Many people started using it TSMC OA, there will be a misunderstanding: thinking that it is an ordinary LeetCode. But when I actually got on the field, I realized it was completely different. There are very few questions in TSMC that are "naked algorithm tests". They basically cover a layer of business background, such as semiconductor manufacturing, pods scheduling, resource allocation, system connection, etc. It looks like system design, but in fact it is still testing the basics of algorithms. But the problem is - reading questions is slower, there is more information, and there are more pitfalls.
In this article, I will break down the latest TSMC hackerrank OA routine in 2026 and explain it clearly to you. If you are preparing for TSMC recently, whether it is NG or social recruitment, this article can basically help you set the right direction.
TSMC OA basic structure
Time: 90 minutes
Number of questions: 3 questions
Platform: HackerRank
Difficulty: LeetCode Medium Mainly + 1 deviation Hard
Question 1: Building lighting analysis
Given a 2D grid sunlight_map, 1 means sunlight and 0 means shadow. Beg:
- Overall lighting rate (number of 1/total number of grids)
- Maximum area of a continuous full 1 rectangle
Example Sunlight_map = [[1,0,1,1], [1,1,1,1], [0,1,1,0], [1,1,1,1]]
Output:
- Overall Sunlight Rate: 0.75
- Largest Unobstructed Rectangular Area: 6
Solution ideas
Daylighting rate: Count the number of all 1's and divide by the total number of grids.
Maximum full 1 rectangle: Use the histogram maximum rectangle method
- Process line by line, maintaining heights[j] (the height of consecutive 1's upward)
- Heights[j] += 1 when grid[i][j]==1, otherwise cleared to zero
- Calculate the maximum rectangular area using a monotonic stack for each heights row
- Update global maximum
Complexity：O(m×n)
Difficulty: Medium-Hard (TSMC high frequency).
Question 2: Serving Pods data writing
N pods (1~n), m bidirectional connections form a connected area (Connected Component). Each pod is initially active.
There are two types of queries:
- 1podId: Write data → pod active → write directly → pod inactive → forward to the active pod with the smallest ID in the same region → no active pod → return -1
- 2 podId: pod failure → becomes inactive (permanent)
Output: Returns the written pod ID or -1 in order for all Type 1 queries.
Key Tips:Union and lookup (DSU) + Each component maintains the current minimum active ID (using set/priority queue).
Difficulty: Medium-Hard (TSMC high frequency).
Question 3: Difficulty of deploying Software Modules
N modules, difficulty array difficulty[]. Assigned to 3 servers (at least 1 module each). For each allocation, select 1 module d1, d2, d3 from each of the three servers, and calculate |d1 – d2| + |d2 – d3|. Find the maximum value of "the minimum deployment difficulty" among all distribution methods (maximize the minimum deployment difficulty).
Example: difficulty = [1,10,5,9], the minimum difference after a certain allocation can reach 8, find the maximum such value among all allocations.
Key Tips: Array sort + three-group enumeration (DP / bitmask DP, n is smaller).
Difficulty: Hard (similar to Goldman Sachs group optimization problem).
Want to pass TSMC OA more reliably?
If you are preparing for the TSMC Online Assessment, you are short of time and have no time to answer the questions in the system, or you do not have clear ideas about some question types, and you are worried that you will not be able to pass all the test cases, you can learn more. ProgramHelp Professional support. We focus on assisting algorithm questions on platforms such as HackerRank, Niuke.com, and CodeSignal. We have rich practical experience in OA from major manufacturers such as TSMC, Google, and Meta. We can help you clarify your ideas, improve your code, and ensure that all test cases pass smoothly.
You don’t have to deal with difficult problems alone when preparing for the exam. Proper use of professional help can help you avoid detours, pass OA more reliably, and successfully enter the next round of technical interviews. Students in need can directly send a private message to ProgramHelp for detailed consultation.
