Why Developers Hate Written Coding Tests: Three Core Issues Revealed

Recently many group members discussed why developers dislike written coding tests, and I share three main reasons.

1. Test content is detached from real work Most written exams focus on memorizing basic concepts or algorithms rather than the engineering thinking, system design, or business understanding needed in actual development, reducing candidates to “test machines”.

2. Tests become a power performance rather than technical dialogue Companies often use tests as a gatekeeper to showcase their screening authority; some even include hundreds of IQ questions, turning the process into a humiliating display of power and sometimes a stage for interviewers to show off.

3. Scores invalidate real work A programmer’s value lies in solving problems with code and communicating complex systems, but written tests compress ability into a paper score, ignoring projects, open‑source contributions, and real‑world credibility, making candidates feel reduced to a number.

When I became an interviewer, I preferred conversation over tests, believing that respectful dialogue better evaluates true engineering capability.