Revolut's Problem-Solving Interview Broken Down

Want to work for Revolut? Then you’ll probably encounter their problem‑solving interview: a significant and demanding part of the hiring process.

In this article, Coach Mariana will walk you through exactly how the interview works, what skills it tests, and how you can prepare to stand out. Whether you're new to case-style interviews or just want to sharpen your skills, her goal is to help you approach Revolut’s process with confidence and clarity.

What Is Revolut’s Problem-Solving Interview?

Revolut is a UK-based fintech company founded in 2015. It offers digital banking services such as current accounts, international transfers, cards, and investment options, and is now active in more than 35 countries.

At Revolut, the problem-solving interview is a core step in the hiring process. You’ll be asked to tackle a real or realistic business situation in 30–40 minutes, working through it live with your interviewer.

The purpose isn’t to see whether you know the “right answer.” In most cases, there isn’t one.
Instead, the focus is on how you think: can you bring structure to an ambiguous question, work with data, do the math, make reasonable assumptions, brainstorm solutions, and communicate clearly?

I know this sounds a bit conceptual right now, but don’t worry! I’ll break it down for you in a moment! 🙂

What Will Revolut’s Problem-Solving Interview Assess?

The Revolut problem-solving interview usually covers six main areas:

• Structuring – Breaking down a broad problem into clear, logical components while being MECE.
• Chart Reading – Interpreting data exhibits to extract relevant insights connected to the case objective.
• Case Math – Performing calculations to support arguments. Don’t worry about mental math; so far 100% of my clients were allowed to use calculators or Excel, just confirm this with your HR point of contact. 😉
• Brainstorming – Generating creative yet practical ideas within a structured MECE framework.
• Communication – Explaining your thought process in a clear, confident, top-down way.
   

Breaking Down Each Component of Revolut’s Problem-Solving Interview

Let us now take a look at each component of Revolut’s problem-solving interview:

Structuring

What it means: Turning a broad question into an organized, step-by-step plan (MECE).

MECE stands for Mutually Exclusive and Collectively Exhaustive. It means your breakdown should have no overlaps and should cover all relevant points.

A basic example could be: Internal factors vs. External factors. (Just to illustrate the concept, don’t use it blindly without context!)

Typical questions include:

• “Why might Revolut’s card transactions be declining in one market?”
• “How could Revolut grow its revenues next year?”
• “How could we improve the onboarding process of new clients?”

Step-by-step method

1. Repeat the prompt to confirm you understood it correctly, even if it’s simple.
2. Clarify the scope and success criteria, as you would in a real project. Think like an executive who needs clear boundaries and high-level context.
3. Draft 3–4 broad categories that are MECE.
4. Add sub-categories under each to guide your analysis.
5. Explain your structure out loud, linking your rationale back to the case objective.
6. State explicitly what your next step will be, that’s what makes it a candidate-led interview.
7. Use your structure as the roadmap for the rest of the case.

Why it makes sense

Imagine you lost your wallet at home. A MECE approach would be to search room by room until you’ve covered the entire house. That way, you know the wallet must be found within that scope.

Prioritization then comes into play: if you just walked in, the most likely places are the entryway or living room. If you have a playful baby (like I do), you might check unusual spots, like the washing machine! 😉

Applied to a business case related to profitability in a tech company:

If profits are down, breaking the problem into revenues and costs guarantees you’ll find the answer, because the issue must lie within that scope.

Chart Reading

What it means: Extracting insights from data exhibits like tables, bar charts, or line graphs.

Typical questions:

• “Here’s a breakdown of revenues by product line. What stands out?”
• “This chart shows churn by age group. What do you observe?”

Step-by-step method

1. Take 15–20 seconds to read silently, then confirm your understanding with the interviewer.
2. Look for trends, outliers, and comparisons. Don’t narrate line by line.
3. Identify key insights connected to the case objective. (Remember: you’re solving for the “wallet,” not random objects.)
4. State the findings clearly, avoiding a full narration of every number.
5. Link insights back to your structure, then say what your next step will be.

To exercise this skill, I recommend you to take a look into McKinsey and Bain articles in their official websites. There are plenty of exhibits for you to interpret. Make sure to not take a peek into their main insights described in the article before trying to figure them out by yourself.

Case Math

What it means: Doing calculations to size a problem, test scenarios, or evaluate options.

Typical questions:

• “If Revolut launches a premium product, how would you calculate annual revenue?”
• “How many customers would Revolut need for this feature to break even?”
• “What’s the market size for fintechs in Germany?”

Step-by-step method

1. Repeat the prompt and given numbers.
2. Write out the formula before plugging in numbers, confirm your logic first.
3. Perform the math step by step. Use a calculator/Excel if allowed and share your screen.
4. Round where it makes sense (say it explicitly).
5. Check if the result seems realistic.
6. Always ask: “So what?” → link the number back to the case objective.

Brainstorming

What it means: Coming up with a structured list of ideas to solve a challenge, often after analyzing data.

Typical questions:

• “What strategies could Revolut use to increase user engagement?”
• “What options could Revolut explore to reduce fraud?”

Step-by-step method

1. Pause and set a structure before listing ideas.
   • You can use contrasts (internal vs. external), processes (customer journey), or frameworks (Ansoff, 4Ps, BCG) depending on the case.
2. Generate ideas within each category. Cover obvious options first, then push for creative ones.
3. Explain why each idea could matter.
4. Prioritize based on rationale (context, feasibility, impact).

Example:

“You’re advising a restaurant that wants to increase revenue without changing its business model. What 
ideas do you have?”

Communication

Even the best analysis fails without clear communication.

Tips to keep in mind:

• Speak in short, structured points.
• Use signposting (“There are three reasons. Reason 1…”).
• Summarize frequently.
• End with a confident recommendation.

Example – Non Top-Down:

“So, the company has been facing revenue issues. Region A dropped by 15% and we don't know why, Region B actually grew, but its impact is irrelevant. Marketing spend increased $10M but unclear ROI so far, definitely need to check further. Retention also fell by 5%. So overall, there are a lot of moving parts.”

Example – Top-Down:

“The company’s profitability problem stems from 3 main factors:

1. Sales dropped 15% in Region A.
2. Marketing spend increased $10M with no clear ROI.
3. Customer retention fell 5%.

Since Region A’s decline represents 40% of the impact, I suggest we focus there first. As a next step, I’d like to understand…” 

In short: stay structured, stay top-down, and remember: your interviewer wants to follow your thinking, not solve a riddle. 🙂
 

Revolut’s Candidate-Led Interviews: Taking the Driver’s Seat

Revolut uses a candidate-led format. The interviewer won’t guide you step by step (though they may nudge you in a direction).

How to handle it:

• Start strong with a clear structure.
• Be proactive in asking for data.
• Always connect findings back to the case objective.
• Drive the discussion forward, don’t wait for hints.
• Summarize progress regularly so the interviewer can follow your logic.

👉 Practice candidate-led interviews with our wide selection of practice cases in our Case Library. You can easily filter between candidate-led and interviewer-led formats!

Key Takeaways

The Revolut problem-solving interview is demanding but highly learnable. By practicing each of the 5 components, structuring, chart reading, math, brainstorming, and communication, you’ll be ready to handle ambiguity and pressure.

Approach each question step by step, stay MECE in your thinking, and keep your communication top-down and crisp. That’s how you show Revolut you can think and act like one of their strategists from day one.

If you have come this far, congratulations! 

👉 Want to put these methods into practice? Book a case session with me and let’s work through real Revolut-style problems together.
 

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