Screening Questions

Data Science Questions:

1. What is machine learning, and can you give an example of how it is used?
o Expected Answer: Machine learning is a type of artificial intelligence that
allows systems to learn from data and improve over time without being
explicitly programmed. An example is a recommendation system like those
used by Netflix or Amazon.
2. Can you explain what data cleaning means in the context of data science?
o Expected Answer: Data cleaning involves fixing or removing incorrect,
corrupted, or incomplete data from a dataset to ensure accuracy and
consistency.
3. What does the term 'big data' refer to?
o Expected Answer: Big data refers to extremely large datasets that are too
complex for traditional data processing tools. It often requires special tools
and techniques to analyze and manage.
4. Can you name a popular tool or programming language used in data science?
o Expected Answer: Popular tools and languages include Python, R, and SQL.
Python is particularly common due to its versatility and the availability of
libraries like Pandas and Scikit-learn.
5. What is the purpose of data visualization?
o Expected Answer: Data visualization is used to represent data graphically,
making it easier to see patterns, trends, and outliers, and to communicate
findings effectively.
Programming Questions:
6. Can you describe what a 'bug' in software development means?
o Expected Answer: A bug is an error, flaw, or fault in a software program that
causes it to behave unexpectedly or incorrectly.
7. What do you understand by the term 'open-source software'?
o Expected Answer: Open-source software is software with source code that
anyone can inspect, modify, and enhance. Examples include Linux and the
programming language Python.
8. What is the importance of testing in software development?
o Expected Answer: Testing ensures that the software works as expected and
helps identify any issues before the software is deployed to users.
9. Can you name a version control system that developers commonly use?
o Expected Answer: Git is a widely used version control system that helps
developers manage changes to code over time, allowing them to track
changes and collaborate with others.
10. What does it mean if a software project is described as 'scalable'?
o Expected Answer: A scalable software project is one that can handle
increased loads or demand by adding resources, such as processing power or
storage, without requiring major changes to the system.
 L1 questions

Theoretical Questions:
1. Explain the difference between a compiled language and an interpreted language.
o Purpose: To test understanding of basic programming concepts.
2. What is an algorithm, and why is it important in programming?
o Purpose: To evaluate knowledge of problem-solving in software development.
3. Describe the difference between a class and an object in Object-Oriented
Programming (OOP).
o Purpose: To assess understanding of OOP principles.
4. What is a database, and how does it differ from a spreadsheet?
o Purpose: To check the candidate's understanding of data storage concepts.
5. Explain the purpose of a version control system.
o Purpose: To determine knowledge of collaboration and code management
tools like Git.
6. What is an API, and how is it used in web development?
o Purpose: To gauge understanding of how different software components
interact.
7. Describe the difference between a GET and a POST request in HTTP.
o Purpose: To assess basic knowledge of web protocols.
8. What is the purpose of unit testing in software development?
o Purpose: To understand the candidate's awareness of testing methodologies.
9. Explain what a RESTful API is.
o Purpose: To evaluate understanding of web services and API design principles.
10. What are the key principles of Agile development?
o Purpose: To test knowledge of software development methodologies.
Practical Questions:
11. Write a Python function to reverse a string.
o Purpose: To assess basic programming skills and familiarity with Python.
12. Given a list of integers, write a function to return the maximum value.
o Purpose: To test problem-solving skills and basic understanding of algorithms.
13. Write a SQL query to fetch all records from a table where the 'status' column is
'active'.
o Purpose: To evaluate SQL knowledge and database interaction.
14. Create a simple HTML form with input fields for 'Name' and 'Email'.
o Purpose: To assess basic web development skills.
15. Explain how you would debug a program that is running but not producing the
expected output.
o Purpose: To understand the candidate's problem-solving and debugging
approach.
16. Write a JavaScript function to check if a number is even or odd.
o Purpose: To evaluate basic JavaScript skills.
17. How would you design a database schema for a simple blog application with posts
and comments?
 o Purpose: To assess database design skills and understanding of relationships.
18. Describe how you would implement error handling in a program.
o Purpose: To test understanding of error handling and exception management.
19. Create a CSS style to center a div element on a web page.
o Purpose: To evaluate knowledge of CSS and web design principles.
20. Write a function to check if two strings are anagrams of each other.
o Purpose: To assess algorithmic thinking and string manipulation skills.

L2 Questions
Theoretical Questions:
1. Explain the concept of time complexity and how it affects algorithm performance.
o Purpose: To assess understanding of algorithm efficiency and Big O notation.
2. What is polymorphism in Object-Oriented Programming, and how is it
implemented in different languages?
o Purpose: To evaluate in-depth knowledge of OOP principles.
3. Describe the differences between relational and NoSQL databases.
o Purpose: To test knowledge of different database paradigms and their use
cases.
4. What are microservices, and how do they differ from a monolithic architecture?
o Purpose: To gauge understanding of modern software architecture patterns.
5. Explain the CAP theorem in distributed systems.
o Purpose: To assess knowledge of consistency, availability, and partition
tolerance in distributed computing.
6. What is a design pattern, and why are they important in software development?
o Purpose: To evaluate understanding of common solutions to recurring design
problems.
7. How does garbage collection work in languages like Java or Python?
o Purpose: To understand the candidate’s knowledge of memory management.
8. What is the difference between synchronous and asynchronous programming?
o Purpose: To assess understanding of concurrency and parallelism in
programming.
9. Describe the principles of RESTful API design and why statelessness is important.
o Purpose: To evaluate knowledge of API design best practices.
10. What is continuous integration, and how does it benefit the software development
process?
o Purpose: To assess knowledge of CI/CD pipelines and DevOps practices.
Practical Questions:
11. Write a Python function to find the nth Fibonacci number using both iterative and
recursive approaches. Discuss the time complexity of each approach.
o Purpose: To evaluate problem-solving skills and understanding of recursion vs
iteration.
12. Given an unsorted array of integers, write a function to sort it using the merge sort
algorithm.
 o Purpose: To assess knowledge of sorting algorithms and their
implementation.
13. Design a SQL schema for an e-commerce application that includes users, products,
orders, and payments. Discuss the relationships between tables.
o Purpose: To test database design skills and understanding of normalization.
14. Implement a basic rate limiter in any programming language of your choice.
o Purpose: To assess the candidate’s ability to design and implement system-
level features.
15. Write a function to detect cycles in a linked list. Explain the approach you used.
o Purpose: To evaluate understanding of data structures and algorithms.
16. Create a RESTful API endpoint in your preferred language/framework to fetch a list
of users, with pagination and filtering options.
o Purpose: To assess practical experience in API development.
17. How would you design a scalable notification system that can send out millions of
messages per minute?
o Purpose: To test system design skills, focusing on scalability and performance.
18. Explain how you would optimize a slow-performing SQL query. Provide an example
if possible.
o Purpose: To evaluate knowledge of SQL optimization techniques.
19. Describe how you would handle authentication and authorization in a web
application.
o Purpose: To assess understanding of security best practices in web
development.
20. Implement a caching mechanism to improve the performance of a web application.
Discuss the trade-offs of different caching strategies (e.g., in-memory, distributed).
o Purpose: To test the candidate’s ability to implement performance
optimization techniques.