Meta·Software Engineer·Online Assessment (OA)·Intermediate

Intermediate

May 2026

Summary

Meta SWE coding question about computing a maximum score from a list of book scores. Pretty straightforward algorithmic problem but the edge cases are where things get interesting.

Questions Asked (1)

Given a list of integers representing book scores, write a function that returns the maximum possible score a student can achieve from those books.

Algorithms & Data Structures

Author's notes

Looked at the examples and the first thing I noticed is that [5, 3, 8, 6] gives 22, which is just the sum of all elements.

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AI HintsAI Generated

Suggested Approach

First, clarify the problem constraints and rules for selecting books, as the question is ambiguous. Then, propose a dynamic programming solution that considers all possible selections, and analyze its time and space complexity.

Pro tip: Always ask clarifying questions before diving into code; interviewers value candidates who seek to understand the problem fully rather than making assumptions.

1. Clarify the problem

Ask questions to understand what 'maximum possible score' means: can the student pick any subset? Are there constraints like picking adjacent books? Is the order fixed?

2. Define the objective and constraints

Restate the problem in your own words, specifying the input, output, and any rules. For example, if it's a subset sum problem, state that.

3. Propose a solution approach

Outline a dynamic programming or greedy approach based on the clarified rules. Explain the recurrence relation or greedy choice.

4. Analyze complexity

Discuss the time and space complexity of your solution, and consider potential optimizations.

5. Test with examples

Walk through a small example to verify the solution and edge cases.

Key Points to Mention

Dynamic programming (e.g., knapsack or house robber pattern)
Time and space complexity analysis
Edge cases (empty list, negative numbers, large input)
Clarifying questions to resolve ambiguity
Potential optimizations (e.g., space reduction)
Communication of thought process

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