What to Expect from Flatiron School’s Admissions Assessment

What does it take to pass Flatiron School’s assessment in order to enroll in the immersive bootcamp? Zach Little, Senior Account Executive at Flatiron School, takes us inside the 15-minute admissions assessment – what applicants should expect and the best ways to prepare for it. Plus, Zach shares a sneak peek of the assessment with us by showing us 2 practice questions!

Our Key Takeaways:

• Expect a 15-minute assessment for the Software Engineering, Data Science, Product Design, and Cybersecurity immersives.
• You’ll be asked a mix of questions that challenge your problem-solving, critical thinking, attention to detail and ability to learn new topics. Some questions will test quick math but overall Flatiron is testing for aptitude.
• If you don’t pass on the first try, you’re allowed one retake of the assessment.
• You must pass the assessment to be admitted into the program. The assessment isn't technical — it’s all logic-based. If you cannot pass the assessment in two attempts, you must complete prework then re-apply. 

Zach, what is your role at Flatiron School? How do you support Flatiron School students?

I’m a Senior Account Executive on the Admissions team at Flatiron School, and I support students throughout the admissions process across all disciplines. Think of me as a one-stop shop for all student questions on finances, enrollment, program details, post-graduation, and expectations for the program. My goal is to help students set realistic expectations and guide them through the admissions process. I help set students up for success!

Does Flatiron School include an assessment for each of its bootcamp tracks?

Yes! Our admissions process requires students to pass an assessment for all disciplines: Software Engineering, Data Science, Product Design, and Cybersecurity. 

Once a student is admitted into the program, they will have to complete Pre-work that is specific to the discipline they have enrolled in.

At a high-level, why does Flatiron School include an assessment in its admissions process?

Aptitude assessments help us analyze students' problem-solving skills, critical thinking skills, attention to detail, and ability to learn new information — All things we find are crucial to their success in the discipline of their choice. The questions on the assessment include verbal, math and logic, and spatial reasoning.

Does the assessment impact Flatiron School’s acceptance rate? 

Yes, because students must pass the assessment in order to move forward in the admissions process. We allow two attempts on the assessment and provide articles with tips on how to pass it. Students don't need to prepare anything for the assessment. I just recommend they carve out 15 minutes of undistracted time and complete it on their computer. Most students are able to get over the hump. 

Is there an ideal candidate for Flatiron School?

We take students from all walks of life and we want students to show up as they are. We like to find students who are passionate and excited about this new opportunity. We are looking for students who are willing to take on the challenge of learning a new skill. They understand that what they are signing up for is tough, but if they are willing to do the hard work then they can reap the benefits of success. 

How can students demonstrate those traits or skills in the assessment?

The assessment is focused on aptitude, so students come as they are and just do the best they can on the assessment. When students are interviewing with us, we like to see them excited, show up prepared, and with some knowledge of what program they want. 

We are happy to take beginners who are just interested in something new, but hope students have found their “why” when applying to Flatiron School. Students need to self-discover if they love this enough to want to make it a career because they will need to invest a lot of time and money in it. We want to ensure they are in the right place and believe they can do it! 

Can you give us an example of the kinds of questions included in these assessments?

Of course! Here are two examples of questions you may see in the assessment: 

Sample Verbal Question: (Source)

Choose the word that is most nearly OPPOSITE to the word in capital letters: LENGTHEN

• abdicate
• truncate
• elongate
• stifle
• resist

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

Overall, how difficult is the admissions assessment? Could total tech beginners pass these assessments or do you recommend self-teaching before applying?

Some students find the assessment difficult. Common things students express are feeling anxiety about taking tests or that they haven't had a test like this since high school or their SAT days, or that they don't like being under the clock. It can be nerve-wracking, but I always assure students they will do better than they feel. 

Beginners can pass this test. Check out our preparation article before taking the assessment, but other than that, we want students to take it as they are. Most students pass the first time or need to use their second attempt then pass. I always remind students that while this is an important part of the process, it is just the first stepping stone. 

If an applicant doesn’t pass the assessment, can they retake it? What does that process look like?

Yes, they are allowed one retake of the assessment. If they pass the assessment on the second attempt, they can move forward. If they fail, then we send them to the prep course. They can then either wait 3 months and reapply to try the assessment again or complete the prework to gain admissions. For applicants who don’t pass the assessment, we like to send them to prework because if they can show they can complete that, then we can admit them.

We know it can be discouraging to be turned away, but it's important that students are setting themselves up for success in the program. The more time they spend preparing for class, the better chances they have of feeling prepared and confirming this is the work they have a passion for. 

If an applicant is deciding between two different bootcamp tracks, will this assessment help them determine which path they should choose?

Ideally, the Admissions team can help an applicant think through the different tracks to help them make a decision that fits them. The assessment and overall admissions process are the same for each of our disciplines. 

Does Flatiron School offer any intro courses or workshops to help tech newbies prepare for the assessment?

We don't have intro courses for the assessment, but we do have introductory materials for the coursework. We also have required pre-work for each discipline, which is the real work they will need to complete in order to start on time. 

All of these introductory experiences and pre-work are available to students before even applying here: 

• Software Engineering
• Product Design
• Data Science
• Cyber Security 

Do you recommend any other resources to help applicants prepare for Flatiron School?

I always suggest students try out our free tech prep offerings that are designed to prepare them for Flatiron School’s programs. Or attend one of our webinars. These two options will help you gauge what Flatiron School has to offer. 

I also tell students to check out our YouTube page — we have great videos for each course and general overview from past events!

Find out more and read Flatiron School reviews on Course Report. This article was produced by the Course Report team in partnership with Flatiron School.