6 questions reported in UBS interviews, organised by the group that asks them. Every question carries a model answer and graded feedback on your own attempt.
Questions
Easy · Medium
Hard
Model builds
Built in the spreadsheet grid
Currently advertised programmes.
Greeks, skew, hedging costs and payoff construction. 3 questions
A foundational derivatives question used to check that a candidate can read an option screen correctly.
A stock trades at $92. Classify a $85 call, a $100 call, a $85 put, and a $100 put as in, at, or out of the money. Which positions have intrinsic value today, and why can an out-of-the-money option…
A structuring-superday judgement question: explain a popular product's economics without hiding its tail risk.
A client asks for a one-year autocall linked to a volatile technology stock: it pays a 14% coupon if the stock is at or above its initial level on each monthly observation date, redeems early if that…
A structuring-superday case on whether a high coupon is compensation for a risk the client has not identified.
A client can buy either a one-year 10% coupon note linked to one technology stock or a 16% coupon note with otherwise similar terms linked to the worst performer of three technology stocks. In both…
Driver-based models, differentiated estimates and defending a rating. 2 questions
A first-round question that tests whether candidates understand the job beyond building a model.
Walk me through the job of a sell-side equity research analyst. Who are the clients, what are the core outputs, and what makes the role useful?
Research teams assess whether associates can produce an accurate, useful first take immediately after results.
A company reports revenue and EPS above consensus, but lowers full-year operating-margin guidance. You have twenty minutes to prepare the first client flash. What do you say and what do you verify…
Stochastic calculus, VaR and expected shortfall, and model limitations. 1 question
This is a standard follow-up for market-risk analyst candidates.
Your desk has a one-day 99% VaR of $4 million. Explain precisely what that says, what it does not say, and how you would use it in a daily risk meeting.
Write your answer, get it graded on technical accuracy, completeness and communication, and see exactly which mechanic you missed.
Company tags reflect where a question type is commonly reported in interviews. They are not sourced from, endorsed by, or affiliated with UBS.