My Experience with JPMorgan Chase SEP Online Assessment: A Journey Through Problem Solving

As part of the Software Engineer Program (SEP) recruitment drive for JPMorgan Chase & Co., I recently went through the Online Assessment (OA) round. Since this was my first step in the process, I was both excited and a bit nervous. In this article, I’ll share my experience, the types of questions asked, the approach I took, and some essential tips to help future candidates prepare better.

Registration Process & Eligibility Criteria

Before we even got to the test, the first step was registering on the official portal. We had to upload our resumes, but an important detail that many overlooked was that the resume had to include a photograph. Some students who didn’t include one never even received the test link, so this small detail turned out to be crucial.

Additionally, only students with a CGPA of 8.5 or above were eligible to apply. This strict criterion meant that only a select group of candidates got the chance to attempt the OA.

The Online Assessment Details

• Platform: HackerRank
• Duration: 60 minutes
• Proctoring: AI-proctored (webcam & microphone on at all times)
• Question Count: 2 coding questions

Since the test was proctored, maintaining good test hygiene was important. Candidates were advised to:

• Stay within the camera frame at all times to avoid disqualification.
• Avoid using any unfair means, as it could lead to immediate rejection.
• Ensure proper lighting and a stable internet connection for a seamless experience.

Breaking Down the Questions

The test consisted of two coding problems, one fairly easy and the other a bit more challenging.

Question 1: Teams in a Hackathon

Imagine a situation where a hackathon is being organized, and participants need to be grouped into teams of specific sizes. The challenge was to find the minimum number of teams required while ensuring that all participants were grouped perfectly.

My Approach: I started by figuring out how many teams could be formed with each team size separately. Then, I iterated through possible combinations of these team sizes to check if the total number of participants could be perfectly divided. If I found multiple valid combinations, I chose the one with the minimum number of teams. If no combination worked, I returned -1.

This approach ensured that I explored all possible ways to form teams efficiently and arrived at the optimal solution.

Question 2: System and Strings

This problem was an interesting game-based string manipulation challenge. It involved two players, Alex and Chris, who took turns removing substrings based on vowel count rules. The game continued until one of them couldn’t make a move. The goal was to determine the winner for each given string.

My Approach: I implemented a function that checked the number of vowels in different substrings and followed the rules of the game. Alex removed substrings with an odd number of vowels, while Chris removed those with an even number. By simulating the game optimally for each player, I determined the winner for each test case.

Both questions required strategic thinking and efficient implementation. I was able to pass all test cases, which led me to the next round.

Preparation Tips for Future Candidates

Through my experience and insights from peers and seniors, I’ve compiled some key preparation strategies:

For the Online Assessment:

• Think optimally: The first approach that comes to mind may not be the best one. Try to refine it.
• Revise important topics: Arrays, strings, hashmaps, trees, and linked lists are frequently tested, with strings being the most important.
• Write clean code: Although comments aren’t necessary, maintain a simple and structured coding style.

Final Thoughts

The JPMorgan Chase SEP OA was a great learning experience. The questions tested problem-solving skills effectively, and the proctored environment ensured fairness. For those preparing, my advice would be to focus on fundamental data structures and algorithms, practice coding problems regularly, and develop the ability to think through problems systematically.

I hope this article provides helpful insights for those preparing for similar assessments. Best of luck with your coding journey!

If you’d like to connect with me or discuss anything further, feel free to reach out:

Linkedin- https://www.linkedin.com/in/pranjalraj/

Topmate- https://topmate.io/pranjal_raj