I bombed the Akuna sequences test my first time. Crushed the 80-in-8 calculations, felt cocky, then got absolutely wrecked by sequences that looked like: 2, 5, 11, 23, 47...

(It's doubling and adding 1, by the way. Took me 3 minutes to figure that out during the test. With only 12 minutes total, I was toast.)

Here's what I learned the hard way about Akuna's math test, and what actually works based on talking to people who passed.

Practice both sections: Try our Akuna Math Test simulator here.

The Two-Part Test Format

You get 30 days to complete both sections once you start. You can choose which section to tackle first, but once you submit a section, you can't go back.

Section 1: The 80-in-8 Calculations

Imagine someone reading math problems to you really slowly: "Two thousand one hundred two plus twenty two times five." That's literally what you'll see. No numbers, just words.

The Questions That Kill People

Based on actual test experiences:

Four-digit division: "Three thousand two hundred sixty-four divided by forty-eight" (That's 3264 ÷ 48 = 68, but try doing it in your head in 6 seconds)

Multi-step operations: "Eight hundred forty-seven plus thirty-eight times fifteen" (Remember PEMDAS: 38 × 15 = 570, then 847 + 570 = 1417)

Decimal arithmetic: "Forty-five point six times seven point two five" (45.6 × 7.25 = 330.6, but most people panic at decimals)

What Actually Works

Forget fancy mental math tricks. Here's what people who pass actually do:

1. Skip liberally - See a nasty division? Skip it. You're better off getting 3 easy ones right than spending 30 seconds on one hard problem.

2. Round aggressively - 847 × 239? That's roughly 850 × 240 = 204,000. Close enough to eliminate wrong answers.

3. Know your times tables cold - Up to 25 × 25. Non-negotiable.

Section 2: The Sequences From Hell

This is where Akuna gets evil. You'll see 30 sequences, and they start easy then turn into absolute brain-melters.

Actual Sequences People Remember

The Doubler: 2, 5, 11, 23, 47, [95] (Each term × 2 + 1. Looks random until you difference it.)

The Fraction Trap: 12, 23, 34, 45, 56, [67] (These are 1/2, 2/3, 3/4, 4/5, 5/6, 6/7 written without the fraction bar)

The Fibonacci Variant: 1, 2, 4, 7, 12, 20, [33] (Add the previous two terms, then add 1)

The Letter Nightmare: A, C, F, J, O, [U] (Positions in alphabet: 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, 21 - triangular numbers!)

The Difference Method (Your Secret Weapon)

When you're stuck, difference the sequence over and over:

Original: 2, 7, 16, 29, 46, 67, [92] First diff: 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, [25] Second diff: 4, 4, 4, 4, [4]

Constant second differences = quadratic sequence. Work backwards to get 92.

What Nobody Tells You

1. You can move between questions - Don't get stuck. Flag the weird ones and come back.

2. Some are unsolvable - Seriously. Some sequences are so obscure that even math PhDs struggle. That's intentional.

3. The first 10 are gimmes - Fibonacci, primes, squares. Nail these for easy points.

4. Letter sequences use position - A=1, B=2, etc. Always check if it's just numbers in disguise.

How to Actually Prepare (From People Who Passed)

Week 1-2: Build Your Foundation

For Calculations:

• Zetamac.com on medium difficulty, 2 minutes daily
• TraderMath "easy" mode until you consistently hit 50+
• Memorize squares up to 30² (yes, 30² = 900)

For Sequences:

• Start with mentalmath.online/sequences on "easy"
• Do 20 sequences daily, write down the pattern types you miss
• Build a mental library: "Oh, this is a difference-of-squares sequence"

Week 3: Akuna-Specific Practice

One guy who got a trading offer told me: "I did the TraderTest medium calculations and hard sequences every morning with my coffee. By test day, the real thing felt easier."

Critical insight: The sequences get harder as you go. Budget your time to nail the first 15 before wrestling with the monsters at the end.

The Week Before

Stop learning new tricks. Just practice staying calm when you see: "Seven thousand three hundred eighty divided by sixty"

(It's 123, by the way. But under pressure, your brain might freeze.)

What Happens Next

If you pass the math test, congrats! You get to do:

1. HackerRank coding test - 3 LeetCode mediums (yeah, actual mediums)
2. Video interview - Behavioral questions plus a weird letter-betting game
3. Final rounds - Where they actually ask about markets

But none of that matters if you can't pass the math filter first.

The Truth Nobody Says Out Loud

Akuna gets 10,000+ applications. The math test cuts it down to maybe 500. It's not about being a math genius - it's about being prepared for their specific format.

I know brilliant math PhDs who failed because they didn't practice sequences. I also know average students who passed because they grinded TraderMath for a month.

The test is learnable. You just need to put in the work.

Test Day Strategy

Which Section First?

Everyone says "do calculations first while fresh." I disagree. Know yourself:

• Morning person? Calculations first.
• Get nervous? Sequences first (more time per question = less panic).
• Prone to overthinking? Calculations first (no time to second-guess).

Managing Your Mindset

A trader who works there now told me: "I left thinking I failed. Got maybe 50% right on each section. Still got an offer."

The test is designed to break you. They want to see how you handle problems you can't solve. Stay calm, keep moving, don't spiral.

The Skip Strategy That Works

Calculations: See the problem, recognize it'll take >10 seconds, skip immediately. Circle back only if you finish everything else.

Sequences: Give each one 30 seconds max on first pass. The easy ones will jump out at you. The hard ones won't get easier by staring.

One Final Truth

You know what's funny? Once you get the job, you'll never do mental math like this again. Everyone uses calculators and Excel.

The test isn't about the math. It's about proving you can learn an arbitrary skill quickly and perform under pressure. Just like trading.

So stop reading guides (after this one) and go practice. TraderMath, Zetamac, whatever. Just put in the reps.

Good luck. You'll need it, but less than you think.

Ready to practice both sections? Try our Akuna Math Test simulator with realistic calculations and sequences.