A pairing exercise isn’t only testing your programming skills, it also tests your ability to work with other people and get on with them, which is not only important but much harder to train than the technical side of things.
Which I understand, but I also see this as flawed since the person being interviewed will have their guard up and be nervous. This will skew what their personality is really like.
If interviewer has any clue, then they will know that and will account for that in their judgment. Almost everyone is nervous and will not perform at their best.
