Many international students studying computer science in North America find preparing for Amazon’s Online Assessment (OA) pretty stressful. Amazon’s hiring process is known to be tough, and the OA is usually the first significant challenge that determines whether you advance to the next step. Knowing what to expect from the OA and how it works is really important for passing it.
The OA usually includes coding problems and some online questions about logic or behavior. The coding tasks mostly focus on data structures and algorithms like arrays, strings, linked lists, trees, and hash tables. The difficulty level is moderate—harder than typical schoolwork but not as extreme as some other top tech companies. The main things they look for are correct, efficient, and clear code. When writing your solutions, be sure to check for edge cases and test your code carefully before submitting to avoid simple mistakes.
Managing your time during the OA is crucial. You’ll have several coding problems with limited time for each. If you get stuck on one question, it’s better to skip it and come back later after solving the easier ones. Spending too much time on one problem can cause you to miss out on points from others. When practicing, try timing yourself to get faster and more efficient.
Amazon also includes behavioral questions in the OA, usually multiple-choice, to see if you fit with their Leadership Principles. These questions often focus on teamwork, customer focus, and problem-solving. It’s a good idea to read about these principles beforehand and think of your own examples. Even though these are multiple-choice, knowing the principles will help a lot in later interviews.
For preparation, websites like LeetCode and HackerRank are very helpful. The “Amazon” tag on LeetCode is especially useful because it shows common question types. Don’t just solve problems once—review your answers and try to improve them. Repeated practice helps you get faster and more accurate.
Overall, Amazon’s OA tests both your coding skills and your problem-solving approach. You need to prepare in a balanced way: understand the problems, write clean code, and be efficient. Passing the OA is only the start; there are phone and onsite interviews afterward. Stay calm and keep improving little by little. With steady effort, you’ll increase your chances and get closer to landing a job at Amazon.
Release time:2025-05-28
