I've gotten some pretty wacky projects. Basically, implement a fairly-complex web app. Something that I'd assume (even after doing similar tasks) would probably take me up to 40 hours of work, just because the scope is so crazy. They want user login, multiple features, etc... basically an MVP for a small product.
It's hard. If you submit part of the project, which you usually have to do unless you're unemployed, they never go for it. If you call out of work a day or two to do the project... and you don't get the job anyway...
I recently interviewed for 4 jobs, one of them was one of these type of "you must implement this in 1 hour". It was painful. I didn't finish in time. Apparently the idea was you much choose language X, it will e pretty easy with language X. I chose Y, and they said why did you choose Y, that was stupid. Result - I chose one of my other 3 offers, took the one that made me a staff programmer. And I live in Seattle, ha ha bay area.
It's hard. If you submit part of the project, which you usually have to do unless you're unemployed, they never go for it. If you call out of work a day or two to do the project... and you don't get the job anyway...