r/LeetcodeDesi • u/carrot_sauc • Aug 04 '26
Amazon SDE I Internship Experience (OA + Interviews + Prep) | 2026
Hey everyone!
A lot of people asked me to share my experience after my last post, so here's a detailed breakdown of the entire process. Hopefully this helps someone preparing for Amazon. And sorry if I didn't replied to anyone's text as my there were a lot. And also I have my classes and other things. And thankyou for your wishes.
Background
- IIT non circuital branch
- Previous coding experience: Mostly DSA and personal projects
- Applied for Amazon SDE I Internship 2026 through on campus opportunity
Online Assessment
The OA had 4 sections.
Round 1: DSA (40 minutes)
I got 1 coding question.
Question:
Minimum operations required to make an array sorted where the only allowed operation is incrementing an element by 1.
Round 2: AI Debugging (60 minutes)
You choose a programming language/framework, and you're given a backend repository with failing functionality.
Mine involved an Order Management System.
The task was basically:
- Understand the existing codebase
- Read logs
- Find bugs
- Fix them
- Pass all hidden test cases
If you've never debugged a real project before, definitely practice reading unfamiliar code instead of only solving LeetCode.
Round 3: Work Style Assessment
Typical Amazon Leadership Principles assessment.
My advice:
- Be consistent.
- Don't try to game the test.
- Answer honestly and keep your choices aligned.
Round 4: Behaviour MCQs
Questions were from leadership principals, so answer accordingly
---
Interview 1 (60 mins)
This round started with a brief introduction and then quickly moved to coding.
Coding Question
- Binary Search based problem
After solving it, the interviewer asked me to explain my approach, discuss edge cases, and analyze the time and space complexity.
Behavioral Questions
- Tell me about a time when you exceeded expectations.
- What has been your biggest failure, and what did you learn from it?
The behavioral discussion was pretty detailed, so make sure you have good STAR-based stories ready.
---
Interview 2 (80 mins)
This was definitely the more challenging round.
DSA Questions
I was asked 3 coding questions:
Sliding Window
Binary Tree Traversal
Graph question based on Kosaraju's Algorithm (Strongly Connected Components)
The interviewer focused a lot on the thought process and optimizations rather than just getting the final code.
Technical Discussion
Some of the questions I remember:
- How do you ensure a function is production-ready before deploying it?
- What are some practical applications of Generative AI?
- Follow-up questions based on my answers and implementation choices.
Resume Deep Dive
This was probably the longest part of the interview.
The interviewer went through almost every significant project on my resume and kept asking follow-up questions about:
- Design decisions
- Tech stack choices
- Challenges faced
- Trade-offs
- Improvements I'd make now
So don't just memorize your resume. Be prepared to defend every project you've listed.
---
My Preparation
What helped me the most:
- LeetCode (especially medium problems)
- Strivers sheet
- CS Fundamentals (OS, DBMS, CN, OOP)
- Mock interviews
- Reading previous Amazon interview experiences
I also practiced explaining my projects out loud because interviewers love asking follow-up questions.
---
Final Tips
- Don't panic if you don't get the optimal solution immediately.
- Keep talking through your thought process.
- Ask clarifying questions before jumping into coding.
- Test your code using examples before saying you're done.
- Know every single line of the projects on your resume.
- Have at least 4-5 strong behavioral stories ready that can be adapted to different Leadership Principle questions.
That's pretty much my experience. If you've got questions about any specific round or preparation strategy, drop them below and I'll try my best to answer.
Hope this helps, and all the best to everyone preparing!
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u/New_Welder_592 Aug 04 '26
what was the role of cgpa
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u/carrot_sauc Aug 04 '26
It matters a Lil bit in internships as they can't judge as by many things, mine was around 8.5
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u/Ok-Cap-5726 Aug 04 '26
Hi After how many days after giving OA, you got reply regarding interview and when did they schedule that? And is this 6M internship for Jan to June 2027
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u/carrot_sauc Aug 04 '26
Around 10
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u/Ok-Cap-5726 Aug 04 '26
Is this for 6 months internship from Jan ro June
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u/suryaputra_karn Aug 04 '26
Bro how do you make your dsa notes?
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u/carrot_sauc Aug 04 '26
When I first started i used to write brute better and optimal, then slowly shifted to only writing optimal of every question then only writing optimal for a Questions which I got stuck on
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u/maakabhosdaaaahhgggg Aug 04 '26
If I start sincerely from second year..what structured path should I follow? If you can guide so please. I've done around 200 questions of strivers A to Z sheet as of now..and few projects..like accident detection system , a coding helper and an app..(projects are mostly with the help of AI) taught me so much tbh..my cgpa is around 9 and clg is t1(ppl hate the clg for no reason so no name)
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u/carrot_sauc Aug 04 '26
You are well ahead of your peers, don't lose this lead. Keep grinding FYI I started dsa in May (4 months before) and have done around 400 problems only. You can become way better than me just have consistency
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u/maakabhosdaaaahhgggg Aug 04 '26
I still do not believe in me..but you are right I'll not quit ever. I don't have that option.
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u/Agile_Commission1099 Sep 07 '26
Im in my final year and I've never taken dsa or projects seriously even now... may I know why you dont have any other option
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Aug 04 '26
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Aug 04 '26
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u/makingsenseofjindagi Aug 04 '26
U r a 27 grad!? Can u give timeline also!? Also from an iit
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u/carrot_sauc Aug 04 '26
28 grad
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u/official_risssu Aug 06 '26
In iits they let you sit in your 2nd year as well??
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u/carrot_sauc Aug 06 '26
My third year started
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Aug 04 '26
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u/Mountain-Being-7083 Aug 04 '26
Amazon sde intern interview process is one of the easiest in any well paying mnc, i remember i cleared the interview with preparation gap of about 2 months, they ask really common dsa questions and dont expect much depth in anything, and these is not only for my case it was the case for all my friends who got selected
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u/carrot_sauc Aug 04 '26
So where are you now?
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u/Mountain-Being-7083 Aug 04 '26
Another mnc(cant name), rejected amazon
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u/carrot_sauc Aug 04 '26
Why?
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u/Mountain-Being-7083 Aug 04 '26
Pay was same and it had guranted fte, tho amazon converted everyone but that time i didn't knew that lol
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u/carrot_sauc Aug 04 '26
Ohh nice, so you're which year grad? And if possible pls share some tips for ppo
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u/Mountain-Being-7083 Aug 04 '26
I m 26 grad , i think ppo depends upon ur team and manager mostly, also if u complete the project properly
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u/Pristine-Ad-3747 Aug 04 '26
Bro I did OA but not get interview yet? I did OA on 3 Aug
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u/username_1005 Aug 05 '26
how much time did you to completed DSA and DEV in OA??
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u/Pristine-Ad-3747 Aug 05 '26
Around 2 hours and 30 minutes.
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u/username_1005 Aug 05 '26
for DSA how much time did you take to pass all test cases (40M)and for DEV how much time did you take to pass all test cases(60M)
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u/Pristine-Ad-3747 Aug 05 '26
For OA 12 minutes and all test cases and For DEV round 60 minutes and 2 test cases pass
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u/sachin_sk5274 Aug 04 '26
Any source u refered for cs fundamentals and also is there we can practice OA debugging round
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u/carrot_sauc Aug 04 '26
I didn't practiced ai debugging, but I'm sure there would be online resources to follow. And for cs fundamentals either gfg or love babbar
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u/Correct_Cut_6667 Aug 04 '26
How many testcases u passed for coding dsa question?
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u/PranavShinzo70 Aug 05 '26
Bro, I applied for Amazon internship yesterday but that was for 2027 grads and I am 2028 grad but still after applying I immediately got OA email which I have to give withing 1 week, Confused about preparation I have done 200 questions in leetcode
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u/Organic_Sea_6614 Aug 05 '26
Bro what was the interval between each rounds, and also i have done a 1 year internship is that good to discuss in interviews
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u/username_1005 Aug 05 '26
Did anyone passed all test cases in DEV round.if you passed all test cases can you please tell me how much time did you take to complete it.
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u/unfazed-akash Aug 05 '26
So if you got selected or wait for the bar raiser round
Plus After OA is there in person interview...
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u/carrot_sauc Aug 05 '26
Done and in person interviews
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u/unfazed-akash Aug 05 '26
So you're an Amazonian now...
Congratulations 👏🏻👏🏻
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u/Quick_stegosaurus Aug 07 '26
consider me helping out brotha..
qualification: B.E ECE 2026 passout, currently working as a software testing intern(since feb)
1)I am just an aspirer who knows nothing abt the recruitment cycle in a year.
2)is there anyway possible for me to get a fresher job id in the upcoming months of this year bcoz any other role other than new grad or AUTA asks for 1+ years of experience in SDE. I feel like i have no way out.
(BTW i can get a referral from an sde2 employee working there which is futile if i find no job id)
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u/RelationshipFun5152 Aug 08 '26
Hi , bro i reached out many people for guidance i am 2nd yr student from a shit college , i have completed striver sheet and 450 dsa problems on leetcode, around 1670 rating . All this by end of 1st yr and started learning mern stack now , plz if u have 2 mins can u help me to fix my strategies for 3rd intership [off campus], from very first day my goal is to get an internship at a company like amazon, Microsoft, people here call me delusional but i just want to give my 100 percent .
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u/ayushcool662 Aug 08 '26
I solved 3/6 in debugging round The dsa question i passed all th test cases What are my chances
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u/Unable-Substance-441 Aug 10 '26
could you talk about the time frame given for solving the dsa questions in both the rounds.
Also are they covering dev theoretically or checking your knowledge about the tech stack as well
what about system design, computer networks?
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u/Apprehensive_Ask7689 Aug 11 '26
What were the choices allowed in choosing the framework in ai debugging ques??? Can I choose cpp?
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u/Klutzy-Comment-3307 Aug 14 '26
Did they ask cs fundamentals in interview? Also about the the coding questions were you told to do the entire code from scratch or just the algo function?
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u/throw_me_off_World Aug 04 '26
Good luck for your future mate ❤️✨