On January 25, I took the TikTok OA, and the overall experience was smooth. The questions followed the classic four-question CodeSignal pattern. The difficulty was relatively low, and as long as you have practiced common algorithm problems or CodeSignal challenges, it should be manageable. Here is a summary of the question types and solving approaches for anyone preparing for TikTok or ByteDance OAs.
OA Overview
- Platform: CodeSignal
- Number of Questions: 4
- Question Types: Simulation / Array Operations / Grid Placement / Chain Traversal
- Difficulty: Basic to moderate
Question Review and Approaches
1. Score Tracking and Historical Maximum
Given an initial score and a series of operations, calculate the final score and the highest score reached during the process.
Approach: Simulate the operations using variables to track the current score and historical maximum.
2. Distribute Numbers into Two Arrays According to Rules
Numbers are added sequentially to two arrays based on comparison rules and array lengths. Return the final concatenated result.
Approach: Follow the rules for each number and append it to the appropriate array. Direct simulation is sufficient.
3. Place Shapes on a Grid in Order
Given an n×m grid and five fixed shapes, place the shapes row by row and column by column without overlap. Determine if all shapes can be placed.
Approach: Simulate on a 2D grid. For each position, attempt to place the shape. Skip if out-of-bounds or conflicts occur.
4. Chain Structure Traversal Order
Given a chain structure (each node has at most two neighbors), output the traversal order of all nodes.
Approach: Build an adjacency list. Start from a node with degree 1, track the previous node while traversing, and move step by step until all nodes are visited.
Preparation Tips
TikTok and CodeSignal OAs mainly test familiarity with common question types and stable implementation, rather than on-the-spot improvisation. Practicing problem patterns and understanding edge cases in advance will make you more confident and improve your chances of completing the OA successfully.
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