Top 45 IBM Interview Questions and Answers

IBM is a renowned IT corporation that operates in more than 170 nations. Its services encompass hardware and software products such as computers, servers, storage systems, and networking equipment. The recruitment process at IBM typically consists of three stages: written tests, technical interviews, and HR evaluations. Additionally, they offer a range of consulting, technology, and business solutions, including cloud computing, data analytics, and AI. If you are planning to apply for a job at IBM or have an interview scheduled with them, it’s important to prepare yourself thoroughly. To help you adequately prepare for your IBM interview, we have compiled some of the top IBM interview questions along with their answers. These questions cover various aspects such as technical skills, problem-solving abilities, teamwork experience, etc.

IBM Company Interview Process

When applying for a position at IBM, candidates must complete three stages of the IBM recruitment process. These assessments evaluate both their technical expertise and analytical skills. The three steps are as follows:

1. Apply for the Job Role

To begin, it is necessary to complete the application for the desired position through the official website of the company. Additionally, you have the option to become part of their talent network to receive timely updates on new openings and maintain a connection with them.

2. Application Screening

Once you have submitted your application, a team of professionals will carefully review it to determine if you are eligible for the next stage.

3. Physical Interview

If you successfully pass the online assessments, you will be invited for a personal interview consisting of two rounds. That is the Technical and HR round.

IBM Company Aptitude Questions and Answers

Below are the top IBM interview questions and answers to enable you to effectively prepare for your IBM aptitude interview:

Q1. If Rs 20/- is available to pay for typing a research report, and typist produces 42 pages while typist B produces 28 pages, how much should typist A receive?

Answer: If typist A produced 42 pages and typist B produced 28 pages out of the total Rs. 20 available, then typist A should receive Rs. 20 * (42/70) = Rs. 12, and typist B should receive Rs. 20 * (28/70) = Rs. 8.
Therefore, typist A will receive = Rs. 8.

Q2. Evaluate the following sentence:

• Statement I: Some C are T
• Statement II: Some T are R 
• Statement III: All R is M
• Conclusion I: Therefore, some M must be T 
• Conclusion II: Some C must also be M

Select the appropriate answer based on the sentences.

a). Only conclusion II is true.
b). Neither conclusion I nor conclusion II is true
c). Only conclusion I is true.
d). Both conclusions I and II are true.
e). Either conclusion I or conclusion II is true

Answer: Option (c) only conclusion I is true.

Q3. A person travels to their office at a speed of 50 km/hr, causing them to arrive two hours late. If they increase their speed to 60 km/hr, they arrive only one hour late. What is the distance they need to travel to reach their office, and what speed is required to arrive on time?

Answer:

The distance he has to travel to reach his office = 300km
The speed required to reach the office = 75 km/h

Step-by-step explanation:

Let the distance = x km.
Time taken at 50 km/h = distance/speed = x/50 = 2 hours late
Time taken at 60km/h = distance/speed = x/60 = 1-hour late
Difference between the time taken = 120-60 = 60 mins = 60/60 hours
x/50 – x/60 = 60/60x
x/300=1x = 300km

When he travels at 50km/h.
total time taken to reach office = 300/50 = 6 hours
But he is 2 hours late.
When he travels at 60km/h
Total time taken to reach the office = is 300/60 = 5 hours
But he is 1 hour late.

From above we conclude that he has to travel 4 hours hours to reach office on time.

Therefore, the speed required to reach the office on time = 300/4 = 75km/h

Q4. When two dice are thrown simultaneously, what is the probability of getting a total of 10 or 11?

Answer:
When two dice are thrown, the possible totals are 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.

There are 3 ways to get 10 (4+6, 5+5, 6+4) and 2 ways to get 11 (5+6, 6+5). 

Therefore, the probability of getting 10 or 11 = 5/36. 

Q5. Consider the following statement: 

“The price of safeda mango at ₹200/kg is unreasonably high.” Assumptions are that other types of mangoes have fair prices and paying ₹200 for a safeda mango is considered expensive. Choose the correct option below.

a). If either I or II is implicit.
b). If neither I nor II is implicit.
c). If only assumption I is implicit
d). If both I and II are implicit.
e). If only assumption II is implicit.

Answer: The right answer is (e), and only assumption II is implicit.

Q6. The printed price of a book is ₹ 400. A bookseller offers a 10% discount on it. If the bookseller still earns a profit of 12%, what is the cost price of the book?

Answer:
S.P = 360 Rs. 

If Profit = 12% then 1.12 x C.P = S.P 1.12 x C.P = 360 C.P = ₹ 321.43. 
If Profit = 12 Rs. then C.P = ₹348 

Therefore, the cost price of the book is ₹348 

Q7. Printer A prints 8192 characters per minute, and Printer B prints 13862 characters per minute. Four characters are equal to one word. If Printer A starts at 7:15 AM and Printer B starts at 7:29 AM, at what time will both printers have printed the same number of words?

Answer:
Four characters are equal to one word. “F our characters are equal to one word.”

8192/4 x (t+14) = 13862/4 x t
8192 x (t+14) = 13862 x t yields the same result t = 20.2272 minutes = about 20 min 14 sec 7:49:14 am 
8192/4 x (t+14) = 13862/4 x t  8192 x (t+14) = 13862 x t yields the same result t = 20.2272 minutes = about 20 min 14 sec 7:49:14 am.

Therefore, the time for both printers to print the same number of words will be 20 min 14 sec 7:49:14 am.

Q8. Ten men and fifteen women together can complete a work in 6 days. If it takes one man alone 100 days to complete the same work, how many days will it take one woman alone to complete the same work?

Answer:
1 man’s 1-day work =1/100
let 1 woman’s 1-day work = 1/x.

Therefore, (1/10) + (15/x) = (1/6) x 

The total number of days for a woman to complete the same work will be 225 days.

Q9. Two numbers have a ratio of 3:5, but if each number is increased by 10, the ratio between them becomes 5:7. What are the two numbers?

Answer:
Let the two numbers be 3x and 5x.

Then, 3x + 10 / 5x + 10 = 5/7
Solving, we get x = 10.

So the numbers are 30 and 50.

Q10. Take into account the following statement: 

Ram’s appointment letter includes the line “You are hereby appointed as a systems engineer with a probation period of two years and your performance will be evaluated at the end of this period for confirmation.” It is assumed that:

I. Upon being hired, one’s performance may not yet be known. 

II. During the probationary time frame, individuals typically strive to demonstrate their capabilities. Select the appropriate choice from the options provided.

a). If both I and II are implicit.
b). If either I or II is implicit.
c). If only assumption I is implicit
d). If neither I nor II is implicit.
e). If only assumption II is implicit.

Answer: The right answer is (a) If both I and II are implicit.

Q11. A man rows 30 km downstream and 18 km upstream, taking 5 hours each time. What is the velocity of the stream (current)?

Answer:
Let the speed of the boat in still water be x km/hr.
Downstream speed = x + y
Upstream speed = x – y

Where y is the stream velocity.
30/(x+y) + 18/(x-y) = 10 (5 hours each way)

Solving, we get y = 5 km/hr.

Therefore, the velocity of the stream current is 5 km/hr.

Q12. Foreign language broadcast records last 90 minutes on each of the two sides. If it takes 5 hours to translate one hour of the broadcast, how long will it take to translate 16 full records?

Answer:
One hour of broadcast takes 5 hours to translate.

So,16 records of 90 mins each = 16 * 1.5 = 24 hours of broadcast Time to translate = 24 * 5 = 120 hours
Therefore, the amount of time required to translate 16 full records is 120 hours.

Q13. A is twice as fast as B, and B is thrice as fast as C. The journey covered by C in 42 minutes will be covered by A in?

Answer:
Let C’s speed be x km/hr. 
Then B’s speed = 3x km/hr 
And A’s speed = 6x km/hr 

Distance = 42x km
Time taken by A = 42x/6x 

Therefore, the journey covered by A will be 7 minutes

Q14. Evaluate the following statements:

• Statement II: All mangoes are bananas. 
• Statement II: Some bananas are globes, 
• Statement III: all globes are square. 

Conclusion: Therefore, it can be concluded that some mangoes are square (option I) or no mango is actually square (option II).

a). Only conclusion I is true.
b). Only conclusion II is true.
c). Both conclusions I and II are true.
d). Either conclusion I or conclusion II is true
e). Neither Conclusion I nor Conclusion II is true

Answer: The right answer is (d) either conclusion I or conclusion II is true

Q15. The given statement states that all C are J, all J are B, and no B is R. Based on this information, we can draw the following conclusions: 

• Conclusion I: All B belong to group C. 
• Conclusion II: Some members of group J also fall under category C.

Select the appropriate answer from the options provided below:

1. Neither Conclusion I nor Conclusion II is true
2. Only conclusion I is true.
3. Only conclusion II is true.
4. Both conclusions I and II are true.
5. Either conclusion I or conclusion II is true

Answer: Option (c) only conclusion II is true.

IBM HR Interview Questions and Answers

Here are the commonly asked IBM HR interview questions and answers to practice for your interview.

Q16. Tell me about yourself

Answer: I am a dedicated and adaptable professional with a background in international business and corporate strategy. Throughout my career, I have honed my skills in market analysis, strategic planning, and cross-cultural communication. I am passionate about exploring new markets and driving growth in multinational corporations.

Pro Tip: Here is how you can answer the question, ‘Tell me about yourself,’ in an interview.

Q17. Why should you be hired?

Answer: I am well-equipped with the necessary skills, experience, and determination to excel in this position. My proficiency in data analysis and cybersecurity allows me to effectively analyze data and offer valuable insights to businesses. Additionally, my unwavering commitment drives me toward delivering exceptional results.

Pro Tip: Here is how you can answer the question, ‘Why should we hire you,’ in an interview.

Q18. Why do you want to work for IBM?

Answer: The company’s mission and innovative projects have captured my interest. Additionally, the relaxed and welcoming work atmosphere aligns perfectly with my personality. I am enthusiastic about joining the team and utilizing my abilities to support the company’s growth. 

Q19. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Answer: One of my key strengths is my ability to analyze complex data and market trends to identify growth opportunities. I am also skilled at building strong relationships with stakeholders and leading teams to achieve common goals. Additionally, my adaptability and willingness to embrace change have enabled me to thrive in fast-paced and dynamic environments. While I strive for perfection in my work, I recognize that I can sometimes be overly critical of my performance. However, I have learned to view constructive feedback as an opportunity for growth and continuously work on developing a more balanced perspective. Additionally, I am actively working on improving my time management skills to ensure optimal efficiency in my day-to-day tasks.

Pro Tip: Here is how you can answer the question, ‘What are your strengths and weaknesses,’ in an interview.

Q20. Can you work under pressure?

Answer: Throughout my professional experience, I have frequently faced demanding circumstances such as strict timelines and difficult project specifications. In these scenarios, I utilize my exceptional organizational abilities to prioritize tasks and effectively communicate with others to remain productive and achieve desired outcomes. Rather than succumbing to pressure, I embrace it as an opportunity to showcase my capabilities and perform my best.

Pro Tip: Here is how you can answer the question, ‘How do you handle stress and pressure,’ in an interview.

Q21. How do you distinguish confidence from overconfidence?

Answer: I believe confidence is rooted in self-assurance and a belief in one’s abilities, while overconfidence is characterized by a lack of humility and an exaggerated sense of one’s capabilities. Confident individuals are open to feedback, willing to acknowledge their limitations, and constantly seek growth opportunities. 
On the other hand, overconfident individuals may disregard feedback, underestimate risks, and overestimate their abilities, which can lead to poor decision-making and interpersonal conflicts. As a professional, I strive to maintain a healthy level of confidence and humility and recognize that there is always room for improvement and learning.

Q22. Would you be willing to lie for the company?

Answer: I believe in maintaining honesty and integrity in all aspects of my work. Trust is essential in building strong relationships with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders, and I am committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in my professional conduct. If I ever encounter a situation where honesty is compromised, I would address it with transparency and integrity, seeking to find a solution that aligns with the company’s values and ethical guidelines.

Q23. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Answer: In 10 years, I envision myself in a leadership role within IBM, driving strategic initiatives and contributing to the company’s long-term success. I aspire to be recognized as a thought leader in the field of international business and technology, leveraging my expertise to shape industry trends and mentor the next generation of professionals. 
Additionally, I see myself actively involved in initiatives that drive social impact and promote sustainability, aligning with IBM’s commitment to creating a better world through innovation and collaboration.

Here is how you can answer the question, ‘Where do you see yourself in 10 years’ in an interview.

Q24. How do you feel about working overtime and on weekends?

Answer: I am fully committed to meeting project deadlines and achieving organizational goals, and I understand that occasional overtime or weekend work may be necessary to accomplish these objectives. While I value work-life balance and prioritize time for personal well-being and family commitments, I am willing to go the extra mile when needed to ensure the success of critical projects or address urgent business needs. 
However, I also believe in the importance of time management and effective workload planning to minimize the need for excessive overtime and maintain a healthy work-life balance for myself and my team.

Q25. What inspires you most?

Answer: I am most inspired by the opportunity to make a positive impact and drive meaningful change through my work. This involves developing innovative solutions to address complex business challenges or collaborating with diverse teams to achieve common goals. It is deeply satisfying for me to know that my contributions have a valuable impact on the organizations I work with and the communities they serve. I am motivated by the opportunity to continuously learn, grow, and push the boundaries of what is possible.

IBM Interview Questions and Answers for Freshers

Below are the most frequently asked IBM interview questions and answers for freshers:

Q26. Explain the functions of an operating system.

Answer: The main functions of an operating system are:

• Process Management: Scheduling processes, allocating CPU time, and handling inter-process communication.
• Memory Management: Allocating and deallocating memory for processes in RAM and virtual memory.
• File Management: Creating, deleting, and modifying files and folders on storage devices.
• I/O Device Management: Communicating with I/O devices like printers, keyboards, etc through drivers.
• Security: User authentication, authorization, protecting system resources.
• Command Interpretation: Interpreting commands from users or applications.

Q27. What is the difference between primary memory and secondary memory in the context of a computer? 

Answer: Primary memory (main memory) refers to fast-access volatile memory like RAM that holds data and program instructions for active use. Secondary memory (auxiliary memory) refers to non-volatile storage devices like hard disks, SSDs, and CDs that store data permanently even when power is off. Primary memory is faster but temporary, while secondary memory is slower but persistent storage.

Q28. Explain the term Database Management System 

Answer: A Database Management System (DBMS) is a software system designed to create, store, manage, and access databases efficiently and conveniently. It serves as an interface between the database and end-users or applications, ensuring security, data integrity, concurrency control, backup/recovery, and uniform data administration.

Q29. What are the ACID properties of a transaction in the context of a database management system? 

Answer: ACID refers to the four crucial properties that a transaction must satisfy in a DBMS:

• Atomicity: A transaction is completed entirely or not at all.
• Consistency: A transaction transforms the database from one valid state to another.
• Isolation: Transactions execute independently of each other.
• Durability: Changes from a committed transaction are permanently stored.

Q30. Define the term arrays. 

Answer: An array is a sequential data structure that holds a group of elements of identical data types in adjacent memory slots. Arrays permit direct access to elements through indexes beginning from 0, with the size required to be indicated during declaration.

Q31. What is a deadlock in the context of operating systems?

Answer: In an operating system, a deadlock is a situation where two or more processes are waiting indefinitely for each other to release resources they will never release, resulting in all processes being stuck forever. It occurs due to a circular wait for resources like CPU cycles, memory, I/O, etc.

Q32. What is procedural programming?

Answer: Procedural programming is a programming paradigm based on the concept of procedural calls or functions/procedures. A procedural program is composed of one or more functions/procedures that operate on data and control the sequence of execution by calling procedures in a specific order. 

Q33. What is virtual memory in the context of operating systems? 

Answer: Virtual memory is a memory management technique where the operating system maps memory addresses used by a program to physical memory addresses. It allows programs to be run with a memory address space larger than available RAM by using disk storage as an extension of RAM. This avoids having to load the entire program into the main memory.

Q34. Explain the three types of schedulers in the context of operating systems. 

Answer: The three main types of schedulers in an OS are:

• Long-term Scheduler: It selects processes from the job pool and loads them into memory for execution.
• Short-term scheduler: It selects one of the processes in memory that is ready to execute and allocates CPU cycles to it.
• Medium-term Scheduler: It handles processes by temporarily removing them from memory and moving them to virtual memory to free up RAM space.

Q35. What are strings? 

Answer: Strings are sequences of characters used to represent text data in programming languages. In memory, they are typically stored as arrays of characters with a null terminator. Common operations on strings include concatenation, finding substrings, lengthy calculations, searching, modifying characters, etc.

IBM Technical Interview Questions and Answers

Below are the most commonly asked IBM technical interview questions and answers:

Q36. State a few key advantages of Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS) over simple custom database systems. 

Answer: DBMS was not designed to manage large quantities of data, whereas RDBMS is capable of handling significant amounts. Retrieving information from a DBMS can be challenging due to its limitations. In contrast, thanks to the relational model, accessing data stored in an RDBMS is relatively easy.

Q37. How are strings stored and manipulated?

Answer: Strings are saved in computer memory as a series of characters, with each character taking up its own designated space. Essentially, strings are a type of data used in coding like integers and decimals; however, they serve the purpose of representing text rather than numerical values.

Q38. What does ‘Sudo’ access mean in Unix/Linux systems?

Answer: Sudo means “superuser do”. It allows users to run programs with the security privileges of the superuser or root.

Q39. What is a function declaration, and how is it different from a function definition?

Answer: A function declaration informs the compiler of a function’s name, return type, and parameters. On the other hand, a function definition contains the actual code that makes up the body of the function. 

Q40. What is a union in C/C++?  

Answer: A union is a custom data type that allows all of its members to occupy the same memory location. In simpler terms, this means that only one object from the list of members can be stored in a union at any given moment.

Q41. How does a structure differ from a union in C/C++? 

Answer: A structure does not have a singular location where all of its members are stored. This results in the overall size of a structure being at least equal to, if not larger than, the combined sizes of its data members. On the other hand, a union does not allocate separate locations for each member within it.

Q42. Explain the term index of an element in C++. How are array elements numbered? 

Answer: The index is the position number of an element in an array. In C++, array indexes start from 0, so the first element has an index of 0, the second has an index of 1, and so on.

Q43. List two key advantages of using stored procedures in databases. 

Answer: Two advantages of using stored procedures in databases are:

1. Improved performance by reducing client-server traffic since procedures run directly on the server.
2. Increased security by controlling what databases the procedures can access.

Q44. What is the difference between a global and local prototype in JavaScript?

Answer: Local prototypes refer to the ones that are present inside the definition of a calling function, while global prototypes pertain to those found before defining and calling said function. 

Q45. How are one-dimensional arrays represented and stored in memory? 

Answer: A one-dimensional array, also referred to as a single-dimensional array, is an ordered collection where the elements are accessed sequentially. The index of each column or row serves as a means of accessing the contents within this type of array. Each element can be represented by a single subscript and they are stored in memory consecutively.

Tips & Tricks to Ace IBM Interview

Below are practical tips to guide you in answering the top questions asked in an IBM job interview.

1. Research Role and Company

The interview process at IBM evaluates your compatibility with the company’s culture and principles. It is important to familiarize yourself with their culture and values beforehand to demonstrate how your professional goal aligns with the company’s values.

2. Practice Interview Questions

The interview process at IBM consists of several rounds and typically includes common interview questions. To prepare, it is recommended to practice answering these questions with the help of a friend, family member, or mentor to build confidence and improve responses.

3.  Demonstrate Problem-Solving Skills

The assessment process at IBM evaluates your problem-solving skills, which play a crucial role in technical positions. During the interview, endeavour to showcase your aptitude for tackling complex problems and offering rational solutions.

4. Exhibit Confidence

Demonstrate authenticity and embrace your true self during interviews. Avoid trying to portray someone you are not, it’s alright if you don’t have all the answers, and honesty is always appreciated. Additionally, dress appropriately for the role you’re applying for and show enthusiasm for the opportunity at hand.

Conclusion

Preparing for and practising these top IBM interview questions can greatly increase your chances of success. To effectively prepare for an interview with IBM, it is essential to have a comprehensive understanding of the company’s values and principles, as well as a clear understanding of the particular position you are applying for. By conducting thorough research on the organization and rehearsing commonly asked interview questions, you can confidently demonstrate your skills and how they align with IBM’s goals. Also, check out this quick guide on how to get a job in IBM.

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