PROGRAMMING SKILLS

Coding: Strings test for hiring

See how candidates write code to handle text, from parsing formatted lines to building and reformatting strings.

35 minutes
1 task
Intermediate
Coding tasks
Questions in English
Desktop only

Use this test free See the question formats

The short answer

The Coding: Strings test is an intermediate programming assessment with one coding task. Candidates write a function to parse, transform, or build text, with code checked against hidden cases including empty text and repeated characters. It measures correct string handling for software engineers, web and backend developers, data and integration engineers, and related programming roles.

What it measures

Writing correct code that parses, transforms and builds strings.

String manipulation

Covers writing code to parse formatted lines, scan for patterns, count or group characters, and reformat words.

Question formats

Coding tasks

The candidate: Writes or fixes code in an editor and runs it against examples.

You see: Working code, checked against hidden test cases, not just knowledge of syntax.

1 task in 35 minutes.

Roles this test fits

Software engineers, web and backend developers, data and integration engineers, and other programming roles that handle text, input formats or log data.

What the coding task can show

Text handling in code
See how a candidate writes a function that parses, transforms, or builds text, rather than relying only on descriptions of past work.
Attention to edge cases
Hidden cases include empty text and repeated characters, giving you evidence about how the solution handles more than ordinary input.
A choice of coding language
Candidates choose the language they know best from six, and each string task is checked to behave the same way in all of them, so no language choice is a handicap.
Clear task rules
The task uses printable ASCII text, states the rules checked by hidden cases, and does not depend on a spoken language's alphabet or local formats.

What you get for each candidate

Example report (fictional data)Coding: Strings

76%Percentile 57. Benchmark: HireValid candidates, n = 1,580

String manipulation76%

Integrity ScoreHigh confidence

Stayed on the test tab throughout
No pasted answers
Answered at a steady pace

Scores, profiles and integrity signals are evidence for you to review alongside an interview, never an automatic decision.

Use this test free

Review test activity with context

Each candidate receives a different question set drawn from large pools. The browser shows one question at a time, and answer keys stay on HireValid's servers. Code runs against hidden test cases there; the cases and solutions do not reach the browser, and pastes into the editor are recorded. The server runs the timer, and reloading restores the same question with only the time left. Question text cannot be copied or selected, and a blocked copy attempt appears in the timeline. HireValid records signals such as time away from the test tab, pastes, and answers faster than a question can be read. Employers review an Integrity Score with an evidence timeline; it does not decide on its own. Read How we build our tests.

How we prevent AI cheating · Integrity signals

Use the score as one piece of evidence

This test rests on one task, so its score reflects one problem rather than a broad sample. Treat it as a prompt for review, not a decision on its own. Compare the code with a relevant work sample, then use a structured interview to ask how the candidate approached text parsing and edge cases. Reliability is reported once 200 candidates have completed the test. For more context, see the Software Engineer test and our pre-employment testing guide.

Structured interview questions

How would you approach parsing a formatted line when some fields may be empty?
Listen for a clear sequence of steps, attention to the stated input rules, and a way to check the result with examples.
If a text task gave an unexpected result for repeated characters, how would you investigate it?
Look for a reasoned approach to tracing the code, checking the relevant cases, and making a targeted change.
How would you check a function that counts or groups characters before using it in a larger task?
Listen for concrete test inputs, including ordinary text and edge cases, and an explanation of what each result would tell them.

Understand scoring and benchmarks

Fairness and accommodations

Tasks are written in plain English with input limited to printable ASCII text, so nothing depends on a spoken language's alphabet, local formats or cultural knowledge, and every rule the hidden cases check (case, spacing, ties, ordering) is stated in the task. The candidate picks the language they know best from six, and each task is checked to behave the same way in all of them.

You can give any candidate extra time as an accommodation. Results are evidence for a person to review, never an automatic decision.

Provisional: the score rests on a single task, so it reflects one problem rather than a broad sample. Reliability is reported once 200 candidates have completed it.

Read our fairness approach

Test details

One programming task in which the candidate writes a function that reads, transforms or builds text: parsing a formatted line, scanning for a pattern, counting or grouping characters, or reformatting words. The code runs against hidden test cases that cover ordinary input and edge cases such as empty text and repeated characters. The candidate may write the solution in Python, JavaScript, Java, C#, C++ or Go.

Questions are in English.
Aids allowed: Scratch paper.
1 practice task, 10 minutes, before the timed test.
Taken on a desktop or laptop computer.

Python, JavaScript, Java, C#, C++, Go are trademarks of their owners. HireValid is not affiliated with or endorsed by them.

Frequently asked questions

How does the Coding: Strings test handle fairness across languages?+

Tasks use plain English and printable ASCII text, so they do not depend on a spoken language's alphabet, local formats, or cultural knowledge. Every rule checked by hidden cases, including case, spacing, ties, and ordering, is stated in the task. Candidates choose from six programming languages, and each task is checked to behave the same way in all of them.

What do candidates need for the Coding: Strings test?+

The test is desktop-only and allows scratch paper. It has one coding task, and candidates cannot return to a previous question. The separate practice set contains one question and allows 10 minutes. Candidates can write their solution in any of six programming languages.

Which roles fit the intermediate Coding: Strings test?+

It is intended for intermediate software engineers, web and backend developers, data and integration engineers, and other programming roles that handle text, input formats, or log data. The task specifically asks candidates to write a function that parses, transforms, or builds text.

What does the Coding: Strings score tell an employer?+

The score is evidence about how a candidate handled one string-manipulation problem, not a broad sample of programming work. The code runs against hidden cases for ordinary input and edge cases such as empty text and repeated characters. Review it alongside a work sample and structured interview, not as the sole basis for a decision.