OpenAI Coding Interview Questions (2026)
Most-reported questions and how to practice them
17 coding questions reported by candidates for OpenAI, sorted by how often they were reported. Source: community-sourced LeetCode company lists.
What the OpenAI question data shows
Of the 17 questions reported for OpenAI, 82% are medium, 12% are hard and 6% are easy. The most reported are Design SQL, Flatten Nested List Iterator, Encode and Decode Strings, Design Memory Allocator, Design Excel Sum Formula.
This list comes from community-sourced LeetCode company lists. It covers coding questions only. It does not tell us how many rounds OpenAI runs, what each round covers, or what it pays, and those change by role, level and team, so we do not list them. Ask your recruiter what each round covers, and check the company's careers page.
Prepare for the rest of the loop with the coding interview patterns guide, the system design framework, and the STAR method guide. Written by Kieron.
OpenAI Interview Questions
17 LeetCode questions — sorted by frequency. Question frequency is community-sourced from public interview reports and may not reflect the current process; verify details with the employer.
Last reviewed: September 5, 2026 · Source: LeetCode company-wise interview questions (community reports) · Reviewed by the Aissence Editorial Team.
Design SQL
Flatten Nested List Iterator
Encode and Decode Strings
Design Memory Allocator
Design Excel Sum Formula
Time Based Key-Value Store
IP to CIDR
Rotting Oranges
Simplify Path
Web Crawler Multithreaded
Largest Local Values in a Matrix
Asteroid Collision
Trapping Rain Water
Design Spreadsheet
Design Hit Counter
Design Authentication Manager
Snapshot Array
Tips for Success at OpenAI
Start with the 17 most reported OpenAI questions, then work down the list.
Mediums are the bulk of the list (82%), so spend most of your time there.
Time yourself: 20 to 30 minutes per medium, then explain your solution out loud as if to an interviewer.
After each problem write down the pattern and the signal that revealed it. Patterns transfer to problems you have not seen.
Pair coding practice with a system design framework and prepared behavioral stories; most loops include more than coding.
How to Practice for OpenAI Interviews
Practice answering out loud with an AI interviewer built from your resume and the job description, and get a score and specific fixes for each answer. We are not affiliated with OpenAI, and the mock interview is general practice rather than a simulation of OpenAI's own format.
- ✓ Free mock interview built from your resume and the job description
- ✓ Desktop Interview Copilot for live interviews, where the rules allow it
- ✓ Behavioral practice with feedback on structure and specifics
- ✓ System design practice with follow-up questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How many LeetCode questions should I practice for OpenAI?
Are these the actual OpenAI interview questions?
What is the difficulty mix for OpenAI?
What is the OpenAI interview process?
How do I prepare beyond coding questions?
Prepare for Your OpenAI Interview
Run a free mock interview from your resume and see where your answers need work.
Start Preparing Free