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Coding — AI off (live pair)

~40 min0/6

Blank editor, someone watching. The graded thing is as much HOW you work as the final code.

~36 min · run it top to bottom

  1. 1. Clarify3 min
    3:00

    Restate the problem in one sentence. Ask for an example input/output. Confirm constraints + name the edge cases yourself.

    Interviewer grades: Do you understand before coding, and do you surface edge cases without being asked?

    “Let me make sure I understand the problem, then I'll walk through my approach.”

    checking microphone…

  2. 2. Approach3 min
    3:00

    Say the brute force, then the better one. State time/space. Get a nod before you type.

    Interviewer grades: Can you reason about complexity and choose, instead of jumping straight to code?

  3. 3. Data model2 min
    2:00

    Pick the data structure and say WHY (fast lookup / ordering / dedup).

    Interviewer grades: Do your structure choices have reasons attached?

  4. 4. Code + narrate18 min
    18:00

    Write the simplest correct version, talking the whole time. Clear names. Small steps.

    Interviewer grades: Communication while coding, clean correct code, steady progress without hints.

    “What I'm doing here is”

    checking microphone…

  5. 5. Test6 min
    6:00

    Write a quick test in main, run it, walk one example by hand, then handle the edges.

    Interviewer grades: Do you verify your own code? Testing discipline before you claim it works.

  6. 6. Complexity + tradeoffs4 min
    4:00

    State final time/space. Then: “it's simple now — in production I'd …”.

    Interviewer grades: Production sense and honest tradeoffs, not just a passing function.