NeetCode 150 vs. LeetCode Patterns: Which is best for Microsoft?

Landing a job at Microsoft feels like qualifying for the Olympics of tech careers: intense, selective, and designed to filter only the very best. Industry data shows that Microsoft receives nearly 2 million applications every year, and only about 1–2% of candidates make it through. That level of competition means your Microsoft interview prep cannot just be hard; it has to be smart.

The challenge is not the lack of resources but knowing which strategy actually moves the needle for Microsoft. Some candidates dive into hundreds of Microsoft-tagged LeetCode problems, but the sheer volume raises a question: how many are enough? Others fall back on structured sets like Blind 75 or NeetCode 150, but do they really map to what Microsoft values in interviews? A newer mindset is to focus on mastering 28 LeetCode Patterns that give you the tools to solve almost any coding problem, yet this leads to another question: where should you even start?

So, which path should you take to become Microsoft-ready?

In this blog, I will compare NeetCode 150 and Microsoft Top 150 problems against LeetCode Patterns, from Grokking the Coding Interview Patterns, specifically for Microsoft interviews. I will use facts and data to show where each approach helps, where they leave gaps, and most importantly, how you can combine them into a Microsoft-focused roadmap that maximizes your chances of walking out with an offer.

A sneak peek into Microsoft interview prep strategies#

It is difficult to track the effectiveness of the hundreds of coding interview prep resources available today. That is why I developed a quantitative way of measuring how effective each approach really is. The scoring rubric, introduced in the first blog (NeetCode 150 vs. LeetCode patterns for coding interview prep) of this series, provides a consistent benchmark for comparison.

The rubric is simple. To cover a pattern adequately, you solve 1 easy problem (1 point), 2 medium problems (4 points each), and 1 hard problem (6 points). That adds up to 15 points per pattern. With 28 patterns, the benchmark comes to 420 points.

Now, let’s see how NeetCode 150 and Microsoft’s Top 100 measure up against this benchmark.

The score chart above gives only a high-level view. You might be wondering which problems and patterns actually contribute to these results, and more importantly, what this Microsoft-focused roadmap looks like and why it performs so strongly.

That is exactly what we will cover in this blog. The analysis goes beyond the summary results to show how well each pattern is covered, how the gaps are closed, and how a structured plan can put you in the best position to succeed in Microsoft coding interviews.

Overview of NeetCode 150, Microsoft Top 150, and LeetCode patterns#

NeetCode 150 is one of the most popular curated lists on LeetCode. It contains 150 problems carefully chosen to give broad coverage across arrays, strings, trees, graphs, and dynamic programming. Its main strength is structure: you do not have to decide which problems to do, you just follow the list. Many candidates like NeetCode 150 because it balances breadth and difficulty, but is still a significant time commitment.

Microsoft Top 150 is a set of problems on LeetCode tagged as most relevant to Microsoft. This “Top 150” gives you direct exposure to the style of questions that have appeared in past interviews. The strength of this list is relevance: if you want to practice questions with a proven Microsoft track record, this is where you start.

LeetCode patterns group coding questions into 28 fundamental strategies, such as Sliding Window, Two Pointers, or Backtracking. The value here is adaptability. Once you recognize the underlying pattern, you can solve countless variations of a problem, including the kind of twists and follow-ups that Microsoft interviewers often introduce. This approach is less about memorization and more about building long-term problem-solving skills.

Does NeetCode 150 alone really make you Microsoft-ready?#

NeetCode 150 builds a strong foundation in core computer science topics like arrays, strings, linked lists, and trees, which is great for handling basic coding questions. But Microsoft interviewers rarely stop at the first solution. Once you code something that works, they are quick to follow up: can you do it faster? What happens if the input grows ten times larger? How would you adapt your solution if memory were limited? These are the moments when knowing what Microsoft truly values becomes important.

At this point, many candidates might turn to Microsoft-tagged LeetCode questions. Practicing these can give you a good sense of the company’s style, but here is the catch: interviews evolve. In today’s era of AI and rapidly shifting systems, problems change, and so do the expectations. A question that was once common may no longer appear, while entirely new problem types may surface. If you are relying only on what you have practiced, you risk being surprised when the interviewer throws something unfamiliar at you.

So while NeetCode 150 gives you a strong baseline, it does not fully prepare you for Microsoft’s style of digging deeper and layering on variations. To be truly Microsoft-ready, you need both the breadth that NeetCode provides and the adaptability that comes from mastering underlying patterns.

How do LeetCode patterns prepare you for Microsoft interviews?#

Microsoft interviews emphasize adaptability. The company builds products like Azure, Teams, and Windows, and expects new hires to be adaptable enough to handle whatever challenges come their way. The impact is real because millions of users rely on these systems, so solutions must be robust, efficient, and ready for edge cases. This is where understanding the LeetCode patterns really shines.

Practicing one problem helps you with one scenario. Practicing a pattern, on the other hand, equips you to solve dozens of similar problems that share the same underlying structure.

For example, consider the two pointers pattern. On the surface, you might solve a simple array problem like removing duplicates. But the same pattern can then extend to checking for palindromes in strings, merging two sorted lists, or partitioning linked lists. Microsoft interviewers often shift between these contexts. If you know the pattern, you can adapt instantly instead of starting from scratch every time.

A quick overview of LeetCode patterns for Microsoft interviews#

When you first look at all 28 patterns, it is natural to feel overwhelmed about where to begin. To make this simpler, I have grouped them into four categories.

1. Must-knows: These are the patterns you are most likely to encounter in Microsoft interviews. They cover the classic data structures and problem types that appear again and again, and you should be comfortable with them.

2. Very common, high value: These patterns are not quite as universal as the first group, but they still show up frequently at Microsoft. They often test your ability to optimize and reason about trade-offs.

3. Solid but situational: This group contains patterns that are less common but still appear in Microsoft interviews from time to time. 

4. Finishing line helpers: Finally, there are a few niche patterns that Microsoft interviewers do not ask often, but they are useful to know for completeness. If one of these shows up, being prepared can set you apart from other candidates.

While some patterns appear more often in Microsoft interviews, it is always best and safest to build familiarity with the full set of 28.

A Microsoft-focused roadmap for covering all 28 patterns#

Preparing smartly for Microsoft means layering your resources instead of treating them as separate lists. Here is a practical four-step roadmap that balances NeetCode 150, Microsoft Top 150, and LeetCode Patterns to give you complete preparation:

1. Start with the NeetCode-Microsoft overlap: Start with the problems that show up in both NeetCode 150 and Microsoft Top 150. These are efficient to practice because every question strengthens your fundamentals and also reflects Microsoft’s past interview trends.

2. Tackle Microsoft-specific problems: Next, move on to the remaining problems in the Microsoft Top 150. These questions highlight the style Microsoft interviewers prefer.

3. Expand with NeetCode 150: After that, work through the NeetCode problems that are not part of the Microsoft set. This helps round out your knowledge across all core topics and ensures you are not missing patterns that might still surface in interviews.

4. Close gaps with patterns: Finally, cover any gaps by practicing directly from the 28 patterns. This step trains you to adapt when Microsoft throws something unfamiliar at you, giving you confidence that you can handle both old favorites and new variations.

As you follow this roadmap, keep the rubric and scoring framework I introduced earlier in the series in mind. The idea is not just to tick boxes on a list, but to develop real depth in every pattern. A balanced way to do this is to aim for one easy, two medium, and one hard problem per pattern. Track it with scores: 1 point for the easy, 4 points each for the mediums, and 6 points for the hard, and a total of 15 points per pattern.

When you apply this across all 28 patterns, you reach a perfect score of 420. Hitting this benchmark means you are not just familiar with Microsoft’s favorite problem types but have practiced them at multiple levels of difficulty. That level of coverage gives you confidence that whatever twist or variation comes up in a Microsoft interview, you will be ready.

Why should the NeetCode-Microsoft overlap be your starting point?#

The overlap between NeetCode 150 and Microsoft Top 150 gives you the highest return on effort. Every problem you solve here works double duty: it strengthens your fundamentals while also matching the types of questions Microsoft has historically asked. This overlap removes guesswork, builds confidence early, and ensures that the time you spend is directly aligned with Microsoft’s expectations.

Let’s see how many problems overlap between NeetCode and Microsoft.

The list above shows that 69 out of 150 problems (about 46%) are common between NeetCode and Microsoft, which means nearly half your effort in NeetCode directly contributes to Microsoft prep. This overlap is a big advantage because it saves time, builds core fundamentals, and ensures you are practicing problems that have proven relevance in real Microsoft interviews.

Now, let’s quickly check how well each pattern is covered using the 1–2–1 rubric and the scoring system (2 points for easy, 4 for medium, and 6 for hard). 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.

The bar chart above shows that this overlap gives you a strong start, covering 22 out of 28 patterns, nearly 80%, with 4 patterns already in the green zone (well-covered), such as dynamic programming, binary search, sliding window, and two pointers. That is an impressive foundation right from the first step.

Tree traversals and greedy approaches are on their way, but not fully covered yet. Several patterns, like custom data structures, subsets, and linked list manipulation, remain underrepresented. But even getting introduced to a specific pattern is important because then you can use the 1-2-1 rubric to fill the gap.

Why are Microsoft-specific questions the next step?#

Once you finish the overlap, the next best move is to practice the remaining problems in the Microsoft Top 150. These questions expose you to the style and variations Microsoft interviewers often use. They train you to expect follow-ups, think about performance trade-offs, and adapt your solution when constraints shift. Practicing this set gives you direct insight into what Microsoft values and helps you avoid surprises in the real interview.

Let’s see how many new patterns are introduced with Microsoft-only problems.

The list above shows that 3 new patterns emerge, bringing the total to 25 out of 28 patterns, which is about 89%. This is a great milestone in your Meta prep roadmap.

Now, let’s see how well each pattern in the Microsoft-specific set is covered using the 1–2–1 rubric and scores. The bar chart below highlights the newly covered patterns in green on the y-axis.

The bar chart above shows that adding Microsoft-specific questions gives a big jump, with the number of green bars increasing to 7 fully covered patterns. Previously identified patterns, such as stacks, tree traversals (breadth-first and depth-first search), sliding window, and two pointers, all reach complete coverage. Heaps and optimization-focused areas also improve. 

Some niche patterns, such as cyclic sort, trie, and union find, are still light, but overall coverage is much stronger and aligned with Microsoft’s interview style.

Why do the remaining NeetCode-150 problems still matter?#

The rest of NeetCode 150 helps you round out your preparation. These problems cover core computer science topics that may not always appear in Microsoft’s tagged list but still form the backbone of technical interviews. By solving them, you strengthen your fundamentals, get exposure to a wider range of scenarios, and ensure that no important pattern slips through the cracks. This extra breadth adds resilience, so even if Microsoft asks something unexpected, you will have seen a similar idea before.

Let’s see how many new patterns the remaining NeetCode problems bring.

The list above shows that 2 new patterns are introduced, taking the total to 27 out of 28 patterns, which is about 96%. That is an excellent level of coverage and shows how close you are to complete readiness.

Now, let’s analyze how well each pattern in the remaining NeetCode set is covered using the 1–2–1 rubric and scores.

The bar chart above shows that this stage pushes your prep even further, with the green count rising to 12 patterns (9 are fully covered). Graphs, backtracking, and topological sort all just need 1 easy problem to get completed. 

A few patterns remain in yellow or red, such as cyclic sort, union find, and custom data structures, but the overall picture is close to complete coverage. And the advantage is that once you know these patterns, you can apply the rubric to quickly close the gaps with targeted practice.

Is your Microsoft prep complete now?#

At this point, it is worth stepping back to analyze what has been covered and what still remains. You have worked through the NeetCode-Microsoft overlap, added Microsoft-specific problems, expanded with the rest of NeetCode 150, and filled the gaps with patterns. Together, these steps give you both breadth and adaptability. Now, let’s look at the overall picture of how much ground this roadmap covers and where the final areas of focus should be.

The bar chart above shows that most patterns are already well covered, but a few still need attention. The patterns in the yellow zone (partially covered), such as Greedy Techniques, Top K Elements, Merge Intervals, and Fast and Slow Pointers, are just one hard problem short. 

The patterns in the red zone (underrepresented), such as Union Find, Matrices, Subsets, Cyclic Sort, and K-way Merge, each need about two more problems. 

The most important highlight is that there is only one pattern with zero coverage, Sort and Search. Here are the four problems to complete it. 

Patterns recap#

Let’s look at the breakdown of pattern coverage across all the stages of our Microsoft-focused interview prep roadmap.

The pie chart above shows that:

• Common patterns (78.6%) make up the largest share. This shows that most of your Microsoft readiness comes from problems that are already well represented in both NeetCode 150 and Microsoft Top 150. It is the foundation that carries the bulk of your prep.

• Microsoft-only patterns (10.7%) are the next biggest slice. These add significant value because they reflect Microsoft’s interview flavor and ensure you are not just practicing generic questions.

• NeetCode-only patterns (7.1%) also add an important layer. These problems extend your breadth and strengthen your fundamentals, filling in areas Microsoft may not tag directly but still cares about.

• The remaining pattern, Sort and Search, makes up a small portion (3.6%), but it highlights the final gap. Covering it ensures full coverage and confidence across all 28 patterns.

How close does this Microsoft prep roadmap take you to 420?#

Let’s look at the score breakdown of our Microsoft-specific interview prep roadmap.

The chart above clearly shows how the points stack up across the stages. The common overlap between NeetCode 150 and Microsoft Top 150 contributes the largest share with 182 points, forming the backbone of your prep. From there, the Microsoft-only set adds another 55 points, giving you direct coverage of Microsoft’s unique problem style. The remaining NeetCode 150 problems contribute 71 points, which broadens your fundamentals and fills in areas Microsoft may not tag directly. 

Altogether, this brings the total to 308 points, leaving 112 points still to be earned by covering the underrepresented patterns as per the 1-2-1 rubric. 

The biggest contribution clearly comes from the common overlap, but each stage plays a role in bringing you closer to the ideal 420-point coverage.

So, which is better for Microsoft: NeetCode 150 or LeetCode Patterns?#

If you have read this far, you already know the answer is not about picking one over the other. NeetCode 150 gives you structure and breadth, while LeetCode patterns give you adaptability and depth. For Microsoft, you need both.

The smartest strategy is to start with the overlap between NeetCode 150 and Microsoft Top 150, then work through Microsoft-specific problems, expand with the rest of NeetCode 150, and finally close the gaps with patterns. When paired with the 1–2–1 rubric, this roadmap takes you close to the ideal 420-point score and ensures complete coverage across all 28 patterns.

This layered roadmap saves you from grinding randomly and instead channels your effort toward both coverage and adaptability, which is exactly what Microsoft expects. With this roadmap in hand, you will walk into your Microsoft interviews with focus, confidence, and the preparation needed to stand out in one of the most competitive arenas in tech.

Recommended resources to level up your interview prep#

While this blog gives 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.