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Amazon·Software Engineer·Online Assessment (OA)·Junior

JuniorPending
May 2026

Summary

Took an Amazon OA that had a DSA problem and an AI-assisted debugging section. Finished the DSA fully but only got 3 out of 6 on the debugging part, now just waiting to hear back.

Questions Asked (2)

Q1

Solve a DSA problem as part of the online assessment.

Algorithms & Data Structures
Author's notes

Got through this one completely, no issues.

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AI HintsAI Generated

Suggested Approach

First, clarify the problem constraints and edge cases, then discuss a brute-force solution before optimizing with appropriate data structures or algorithms. Focus on explaining your thought process, analyzing time and space complexity, and testing with examples.

Pro tip: Amazon values customer obsession and ownership; relate your solution to scalability and real-world impact, and always consider edge cases like empty inputs or large data.

1. Understand the Problem

Ask clarifying questions to confirm input/output format, constraints, and edge cases. Restate the problem in your own words to ensure alignment.

2. Explore Approaches

Start with a brute-force solution, then identify inefficiencies and propose optimizations using appropriate data structures or algorithms.

3. Choose and Implement

Select the optimal approach, explain your reasoning, and write clean, modular code with meaningful variable names.

4. Test and Validate

Walk through test cases including edge cases, and verify correctness. Analyze time and space complexity.

5. Reflect and Optimize

Discuss potential improvements, trade-offs, and how the solution could scale or be adapted for different scenarios.

Key Points to Mention

  • Time and space complexity analysis for each approach
  • Edge cases such as empty input, single element, duplicates, or large inputs
  • Choice of data structures (e.g., hash maps, heaps, trees) and why they are optimal
  • Modular code with clear separation of concerns and readability
  • Testing methodology including unit tests and dry runs
  • Scalability and real-world application, aligning with Amazon's leadership principles

AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.

Q2

Complete an AI-assisted debugging section where you identify and fix issues in given code.

Algorithms & Data StructuresTechnical Trade-offs
Author's notes

This is where things went sideways.

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AI HintsAI Generated

Suggested Approach

Start by restating the problem and clarifying requirements, then systematically walk through the code to identify bugs using a combination of manual inspection and AI-assisted tools. For each bug, explain the root cause, propose a fix, and discuss trade-offs (e.g., time/space complexity, readability). Finally, verify the fix with test cases and consider edge cases.

Pro tip: Demonstrate a structured debugging process: reproduce the issue, isolate the faulty component, and validate the fix with tests. Mention how you'd leverage AI tools (e.g., static analysis, LLM suggestions) but always verify their output critically.

1. Understand and Reproduce

Restate the problem, identify expected vs. actual behavior, and reproduce the bug with a minimal test case.

2. Locate the Bug

Use systematic techniques (e.g., binary search, print statements, debugger) and AI-assisted tools to pinpoint the faulty code.

3. Analyze Root Cause

Explain why the bug occurs, considering edge cases, data structures, and algorithmic logic.

4. Implement and Verify Fix

Propose a corrected version, discuss trade-offs, and validate with test cases including edge cases.

5. Reflect and Prevent

Summarize lessons learned and suggest preventive measures (e.g., better tests, code reviews, AI-assisted checks).

Key Points to Mention

  • Systematic debugging methodology (e.g., reproduce, isolate, fix, verify)
  • Use of AI tools for code analysis and suggestion, with critical evaluation
  • Time and space complexity trade-offs of the fix
  • Edge cases and test-driven validation
  • Root cause analysis and preventive measures
  • Clear communication of thought process

AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.