Why Knowing LeetCode Answers Before an Interview Is Not Cheating

A debate has resurfaced in tech hiring circles after a job candidate was accused of cheating simply for solving a difficult coding problem too quickly. Research from platforms like CodeIntuition.io and CoPilot Interview suggests that roughly 80–90% of coding interview questions are variations of just 15 core algorithmic patterns, meaning preparation naturally leads to pattern recognition. Some online forums have even advised candidates to feign ignorance and deliberately give slow or wrong initial answers to avoid suspicion — a strategy critics say rewards deception over expertise. Industry voices, including developer Dan Abramov, argue that timed algorithm tests measure memorization and performance rather than real engineering judgment. Companies like OpenAI have responded by replacing live coding tests with paid 48-hour take-home assignments that more closely simulate actual on-the-job work.