Kira Talent is an online assessment platform that business schools use to see applicants beyond their written application. Instead of another essay, you answer questions on camera, under a timer, with no chance to re-record. For many MBA programs it is the first time the admissions committee sees and hears you.
How the Kira assessment works
After you submit your application, the school emails you a private link. You complete the assessment on your own computer, any time before the deadline. A typical session looks like this:
- System check. You allow camera and microphone access and confirm your setup works.
- Practice question. Most schools give you a practice question that is not sent to admissions. Use it to check lighting, audio and framing.
- Preparation timer. Each real question appears on screen with a short countdown to think, usually 30 to 60 seconds.
- Recording. When the countdown ends, recording starts automatically. You answer within a fixed time limit, usually 60 to 180 seconds.
- One take. There is no pause, no playback and no retry. The next question appears once you move on.
Some schools also include timed written questions in the same session. Always read the instructions in your school's email, because each program sets its own number of questions and time limits.
How long is the Kira interview?
Most sessions take 15 to 30 minutes including the system check. The recorded part is short: a handful of questions at one to three minutes each. Here is the format applicants have reported for each school we cover:
| School | Video questions | Prep time | Answer time | Intake |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| INSEAD | 4 | 45 sec | 1 min | 2027 |
| Oxford Said | 4 | 30 sec | 1 min 30 sec | 2026 |
| Foster | 2 | 30 sec | 1 min 30 sec | 2026 |
| IESE | 4 | 1 min | 1 min 30 sec | 2026 |
| Kellogg | 5 | 1 min | 1 min | 2027 |
| MIT Sloan | 1 | 10 sec | 1 min | 2026 |
| Yale SOM | 3 | 30 sec | 1 min 30 sec | 2026 |
| Haas | 5 | 45 sec | 3 min | 2026 |
| McCombs | 6 | 10 sec | 1 min 30 sec | 2027 |
| LBS | 2 | 45 sec | 1 min 30 sec | 2026 |
Formats can change between intakes, so treat this as a guide and confirm with your school's instructions.
What kind of questions does Kira ask?
Kira questions are short and personal. They are designed to show how you think on your feet, not to test knowledge. The most common types are:
- Motivation: why an MBA, why this school, what you want to do after.
- Behavioral: a time you failed, led a team, handled conflict or got difficult feedback.
- Personality: what you are passionate about, what your friends would say about you.
- Situational: what you would do in a hypothetical scenario, often involving culture or ethics.
You can browse real questions reported by applicants on each school page. We have 200 questions across 10 programs.
What are schools looking for?
Admissions teams use Kira to check things a written essay can't show: how clearly you communicate, how you handle pressure, whether you come across as genuine, and whether your answers match the person in your application. A polished, memorized speech often does worse than a clear, natural answer with one concrete example.
Can you practice the Kira interview?
Kira's own practice question gives you a feel for the interface, but it is generic and you only see it once. To practice properly, answer real school-specific questions with the same prep and answer timers. Our preparation guide walks through a step-by-step plan.