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Airbnb Placement Papers 2025

Overview

This page is a working set of Airbnb placement papers from 2025: from student reports questions, the 2025 online assessment pattern, and step-by-step solutions. Use it to see what Airbnb actually asked in the latest cycle, how hard the rounds were, and which themes (DSA, system design, aptitude, or role-specific topics) mattered most. Practice the problems below under timed conditions, then cross-check with the interview and preparation guides if you are targeting an upcoming Airbnb drive.

Airbnb Online Assessment 2025 pattern

Section Questions Time Difficulty
Coding Problems 2-3 90 min Medium-Hard

Airbnb Placement Papers 2025 - actual questions & solutions

This section contains practice questions styled on Airbnb placement papers 2025 (recent-cycle pattern), with worked solutions. Use them as timed sectional drills - from student reports drives vary by college and role, so treat this as a high-signal practice bank, not an official paper dump.

Question 1: longest common prefix

Show solution

Problem Statement: Find the longest common prefix string amongst an array of strings.

Example:

Input: ["flower","flow","flight"]
Output: "fl"

Solution (Java):

public String longestCommonPrefix(String[] strs) {
    if (strs.length == 0) return "";
    String pref = strs[0];
    for (int i = 1; i < strs.length; i++) {
        while (!strs[i].startsWith(pref)) {
            pref = pref.substring(0, pref.length() - 1);
            if (pref.isEmpty()) return "";
        }
    }
    return pref;
}

Time Complexity: O(S)
Space Complexity: O(1)

Question 2: two sum

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Problem Statement: Given an array of integers and a target, return indices of two numbers that add up to target.

Example:

Input: nums = [2, 7, 11, 15], target = 9
Output: [0, 1]

Solution (Java):

public int[] twoSum(int[] nums, int target) {
    Map<Integer, Integer> map = new HashMap<>();
    for (int i = 0; i < nums.length; i++) {
        int need = target - nums[i];
        if (map.containsKey(need)) return new int[]{map.get(need), i};
        map.put(nums[i], i);
    }
    return new int[]{};
}

Time Complexity: O(n)
Space Complexity: O(n)

Question 3: binary tree level order

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Problem Statement: Return the level-order traversal of a binary tree.

Example:

Input: [3,9,20,null,null,15,7]
Output: [[3],[9,20],[15,7]]

Solution (Java):

public List<List<Integer>> levelOrder(TreeNode root) {
    List<List<Integer>> res = new ArrayList<>();
    if (root == null) return res;
    Queue<TreeNode> q = new ArrayDeque<>();
    q.add(root);
    while (!q.isEmpty()) {
        int sz = q.size();
        List<Integer> level = new ArrayList<>();
        for (int i = 0; i < sz; i++) {
            TreeNode n = q.poll();
            level.add(n.val);
            if (n.left != null) q.add(n.left);
            if (n.right != null) q.add(n.right);
        }
        res.add(level);
    }
    return res;
}

Time Complexity: O(n)
Space Complexity: O(n)

Question 4: valid parentheses

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Problem Statement: Given a string of brackets, determine if it is valid.

Example:

Input: "()[]{}"
Output: true

Solution (Java):

public boolean isValid(String s) {
    Deque<Character> st = new ArrayDeque<>();
    Map<Character, Character> pair = Map.of(')', '(', ']', '[', '}', '{');
    for (char c : s.toCharArray()) {
        if (pair.containsValue(c)) st.push(c);
        else if (st.isEmpty() || st.pop() != pair.get(c)) return false;
    }
    return st.isEmpty();
}

Time Complexity: O(n)
Space Complexity: O(n)

Question 5: climbing stairs

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Problem Statement: You can climb 1 or 2 steps. How many distinct ways to climb n stairs?

Example:

Input: n = 4
Output: 5

Solution (Java):

public int climbStairs(int n) {
    if (n <= 2) return n;
    int a = 1, b = 2;
    for (int i = 3; i <= n; i++) {
        int c = a + b; a = b; b = c;
    }
    return b;
}

Time Complexity: O(n)
Space Complexity: O(1)

Question 6: rotate array right by k

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Problem Statement: Rotate the array to the right by k steps.

Example:

Input: [1,2,3,4,5,6,7], k = 3
Output: [5,6,7,1,2,3,4]

Solution (Java):

public void rotate(int[] nums, int k) {
    k %= nums.length;
    reverse(nums, 0, nums.length - 1);
    reverse(nums, 0, k - 1);
    reverse(nums, k, nums.length - 1);
}
void reverse(int[] a, int l, int r) {
    while (l < r) { int t = a[l]; a[l++] = a[r]; a[r--] = t; }
}

Time Complexity: O(n)
Space Complexity: O(1)

Question 7: reverse a string

Show solution

Problem Statement: Given a string, return it reversed.

Example:

Input: "placement"
Output: "tnemecalp"

Solution (Java):

public String reverse(String s) {
    return new StringBuilder(s).reverse().toString();
}

Time Complexity: O(n)
Space Complexity: O(n)

Question 8

Q8: Which normal form removes transitive dependency?

Solution:

1NF: atomic values. 2NF: no partial dependency. 3NF: no transitive dependency.

Answer: 3NF

Question 9

Q9: Which data structure uses FIFO order?

Solution:

FIFO = First In First Out → Queue. Stack is LIFO.

Answer: Queue

Question 10

Q10: Time complexity of binary search on a sorted array of n elements is?

Solution:

Each step halves the search space → O(log n).

Answer: O(log n)

Question 11

Q11: In OOP, hiding internal details and showing only essential features is called?

Solution:

This is the definition of Encapsulation (often paired with abstraction in interviews).

Answer: Encapsulation

Key insights from 2025 Airbnb Online Assessment

  1. Coding Section is Critical: Must solve 2-3 coding problems correctly to advance
  2. Marketplace System Design: Strong emphasis on marketplace system design and booking systems
  3. Time Management: 2-3 coding problems in 90 minutes requires excellent speed
  4. Success Rate: Only 10-15% cleared OA and advanced to interviews
  5. Platform: Airbnb’s assessment platform or HackerRank
  6. Focus Areas: Arrays, trees, graphs, dynamic programming, booking systems, marketplace design
  7. Enhanced Emphasis: Optimal solutions and AI-powered recommendations

Airbnb 2025 interview experiences

Based on recent candidate experiences from 2025 Airbnb interviews:

2025 Interview Process:

  1. Online Assessment (90 minutes): 2-3 coding problems
  2. Technical Phone Screen (45-60 minutes): Coding problems, algorithm discussions, system design, AI recommendations
  3. Onsite/Virtual Interviews (4-5 rounds, 45-60 minutes each):
  • Coding rounds (2-3): Algorithms, data structures, problem-solving
  • System Design rounds: Marketplace systems, booking systems, AI-powered search and recommendations
  • Behavioral rounds: Problem-solving approach, innovation, cultural fit, impact

2025 Interview Trends:

  • Increased emphasis on AI-powered recommendations and search systems
  • More focus on optimal solutions and marketplace system design
  • Enhanced behavioral questions about innovation and cultural fit
  • Questions about AI/ML applications in marketplace platforms

Common 2025 Interview Topics:

  • Coding: Arrays, strings, trees, graphs, dynamic programming, booking algorithms
  • System Design: Marketplace systems, booking systems, AI-powered search, recommendations, payment systems
  • Behavioral: Problem-solving, innovation, cultural fit, impact, customer focus
  • Airbnb Technologies: Booking systems, marketplace platforms, AI-powered search, recommendations

Success Tips:

  • Strong coding performance is essential - solve problems optimally
  • Practice system design for marketplace systems and AI-powered booking systems
  • Prepare examples demonstrating innovation and problem-solving
  • Learn Airbnb’s products, AI features, and marketplace model
  • Practice explaining your thought process clearly

For detailed interview experiences from 2025, visit Airbnb Interview Experience page.

Preparation tips for Airbnb 2025 pattern

  1. Master Coding Fundamentals: Focus on solving 2-3 coding problems correctly - arrays, trees, graphs, DP
  2. System Design Mastery: Learn marketplace system design, AI-powered booking systems, search and recommendations
  3. Practice Previous Year Papers: Solve Airbnb OA papers from 2020-2025 to understand evolving patterns
  4. Time Management: Practice completing 2-3 coding problems in 90 minutes
  5. LeetCode Practice: Solve 200+ LeetCode problems focusing on arrays, strings, trees, graphs (medium-hard difficulty)
  6. Marketplace Systems: Understand booking systems, AI-powered search, recommendations, payment systems
  7. Airbnb Technologies: Learn marketplace platforms, booking systems, AI-powered search, recommendations
  8. Behavioral Preparation: Prepare examples using STAR format - innovation, problem-solving, cultural fit
  9. Mock Tests: Take timed practice tests to improve speed and accuracy
  10. Scalability: Understand scalable marketplace systems and distributed systems
  11. AI/ML Basics: Understand AI/ML fundamentals and applications in marketplace platforms

Comments & Suggestions

2024 papers

Coding questions

Interview experience

Preparation guide

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