IBM OA is a vital step in the recruitment process, covering technical challenges, logical reasoning tests, and behavioral assessments. This comprehensive evaluation helps candidates prepare effectively and enhances their competitiveness in the job market. evaluation helps candidates prepare effectively and enhances their competitiveness in the job market.
Overview of the IBM OA Structure
While the exact format may vary slightly by role and region, most IBM OAs consist of three core components:
- Programming (Coding) Questions
- Logical Reasoning / Analytical Tests
- Behavioral & Situational Judgment Questions
Each section targets a different competency, and passing IBM OA requires balance, not just strong algorithms.
Programming Questions
Usually include one or two coding problems, testing your algorithm knowledge and implementation skills.
Real Exam Question 1
Problem: Given a string S of lowercase letters and an integer K, select K non-overlapping palindromic substrings to maximize the total length. Return that maximum sum.
- Input:
s = "abbaeae", k = 2 - Output:
6 - Explanation: Choose "abba" (length 4) and "aea" (length 2) for a total of 6.
Constraints. 1 ≤ s.length ≤ 200, 1 ≤ k ≤ s.length, S is all lowercase letters.
Logical Reasoning Test
May include mathematical logic, graphic sequences, or text-based puzzles to evaluate your problem-solving approach.
Real Exam Question 2
A company has five employees (A, B, C, D, E) who each cover one day of Monday-Friday. Arrange their duty days given.
- A is not Monday; A's day is two days before C's.
- B and D are adjacent, with B before D.
- E is not Friday and not adjacent to A.
- If C is Wednesday, D is not Friday.
Question. Determine each person's duty day from Monday to Friday.
Behavioral Assessment - Scenario Questions
These explore how you handle challenges, teamwork, and risk in real projects.
Real Exam Question 3
- Describe a time you faced a severe resource shortage (manpower, time, funds). How did you handle it and what was the outcome?
- Share an experience resolving major disagreements within a team. What strategies did you use and what results did you achieve?
- Give an example of a project you led that encountered a sudden serious risk. How did you identify, evaluate, and mitigate it? What was the result?
- Tell me about a time you had to quickly learn new skills to meet urgent needs. How did you learn, and how did it impact your work?
- When faced with multiple important, time-sensitive tasks, how did you prioritize and manage your time? Describe the scenario and outcome.
Need Extra Support?
If you want more structured help, ProgramHelp offers:
- Hands-on coding guidance for IBM-style problems
- Logical reasoning coaching with real exam patterns
- OA walkthroughs and timed mock sessions
- Live support to help you avoid common traps
Prepare smart, not blind — and turn IBM OA into a real advantage in your job search.
