The College Board Research Analyst interview questions & guide 2026

Success in the Research Analyst interview process requires a balanced preparation strategy that addresses both your technical capabilities and your communication style. Interviewers are looking for structured thinkers who can clearly articulate the "why" behind their data.

Analytical Rigor – You must demonstrate a strong command of research design principles, whether your background is primarily quantitative or qualitative. Be prepared to explain your methodological choices, defend your assumptions, and discuss how you address data limitations.

Structured Problem Solving – During case interviews, the team evaluates how you break down ambiguous problems. Focus on creating clear, logical frameworks rather than memorizing standard business consulting frameworks; your structures should be highly tailored to educational and operational challenges.

Written Communication – Because translating complex data into clear narratives is a core responsibility, your ability to synthesize information under tight time constraints is heavily evaluated. Focus on clarity, brevity, and actionable insights in all written exercises.

Mission Alignment – The College Board is mission-driven. You should be prepared to discuss current trends in education policy, equity in college access, and how data can be leveraged to close opportunity gaps.

The interview process for the Research Analyst position is structured to evaluate your end-to-end analytical capabilities, from initial screening to deep-dive problem-solving. It is a rigorous but collaborative experience designed to simulate the actual day-to-day challenges of the role.

The journey begins with an initial conversational screen to discuss your background and interest in education. This is followed by a timed written assessment and a series of case and behavioral interviews with members of the research department. The final rounds typically involve back-to-back interviews with senior leadership, where the focus shifts toward strategic thinking and advanced problem-solving.

This visual timeline illustrates the typical progression from your initial application to the final decision. Most candidates complete the entire process within 3 to 5 weeks, depending on scheduling availability. While the core stages remain consistent, the specific focus of the case studies may be tailored to the target research team.

Written Analysis and Synthesis

The timed written assessment is a critical component of the evaluation process. It simulates the real-world pressure of analyzing a policy or program issue and drafting a concise, professional briefing for leadership.

Be ready to go over:

• Information synthesis – Extracting key themes and data points from dense background materials.
• Strategic recommendations – Formulating logical, data-supported action steps based on your analysis.
• Professional formatting – Structuring your document with clear headings, executive summaries, and bullet points for maximum readability.

Advanced concepts (less common):

• Rapid policy brief drafting
• Quantitative data interpretation under strict time limits

Example scenarios:

• "You are given 90 minutes to read a dossier on higher education enrollment trends and write a memo recommending a new recruitment strategy."
• "Analyze a brief qualitative dataset regarding student satisfaction and write a summary of the key pain points and proposed interventions."

Case Study Analysis

Case interviews at The College Board do not focus on complex mental math or market-sizing estimations. Instead, they evaluate your logic, business acumen, and ability to structure an inquiry into an ambiguous problem.

Be ready to go over:

• Framework design – Breaking down a broad question into mutually exclusive, collectively exhaustive (MECE) categories.
• Hypothesis generation – Identifying potential root causes of an issue before diving deep into the data.
• Stakeholder analysis – Identifying whose perspectives and data points are required to build a complete picture.

Advanced concepts (less common):

• Resource allocation models (RCM) in higher education
• Pricing strategy for educational assessments

Example scenarios:

• "A school district wants to improve its AP exam participation rates. What factors would you investigate to identify the barriers to entry?"
• "Walk us through how you would evaluate whether a new online tutoring tool is actually improving student outcomes."

Qualitative and Quantitative Methodology

You will be asked to demonstrate how you translate research theories into practical project plans. This area tests your hands-on experience managing research lifecycles.

Be ready to go over:

• Survey design and sampling – How to construct unbiased questions and select representative samples.
• Data cleaning protocols – Your approach to handling missing values, outliers, and data anomalies.
• Mixed-methods integration – How you use qualitative findings to add context to quantitative trends.

Advanced concepts (less common):

• Quasi-experimental research designs (e.g., propensity score matching)
• Longitudinal data analysis

Example scenarios:

• "Describe a time when your quantitative data showed a trend, but you needed qualitative interviews to understand the 'why' behind it."
• "How would you design a study to measure the impact of an educational program when a randomized controlled trial is not feasible?"

As a Research Analyst, your day-to-day work is highly dynamic, bridging rigorous academic inquiry with practical business execution. You will be responsible for managing research projects from their initial scoping phases through to final delivery.

Your primary responsibilities will include:

• Designing and executing qualitative and quantitative research studies to evaluate the impact of The College Board's programs.
• Analyzing large-scale educational databases to identify trends in college readiness, enrollment, and completion.
• Drafting high-quality research briefs, policy memos, and reports for internal and external audiences.
• Collaborating with cross-functional partners, including psychometricians, product managers, and government relations teams, to ensure research aligns with organizational priorities.
• Presenting complex research findings clearly and persuasively to non-technical stakeholders and educational leaders.

We look for candidates who possess a strong foundation in research methods combined with the communication skills necessary to influence organizational strategy.

• Must-have skills – Strong proficiency in qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, experience with statistical software (such as R, SPSS, or Stata), and exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Nice-to-have skills – Familiarity with SQL, experience working with large-scale educational datasets, and knowledge of current issues in higher education policy and college access.
• Experience level – Typically requires 1 to 3 years of professional experience in educational research, public policy, consulting, or a related analytical field. A Master's degree in education policy, social sciences, or statistics is highly valued.

Q: How long is the timed writing assessment, and what is the format? A: The written assessment is 90 minutes long. You will receive a prompt containing background information on an educational issue and will be required to draft a structured memo or recommendation report and email it back within the time limit.

Q: Do I need to have a background in psychometrics or standardized testing? A: No. While familiarity with educational measurement is helpful, the role focuses more broadly on program evaluation, education policy, and strategic research. Strong foundational analytical skills are highly transferable.

Q: Are the case interviews highly quantitative? A: No. The case interviews focus primarily on structural logic, strategy, and problem-solving. You will not be asked to perform complex mental math calculations, but you must be able to interpret charts, tables, and quantitative trends.

Q: How can I best prepare for the behavioral interviews? A: Prepare detailed examples of your past research projects using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). Be ready to discuss how you handled project roadblocks, managed stakeholder feedback, and communicated complex data to non-technical audiences.

• Focus on structure over memorization: When presenting a solution to a case study, walk the interviewer through your framework step-by-step. It is far better to have a simple, logical structure than a complex, pre-packaged consulting framework that does not fit the educational context.

• Manage your time carefully during the written exercise: It is easy to get bogged down in the reading material. Dedicate the first 20 to 30 minutes to reading and outlining, leaving at least an hour to draft and refine your written response.

• Emphasize your writing experience: Throughout the verbal interviews, make sure to highlight your experience translating data into written products, such as policy briefs, academic papers, or executive summaries. Your writing ability is a major deciding factor for hiring managers.

The Research Analyst position at The College Board offers an extraordinary opportunity to apply your analytical skills to some of the most pressing challenges in education policy and student access. By conducting rigorous, objective research, you will directly influence decisions that shape the academic journeys of millions of students.

To stand out in this competitive process, focus your preparation on structural clarity, concise writing, and a deep understanding of our organizational mission. Approach your cases as collaborative problem-solving sessions, and treat the written assessment as an opportunity to showcase your ability to deliver high-quality work under pressure.

The compensation package for this role is competitive and reflects the high level of analytical skill and strategic responsibility required. As you prepare, remember that a structured approach to your study plan will yield the best results. For additional insights, candidate experiences, and preparation tools, explore the resources available on Dataford. Good luck with your preparation—we look forward to seeing your analytical insights in action.