How To Cheat On CodeSignal Without Ruining Your Reputation
Facing a timed CodeSignal assessment can feel like a make-or-break moment: one mistake can cost you an interview or a job offer. You may worry about tricky coding questions, strict time limits, or anti-cheat checks. This article gives clear, practical steps to help you pass a CodeSignal assessment confidently and land your desired job without risking disqualification, embarrassment, or long-term damage to your professional reputation.
To help with that, Interview Coder’s undetectable coding assistant for interviews offers a straightforward coding coach that guides practice sessions, sharpens problem-solving, and builds the timing and confidence you need to perform honestly on the real test.
Is it Possible to Cheat in CodeSignal?
CodeSignal and HackerRank published articles explaining that ChatGPT-based cheating is either ineffective on their assessments or easily detected by utilizing proctoring features or looking for identifiable traces in ChatGPT outputs.
However, for those who have tried GPT (particularly GPT-4), it is evident that platforms like CodeSignal and HackerRank may not effectively detect cheating via ChatGPT. Their primary argument against cheating detection revolves around stringent proctoring tools, which, as we will discuss later, might not be the most effective solution. Rather than addressing the core issue of the ease with which candidates can generate answers using ChatGPT, these platforms focus on detecting cheaters.
Coding platforms are likely to adopt one of two extreme approaches in response to ChatGPT:
- Strictly proctor assessments and attempt to detect ChatGPT usage.
- Embrace ChatGPT and refine assessments to emphasize skills that will be relevant for future developers.
The Outdated Approach to Developer Assessments
By focusing on proctoring and limiting ChatGPT usage, these platforms will become even more outdated and impractical, emphasizing obsolete skills rather than acknowledging the changing landscape of developer skills. It seems that CodeSignal and HackerRank are leaning towards the first approach, expressing confidence in their ability to prevent ChatGPT-assisted cheating and detect its usage.
Is it Easy to Get An Answer For a CodeSignal or HackerRank Problem?
The reality is that it is pretty straightforward. Even with HackerRank's suggestions to remove questions that require only a few lines of code to solve, with GPT-4's impressive token limit of ~32,000 (approximately 25,000 words), it is hard to imagine what the alternative is.
This is particularly true for HackerRank-style questions, which typically involve a prompt and necessitate coding from scratch, without exploring a codebase. It's difficult to envision a feasible approach where candidates are asked to write a 25,000-word program.
Why the StackOverflow Comparison for AI in Coding is Misleading
CodeSignal cites a quote from StackOverflow in December 2022, stating that they will not accept answers from GPT. However, this is a misleading comparison, as StackOverflow focuses on solving recent, unique problems, whereas CodeSignal assessments are more akin to LeetCode-style questions that don’t require new, updated knowledge.
GPT-4 has significantly improved since December 2022. As I mentioned in my recent blog post, the knowledge cutoff of GPT is a significant limitation that is relevant to StackOverflow but not so much LeetCode-style questions.
Why Detection is Not Feasible
CodeSignal claims that ChatGPT leaves identifiable traces, such as over-commenting, unnecessary statements, and code incompatible with their IDE. However, those who have tried GPT-4 know that these examples are inaccurate and already outdated.
It is possible to create clever prompts that make it difficult to detect if GPT-4 generated the code. One such prompt includes providing a sample of the user's code to instruct ChatGPT to develop code in a similar style.
The Cost of Detection
Implementing strict proctoring measures may result in heightened anxiety for candidates, as they become more conscious of being monitored during the assessment. This stress can negatively impact their performance, leading to false negatives and undermining the purpose of these tests.
By concentrating on detecting and preventing ChatGPT usage, coding platforms will continue to focus on assessing outdated skills, rather than evaluating candidates based on their ability to adapt and thrive in real-world situations where tools like ChatGPT are readily available. As a result, these platforms may penalize talented developers who effectively use ChatGPT as a tool to help improve their abilities and would be successful on the job.
Related Reading
How to Cheat on Codesignal
The format and expectations for CodeSignal’s General Coding Framework are typically well-outlined in an email you receive from CodeSignal or a prospective employer, so that you won’t go into too much detail here. If your email does not mention a “General Coding Framework,” you are likely taking a custom CodeSignal test, and the tips in this article will not apply.
Based on experience and cross-referencing with online discussions, here’s a general overview of the 4-question, 70-minute General Coding Framework, as well as their expected LeetCode (LC) difficulty. With this layout in mind, you’ll hopefully be prepared for the questions’ varying levels of complexity and allocate your time appropriately. Note that CodeSignal may change the question content and format in the future.
Question 1
LC Difficulty Level: Easy.
Description:
This is meant to be the warm-up, and is a straightforward problem that should be breezed through.
Question 2
LC Difficulty Level: Easy.
Description:
This is also meant to be a warm-up, but slightly more difficult than the first question. This question usually involves parsing a string or array.
Question 3
LC Difficulty Level: Medium to Medium-Hard.
Description:
This question usually involves manipulating a 2D matrix. It may require complex traversal or movement within the matrix, so you should expect it to be the most implementation-heavy and time-consuming problem in the assessment.
Question 4
LC Difficulty Level: Medium to Hard.
Description:
This question often involves detecting a pattern or constructing a data structure as part of the solution. The prompt’s difficulty can vary widely, potentially making this problem the most challenging part of the assessment.
Luck Of The Draw
A significant factor in the questions you will face in the CodeSignal General Coding Framework is luck. The skill difficulty of Questions 3 and 4 can be highly variable, and Question 4 could either click immediately in your head or appear impossible to solve.
Suppose you’ve been lucky and received a Question 4 that made immediate sense to me. Once, this allowed me to complete the entire assessment in less than half the time allotted.
Press enter or click to view the image in full size.
A Fortunate Outing (600/600)
On the other hand, there have been multiple instances where I’ve either been stumped after receiving a brutally difficult Question 4. I would try to rethink and pivot for 30 minutes, but to no avail.
Press enter or click to view the image in full size
An Unfortunate Outing (531/600)
This has resulted in a wide range of General Coding Framework scores.
Press enter or click to view the image in full size.
With this in mind, suggest retaking the assessment if you have any doubts about the score you received. A favorable set of questions can significantly improve your performance, and a good score can be used for any company that requests a General Coding Framework assessment over the next few months (usually, companies want a recent test result from the last 6 months).
Cooldown Period
CodeSignal has measures to prevent applicants from spamming assessments in quick succession. The General Coding Assessment has the following limitations:
- You can take in the evaluation a maximum of three times within 180 days
- Within any 30 days, you are limited to two attempts.
- If you reach these limits and a company requests a CodeSignal GCA score, you will not be able to take a new assessment and will need to submit an existing score.
General Tips
Good Prep Questions
To prepare for the CodeSignal General Coding Framework, here are some recommended LeetCode questions that closely resemble the types you might encounter:
Always Opt in for a Proctored Exam
Some companies might not require a proctored CodeSignal assessment, but you should always opt in for proctoring when prompted to. This ensures that your score can be used for companies that do require a proctored assessment.
Take it as soon as Possible.
Submitting my CodeSignal GCF as soon as possible has been critical to a high callback rate. This is the case for both scenarios in which you receive a CodeSignal assessment:
Post Screening
If a company screens candidates before sending the assessment, the recruiter is waiting on you to submit the evaluation to move forward. Submitting your score quickly prevents delays and keeps you competitive.
Initial Application
If CodeSignal is part of the initial application, earlier submissions might face less stringent score requirements, as recruiters may become more selective as the recruiting season progresses. Given the element of luck involved in what questions are asked, it’s best to get the assessment over with if you feel comfortable solving most LeetCode medium.
Don’t Hyper-Optimize
Focus on getting a working solution first rather than the most optimal one. CodeSignal often accepts quasi-optimal solutions that pass all test cases. Building a working solution quickly is better than taking the time to think through a hyper-optimized one that you can’t complete on time or that might be based on a misinterpretation of the problem.
Only work on optimizing if you encounter “Time Limit Exceeded” errors when running test cases. Even if you can’t figure out how to optimize effectively in time, CodeSignal thankfully grades test cases that exceeded the time limit more generously than in years before.
Speed Matters?
Even though CodeSignal has removed speed as a “Skill Area” in the new GCF scoring system, it remains implicitly important. Their Candidate FAQ states that:
Although speed is not an explicit element of the scoring, it is implicitly part of it, such that candidates want to complete as many questions as they can, as previously mentioned.
The time you take on the assessment and each question is still displayed in your coding report, so it is still a factor when distinguishing between candidates with perfect scores.
Viewing Past Assessment Scores on the Old System
CodeSignal’s platform also gives you ready access to how your assessment would’ve been scored in the old scoring system. You can view your performance in this system, which includes speed, by checking your notifications after your test results are verified. If you select a notification reading “Your General Coding Assessment result has been certified,” you will be taken to your coding report based on the old scoring system out of 850, where speed is a factor in your score.
Related Reading
Nail Coding Interviews with Interview Coder's Undetectable Coding Assistant − Get Your Dream Job Today
Targeted practice beats blind grinding. Focus on problem patterns:
- Sliding window
- Two pointers
- BFS and DFS
- Dynamic programming templates
- Common data structures
Use spaced repetition for algorithms and flashcards for API and complexity rules. Run timed mocks that mirror real test constraints. Pair program with peers or mentors for immediate feedback.
Track metrics:
- Problems per week.
- Time to correct the solution.
- Standard failure modes.
- Which area would you like a plan for first?
Use AI The Right Way for Interview Prep
Treat AI as a coach, not a cloak. Let it explain solutions step by step, generate practice problems that mimic company styles, create hints that guide you without giving complete answers, and review your code for edge cases and performance.
Use it to run mock live interviews, grade your responses, and produce a personalized study schedule. Always avoid using AI to create solutions during an honest, proctored assessment unless the employer explicitly allows it. Want examples of prompts that make an AI into a great coach?
How to Position Interview Coder Ethically While Selling Results
Interview Coder is an AI-powered coding coach that helps you prepare faster and practice smarter. Use real-time mock interviews, personalized study plans, and on-demand code walkthroughs to build confidence before the test.
Trusted by 87,000 plus developers who landed offers at FAANG, Big Tech, and top startups, Interview Coder cuts wasted practice time and sharpens the skills hiring teams test. Ready to rewrite your prep routine into an efficient system that keeps your integrity intact?
Related Reading
Take the short way.
Download and use Interview Coder today!