[cosmosa]

I've seen many different formats used.

1. Focus on open ended questions with very little programming

2. Give very difficult algorithm questions 3. Take home assignment

4. Knowledge based questions

5. Brain teasers

By far I think the most useful is take home assignment as it is the most fun, relaxed, and realistic way to measure someone's ability to code.

I don't think algorithm questions are that realistic because usually they are unrealistically difficult.

Mixture of take home and knowledge based questions with maybe some algorithm questions of realistic difficulty is best.