interview

The structured case study is an interview with a consultant or partner, in which candidates are required to interpret data and/or solve a puzzle. Candidates are given 30 minutes to solve 1 to 2 questions in this interview. 

This round is more interviewer-led and candidates are required to share insights or provide estimates based on data and graphs provided. Knowledge analysts may receive more technical questions related to their domain during this round (e.g., DBMS and SQL queries). A few sample questions include:

• Market sizing : How many cakes can be sold in a day in your city?
• Puzzle : How many races will it take to identify the 3 fastest racehorses in a group of 20?
• [Technical] Discuss the issues with traditional file-based systems that make DBMS a better choice for storing files.

5. Behavioral/Fit Interview

This is a 30-minute interview with a recruiter designed to understand the candidate’s fit with the company’s culture and values. A more detailed explanation is provided in the following section.

Nail the case & fit interview with strategies from former MBB Interviewers that have helped 89.6% of our clients pass the case interview.

The behavioral interview (or “fit-test”) at ZS Associates is the portion of the interview process that enables you to showcase the soft skills that will help you succeed in consulting and add value to your teams and clients. Given the pressure surrounding the case interviews, candidates often underestimate the importance of the behavioral interview. However, the behavioral interview is still a critical opportunity to leave a positive impression with the firm, and it is equally important to invest time in preparing for this interview.

Some commonly asked questions at ZS Associates include:

• Why do you want to join ZS Associates?
• Tell me about a time you had to deal with conflict in your team.
• What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your past professional experience?

The key to passing behavioral interview questions is to highlight:

• Your values – Show what matters to you and that your values are aligned with the firm’s values and culture.
• Your soft skills – Show your ability to lead, influence, and manage through adversity.
• Your impact – Show the value you’ve contributed or the lessons you’ve learned from past projects on the job, at school, or in the community.

Prepare stories that answer these questions and practice your stories so you can tell them in a structured and compelling manner . We suggest using the A STAR(E) framework. Beyond the interview process, it will be important for you to understand what sets ZS Associates apart from the other firms and why that matters to you.

1. Prepare and Practice

Start preparing early and commit time to research the company and practice for the different interview rounds. Spending time to read up on your interviewers (on the ZS Associates website or LinkedIn) could also give you hints on the case interview questions or ideas on questions to ask at the end of your interview.

2. Don’t Memorize Answers

You don’t want to sound like a robot delivering a pre-written script in response to either case or behavioral questions. If you prepare in a more natural style, you are more likely to be able to adapt and respond to unexpected questions. Remember your key points and stories and deliver your thoughts naturally.

3. Know the Firm

These interviews are also an opportunity for you to understand if you would like to work at the firms you’re applying to. ZS Associates is a people-centric firm. They value the uniqueness in their people and pride themselves in working with their clients to design solutions that work for them. If you share similar values and purpose, you will naturally help tell your story in a more compelling manner.

– – – – –

In this article, we’ve covered:

• The founding story of ZS Associates.
• ZS Associates people-centric culture.
• How to apply to ZS Associates.
• The ZS Associates behavioral interview.
• 3 tips to ace the ZS Associates interview.

Still have questions?

If you have more questions about the ZS Associates interview, leave them in the comments below. One of My Consulting Offer’s case coaches will answer them.

Other people prepping for their ZS Associates case study interview found the following pages helpful:

• Our Ultimate Guide to Case Interview Prep
• Consulting Behavioral Interviews
• Top Consulting Firms
• List of Consulting Firms: 200+ To Apply To
• Written Case Interviews

Help with Case Study Interview Prep

Thanks for turning to My Consulting Offer for advice on consulting interview prep. My Consulting Offer has helped almost 89.6% of the people we’ve worked with to get a job in management consulting. We want you to be successful in your consulting interviews too. For example, here is how Aaron was able to get his offer from ZS Associates.

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3 Top Strategies to Master the Case Interview in Under a Week

We are sharing our powerful strategies to pass the case interview even if you have no business background, zero casing experience, or only have a week to prepare.

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Hacking the Case Interview

ZS Associates interviews consist of case interviews, a written case interview, and behavioral or fit interview questions. There are typically three rounds of interviews that candidates must go through before being extended an offer.

• First round : 30-minute phone screen with a recruiter. The interview will be focused on behavioral or fit interview questions.
• Second round : Two 30-minute interviews. One interview will be focused on a case interview while the other is focused on behavioral or fit interview questions.
• Third round : Three 30- to 40-minute interviews and a 45-minute written case interview. For the 30- to 40-minute interviews, two will be focused on case interviews while the third will be focused on behavioral or fit interview questions.

If you have an upcoming ZS associates interview or are expecting to interview with them, we have you covered. In this article, we’ll cover:  

• The 6 steps to solving any ZS Associates case interview
• ZS Associates case interview examples
• How to ace the ZS Associates written case interview
• The 10 most common ZS behavioral or fit interview questions
• Recommended ZS Associates case interview resources

If you’re looking for a step-by-step shortcut to learn case interviews quickly, enroll in our case interview course . These insider strategies from a former Bain interviewer helped 30,000+ land consulting offers while saving hundreds of hours of prep time.

The 6 Steps to Solve Any ZS Associates Case Interview

Acing your case interviews is the single most important factor that determines whether or not you will receive a consulting job offer from ZS Associates.

A case interview is a special type of interview that nearly every single consulting firm uses. ZS Associates case interviews simulate what the consulting job will be like by placing you in a hypothetical business situation in which you are asked to solve a business problem.

ZS case interviews, also known as case study interviews, are all candidate-led. You will be in the driver’s seat of the case interview and will be expected to ask the right questions, probe for data, and propose each next step to solve the case.

According to ZS Associates previous career website, they look for the following six core skills:

• Excellent critical thinking and problem-solving
• Desire to innovate and transform organizations
• Client service orientation
• Emotional intelligence, empathy, and adaptability
• Orientation to quality and creating positive impact
• Strong communication skills and ability to persuade

There are also three core values that ZS Associates lives by, according to  ZS' career page :

• Treat people right : treating other people with respect and dignity and creating a welcoming work environment that installs a sense of belonging
• Get it right : prioritizing finding the right answer and delivering quality work
• Do the right thing : holding people to high ethical standards and approaching work with integrity

Follow these six steps to solve any ZS case interview or case study interview:

1. Understand the case

The case will begin with the interviewer giving you the case information. While the interviewer is speaking, make sure that you are taking meticulous notes on the most important pieces of information. Focus on understanding the context of the situation, the company, and the objective of the case.

2. Verify the objective

Understanding the business problem and objective of the case is the most important part of the case interview. Not addressing the right business question is the quickest way to fail a case interview.

Make sure that you ask clarifying questions to better understand the business situation and problem. Then, confirm that you understand the case objective with the interviewer. This ensures that you start the case on the right track.

3. Create a framework

Develop a framework to help you tackle the business problem. A framework is a tool that helps you structure and break down complex problems into smaller, more manageable components. With a framework, you’ll be brainstorming different ideas and organizing them into different categories.

For a complete guide on how to create tailored and unique frameworks for each case, check out our article on case interview frameworks .

Afterwards, walk the interviewer through your framework. They may ask a few questions or provide some feedback to you.

4. Develop a hypothesis

After creating a framework, you should develop a hypothesis. A hypothesis is an educated guess on the answer based on the data and information that you have so far.

Your hypothesis does not need to be correct. You’ll be continuously testing and refining your hypothesis throughout the case. The purpose of having a hypothesis is to guide your analysis and ensure that you are spending your time answering the right questions.

5. Test your hypothesis

The majority of the case will be spent testing your hypothesis.

After stating your hypothesis, it is up to you to lead the direction of the case. Depending on the context of the case, you may want to ask for data to do some analysis. You may also want to explore qualitative questions that you have. As you uncover more information, your hypothesis will likely have to change. 

Sometimes, your hypothesis will be completely wrong and you’ll need to develop a completely new hypothesis to test. Other times, your hypothesis may be on the right track, but you’ll need to refine or narrow it down further.

Throughout the rest of the case, you’ll be answering a mix of quantitative and qualitative questions. Make sure that after each question, you explain how your answer impacts your hypothesis or answer to the case.

6. Deliver a recommendation

In the last step of the case interview, you’ll present your recommendation and provide the major reasons that support it. You do not need to recap everything that you have done in the case, so focus on summarizing only the facts that are most important.

It is also good practice to include potential next steps that you would take if you had more time or data. These can be areas of your framework that you did not have time to explore yet or lingering questions that you do not have great answers for.

ZS Associates Case Interview Examples

Example #1: Disposable Diapers

Proctor & Gamble (P&G) is an American consumer goods company that specializes in personal health, consumer health, and personal care and hygiene. One of its most revolutionary products is the company’s disposable Pampers Premium diaper.

Kimberly Clark has also entered the disposable diaper market and has been constantly improving and marketing its own brand, Huggies. What can P&G do in response to maintain Pampers’ market share?

Example #2: Entry Level Car Model

Our client is a multinational automotive manufacturer headquartered in Japan. They are the fourth largest automaker in Japan. Our client currently offers two car models, a mid-level car and a high-end car.

They are considering introducing an entry level car in the United States that they already sell in other countries. However, the United States market is different from that of other countries because there are numerous entry level cars available. How would you decide whether or not our client should introduce its entry level car model?

Example #3: Financial Software

Our client is a software and information technology based in San Francisco, California. Their software allows individuals and businesses to receive payments over the Internet. Our client provides the technical systems, fraud prevention, and banking infrastructure needed to operate online payment systems.

We have been hired to help them determine how they can increase the number of people using the online bill pay feature. What would you recommend?

Example #4: Luxury Watchmaker

Tissot is a Swiss watchmaker that manufacturers watches in the $300 to $3,000 price range. They sell watches through three distribution channels: department stores, specialty watch stores, and online through its own website.

Online purchases of Tissot watches have increased drastically over the past year to the point that sales from department stores and specialty watch stores has decreased dramatically. Owners of these two types of stores have begun to voice their objection to online sales. What can Tissot do to resolve this sales channel conflict?

Example #5: Party Goods

Your client is a leading American manufacturer and distributor of party goods. They sell everyday products and seasonal goods. Recently, major customers have complained to management stating that prices of your client’s products are too high.

Your client is looking to decrease prices to keep their existing customers. To be able to do this, they would need to significantly reduce its cost structure. How would you look for opportunities to cut costs?

Example #6: Patient Analytics Software

Your client is Healthcare Co., a software and information technology startup. They operate a software as a service (SaaS) business in which software is licensed to customers on a subscription basis. Healthcare Co. hosts the software on their own servers and customers access the software through a web browser.

Your client has developed an innovative software solution for hospitals that would enable hospitals to better track patient outcomes and use advanced analytics to recommend treatments. You have been hired to help them determine how to maximize revenue. How would you go about this?

For more practice, check out our article on 23 MBA consulting casebooks with 700+ free practice cases .

How to Ace the ZS Associates Written Case Interview

Here’s how the ZS Associates written case interview works:

• You’ll be taken to a meeting room and given either a packet of 8 - 10 slides or a laptop that has all of the case information. You may also be given a list of 4 - 5 questions
• You’ll have 45 minutes to read through the slides, answer the given questions or develop a recommendation, and create PowerPoint slides
• At the end of the 45 minutes, you’ll present to the interviewer and have a discussion

Follow the steps below to perform well on the written case interview.

1. Understand the business problem and objective

The first step in completing a written case interview is to understand what the objective is. What is the primary business question you are trying to answer with the data and information provided?

2. Read the list of major questions

Your written case interview may provide you with a list of 4 - 5 key questions that you will be expected to address or answer. Read through these questions first since these will be the questions that you will want to prioritize.

3. Skim the materials

Next, flip through the information packet that is provided to see what information is available. Identify what data you have and what data you do not have.

The goal in this step is not to read and analyze every slide. That would take too much time. Instead, by seeing what information exists, you will be able to better prioritize what you spend your time reading and analyzing.

4. Create a framework

Before you begin reading and analyzing the information in the slides in more detail, you should create a basic framework to help guide your analysis. The list of key questions will help set the foundation of your framework.

5. Read and analyze the material 

Afterwards, read and analyze the information that is relevant to each area of your framework. As you begin answering questions and drawing insights, make sure to write a one or two sentence summary. This will make it easier to decide on a recommendation later.

6. Create your slides

Once you have a recommendation, it is time to start filling in your slides. Write your executive summary first and make sure that it tells a clear and logical story that leads to your ultimate recommendation. 

Then, write the headlines for your slides. Make sure the headlines summarize the key point of each slide. If the interviewer were to only read the headlines of your slides, they should be able to understand your entire presentation.

Afterwards, fill in the content for that slide to support the headline.

7. Prepare for potential questions

If you have any time remaining, brainstorm potential questions the interviewer may ask you during your presentation. They may want to know how you performed your analysis or how you reached your conclusions.

Preparing for these potential questions will help your presentation go much more smoothly. You will also feel much more confident while presenting.

For a full guide on written case interviews, check out our consulting written case interview step-by-step guide .

The 10 Most Common ZS Behavioral or Fit Interview Questions

In addition to case interviews, you will likely be asked a few behavioral or fit interview questions. There are ten questions that are most commonly asked. 

For more help, check out our complete guide on consulting behavioral interview questions .

1. Why are you interested in working at ZS Associates?

How to answer: Have at least three reasons why you’re interested in working at ZS Associates. You could mention that you loved the people that you have met from ZS Associates so far. You can talk about ZS Associate’s massive global presence and expertise in consulting, software, and technology. You can speak to how ZS Associates provides strategy and implementation, so you can see the impact of your work. Finally, you can talk about their fantastic company culture.

2. Why do you want to work in consulting?

How to answer: Again, have three reasons why you’re interested in consulting. You could mention the fast career growth opportunity, the opportunity to develop soft and hard skills, or the level of impact that you can make by working with large companies on their most challenging issues.

3. Walk me through your resume

How to answer: Provide a concise summary of your work experience, starting with the most recent. Focus on emphasizing your most impressive and unique accomplishments. At the end, tie your experiences to why you are interested in consulting.

4. What is your proudest achievement?

How to answer: Choose your most impressive, unique, or memorable accomplishment. Structure your answer by providing information on the situation, the task, the actions you took, and the results of your work.

5. What is something that you are proud of that is not on your resume?

How to answer: This is a great opportunity to highlight an accomplishment that is not related to your professional work experience. Perhaps there is a non-profit that you volunteer at, a side project or business that you work on, or a hobby that you have won awards or recognition for. Choose something that is impressive and interesting.

6. Tell me about a time when you led a team.

How to answer: If possible, choose a time when you directly managed a person or a team. For this question and the following questions, make sure that you structure your answer. Structure your answer by providing information on the situation, the task, the actions you took, and the results of your work. This is known as the STAR method and is commonly used to answer behavioral or fit interview questions.

7. Give an example of a time when you faced conflict or a disagreement.

How to answer: When answering this question, focus on emphasizing the steps you took to resolve the conflict or disagreement. Speak to the interpersonal skills you had to use in order to mediate the situation. Interviewers want to know that you are a great mediator and that you can handle conflict in a constructive way.

8. Tell me about a time when you had to persuade someone.

How to answer: Choose a time when you were able to change someone’s mind. Focus on emphasizing the steps that you took to persuade that person and what impact and results this had. Interviewers want to know that you are a great communicator and a good people person.

9. Describe a time when you failed.

How to answer: Choose a time when you failed to meet a deadline or did not meet expectations. Focus on emphasizing what you learned from the experience and how you used that experience to deliver even better results in the next opportunity that you got. Interviewers want to see that you don’t get discouraged from failure and that you treat those experiences as learning opportunities.

10. What questions do you have for me?

How to answer: This is a great opportunity to get to know the interviewer on a more personal level. Ask them questions about their experience in consulting or their career. Express genuine interest in what they have to show and ask follow-up questions. The more you can get the interviewer talking about themself, the more likely they will have a positive impression of you.

Recommended ZS Associates Case Interview Resources

Here are the resources we recommend to learn the most robust, effective case interview strategies in the least time-consuming way:

• Comprehensive Case Interview Course (our #1 recommendation): The only resource you need. Whether you have no business background, rusty math skills, or are short on time, this step-by-step course will transform you into a top 1% caser that lands multiple consulting offers.
• Hacking the Case Interview Book   (available on Amazon): Perfect for beginners that are short on time. Transform yourself from a stressed-out case interview newbie to a confident intermediate in under a week. Some readers finish this book in a day and can already tackle tough cases.
• The Ultimate Case Interview Workbook (available on Amazon): Perfect for intermediates struggling with frameworks, case math, or generating business insights. No need to find a case partner – these drills, practice problems, and full-length cases can all be done by yourself.
• Case Interview Coaching : Personalized, one-on-one coaching with former consulting interviewers
• Behavioral & Fit Interview Course : Be prepared for 98% of behavioral and fit questions in just a few hours. We'll teach you exactly how to draft answers that will impress your interviewer
• Resume Review & Editing : Transform your resume into one that will get you multiple interviews

Land Multiple Consulting Offers

Complete, step-by-step case interview course. 30,000+ happy customers.

• InterviewPenguin.com – Your best job interview coach since 2011

Learn how to ace your interview at ZS Associates

If you want to get a job at ZS associates (virtually any job), prepare for a phone interview, group interview (optional), assessment test , and an in-person interview in the company (can be done online during the pandemic).

You will have to deal with personal and behavioral (scenario-based) questions , and convince them that you can bring value to their team of excellent employees.  They can afford to hire the best , and they will hire only the best. Let’s have a look at the interview process, step by step, and the questions you will face in each step.

Simple start – the phone (or group) interview

When they talk to you over the phone (or over Zoom ), they try to get a good grasp of your communication skills, understand who you are, what you did in the past, and why you try to get a job with them– and not with any other company . That’s a typical goal of a first phone interview. You can expect to hear some of the following questions:

• Why do you want to work for ZS associates?
• Why do you decided for this position?
• What makes you a great candidate for this particular vacancy?
• Tell me more about the job XY you had, your main duties, achievements, successes and failures you experienced on the position.
• What motivates you in work?
• Why did you leave your last job (why do you plan to leave your present job?
• Where do you see yourself in five years from now.

Who will proceed to the next stage?

Typically approximately every second person will proceed to the next stage, the assessment test. In some cases (especially when we speak about highly technical positions), nearly all job candidates will be invited for the next stage.

The assessment test consists in Quantitative Aptitude, Logical Reasoning, and Verbal Ability . The best way to prepare for the test is practice in advance . If you have no experience with this type of testing , we strongly recommend you to check the following online assessment test preparation pack (more than 100 online practice tests ), to get ready for this challenge…

In person interview – case studies, scenario-based questions

You should prepare for a long day when you interview for a job with ZS Associates… More often than not, you will talk to two or three people, you will have to complete some tests (see the paragraph above), and they will ask you plenty of behavioral questions .

They can actually also repeat some questions from the phone interview. If they do so, it is important that you give the same (or at least similar) answers as you did on the phone . It is the test of your credibility and trustworthiness –saying a completely different thing when answering the same question in two interviews won’t shed the best light on your credibility… Keep in on your mind, and try to stay consistent.

Behavioral questions – the tough nut to crack

Inquiring about your behavior in various work-related situations, HR managers from ZS associates try to understand how you would react in the same situations in your new job. We can call this the most important part of the hiring process, and one which most job seekers fail to pass .

Your answers help them to assess your attitude to work, to your colleagues, and to various problems that can and will happen on the workplace. I can’t stress enough the importance of your answers to behavioral questions. Let’s have a look at some common at ZS Associates:

• Describe a situation when you were under pressure in work.
• Tell us about a conflict you had with your colleague.
• Describe a situation when you demonstrated leadership at work.
• What was the most challenging situation you’ve ever faced?
• Describe a situation when you reached a goal and tell us how you achieved it.
• Tell us about an obstacle you overcame.
• Describe a time when you had to decide about something without having all information you needed to make a qualified decision.
• What’s the worst project you’ve ever worked on?
• Tell us about a time when you had to work on multiple projects simultaneously. How did you prioritize?

* Special Tip : If you are not sure how to answer the questions from the list , or experience interview anxiety, have a look at our Interview Success Package . Up to 10 premium answers to basically all questions you may face in your ZS associates job interview will help you streamline your interview preparation, find the right words in every moment of the interview, outclass your competitors, and eventually get the job. Thank you for checking it out!

Short case studies

In some cases you may deal with a short case study, as a part of your in-person interview with ZS Associates. For example, they may ask you to analyze some numbers and identify the issue causing a decrease of sales, or some other undesirable result of a business or team.

They will give you bunch of information–numbers, balance sheets, etc (observing whether you can pick the right KPI from the bunch), and a few minutes to prepare your answer to their question.

The most important thing here is is to think out loud , to explain your reasoning , and to present the solution in a professional yet simple to understand way. In many cases there isn’t a right or wrong answer when we talk about these short case studies… As long as you can justify your suggestions with your thought process, they will be satisfied with your answer.

Interview with a branch director

If you apply for a management job with ZS Associates, you will often have to pass one more interview –with the branch director. The decision maker may ask you some behavioral questions, but the core of this meeting is relationship building, and understanding whether you can offer them what they need in the company, and whether they can offer you what you want from the job , and from your professional career.

Try to stay relaxed, focus on every word they say, and show the decision maker that you care for their business, and understand what they do in the company, and what role you should play in their success story…

Conclusion, final thoughts

Interview with ZS Associates belongs to difficult job interviews . The hiring process often takes weeks, and you will have to pass a series of interviews and tests, just as we described in this article.

Behavioral questions form the integral part of their interviewing process, and you should try to have a situation ready for each of these questions. What’s more, it is important to prepare also for other questions you may face (screening questions), and get ready for the assessment tests. We believe you will manage to do that, and wish you best of luck!

More from InterviewPenguin.com:

• How to overcome interview nerves – We are nervous when we care. But you can overcome your nerves and show your very best on the big day. Learn how.
• Interview Success Package – Up to 10 premium answers to all tricky scenario-based interview questions. Streamline your preparation and outclass your competitors.
• Salary negotiation tips – Some rules you should remember when negotiating a salary in your interview with ZS Associates.
• Interview attire guide – Not sure what to wear to your next interview? We have the answers!
• Recent Posts

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ZS Associates Mock Test Series 2023

by Amit Prabhu | Updated on 26 May 2023

Table Of Contents

• Introduction
• Know Your Company
• What to expect in the Exam 
• Plan for clearing the paper

Are you preparing for a consulting career? Have you heard of ZS Associates and want to know more about their recruitment process? Look no further than our Mock Test article from ZS Associates!

Our comprehensive guide includes all the essential information you need to know about ZS associates and their hiring process. We look at the company's history, values, and culture, as well as the qualities and skills they're looking for in our candidates.

But the real content of our article is our fictional ZS Associates quiz. We designed a challenging and realistic test that simulates the real aptitude test experience of ZS Associates. By taking our mock test, you will gain invaluable experience and insight into what to expect on test day.

Our test covers all the important areas assessed by the ZS Association Aptitude Test, including quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. We've included detailed explanations for each question, so you can learn from your mistakes and improve your performance.

Our ZS Associates mock test not only helps you prepare for the real test, but also helps you better understand your own strengths and weaknesses. You will be able to identify the areas you need to focus on and tailor your preparation accordingly.

Whether you're a seasoned consultant or a recent graduate looking to break into the industry, our ZS Association Model Test article is an essential resource for any Who prepares for a career with this prestigious company. Don't miss this valuable opportunity to increase your chances of success!  

About  ZS Associates 

ZS Associates is a global management consulting firm providing comprehensive solutions to help companies improve performance and achieve sustainable growth. Founded in 1983, the company is headquartered in Evanston, Illinois, USA and employs more than 6,000 employees in more than 30 offices worldwide.

ZS Associates' expertise lies in its ability to combine data science, technology, and strategy to help clients solve complex business challenges. The company's portfolio of services includes four main areas:  sales and marketing, operations, technology and strategy.

In sales and marketing practices, ZS Associates helps clients optimize sales force performance, design effective sales and marketing strategies, and improve customer experience. Operations practices focus on improving business processes and supply chain management, while technology practices deliver cutting-edge technology solutions such as artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, and cloud computing. cloud to help customers modernize their IT infrastructure.

On the other hand, ZS Associates' strategic practice helps clients develop and execute business strategies that drive growth and competitiveness. The company's clients range from Fortune 500 companies to emerging startups across the globe.

ZS Associates's Latest Exam Pattern 2023

ZS Associates is a leading global consulting firm specializing in sales and marketing consulting, analytics and technology solutions. ZS Associates provides a variety of services to clients in various industries including healthcare, pharmaceuticals and financial services. As part of the recruitment process, ZS Associates conducts mock tests to assess a candidate's skills and knowledge. This article describes the exam pattern for the ZS Associates practice exam.

ZS Associates practice exams are designed to assess a candidate's analytical and problem-solving skills, as well as their knowledge of sales and marketing concepts. The test is divided into two sections:

Proficiency test and domain knowledge test. The aptitude test consists of questions on quantitative aptitude, logical thinking, and verbal ability. The Domain Knowledge test assesses a candidate's knowledge of sales and marketing concepts.

The proficiency exam is further divided into three subsections:

Quantitative aptitude, logical thinking, language ability. The Quantitative Aptitude portion tests a candidate's mathematical and numerical skills. Questions in this section cover topics such as arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data interpretation. The reasoning section tests a candidate's ability to analyze and solve complex problems. Questions in this section cover topics such as syllogisms, analogies, riddles, and seating arrangements. The oral skills section tests a candidate's ability to understand and analyze written material. Questions in this section cover topics such as reading comprehension, grammar, and vocabulary. The Domain Knowledge test assesses a candidate's knowledge of sales and marketing concepts. Questions in this section cover topics such as customer segmentation, product positioning, pricing strategy, and sales forecasting. The domain knowledge test is further he divided into two subsections.

Sales and marketing aptitude tests and case study analysis.

The Sales and Marketing Aptitude Test assesses a candidate's understanding of basic sales and marketing concepts. Questions in this section cover topics such as customer needs analysis, value proposition, and sales process. The case study analysis section tests the candidate's ability to analyze and solve business problems. The questions in this section are based on sales and marketing case studies.

ZS Associates practice exams are computer-based exams delivered online. The duration of the test is 2 hours and the total number of questions is 100. Questions are multiple choice and there are no negative scores for incorrect answers. The test is adaptive. In other words, the difficulty of the questions increases or decreases depending on the test taker's performance.

Tips to succeed in ZS Associates Placement Exam 2023

Passing the ZS Associates practice exam requires well-structured planning and intensive preparation. Here's a plan that easily passes the test.

Step 1: Understanding test patterns -The first step to passing the ZS Associates practice exam is to understand the exam pattern. Explore the different sections, subsections, and types of questions on the test. Familiarize yourself with the exam format and structure.

Step 2: Identify your strengths and weaknesses - Once you have a clear understanding of the exam pattern, it's time to identify your strengths and weaknesses. Assess your current level of preparation by taking a practice test or practice exam. Analyze performance and identify areas for improvement.

Step 3: Focus on your weaknesses - Once you have identified your weaknesses, focus on improving them. Work on your weaker problems and try to improve your performance. Practice regularly and solve as many problems as possible to build your confidence in these areas.

Step 4:  improve time management - Time management is key to passing the ZS Associates practice exam. Practice solving problems within the time limit. Improve your speed and accuracy by solving questions quickly and accurately.

Step 5: Practice, practice and practice -The key to passing the ZS Associates practice exam is regular practice. Do as many practice questions and practice tests as possible. This improves accuracy, speed and reliability.

Step 6: Calm and confident -On exam day, stay calm and confident. Prepare with confidence and don't let stress and anxiety get in the way of your performance.

Follow the instructions carefully and manage your time wisely.  

ZS Associates practice tests are an important part of a company's hiring process. This test assesses the candidate's analytical and problem-solving abilities, as well as their knowledge of sales and marketing concepts. The test is divided into two sections:

Proficiency tests and domain knowledge tests. To prepare for the exam, candidates have access to a variety of resources including practice tests, practice tests, and study materials.

Other Zs Associates Resources

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Zs associates placement papers | online test pattern.

ZS Associates Placement Paper Exam pattern information 2024 is live now. We have updated our pages according to the latest ZS Associates Placement test pattern, this will help you in the exam so that you can score well in the exam.

Also, practice ZS Associates Previous year's Questions and answers with more detailed solutions.

This page will help you understand the paper Pattern, and Syllabus for ZS Associates.

Here below you will get similar pattern questions of the ZS Associates exam so that it will help you in exam preparation.

Common ZS Associates Placement Papers and Pattern for All Profiles

Sections may vary depending upon the profile you apply for or you are eligible for. These are the common sections for all 3 profiles.

• BTA (Business Technology Analyst) [For CS, IT]
• BOA (Business Operations Associate) [For all branches]
• DAA(Decision Analytics Associate) [For all branches]
• DSA (Data Scientist Associate) [For CS, IT]

Details for ZS Associates Online Test:

Please visit the below links to know more about other rounds:-

• What is ZS Associate Case Study
• What is ZS Associate Guess Estimate
• What is ZS Associates Video Conferencing
• ZS Associate Recruitment Process
• ZS Associate Eligibility Criteria

Syllabus for Test

Logical reasoning, attention to details.

Comp Fundamentals

ZS Associates Placement Preparation 2024 :

ZS Associates Placement Papers have the following 5 round test to appoint you as its employee.

The five-round selection process goes like this.

Round -1 : Online Test Round

This Round includes 5 sections namely:

Quants, English, Logical, Attention to Details, and Data Interpretation. And the time allotted will be 75 Minutes Shared among all the Sections

(Details of this Round has been explained in the table below)

Note:  ZS Associates Online Test has a total time of 75 minutes, which is allotted for all five sections. The candidate should try to complete all the sections within the given time span.

Round -2 : Video Conferencing Round

This is the second eliminating round for ZS Associates. In this particular round, you will be answering questions that will be displayed on your screen.

There will be approximately 8 videos with 3 written Questions each.

The total time allotted for this particular round will be approximately 40 minutes.

After these two rounds, the rest 3 rounds in the procedure are in phase 2 of the procedure which is basically an Interview round bifurcated into 3 rounds where each round is an elimination round.

Round -3 : Case Study

So in this particular round, you will be given a handbook that will have questions linked with some graphs and situational based paragraphs.

This again is an elimination round. This Round will have 4- 5 Questions in a question booklet of 15 pages and you will be allotted approximately 30 minutes for this particular round .

Note: The Questions from the case study may be asked in a Technical or HR interview. So we recommend you be very attentive and retain what you had entered in.

The other two rounds more in which will be conducted in Phase 2 are Round 4 and Round 5.

Round -4 and 5 : Technical and HR Interview

After the above rounds only interview rounds are left which are either technical, HR, or both.

In Round 4 of the process, there will be a technical Interview with case study debriefing . In this round, you will be asked questions from the technical side and you will also be asked questions from the case study round in which you will be asked to explain your approaches and thought process.

Round 5 which is also known as EBI + FIT Round will basically consist of questions from the HR side and the history of ZS Associates.

So, this is basically the updated Exam Pattern procedure for ZS Associates Placement Paper.

ZS Associates Online Test Pattern and Placement Papers Details 2024 :

Below given details are of Round 1 of ZS Associates Online Test Pattern and Placement Paper:-

ZS Associates Quants Curriculum 2024:-

Here below you will get ZS Associates quants curriculum that will help you in preparation.

 Important Topics   -

• Permutation and Combinations
• HCF and LCM
• Clocks and Calendar
• Probability
• Speed Time and Distance
• Profit and Loss
• Mixture & Allegations
• Percentages
• Number system
• Time and Work
• Misc - Quants
• Ratio & Proportions

ZS Associates Quants

Quants Section Analysis

• Total Number of Questions - 10 Questions
• Time Allotted for Online test - 75 Mins Shared With Other Sections
• Negative Marking - No
• Adaptive/Non-Adaptive Test - Non-adaptive

1. Train M leaves from A to B. Half an hour later train N leaves for M from N. Two hours after N had started, the trains meet. M has covered 50 % more distance than train N when they meet. What is the ratio of the speeds of train M to train N?

Let the speed of M be x and the speed of N be y.

∴ Distance covered by M in 2 hrs = 2x and

distance covered by N in 1.5 hrs = 1.5y.

Also, 2x = 1.5(1.5y)

⇒ x : y = 9 : 8.

• Shortcut, Tricks and Tips
• How to solve quickly

2. How much sugar at Rs. 9.5 a kg should be added to 17 kg of tea at Rs. 20 a kg so that the mixture be worth Rs. 13 a kg.?

Ratio in which tea and sugar should be mixed ⇒ 20 – 13 : 13 – 9.5

Let x be quantity at 9.5/kg.

∴ 2 : 1 = x : 17, hence x = 34 kg.

3. Find the greatest 6-digit number, which is a multiple of 12.

Greatest six-digit number is 999999.

Divide this number by 12 and get remainder as 3.

Since the remainder is 3, if you subtract 3 from the number, the remaining number will be a multiple of 12.

So the greatest such number will be 999999 – 3 =999996.

4. A man spends 35% of his income on food, 25% on children's education, and 80% of the remaining on house rent. What percent of his income he is left with?

Let the total income be x.

Then, income left,

(100 - 80)%of[100-(35 + 25)]%ofx<br /> =20%of40%ofx<br /> =[\frac{20}{100}\times\frac{40}{100)\times100]%ofx<br /> = 8%ofx.

5. Two persons A and B can do a work alone in 29 days. A takes the rest of one day after every 4 days and B takes the rest of one day after every 5 days. If A and B starts working together, then the work will be completed on

In 18 days, both take the rest of 3 days each and the work, done is \frac{(36-6)}{29} part of the work.

By 18th day \frac{1}{29} part of the work is done more, so it implies that the work was completed on 17th day.

6. A watch which gains uniformly is 6 minutes slow at 4 pm on a Sunday and 10 2 / 3  minutes fast on the following Sunday at 8 pm. During this period (Day and Time) when was the watch correct?

Total time in hours from Sunday 4 pm to the following Sunday at 8 am = [( 6 x 24 ) +16 ] = 160 hours

Thus, the watch gains 6+10\frac{2}{3}=16\frac{2}{3} minutes in 160 hours

therefore, 1 minute is gained in 160\times\frac{3}{50}

⇒6 minutes are gained in

160\times\frac{3}{50}\times6

Required answer = 57\frac{3}{5}hours

Hence, the watch was correct on Wednesday at 1:36 am

7. At what percentage above the C.P. must an article be marked so as to gain 33% after allowing a customer a discount of 5%?

Let C.P. be Rs.100

then, S.P. = Rs.133

Let marked price be Rs.x

then, 95% of x = 133

(95/100) * x = 133

x = (133 * 100)/95 = 140

40% above C.P.

8. In how many ways can a group of 5 men and 2 women be made out of a total of 7 men and 3 women?

Required number of ways

=  7 C 5 * 3 C 2

= 7 C 2 * 3 C 1

= ((7 * 6)/(2 * 1)) * 3

9. A box contains 2 white balls,3 black balls and 4 red balls.In how many ways can 3 balls be drawn from the box,if at least one black ball is to be included in the draw?

We may have 1 black and 2 non-black or 2 black and 1 non-black or 3 black

required number of ways = ( 3 C 1  *  6 C 2 ) + ( 3 C 2  *  6 C 1 ) +  3 C 3

= (3 * ((6 * 5)/(2 * 1))) + (((3 * 2)/(2 * 1)) * 6) + 1

= 45 + 18 + 1 = 64

10. The sum of ages of 5 children born at the intervals of 3 years each is 50 years. What is the age of the youngest child?

Consider the ages of 5 children be X, (X + 3), (X + 6), (X + 9) and (X + 12) years

sum of 5 children is 50

then, X + (X + 3) + (X + 6) + (X + 9) + (X + 12) = 50

5X + 30 = 50

i.e Age of the youngest child = 4 years.

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ZS Associates Curriculum of Logical Section: -

Here below you will get the ZS Associates quants curriculum that will help you in preparation.

Important Topics includes-

• Arrangement
• Venn Diagram
• Statements and Conclusions
• Coding Decoding
• Blood Relations
• Distance & Direction
• Seating Arrangement
• Selection Decision Tables
• Number Series

ZS Associates Logical

Logical Reasoning Section Analysis

• Time Allotted for Online Test - 75 Mins Shared With Other Sections
• Adaptive/Non-Adaptive Test - Non-Adaptive

1. Find out the wrong number in the given series.

8 19 52 151 447

The logic is 8 × 3 – 5 = 19, 19 × 3 – 5 = 52, 52 × 3 – 5 = 151. So in place of 447, it should be 448.

2. A girl introduced a boy as the son of' the daughter of the father of her uncle. The boy is girl's

Daughter of uncle's father — Uncle's sister — Mother;

Mother's son — Brother

3. Find the next number in the sequence: 190, 94, 46, 22, 10, 4

Logic is: 190/2 = 95 – 1 = 94 94/2 = 47 -1 = 46 46/2 = 23 – 1 = 22 22/ 2= 11-1= 10 10/2= 5-1= 4 4/2= 2-1 = 1

• T is to the immediate left of P and third to the right of U.
• V is the immediate neighbour of M and N and third to the left of S.
• M is the second to the right of Q, who is at one of the ends.
• R is sitting next to the right of P and P is second to the right of O.

Who is sitting in the center of the row?

The arrangement of the persons is Q W M V N U S O T P R U is sitting in the center of the row.

Which of the following people are sitting to the right of S?

The arrangement of the persons is Q W M V N U S O T P R OTPR are sitting to the right of S.

Which of the following statements is true with respect to the above arrangement?

There are three persons sitting between P and S

W is between M and V.

S and O are neighbors sitting to the immediate right of T

N is sitting between V and U

The arrangement of the persons is Q W M V N U S O T P R Hence N is sitting between V and U.

• V is the immediate neighbor of M and N and third to the left of S.

Who are the immediate neighbors of T?

The arrangement of the persons is Q W M V N U S O T P R O and P are the immediate neighbors of T.

If Q and P, O and N, M and T, and W and R interchange their positions then which of the following pairs of friends is sitting at the ends?

The arrangement of the persons is Q W M V N U S O T P R If the persons as given in the question change their positions then we have the arrangement P R T V O U S N M Q W Hence P and W are sitting at the ends.

9. Pens cost more than pencils. Pens cost less than eraser. Erasers cost more than pencils and pens. If the first two statements are true, the third statement is

None of these

If the first two statements are true, then Erasers are the most expensive of the three stationery items

10. In a certain code ‘LIMCA’ is written as ‘HJLDZ’. Which of the following words is written as ‘IFWJBP’?

Each letter moves +1, -1, … alternately except for L, which is -4. We have to find the word for the code IFWJBP. Add 4 to I then -1, +1 alternately to the remaining letters. The word will be MEXICO.

ZS Associates Placement Previous Papers English Verbal

The curriculum for ZS Associates English Topics 2024  includes-

• Contextual Vocabulary
• Error Identification
• Sentence Improvement & Construction
• Subject-Verb Agreement
• Tenses & Articles
• Preposition & Conjunctions
• Speech & Voices
• Inferential and Literal Comprehension
• Comprehension ordering

ZS Associates English

Verbal Section Analysis

• Total No of Questions: 15 Ques
• Total Time for Test: 75 Mins Shared With Other Sections

ZS Associates Previous Placement Papers- Data Interpretation Curriculum:-

Here below you will get the Data Interpretation curriculum 2024 of ZS Associates that will help you in exam.

• Table Chart
• Triangular Graph
• Spider Chart

ZS Associates Data Interpretation

Data Interpretation Section Analysis

• Total Number of Questions - 15 Questions
• Time Allotted for Test - 75 Min Shared With Other Sections
• Adaptive Test - Non-Adaptive

Combining the states P and Q together in 1998, what is the percentage of the candidates qualified to that of the candidate appeared?

Required Percentage

=[\frac{(1020 + 1240)}{(8800 + 9500)}\times100]%<br /> =[\frac{2260}{18300}\times100]%<br /> = 12.35%

2. What is the percentage of candidates qualified from State N for all the years together, over the candidates appeared from State N during all the years together?

Required percentage =[\frac{(840+1050+920+980+1020)}{(7500+9200+8450+9200+8800)}\times100]%<br /> =[\frac{4810}{43150}\times100]%<br /> =11.15%

3. In which of the given years the number of candidates appeared from State P has maximum percentage of qualified candidates?

The percentage of candidates qualified to candidates appeared from State P during different years are:

For 1997 (\frac{780}{6400}\times100)%=12.19%

For 1998 (\frac{1020}{8800}\times100)%=11.59%

For 1999 (\frac{890}{7800}\times100)%=11.41%%

For 2000 (\frac{1010}{8750}\times100)%=11.54%

For 2001 (\frac{1250}{9750}\times100)%=12.82%

Therefore, Maximum percentage is for the year 2001

4. What is the average candidates who appeared from State Q during the given years?

Required average

=[\frac{8100+9500+8700+9700+8950}{5}]=\frac{44950}{5}=8990

5. The percentage of total number of qualified candidates to the total number of appeared candidates among all the five states in 1999 is?

Required percentage

=[\frac{(850+920+890+980+1350)}{(7400+8450+7800+8700+9800)}\times100]%<br /> =[\frac{4990}{42150}\times100]%<br /> =11.84%

Total sales of branches B1, B3 and B5 together for both the years (in thousand numbers) is?

Total sales of branches B1, B3 and B5 for both the years (in thousand numbers)

= (80 + 105) + (95 + 110) + (75 + 95)

7. Total sales of branch B6 for both the years is what percent of the total sales of branches B3 for both the years?

=[\frac{(70+80)}{(95+110)}\times100]%<br /> =[\frac{150}{205}\times100]%<br /> =73.17%

8. What is the average sales of all the branches (in thousand numbers) for the year 2000?

Average sales of all the six branches (in thousand numbers) for the year 2000

=1/6 * [80 + 75 + 95 + 85 + 75 + 70]

9. What is the ratio of the total sales of branch B2 for both years to the total sales of branch B4 for both years?

Required ratio =[\frac{(75+65)}{(85+95)}] = \frac{140}{180} = \frac{7}{9}

10. What percent of the average sales of branches B1, B2 and B3 in 2001 is the average sales of branches B1, B3 and B6 in 2000?

Average sales(in thousands) of branches B1, B2, and B6 in 2000

=(\frac{1}{3}\times(80+95+70))[latex]<br /> =[latex](\frac{245}{3})

Average sales(in thousands) of branches B1, B2, and B6 in 2001

=(\frac{1}{3}\times(105+65+110)) = (\frac{280}{3})

therefore, required percentage

=[\frac{\frac{245}{3}}{\frac{280}{3}}\times100]% = (\frac{245}{280}\times100)% =87.5%

ZS Associates Questions with Solutions- Attention to Details

Here below you will get to know ZS Associates Attention to Details topics that will help you in exam 2024.

• Visual Reasoning

ZS Associates Attention to Details

In the first segment, two letters face right and the next two face left. The first letter in the second segment repeats the last letter of the previous segment. The same is true for the third segment. But the fourth segment changes again; it is the opposite of the first segment, so the last two letters must face right.

Each arrow in this continuing series moves a few degrees in a clockwise direction. Think of these arrows as the big hand on a clock. The first arrow is at noon. The last arrow before the blank would be 12:40. The correct answer is at 12:45.

In each of the segments, the figures alternate between one-half and one-fourth shaded

Notice that in each segment, the figures are all the same shape, but the one in the middle is larger than the two on either side. Also, notice that one of the figures is shaded and that this shading alternates first right and then left. To continue this pattern in the third segment, you will look for a square. Choice 2 is correct because this choice will put the large square between the two smaller squares, with the shading on the right.

In column A, it is N. 'E' Madison Avenue while in column B it is it is N. 'W' Madison Avenue

Currently there is no PrepInsta Explanation.

ZS Associates Previous Placement Papers-  Comp Fundamentals Curriculum:-

Here below you will get the Comp Fundamentals curriculum 2024 of ZS Associates that will help you in the exam.

This is an additional section that is there under the online test for BTA and DSA profile.

• Number of Questions - 10-15 Questions (Depending upon the profile)
• Time - 30 Mins
• Difficulty - High
• Section Type: Mandatory

IMP: This is an elimination round, if you don't qualify for this online test round then you won't be able to appear for the next round.

ZS Associates Placement Questions Preparation Section

Data interpretation.

For BTA Profile, two more sections are there in Round 1.

• Computer Fundamentals

1. What is the synonym for ERRONEOUS?

No one could explain how the erroneous information had got into the report.

2. The antonym for RELINQUISH

Relinquish: To withdraw or retreat from; leave behind

Posses: haves as belonging to one; own

3. Read each sentence to find out whether there is any grammatical error in it. The error, if any will be in one part of the sentence. The letter of that part is the answer. If there is no error, the answer is 'D'.

We discussed about the problem so thoroughly (A)/on the eve of the examination (B)/that I found it very easy to work it out. (C)/No error. (D)

We discussed the problem so thoroughly

4. In the questions below the sentences have been given in Active/Passive voice. From the given alternatives, choose the one which best expresses the given sentence in Passive/Active voice.

After driving Professor Jones to the museum she dropped him at his hotel.

After being driven to the museum, Professor Jones was dropped at his hotel.

Professor Jones was being driven dropped at his hotel.

After she had driven Professor Jones to the museum she had dropped him at his hotel.

After she was driven Professor Jones to the museum she had dropped him at his hotel.

As the sentence given in question is in active voice, therefore to change it in passive voice driving will become being driven.

5. Please read the questions below and choose the correct answer.

I felt the wall of the tunnel shiver. The master alarm squealed through my earphones. Almost simultaneously, Jack yelled down to me that there was a warning light on.

Fleeting but spectacular sights snapped into ans out of view, the snow, the shower of debris, the moon, looming close and big, the dazzling sunshine for once unfiltered by layers of air.

The last twelve hours before re-entry were particular bone-chilling. During this period, I had to go up in to command module. Even after the fiery re-entry splashing down in 81 o  water in south pacific, we could still see our frosty breath inside the command module.

The word 'Command Module' used twice in the given passage indicates perhaps that it deals with

an alarming journey

a commanding situation

a journey into outer space

a frightful battle.

a journey into outer space is deal with the word command Module

6. The statement that the dazzling sunshine was "for once unfiltered by layers of air" means

that the sun was very hot

that there was no strong wind

that the air was unpolluted

none of above

None of the given options specify the meaning of "for once unfiltered by layers of air". This line means that only for once they view of moon was dazzling and was unfiltered by the layers of air.

7. It is due to their lethargy that the plan fell ____.

“Fell through” is to collapse.

8. These days everybody complains __ high prices of commodities

To complain of or about something.

9. Form an appropriate sentence

1. you     2.her     3. seen     4.have     5.dancing

You have seen her dancing.

10. A month after colleges opened... A. 35% seats reserved under OBC B. in private colleges C. for the next academic year D. remain vacant

A month after colleges opened for the next academic year 35% seats reserved under OBC remain vacant in private colleges.

More mocks are coming super soon!!!

Interview Experience

It was the 1st time this company came to our campus. We were not sure about the pattern itself and thus checked all available websites like Prepinsta and so and had an overview of the whole process.

It was conducted in the month of July-August 20 and they took the test on the Talview platform.

Position for which they were hiring :

• DAA ( Decision Analytics Associate) [For all branches]

Round 1: Coming to the aptitude part, it consists of 5 sections :

• Quantitative
• Verbal Ability
• Data interpretation
• Computer fundamentals

Round 2: Video Interview Round ( Time : 3 minutes for each )

• What are Checked and Unchecked exceptions? Explain with an example
• There were some behavioral questions too.

They announced the result after a week and out of 360 students, 40 were selected for the next rounds.

Round 3: Case Study Round (Time: 30 minutes)

I was given a case study of a business problem of 15 pages and there were 4 questions regarding that.

My suggestion would be to go through the case study at once and try to solve the questions because the time limit is very short.

This was the question that came in my exam. I am writing it in brief

Case Study : Your client is Healthcare Cloud Inc., a software and information technology startup company based in Palo Alto, California. The company operates in the software as a service (SaaS) or cloud business. The client has developed an innovative cloud-based software solution for hospitals, Healthcare Cloud. The software is used for tracking patient outcomes and utilizes an extensive database and proprietary analytics to recommend procedures based on patient comorbidities (presence of one or more disorders). The client is preparing to launch their revolutionary Healthcare Cloud software to market and is seeking our advice on how to maximize revenue. How would you go about it?

The interviewer also asked me 1-2 puzzles , I remember one of them.

Puzzle Ques - There are 10 stacks of 10 identical-looking coins. All of the coins in one of these stacks are counterfeit, and all the coins in the other stacks are genuine. Every genuine coin weighs 10 grams, and every fake weighs 11 grams. You have an analytical scale that can determine the exact weight of any number of coins. What is the minimum number of weighings needed to identify the stack with the fake coins?

Cleared this round, selected for a personal interview.

This round was so not so easy. You need to practice these kinds of questions before appearing for ZS.

Round 4: Technical Interview (about 45 minutes to 1 hour)

• Basic sorting techniques ( like merge, quick, insertion, etc)
•  What is normalization? Different types of normalization
•  Basic queries of DBMS.
•  Keys of DBMS
•  Discussed the case study that I was given.
•  Pointers in C

Note: My suggestion would be to study DBMS well for this particular company.

Round 5: HR Interview

• Tell me about yourself.
•    Tell something about the organization.
•     What is your dream job?
•  According to you, what are your weaknesses?
•    Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?
•   Any problem with relocation?
•    Do you have any questions for us?

That’s all, 4 were selected at the end (3 BTA and 1 BOA) and I was one of them.

Total Number Of Questions : 75

Logical Reasoning 10

Attention To Details 10

Data Interpretation 15

Overall Time : 75 Minutes

English 75 Min

Quants 75 Min

Logical Reasoning 75 Min

Attention To Details 75 Min

Data Interpretation 75 Min

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Related Pages

ZS Associates Syllabus

ZS Associates Aptitude Questions

ZS Associates Logical Questions

ZS Associates Verbal Questions

ZS Associates Case Study

ZS Associates Guess Estimates

ZS Associates Placement and Previous Papers Based FAQ's

In zs associates test papers, on which section should i focus more for online test in campus placements.

You should equally focus upon all the sections. You can also through the Quants Section and Logical Section on the PrepInsta Dashboard which will be the toughest section in the ZS Associates Test. For better understanding you can join our online classes and buy the paid materials for the sample questions ans answers. This will help you in scoring good score in your Online Test.

What is the difficulty of the ZS Associates Placement Paper Test Questions?

For ZS Associates Placement Papers and ZS Associates Online Test Questions, the level of difficulty is medium but time is the main competition here, as the allocated time is very less. The candidates find it difficult to complete the test in the allotted time.

How many rounds are there in ZS Associate Interview?

ZS Associates is Non-Adaptive type of recruitment process having five rounds in ZS :-Written Test , Video Conferencing Round , Case Study , Technical and HR Interview.

Topic wise Full Mock and much more

70% of our Prime Learners got selected in ZS Associates

7 out of 10 fresh gards inZS Associates are from PrepInsta

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February 13, 2024

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8 comments on “ZS Associates Placement Papers | Online Test Pattern”

If I gave an assessment for ZS Associates recently, after how many days will I be applicable for trying again? Also, I wanted to prepare for this company, can you tell me how can I proceed with it?

Is prep Insta material for ZS prep for 2021 passouts available?

do we have mock tests of ZS asssociate training

how long is the zs associate training ?

Hey Nikhil, it varies from 4 months – 6 months

Where can i find mock/practice papers for ZS Associates?

please contact our support team – 8884209544 8882457079

DAta interPretation topics is havinng higher weightage in the exam .