Grind 75 vs LeetCode patterns: Right for Amazon coding interviews

What if I told you the single most important factor in an Amazon coding interview isn’t how many problems you’ve solved, but how you think? That’s the real difference between a candidate who simply recalls a solution and one who can engineer a new one on the spot, something that can truly set you apart from hundreds of others.

Many candidates treat coding interview prep like a numbers game: the more problems they solve, the better their chances at securing the offer. The truth is, success depends less on quantity and more on targeted practice that focuses on the right questions.

So, what helps you prepare smartly for Amazon coding interviews?

We’ll explore the answer to this in this blog. I’ll compare Grind 75 and Amazon top 75 questions against the 28 LeetCode patterns from Grokking the Coding Interview Patterns. We’ll look at the real coverage each approach offers, identify any oversights, and then build an Amazon-focused roadmap that points you to the right problems while keeping your prep efficient.

Sneak peek: How we evaluated Amazon interview prep strategies

Every software engineer understands the value of data. So, why rely on a preparation method that isn’t backed by it? With countless expert reviews and recommendations claiming one coding interview strategy is better than another, how do you know who’s actually right? What’s the benchmark everyone should follow?

To avoid yet another qualitative analysis, I created a simple 1–2–1 rubric and scoring method, introduced in the first blog: Grind 75 vs. LeetCode Patterns: Most Effective for Interviews?, of this series. Let’s quickly revisit that rubric.

To adequately cover a pattern, you need to practice one easy problem for 1 point, two medium problems for 8 points (4 each), and one hard problem for 6 points. This way, you are not just exposed to a pattern, but also confident in applying it across different levels of difficulty. That makes 15 points per pattern.

With 28 patterns in total, the maximum score is 420 points. The closer your prep strategy gets to this number, the more complete and reliable it is for Amazon interviews.

Now that we have this benchmark, let’s see how Grind 75 and Amazon’s top 75 perform against it.

The score comparison for Amazon coding interview prep tells an interesting story. Grind 75 gets you only 41% of the way, Amazon’s top 75 pushes that to 50%, and a focused Amazon prep roadmap raises it further to 60%. You might now be wondering: what exactly is this Amazon-focused roadmap? That’s exactly what we’ll uncover in this blog. We’ll go beyond the raw numbers to see which LeetCode patterns contribute to these scores, how well each pattern is covered under the 1–2–1 rubric, and how you can close the remaining 40% gap to reach complete Amazon interview readiness.

Grind 75, Amazon top 75, and LeetCode patterns: Quick overview#

Grind 75 builds on the well-known Blind 75 list, offering a curated set of LeetCode problems for efficient coding interview prep. It covers key data structures, algorithms, and patterns frequently asked by top tech companies, such as Arrays, Binary Trees, and Dynamic Programming.

Amazon top 75 is a list compiled from questions frequently asked in Amazon interviews, as per LeetCode. It is tailored to questions that reflect Amazon’s interview style.

LeetCode coding patterns are common problem-solving templates or strategies that appear repeatedly across different coding questions. They help you recognize the underlying structure of a problem so you can apply a known approach instead of starting from scratch. There are a total of 28 LeetCode coding patterns, and a few common patterns include Sliding Window, Two Pointers, Modified Binary Search, Backtracking, and Merge Intervals.

Is solving Grind 75 enough to crack Amazon’s coding round?#

Grind 75 has been a go-to list for years, but relying on it alone is not enough to succeed in Amazon coding interviews in 2025. The list was created as a static set of problems, and while it introduces important topics, it does not reflect how Amazon’s interview questions continue to evolve. For example, if we look at Amazon’s top 10 frequently asked coding problems, 3 of them are missing from Grind 75 (highlighted in green in the table below), and as interviews evolve, that gap is likely to grow.

Today’s interviews focus more on variations, edge cases, and your ability to adapt quickly. Memorizing a fixed set of problems will not build these skills. So, while Grind 75 can serve as a solid starting point for Amazon coding interview prep, it should not be your only strategy.

How LeetCode patterns help with Amazon coding interviews#

LeetCode patterns takes a different approach from static lists like Grind 75 or Amazon 75. Instead of focusing on individual problems, they group questions by the underlying strategies used to solve them. For example, consider an Amazon array problem that asks you to find the maximum sum subarray with size k. If you know the Sliding Window pattern, you can solve this quickly, and you can also handle related variations like finding the longest substring without repeating characters or tracking moving averages. One pattern unlocks many problems.

This approach is especially useful for Amazon interviews because the problems often feel familiar, but come with unexpected twists. Rather than hoping you have solved the exact question before, patterns give you a reusable framework. You quickly recognize what type of problem you are dealing with, narrow down the right approach, and adapt it to the variation Amazon has introduced.

Patterns also ensure coverage. By mastering all 28, you eliminate gaps and build confidence that no matter what comes your way, you have seen its structure before. More importantly, it is far better to deliberately target patterns than to indirectly practice hundreds of LeetCode problems without knowing what skills you are actually building.

An overview of LeetCode patterns for Amazon coding interviews#

Amazon’s coding interview problems also build on the same 28 LeetCode patterns. What helps in preparation is not just being aware of these patterns, but knowing how frequently they come up in Amazon interviews and how they shape the problem-solving process. To make this practical, I’ve organized them into four categories:

• Must-know patterns: These coding patterns appear again and again in different rounds, so mastering them is the single biggest step you can take toward being interview-ready.

• High-value patterns: These appear often enough that skipping them creates noticeable gaps. Practicing them builds confidence and ensures you can handle a wide range of common Amazon-style variations.

• Situational patterns: While not as frequent, these often determine whether you can handle curveballs.

• Finishing-line helpers: Rarely tested, but still worth reviewing. Covering them makes sure you have no gaps if Amazon asks you something unexpected.

Amazon might weigh some categories more heavily than others, but aiming to practice across all 28 patterns ensures you are ready for both the standard and the surprising parts of the interview.

Amazon coding interview roadmap#

Preparing for Amazon interviews should not be about choosing Grind 75, Amazon’s top 75, or LeetCode Patterns in isolation. The smarter approach is to combine them into a single, structured roadmap that gives you both focus and flexibility. Here’s how you can reach all 28 patterns step-by-step.

1. Start with the overlap between Grind 75 and Amazon’s top 75: These shared problems give you the best of both worlds, i.e., they are widely recognized across coding interview prep communities and highly relevant to Amazon’s style. This overlap creates a strong foundation without extra effort.

2. Move to Amazon-only questions: These problems reflect the unique variations that Amazon interviewers are known for. By tackling them next, you sharpen your ability to adapt to Amazon’s specific expectations.

3. Complete the remaining Grind 75: While some of these questions are not Amazon-specific, finishing the set ensures breadth across core data structures and algorithms. This step helps you avoid gaps in patterns that may still appear in Amazon interviews.

4. Fill the gaps with targeted pattern practice: Finally, use the 28 LeetCode patterns to identify any oversights left uncovered by either list. Apply the 1–2–1 rubric to make sure each pattern has at least one easy, two medium, and one hard problem. This guarantees depth as well as breadth.

By following this roadmap, you can avoid grinding hundreds of random problems. Instead, you can build a preparation strategy that is structured, tailored to Amazon, and complete across all patterns.

Why begin your prep with the Grind 75 and Amazon 75 overlap?#

Starting with the overlap between Grind 75 and Amazon 75 ensures your effort pays off on both fronts. These shared problems are widely recognized across interview prep circles and also align closely with Amazon’s interview style. By tackling them first, you quickly build a solid foundation while avoiding duplicate work.

Let’s take a look at the common coding problems shared by Grind 75 and Amazon’s top 75.

The list above shows that 28 out of 75 problems overlap between Grind 75 and Amazon’s top 75, which comes to about 37%. This is a great starting point for your Amazon coding interview prep.

Now, let’s see which patterns these overlapping coding problems cover and how well they measure up against the 1–2–1 rubric. In the bar chart below, each bar represents a pattern. The length of the bar shows what percent of the full 15 points you’ve earned for that pattern, while the label highlights how many easy, medium, and hard problems went into that score.

Note: For this calculation, I have only considered the counts that satisfy our 1–2–1 rubric. If a pattern has more questions than required by the rubric, I count only 1 easy, 2 medium, and 1 hard problem. For example, if Dynamic Programming has 10 medium questions, I have included just 2 in this calculation.

The bar chart above shows that starting with the overlap between Grind 75 and Amazon 75, you already see strong gains. This set introduces 17 out of 28 patterns, which is more than half the coding patterns, (about 60%).

As per the coverage, Two Pointers is well-covered, while Sliding Window is only partially covered as of now. Majority of the patterns are underrepresented and need to be addressed with full focus. The good part is that once you know a pattern, you can fully cover it using the 1–2–1 rubric.

Why Amazon-specific questions are the next step in your prep#

Once you have covered the overlap, the next logical step is to focus on Amazon-only questions. These problems reflect Amazon’s distinct interview style, with variations, constraints, and twists that are not emphasized in Grind 75. They also unlock new patterns that might otherwise go unpracticed.

Let’s see which patterns are covered by practicing Amazon-specific coding problems.

The list above shows that Amazon-relevant coding problems introduce 8 new patterns, bringing the total to 25 out of 28 (about 89%). This is a major milestone, showing that the Amazon-focused prep roadmap is moving you strongly in the right direction.

Now, let’s evaluate the depth of patterns covered by the Amazon-specific problem set using the 1–2–1 rubric. The bar chart below highlights the newly covered patterns in green on the y-axis.

The bar chart above shows that adding the Amazon-only problems takes the pattern coverage even further. A couple of patterns like Modified Binary Search and In-Place Manipulation of a Linked List also reach the green zone, i.e., they are now well-covered. Several other patterns, such as Backtracking, Heaps, and Tree Traversals, rise into the yellow band, i.e., they are now partially covered.

Some patterns are still underrepresented and need targeted practice.

Should you still complete all of Grind 75?#

After finishing the overlap and Amazon-only problems, the rest of Grind 75 might feel optional. Yet completing it adds value. These remaining questions broaden your exposure to different problem types and strengthen coverage across patterns that Amazon might still test. Even if they are not Amazon-specific, they train you to think flexibly and solve problems in new contexts.

Let’s look at the patterns you strengthen by practicing the remaining Grind 75 coding questions.

The list above shows that practicing the remaining Grind 75 coding problems introduces 1 new coding pattern. Every pattern counts, and this takes the total number of known patterns to 26 out of 28, or about 93%. This is an amazing achievement because at this point, you have exposure to nearly the entire spectrum of patterns that Amazon interviews rely on.

Now, let’s see how well the coding patterns from the remaining Grind 75 set are covered using the 1–2–1 rubric.

The bar chart above shows that completing the remaining Grind 75 expands the coverage once more. Patterns like Stacks and Tree Traversals hit full coverage, joining Dynamic Programming, Modified Binary Search, and Two Pointers in the green zone. Some patterns, like Hash Maps and Trie, are now partially covered.

A handful of patterns are still weak and need additional attention.

Is your Amazon coding interview prep complete now?#

By this stage, you might be wondering how close does this Amazon-focused roadmap actually gets you to complete preparation? The bar chart below gives a clear picture, showing which of the 28 patterns are well covered, which still need work, and how balanced your Amazon prep really is so far.

The bar chart above shows that five patterns are now in the green zone, which means they are fully covered across easy, medium, and hard levels. This is a solid achievement and gives you depth in Amazon’s most commonly tested areas.

Most of the remaining patterns are in the yellow or red zones. These are partially covered but can be completed with just a few more targeted problems. For example, Sliding Window, In-Place Manipulation of a Linked List, Backtracking, and Trie are close to full coverage and need only one medium coding problem to hit green.

The red zone highlights patterns that are still underrepresented, such as Merge Intervals, Subsets, Top K Elements, and Graphs. Most of these require two more coding problems to strengthen.

Most importantly, two patterns, Sort and Search and Bitwise Manipulation, were not covered at all in any stage. These need your full attention and should be practiced deliberately using the 1–2–1 rubric. Here are some recommended coding problems to practice for Sort and Search and Bitwise Manipulation.

Patterns recap for Amazon coding interview prep#

Let’s look at the overall pattern coverage across the roadmap. The pie chart below shows the percentage of the 28 patterns covered at each stage. This gives you a high-level view of how your Amazon prep progresses and where the biggest gains come from.

The breakdown shows that most of the progress comes from the common patterns between Grind 75 and Amazon top 75, which alone cover about 61% of the total. This confirms that starting with the overlap gives you the biggest early advantage.

The Amazon-only problems add another 29%, making them the next major contributor. Together, these two stages already cover close to 90% of the patterns.

The remaining Grind 75 problems contribute just a small slice at around 4%, while the uncovered patterns still make up about 7%. Now, they have been identified.

Score summary for Amazon coding interview prep #

Scores provide a concrete way to measure progress. Using the 1–2–1 rubric, the chart below shows how each stage of the Amazon interview prep roadmap adds to your total, and how close this sequence brings you to the 420-point target.

The score breakdown shows steady progress at each stage of the Amazon prep roadmap. The common problems between Grind 75 and Amazon top 75 contribute 92 points, giving you a strong foundation early on. Adding the Amazon-only problems adds another 117 points, making it the single largest contributor to the total. Completing the remaining Grind 75 adds 45 more points, pushing the combined score to 254 out of 420.

That leaves 166 points still on the table, which can be achieved by directly targeting underrepresented patterns using the 1–2–1 rubric. This means the roadmap already gets you 60% of the way there, and the rest can be closed with focused practice.

Final take: Grind 75 vs. LeetCode coding patterns#

Static lists like Grind 75 or Amazon’s top 75 can give you structure, but they are not enough on their own. Amazon’s interviews test adaptability, not memorization. Solving hundreds of LeetCode problems has little value unless you can extract the underlying strategies and apply them to new variations. That is where understanding the coding patterns becomes crucial.

Think of it this way: they are complementary. Use a list to decide what to practice. Use patterns to understand how to reason. Together, they give you both direction and depth.

The best way to cover all 28 coding patterns is to follow a hybrid Amazon coding interview prep strategy:

1. Start with the overlap between Grind 75 and Amazon 75 to build a strong base.

2. Tackle Amazon-only questions to learn company-specific twists and patterns.

3. Complete the remaining Grind 75 for breadth across core topics.

4. Finish with targeted pattern-based practice to fill any gaps.

For Amazon interview prep in 2025, this balance is crucial. Lists alone will leave certain oversights. Similarly, patterns alone may lack focus. However, when combined into a structured roadmap, they ensure complete coverage, practical skill-building, and confidence that you can handle whatever challenge Amazon puts in front of you.

Recommended resources to level up your coding interview prep#

While this blog offers you a data-driven way to measure and close your prep gaps, the right learning tools can accelerate your progress even further. Here are two highly effective resources to complement your study plan:

• Educative’s Personalized Interview Prep: It’s your tailored prep companion that adapts to your skill level and focuses on the 28 essential LeetCode patterns we’ve been discussing. You can work on the patterns that need the most attention, track progress with clear metrics, and know exactly what to tackle next. Whether it’s adding an easy problem to build confidence or a hard one to push for mastery, you’ll always be working on the right problems at the right time.

• Educative’s Mock Interviews: Practicing is not just about solving problems. It is also about handling real interview pressure. Educative’s AI mock interviews let you simulate actual interview conditions, get actionable feedback, and improve in areas like problem-solving speed. This way, you are not only technically prepared but also confident and ready to perform under time constraints.