How it works
Practise the work, not just the questions.
DeskPrep gives you the actual take-home tasks desks hand out — with model solutions and mark schemes. Here's how to buy, access and download them.
Browse the exercises
Every exercise has a public brief — the scenario, the tasks, what you'll be assessed on, and which kinds of firms it resembles. Read as many as you like before buying. Starter files and the README are free once you have an account.
Buy the pack (one-time)
Each track is a single payment — no subscription. Checkout is handled securely by Stripe; we never see your card details. Bundles unlock more than one track at once.
Sign in
Create an account (or sign in) with your email. Your purchase is tied to your account, so your access is permanent and works on any device you log in from.
Download from any exercise
Open any exercise in a pack you own. The Files panel shows download buttons for the starter file, the model solution and the mark scheme. Links are generated fresh and expire shortly after — just click again for a new one.
What's inside every pack
A pack isn't just a list of tasks — it's a complete prep system structured in four layers, so you learn the concept, see the pattern, do the task, then review what interviewers want.
Concepts
Concise, interview-relevant theory and maths — the intuition you're expected to reason from.
Coding Guides
Practical, implementation-oriented guides for the tools each desk uses (Python, pandas, SQL and more).
Take-Home Tasks
Downloadable, recruiter-style exercises with starter files, datasets, model solutions and mark schemes.
Interview Playbook
What interviewers actually test, the question styles to expect, common mistakes, and how to structure strong answers.
Opening & running your files
Every download is a real file you open in a normal editor — no DeskPrep software to install. Here's where to open and run each format. Each exercise's README repeats the exact steps for that task.
Python (.py / .ipynb)
Recommended: VS Code with the Python extension, or Jupyter for notebooks (.ipynb)
Create a virtual environment and install any packages the README lists. Run scripts with `python <file>.py`; open notebooks in Jupyter or VS Code and run the cells top to bottom.
Excel (.xlsx)
Recommended: Microsoft Excel (LibreOffice Calc or Google Sheets also work)
Open the workbook and complete the highlighted cells and sheets as the brief describes.
SQL (.sql)
Recommended: DBeaver, VS Code with SQLTools, or the SQLite CLI
Load the provided dataset into SQLite (no server needed), then run the `.sql` file against it.
Shell (.sh)
Recommended: Any Linux/macOS terminal, or WSL on Windows
Make the script executable with `chmod +x <file>.sh`, then run `./<file>.sh` (or `bash <file>.sh`).
C++ (.cpp)
Recommended: VS Code with a C++ toolchain (or CLion)
Compile with `g++ -O2 -std=c++17 <file>.cpp -o run`, then execute `./run`.
Case study
Recommended: Excel or your editor of choice
Work through the brief and record your answers and workings as instructed.
New to these tools? VS Code is a free, beginner-friendly editor that handles Python, SQL and C++ in one place.
Questions
Do I need to buy a pack to see anything?
No. Every exercise brief is public, and once you have a free account you can download the starter files and READMEs. The model solutions and mark schemes are what the pack unlocks.
How long do I keep access?
Forever. Each pack is a one-time purchase tied to your account, with no expiry and no recurring charges.
Why do the download links expire?
Solution and mark-scheme files are served through short-lived secure links to protect the materials. The link expires after a few minutes — just click download again and a fresh one is created instantly.
Can I get a refund?
Because these are digital files delivered immediately, purchases are generally non-refundable once solution or mark-scheme files have been accessed. If something is wrong with your order, contact us and we'll sort it out.