The AMCAT coding section eliminates 60 to 70% of candidates — yet it tests concepts that are entirely learnable with focused 30-day preparation. This plan works regardless of your current coding level.
What AMCAT Coding Tests
Two problems in 60 to 90 minutes. Difficulty ranges from easy (string manipulation, basic arrays) to medium (basic dynamic programming, recursion). Supported languages: C, C++, Java, Python. Code is evaluated against hidden test cases — not just the sample.
Week 1: Foundations (Days 1 to 7)
Days 1 and 2 — Input/Output Mastery
Most candidates fail because their code crashes on judge input, not because of logic errors. Practice reading arrays, strings, and 2D matrices from stdin in your chosen language. Write 10 basic I/O programs daily.
Days 3 and 4 — Arrays and Strings
Cover: reverse array, find duplicates, rotate by k positions, check palindrome, count vowels and consonants, find longest substring without repeating characters, two-sum problem with hashmap.
Days 5 to 7 — Mathematics and Number Theory
Prime number check using Sieve of Eratosthenes, GCD with Euclidean algorithm, LCM, factorial, Fibonacci series, Armstrong numbers, digit sum, and number reversal. These are among the highest-frequency AMCAT topics.
Week 2: Core Data Structures (Days 8 to 14)
Sorting algorithms: bubble, selection, insertion, and merge sort — understand time complexity for each. Binary search and its applications: first/last occurrence, rotated array search. Stack and queue implementation using arrays. Solve 3 HackerRank Easy problems daily.
Week 3: Patterns and Problem-Solving (Days 15 to 21)
Four patterns cover 70% of AMCAT problems: two-pointer technique (sorted array problems), sliding window (substring and subarray problems), prefix sum (range query problems), and basic recursion (combinatorial and tree problems). Study each pattern with 5 examples before moving to the next.
Week 4: Mock Tests and Speed (Days 22 to 30)
Simulate real exam conditions daily. Set a 75-minute timer, solve 2 problems without IDE autocomplete, Googling, or Stack Overflow. Review your approach after each session. Identify whether your failures are logic errors, edge-case misses, or time-pressure mistakes — each has a different fix.
Edge Cases You Must Always Handle
Empty arrays or strings, single-element input, negative numbers, zero as input, maximum integer values, and duplicate elements. AMCAT’s hidden test cases are specifically designed to catch candidates who only handle the happy path.
30-Day Topic Priority
String manipulation (30% of questions), array operations (25%), mathematical problems (20%), pattern printing (15%), basic dynamic programming (10%). Allocate your time proportionally — do not spend the first two weeks only on sorting algorithms.