EY (Ernst & Young) Online Assessment: Real Questions, Short Answers & Remote Interview Tips

If you’re preparing for EY’s online assessment (OA) or a remote technical round, this page gives you two things: (1) real questions with crisp answers and (2) a practical checklist to avoid remote-interview pitfalls. Want tailored help? Book a free 10-minute OA readiness audit.

How the EY Online Assessment Typically Works

  • Structure: CS fundamentals + Java/SQL/DBMS/OS + Agile + 1–2 coding items (varies by role).
  • Mode: Remote proctored — webcam, mic and screen monitoring; ID verification.
  • Time: 60–120 minutes (version dependent); some sections are individually timed.
  • Environment: Browser-based editor for coding; built-in SQL console or MCQs for DBMS.

Tip: Read all instructions on calculator, notes, and window switching. Many platforms auto-flag tab changes.


Most-Asked Questions (Click to reveal answers)

1) What is polymorphism in OOP? Explain with real-world examples.

Click to see the answer
Polymorphism lets the same interface work with different underlying forms. In Java: compile-time (overloading) and runtime (overriding). Example: Shape.draw() calls different implementations for Circle and Rectangle.

2) Differentiate between HashMap and TreeMap in Java.

Click to see the answer
HashMap: unsorted, allows one null key, average O(1) ops. TreeMap: sorted by natural order/comparator, no null key, O(log n) ops. Pick HashMap for speed; TreeMap for ordered traversals or range queries.

3) What is a JOIN in SQL? Explain INNER JOIN vs LEFT JOIN with examples.

Click to see the answer
JOIN combines rows across tables using a key. INNER JOIN returns matches only; LEFT JOIN returns all left rows with NULLs for missing right rows. Use INNER to filter to matches; LEFT to keep all left-side records.

4) What is a race condition? How can you prevent it in multithreaded programs?

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A race condition occurs when the result depends on the timing of concurrent operations. Prevent with synchronization/locks, atomic operations, immutability, or thread-safe data structures.

5) Explain the concept of exception handling in Java. What are try, catch, and finally used for?

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Wrap risky code in try. catch handles specific exceptions. finally always executes to release resources. Prefer specific catches; use try-with-resources for AutoCloseable objects.

6) What are triggers in SQL? When should you use them?

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DB callbacks on INSERT/UPDATE/DELETE. Use for auditing, derived values, or enforcing complex constraints. Keep them light to avoid slowing writes and complicating debugging.

7) Describe the difference between compile-time and runtime errors.

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Compile-time: syntax/type errors caught by the compiler. Runtime: exceptions during execution (e.g., NullPointerException, divide-by-zero). Unit tests and validation reduce runtime errors.

8) What are the key principles of Agile methodology?

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Iterative delivery, customer collaboration, responding to change, working software over documentation, small cross-functional teams, frequent feedback, and continuous improvement.

9) What is the difference between process scheduling and thread scheduling in OS?

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OS may schedule processes or threads as CPU entities. Threads share memory within a process and enable finer-grained concurrency; policies (priority/time-slice) apply to the scheduled entity.

10) SQL Question: Write a query to get the third-highest salary from an “employees” table.

Click to see the answer

SELECT salary
FROM (
SELECT salary, DENSE_RANK() OVER (ORDER BY salary DESC) r
FROM employees
) t
WHERE r = 3;

11) Coding Question: Write a program to reverse a linked list.

Click to see the answer

ListNode prev = null, cur = head;
while (cur != null) {
ListNode nxt = cur.next;
cur.next = prev;
prev = cur;
cur = nxt;
}
return prev;

12) What are the benefits of microservices architecture over monolithic architecture?

Click to see the answer
Independent deployability and scaling, smaller focused services, tech polyglot, fault isolation, and faster team autonomy. Trade-offs: operational complexity, distributed tracing, and network overhead.

Remote Interview (OA) Readiness Checklist

  • Update OS, browser, JDK/Python as allowed; disable pop-ups; keep charger plugged.
  • Stable internet (≥10 Mbps); keep a mobile hotspot as backup.
  • Quiet, well-lit room; neutral background; camera at eye level.
  • Proctoring rules: ID ready; don’t switch tabs; adhere to calculator/editor policies.
  • Time management: solve sure-shots first; leave 5 minutes for review.
  • Do a webcam-on mock OA (60–90 minutes) using a single-screen setup.

Need help? Book a 25-minute Mock Online Assessment → @ 3999/-


What you get with the Engineer’s Planet Interview Assistance

  • OA Simulator: Camera/mic-on practice with section timers.
  • Targeted drills: Java/OOP, SQL windows & joins, OS/DBMS quick answers, debugging.
  • Code reviews: Complexity, test-case strategy, refactoring.
  • Company-specific prep: EY/Cognizant/Wipro/Cisco banks updated from real attempts.
  • Scorecard & plan: Ranked improvements after every mock.

Get your free 10-minute readiness audit/mentorship-sessions/


Downloadable PDF

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