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Software Engineer

Software Engineer test

Type: Role specific skills

Time: 10 min

Languages: English, Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, Dutch, Portuguese

Level: Entry level

Summary of the Software Engineer test

Our Software Engineer test measures candidates’ knowledge of the basic principles, methodologies, and frameworks of software engineering. The test helps you identify candidates who can approach problems using “software engineer thinking” to solve problems efficiently and effectively.

Covered skills

Linear data structures
Non-linear data structures
Algorithm analysis
Computer science fundamentals

Use the software engineer test to hire

Software engineers, front-end developers, back-end developers, software quality engineers, full-stack developers, systems analysts, mobile application developers, game designers, and any roles that follow computer science and software engineering principles

Preview questions

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About the Software Engineer test

Software engineers are responsible for most steps in the development process for apps and programs, including designing, building, and maintaining them. You might also know them as systems and application developers – they all dabble in complex code, algorithms, and computer science.

This Software Engineer test assesses candidates’ understanding of computer science fundamentals and their knowledge of software data structures and algorithms.

It doesn’t focus on the tester’s ability to write code in any language in particular, meaning recruiters can use it to find developers and engineers who design, build, and test software for any purpose.

Through multiple-choice questions, this test asks candidates to identify problems and figure out the best solutions using “software engineer thinking.”

For example, they might answer questions about:

Editing and refining code
Maintaining software systems
Building search trees
Analyzing and adjusting algorithms
Applying basic computer science to solve software bugs and flaws

Candidates who perform well in software engineering testing are:

Knowledgeable about algorithms and software design principles
Adept at writing, editing, and implementing code to build custom software
Proactive and conscientious with good eyes for detail
Adaptable to working with different projects, coding languages, and operating systems

Before you get started, take a tour of the Software Engineer test with a few preview questions.

The test is made by a subject-matter expert

Yashavant K.

Over the last 25 years, Yashavant has published numerous books and online courses in C, C++, Data Structures, VC++, .NET, and Embedded Systems. A sought-after speaker, Yashavant has given presentations and workshops at TedEx, IITs, NITs, IIITs, and global software companies.

In recognition of his contribution to IT education, he has been awarded the "Best .NET Technical Contributor" and "Most Valuable Professional" awards by Microsoft and the “Distinguished Alumnus Award” by IIT Kanpur.

Crafted with expert knowledge

TestGorilla’s tests are created by subject matter experts. We assess potential subject-matter experts based on their knowledge, ability, and reputation. Before being published, each test is peer-reviewed by another expert, then calibrated using hundreds of test takers with relevant experience in the subject.

Our feedback mechanisms and unique algorithms allow our subject-matter experts to constantly improve their tests.

What our customers are saying

TestGorilla helps me to assess engineers rapidly. Creating assessments for different positions is easy due to pre-existing templates. You can create an assessment in less than 2 minutes. The interface is intuitive and it’s easy to visualize results per assessment.

Review from

David Felipe C.

VP of engineering, mid-market (51-1000 FTE)

Any tool can have functions—bells and whistles. Not every tool comes armed with staff passionate about making the user experience positive.

The TestGorilla team only offers useful insights to user challenges, they engage in conversation.

For instance, I recently asked a question about a Python test I intended to implement. Instead of receiving “oh, that test would work perfectly for your solution,” or, “at this time we’re thinking about implementing a solution that may or may not…” I received a direct and straightforward answer with additional thoughts to help shape the solution.

I hope that TestGorilla realizes the value proposition in their work is not only the platform but the type of support that’s provided.

For a bit of context—I am a diversity recruiter trying to create a platform that removes bias from the hiring process and encourages the discovery of new and unseen talent.

Review from

High quality assessments

David B.

Chief Talent Connector, small business (50 or fewer FTE)

Use TestGorilla to hire the best faster, easier and bias-free

Our screening tests identify the best candidates and make your hiring decisions faster, easier, and bias-free.

Learn how each candidate performs on the job using our library of 400+ scientifically validated tests.

Test candidates for job-specific skills like coding or digital marketing, as well as general skills like critical thinking. Our unique personality and culture tests allow you to get to know your applicants as real people – not just pieces of paper.

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Building assessments is a breeze with TestGorilla. Get started with these simple steps.

Building assessments is quick and easy with TestGorilla. Just pick a name, select the tests you need, then add your own custom questions.

You can customize your assessments further by adding your company logo, color theme, and more. Build the assessment that works for you.

View a sample report

The Software Engineer test will be included in a PDF report along with the other tests from your assessment. You can easily download and share this report with colleagues and candidates.

Download sample report

Why are software engineering skills important to employers?

Employers rely on talented software engineers to support internal production and improve end-user experiences.

In fact, software engineers are responsible for many important tasks from day to day. For example, they create, maintain, and audit systems to ensure they work optimally, meet organizational demands, and design tests for systems to find their faults.

The average software developer/engineer also writes a lot of code in languages such as Python, JavaScript, Java, C# (C Sharp), C, C++, and Go.

By hiring top talent through software engineer testing, development teams find it easier to:

Design high-quality custom programs to fit customer needs
Boost in-house productivity
Ensure they meet compliance demands
Keep employees and users safe and secure
Fix technical problems efficiently
Keep production flowing so deadlines are met
Maintain stakeholder confidence

What’s more, software engineers are often agile and receptive to changing projects and learning new skills and coding languages.

Software engineering testing: 4 competencies to look for

Our Software Development Engineer test measures competency in the following areas:

Linear data structures: Does the candidate understand how structures in a linear setup work together and how to optimize them?
Non-linear data structures: Can the applicant read and manipulate unorganized structures such as trees, hashmaps, and graphs?
Algorithm analysis: Can the candidate read and understand typical software algorithms and carefully analyze them to solve problems?
Computer science fundamentals: Does your applicant understand basic programming languages, statistical modeling, and how to manipulate different data structures?

What job roles can you hire with our software engineering test?

Software engineering is a broad term that covers many tech industry roles and specializations. Here are just a few important career paths where using our Software Engineering test can help you find the best candidates:

Software engineers analyze algorithms, edit and maintain code, resolve bugs, and design custom programs and apps
Front-end developers build user interfaces such as apps and websites through languages like HTML
Back-end developers manage apps, websites, and other services behind the web development scenes, ensuring code is clean and efficient
Software quality engineers engage in software testing and auditing so that it functions properly and fits quality assurance guidelines for public or commercial use
Full-stack developers handle both front and back-end development, ensuring code is functional and that user experience is optimal
Systems analysts investigate and analyze complex systems and fix errors and efficiency issues via coding
Mobile application developers design, build, and maintain applications specifically for smartphones and tablets
Game designers create and code games and interactive experiences for different platforms, such as PCs, consoles, and mobile devices

TestGorilla makes it easy for development teams, like those at Visionaries FZ-LLC, to make technical hiring more efficient and sustainable.

In fact, the UAE-based firm now saves around 15 hours per hire just by using skills testing during recruitment.

Create a multi-measure assessment: 4 tests to pair with software engineer testing

Although our Software Engineer test covers many technical skills your ideal recruits need, we recommend running multiple types of tests so you hire balanced candidates.

With TestGorilla, you can create a custom multi-measure assessment containing up to five technical and soft skill tests. You can even get test results for candidates based on their personality and culture add so that you’re crystal clear on who you want to hire.

Here are four tests we suggest using alongside software engineer testing to help you find talented, well-rounded developers:

Clean Code test: Hire a software engineer who can streamline code so it’s easy to maintain
A programming language test: Assess your candidates’ knowledge of one or more programming languages that are relevant to your in-house development needs, such as Python or Ruby
Problem Solving test: Hire an engineer with a solution-focused mindset who can analyze bugs and faults and use different tools and techniques to fix them
Communication Skills test: Recruit engineers with strong communication skills for working well with other engineers and actively listening to important instructions, ensuring code and projects are accurate

Still unsure about software engineer employer assessment tests? Use our recruitment ROI calculator and find out how much time and money you could save with TestGorilla.

FAQs

An assessment is the total package of tests and custom questions that you put together to evaluate your candidates. Each individual test within an assessment is designed to test something specific, such as a job skill or language. An assessment can consist of up to 5 tests and 20 custom questions. You can have candidates respond to your custom questions in several ways, such as with a personalized video.

A video question is a specific type of custom question you can add to your assessment. Video questions let you create a question and have your candidates use their webcam to record a video response. This is an excellent way to see how a candidate would conduct themselves in a live interview, and is especially useful for sales and hospitality roles. Some good examples of things to ask for video questions would be "Why do you want to work for our company?" or "Try to sell me an item you have on your desk right now."

Besides video questions, you can also add the following types of custom questions: multiple-choice, coding, file upload, and essay. Multiple-choice lets your candidates choose from a list of answers that you provide, coding lets you create a coding problem for them to solve, file upload allows your candidates to upload a file that you request (such as a resume or portfolio), and essay allows an open-ended text response to your question. You can learn more about different custom question types here.

An assessment is the total package of tests and custom questions that you put together to evaluate your candidates. Each individual test within an assessment is designed to test something specific, such as a job skill or language. An assessment can consist of up to 5 tests and 20 custom questions. You can have candidates respond to your custom questions in several ways, such as with a personalized video.

A video question is a specific type of custom question you can add to your assessment. Video questions let you create a question and have your candidates use their webcam to record a video response. This is an excellent way to see how a candidate would conduct themselves in a live interview, and is especially useful for sales and hospitality roles. Some good examples of things to ask for video questions would be "Why do you want to work for our company?" or "Try to sell me an item you have on your desk right now."

Besides video questions, you can also add the following types of custom questions: multiple-choice, coding, file upload, and essay. Multiple-choice lets your candidates choose from a list of answers that you provide, coding lets you create a coding problem for them to solve, file upload allows your candidates to upload a file that you request (such as a resume or portfolio), and essay allows an open-ended text response to your question. You can learn more about different custom question types here.

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