BCGX Live Coding interview, many people's first reaction is "the question shouldn't be difficult." However, after actually interviewing it, they will find that the difficulty is never in the question itself, but in whether you can explain your ideas clearly. In a screen-sharing environment, writing code and explaining logic at the same time, coupled with the complexity and boundary questioning that may arise at any time, can easily disrupt one's rhythm.
This article compiles the latest BCG The overall feeling is very obvious: BCG X values engineering thinking and communication and expression skills more than simply how many questions you have answered.
If you are preparing for BCG X, or are about to face a similar Live Coding technical interview, I hope this interview experience can help you familiarize yourself with the real scene in advance and avoid unnecessary pitfalls.
Overall review of the interview process
This BCG X interview is a screen-sharing live coding format.
- Need to share screen to write code
- The camera could not grant permission this time, but the interviewer did not hesitate and did not force it.
- It will take about 5 minutes at the beginning of the interview to introduce yourself.
- Mainly talk about background, past projects, and current technical directions of concern
- Next is Two programming questions
- Each question is given 20–25 minutes
- Last time for:
- Complexity question
- Edge case discussion
- Q&A
The overall pace is not fast, but your thinking process is observed throughout the whole process. It is not the kind of "pass after writing" type of interview.
Coding Question 1: Palindrome Check
The first question is a very classic and very basic string question.
But something to note is:
BCG X is not testing whether you know this question, but how you answer it.
Core idea
- Use double pointers
- One starting from the left side of the string
- One starting from the right
- Compare left and right characters at each step
- Once inequality occurs, return directly
False - The pointer keeps moving closer to the center
- Return after all comparisons are completed
True
Complexity description
- Time complexity: O(n)
- Space complexity: O(1)
We will emphasize one point repeatedly in the supplement:
Before writing this kind of question, you must first go through the logic in language.
The interviewer is very concerned about whether you have "already thought it through in your mind" rather than thinking about it while writing.
Coding question 2: Legal bracket sequence
The second question is a classic bracket matching problem. It seems simple, but it is actuallyBCG likes a question that is used to check expression and boundary awareness..
Problem-solving ideas
- Use the stack to store the left parenthesis
- Iterate over the string:
- Left parenthesis encountered: push onto stack
- Encountered right parenthesis:
- Determine whether the stack is empty
- Determine whether the top element of the stack can match the current right bracket
- After the traversal is completed:
- The stack must be empty to be considered legal.
Details that the interviewer focuses on
- Is the empty string legal?
- What if there is a right parenthesis at the beginning?
- Are the matching relationships of multiple bracket types handled completely?
Complexity analysis
- Time complexity: O(n)
- Space complexity: O(n)
We generally know this question in the supplementary sectionDeliberately imitate the interviewer’s questioning,for example:
"If the input is an empty string, what does your function return? Why?"
This is where many students start to get stuck.
BCG X Live Coding FAQ
FAQ 1: What is the interview process for BCG X Live Coding?
BCG After completing coding, the interviewer will ask about time complexity, space complexity and boundary conditions, and reserve time for Q&A.
FAQ 2: Are the programming questions on BCG X difficult?
In summary, the difficulty of BCG But the interviewer pays more attention to whether the candidate can clearly explain the ideas during the coding process, rather than just writing the correct answer.
FAQ 3: What knowledge points are often tested in BCG X Live Coding?
Common test points include string processing, use of stacks, basic data structures, time and space complexity analysis, and the ability to handle boundary conditions (such as empty input, exceptions). At the same time, we also attach great importance to code structure and engineering expression.
FAQ 4: Do I need to write comments or documentation when doing Live Coding?
Need. BCG
FAQ 5: What should you focus on when preparing for a BCG X Live Coding interview?
In addition to answering questions, it is more important to practice writing and speaking in a shared screen environment, so that you can naturally explain the problem-solving ideas, complexity, and boundary conditions, and avoid being disrupted when the interviewer asks questions.
The hidden catch of Live Coding: Docstring must be written completely
Live Coding for BCG X It’s not just about writing the function and it’s over., and finally explicitly requested to add a Docstring, contents include:
- Description: Overall function description of the function
- Input: Input parameter meaning
- Output:Return value description
- Callouts:
- Time complexity
- Space complexity
- Key edge cases
This is very "BCG style" and more like the requirements for coding standards in real work, rather than the LeetCode pattern.
Critical support for BCG X Live Coding
For Live Coding interviews like BCG Many students are not unable to solve the problem, but they lose points in explanation, complexity explanation or boundary processing.
For this type of interview scenario,Programhelp : During the process of writing code and explaining, promptly prompt the complexity, key logic and common edge cases to avoid missing questions and being questioned.
- Real-time voice reminder: During the process of writing code and explaining, promptly prompt the complexity, key logic and common edge cases to avoid missing questions and being questioned.
- Live Coding Idea Assistance: Helps break down the problem-solving process into an expression structure that is easy for the interviewer to understand, instead of just "understanding it" in your mind
- Engineered expression support: Includes how to naturally describe time/space complexity, and complete description, input, output and callouts in docstrings
If you are about to participate in a BCG X or similar Live Coding interview, instead of just answering questions, it is better to find a helper in advance. This is often the key to passing the interview.
