Amazon describes two common assessment types and gives timings for them. Here is what its careers pages state, role by role.
Amazon says the two common assessments are work style assessments, about 10 to 20 minutes, and work sample simulations, about 20 minutes to an hour. A simulation may ask you to interpret data from a chart, answer a customer question, multitask or find information across sources. Amazon says no advance preparation is needed for roles other than Software Development Engineer, and it does not name a test provider.
Amazon's How We Hire page lists four stages: online application, assessments, phone screening and the interview loop. Amazon says the process differs from role to role. Its corporate-roles article describes a work style assessment and/or a work sample simulation after the application, then a phone screen and a final loop with several team members. The assessment can come during the application or be sent separately afterwards, depending on the position.
For the simulation, Amazon lists example activities by role: interpreting data from a chart, answering a customer question, choosing how to resolve an issue, multitasking, or finding the right information across several sources. That is the part closest to reasoning practice, particularly chart reading and prioritising under time pressure.
For full-time SDE roles, Amazon's online assessment page lists four parts with average times, and says to set aside up to two hours of uninterrupted time. Depending on country, the assessment arrives in one or two parts.
| Part | Average time (Amazon) |
|---|---|
| Coding assessment | About 70 minutes |
| Workstyles assessment | About 15 minutes |
| Work simulation | About 60 minutes |
| Feedback survey | About 5 minutes |
Internship assessments on the same page drop the work simulation and total about 90 minutes. Amazon offers an unscored practice test with two questions. It also says your browser use is logged, print screen ends the session, and the code should be your own.
Amazon's own advice for non-SDE roles is to be yourself, not overthink questions, and avoid spending too long on any one item. Reasonable preparation therefore centres on being comfortable rather than rehearsed.
Where the simulation involves a chart or a judgement call, practice material from any source can be uploaded to ReasonEra as a screenshot. Pick Tutor Explanation to see how the answer follows from the data, or Quick Verify to check your own result. It helps with numerical, data interpretation and situational judgement practice. A free account has 3 free trials, and the 14-Day Pass is 49 € for unlimited use for 14 days. Amazon says its assessments are to be completed solely by the applicant, so use ReasonEra for practice items only.
Employers and test publishers change their processes, so treat the invitation you receive as the authority.
This tool is meant for the weeks before an assessment, but a real assessment usually comes with its own conditions on outside help, so follow the rules you agreed to when you accepted the invitation.
It is a set of virtual tasks related to a specific role, which Amazon says typically takes 20 minutes to an hour. Tasks can include interpreting data from a chart, answering a customer question or prioritising work.
Amazon says work style assessments typically take 10 to 20 minutes. You choose how well statements describe your own style.
Amazon says no advance preparation is required for roles other than Software Development Engineer. For SDE roles it recommends reviewing its software development topics.
No. Amazon says it is unable to grant extensions if an assessment deadline is missed, so check the date in your email.
Amazon does not name a provider on the pages read for this guide. The assessment link in your email identifies the platform you will use.
Free trials come with every account. If it helps, a 14-Day Pass for 49 € removes the limit for two weeks.
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Notes. The facts on this page come from public sources, which are linked above. Names of employers and tests are used only to describe the assessments candidates may meet.