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Actually, I don't think fizz-buzz is the same as the SAT. You only get so much time with the person you're interviewing and fizz-buzz is at least a basic way to

Actually, I don't think fizz-buzz is the same as the SAT. You only get so much time with the person you're interviewing and fizz-buzz is at least a basic way to screen people out. You can of course ask them questions more difficult...but in the end it's all applicable to what they're applying for. I've never been insulted by someone asking me that kind of interview question before. On the other hand, when I've already taken multiple semesters of advanced math classes and they want to know how well I score on a few dozen algebra questions, I find that slightly disturbing. If they wanted SAT Math 2 scores, I might understand. Otherwise it is pretty weird. Also, a few years ago in high school my parents offered to pay for prep classes and I decided to because I didn't have much else to do during most of the summer. What was even more striking was that people NOT taking prep classes were in the minority - the only ones that didn't were the ones that were confident they could do it on their own. Even the poor ones managed to borrow a book or two to study.

smanek 18y ago
The SAT was trivial in the exact same way fizz buzz in. It isn't meant to find the next Einstein, it's just meant to weed out the grossly incompetent. A lot of stupid people can probably do well on SAT math because it's too easy. But I promise that it you can't score at least a 700 on it (i.e., demonstrate basic competence at elementary algebra) you are bad at math, no exceptions. Exactly like a lot of stupid people can do fizz buzz, but if you can't do fizz buzz you are bad at programming.
- silencio 18y ago
  I've mentioned this before..you are right, but do you ask fizzbuzz of every single programmer you interview? There had to be some where it was like..shit, it would be a total waste of time for everyone involved to ask something that trivial. But when you have years of high school or college, unless there's something huge missing, I don't know about how useful it would be to ask of it from everyone. For the record, I almost fell asleep taking the SAT. It's been a while, but I think I scored a 790 on math. I vividly remember some of the people in the same room as me who were really worried they couldn't even break 5/600. Sooo...

smanek 18y ago

The SAT was trivial in the exact same way fizz buzz in. It isn't meant to find the next Einstein, it's just meant to weed out the grossly incompetent. A lot of stupid people can probably do well on SAT math because it's too easy. But I promise that it you can't score at least a 700 on it (i.e., demonstrate basic competence at elementary algebra) you are bad at math, no exceptions. Exactly like a lot of stupid people can do fizz buzz, but if you can't do fizz buzz you are bad at programming.

silencio 18y ago
I've mentioned this before..you are right, but do you ask fizzbuzz of every single programmer you interview? There had to be some where it was like..shit, it would be a total waste of time for everyone involved to ask something that trivial. But when you have years of high school or college, unless there's something huge missing, I don't know about how useful it would be to ask of it from everyone. For the record, I almost fell asleep taking the SAT. It's been a while, but I think I scored a 790 on math. I vividly remember some of the people in the same room as me who were really worried they couldn't even break 5/600. Sooo...