Question: How many taxis are there in China?

Alternative Question Phrasing:

How many night buses are there in London?
How many actively running trains are there in Japan at any given hour during the daytime??

Follow-up questions:

How did you come to that conclusion?
What is your reasoning for that?

Question Details:

Question Type:

Unconventional

Knowledge:

Mathematics

Skills:

Basic – Critical Thinking,Basic – Mathematics,Basic – Science and Logic,Complex Problem Solving

Abilities:

Cognitive – Deductive Reasoning,Cognitive – Mathematical Reasoning,Cognitive – Number Facility (Math Solving Speed),Cognitive – Problem Sensitivity (Problem Recognition),Cognitive – Speed of Closure (Thinking Speed)

Work Activity (Task):

Information Input – Estimating Characteristics of Objects, Events, or Information,Information Input – Gathering Information,Mental Processes – Analyzing Data or Information,Mental Processes – Making Decisions and Solving Problems

Work Style (Person-Job Fit):

Analytical Thinking

Question Frequency

Question Difficulty

What to look for in an answer:

You are looking for the interviewee’s logic and math skills to think of the answer. They do not need to come up with the correct answer, their general knowledge and thought process are more important.

Look at what general knowledge they use as a starting point, and what factors they consider. Did they consider the average population size, number of cities, and public transportation options in their estimates?

Red Flags to Watch For:

A red flag is if the interviewee gives up and does not attempt to figure out an answer and simply says ‘I don’t know’.

Sample Answer:

N/A

Question Source: Unknown