Salesforce's software engineering online assessment for interns and new grads is commonly reported as a proctored HackerRank test of two or three coding problems on data structures and basic algorithms, with the camera on and the window in full screen. This page covers what the Salesforce online assessment is, its format and timings, how it is scored, the rules to know before you start, how to prepare and a practice plan.
What the Salesforce online assessment is
Salesforce runs its university hiring under the Futureforce name and publishes no OA specification. Reports from 2024 to 2026 agree on HackerRank and two or three problems but not on a time limit; a 2026 new-grad report for the Associate Member of Technical Staff (AMTS) role described three coding questions, and an intern report described two.
For problem types and the interview loop, see Salesforce coding interview questions.
Format and timings
| Part | What it involves | Time and questions |
|---|---|---|
| Coding problem 1 | Usually the easiest; hash maps, arrays or strings | Shared time limit set in the invitation |
| Coding problem 2 | Medium; reported examples include timestamp lookups with a hash map and prefix sums | Shared time limit |
| Coding problem 3 (some invitations) | A harder data-structure or algorithm problem | Shared time limit |
Total: set in your invitation; reports agree on two or three problems but not on one time limit.
How it is scored
- Auto-graded on hidden test cases; partial passes still count.
- Salesforce publishes no cut-off.
- Readable code helps, because later interviews may ask about your approach.
Rules to know before you start
- One candidate reported the camera had to stay on and the test in full screen for the whole session.
- Close other apps and tabs before starting.
- Outside help is not allowed.
How to prepare
- Practice hash maps, prefix sums, sorting and two pointers at easy to medium level.
- Work two problems in 60 minutes as a drill, then three in 90.
- Get used to HackerRank's input and output handling in your language.
- Prepare to explain your solution's complexity in the technical interviews that follow.
A practice plan
- Day 1: read the platform's candidate guide and try its practice environment.
- Days 2 to 4: two timed problems a day in your test language, writing your own edge-case tests.
- Day 5: one full mock under the real time limit.
- Day 6: review mistakes and the input and output rules.
- Day 7: take the test in one sitting with a stable connection.
Related guides: what an online assessment is, the HackerRank assessment guide, Salesforce coding interview questions.
On the day, and the mistakes to avoid
- Check the platform, the allowed languages and the time limit in the invitation.
- Try the practice environment or tutorial so the editor and run buttons are not new.
- Use a reliable computer on a stable connection, with other apps and tabs closed.
- Read every problem before starting, and do the quickest ones first.
- Write and run your own edge-case tests before submitting.
- Keep a few minutes at the end to check output formats and resubmit if needed.
Mistakes that cost candidates:
- Writing an elegant solution that fails large hidden tests because of its complexity.
- Mismatched output formats: extra spaces, prompts or debug prints.
- Spending most of the time on one hard problem while easier points go unclaimed.
- Pasting code you did not write, which integrity settings can flag.
- Not reading the input limits, so a solution that works on samples times out.
What happens after the Salesforce online assessment
If you pass, the next stage is usually a technical interview, and some interviewers ask about your assessment solution. Be ready to explain your approach and its complexity out loud, and prepare two or three behavioral stories for the conversations that follow. For the next stage, see software engineer behavioral answers.
Where CoPilot Interview fits
Online assessments are tests you take on your own: outside help is not allowed, and proctoring settings can flag other apps, tab switches or a second voice. Practice beforehand instead. CoPilot Interview is an AI interview assistant; its free AI mock interview prepares you for the interviews that follow the assessment, with questions built from your résumé and the job description and each spoken answer scored out of ten. The free plan gives 15 minutes a day of live help in sessions of up to 15 minutes, with AI mock interviews included. Read the invitation carefully and follow your employer's rules.
Disclosure: CoPilot Interview is our product, so weigh what we say about it accordingly.
Frequently asked questions
Does Salesforce use HackerRank?
Yes, according to intern and new-grad candidate reports from 2024 to 2026.
How many questions are on the Salesforce OA?
Commonly two or three coding problems.
Is the Salesforce OA proctored?
Candidates report camera monitoring and full-screen mode, so treat it as proctored.
What comes after the Salesforce OA?
Technical interviews on data structures and algorithms, then behavioural and hiring-manager conversations, as candidates commonly report.
Can I use AI tools during the Salesforce online assessment?
No, unless the instructions explicitly allow it. Assessments are meant to be taken on your own, and proctoring settings can flag other apps, tab switches or pasted code. Use AI tools to practice beforehand, and follow your employer's rules.
Practice this interview before the real one
The AI mock interview builds questions from your resume and the job description, reads them aloud and scores each spoken answer out of 10. Included on the free plan.
Start a mock interview