As you know, thousands of graduates from various fields are entering the job market, seeking careers in software-related industries. Often, the supply of talented individuals exceeds the demand, leading to fierce competition that leaves many unemployed or underpaid. TCS, a leading technology company in India, has proposed a unique solution to address this issue. They now conduct the annual TCS NQT exams, which serve as a gateway to career opportunities for aspiring candidates across the country. Those who successfully pass the TCS NQT are not only considered for positions within TCS but also attract attention from several other companies. Candidates are placed in both IT and non-IT sectors based on their skill sets, which are assessed through the TCS NQT exam. This is indeed a great news! Let’s explore the TCS NQT exams and strategies for success in this blog.
Tata Consultancy Services – TCS is an Indian software company. It has grown manifold and today, is one of the top international IT services, consulting, and business solutions organizations. Founded in 1968. TCS has been at the forefront of technological innovation, partnering with some of the world’s largest businesses in their transformation journeys. They have a global presence in over 50 nations and employ more than six lakh employees worldwide. Let us explore how the recruitment process of TCS takes place along with the essential tips for you to crack the TCS NQT exams.
What is TCS NQT?
TCS conducts a National Qualifier Test (NQT) every year to recruit candidates for TCS Ninja and TCS Digital job roles. The TCS NQT question pattern is as follows:.
- Part A: Foundation Section
- Part B: Advanced Section (candidates who apply for Digital and Prime should take this section)
TCS NQT – Foundation Section
- Verbal Ability: This part tests your verbal comprehension in English and writing skills.
- Numerical Ability: This part is related to mathematics and statistics and contains questions to test your proficiency in math.
- Reasoning Ability: In this part, your logical thinking and problem-solving abilities are tested.
Exam Pattern:
(Difficulty level: Easy)
| Aptitude | No.of Questions | Time |
| Verbal Ability | 25 Questions | 25 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 20 Questions | 25 minutes |
| Numerical Ability | 20 Questions | 25 minutes |
TCS NQT – Advanced Section
- Advanced Quantitative Ability: These questions test your quantitative, logical, and analytical skills. They are set at an increased difficulty level.
- Advanced Reasoning Ability: You will be tested with reasoning questions with an increased difficulty level.
- Advanced Coding: Your coding knowledge is tested with higher-level coding questions.
Exam Pattern:
(Difficulty level: Hard)
| Aptitude | No.of Questions | Time |
| Advanced Quantitative and Reasoning Ability | 15 Questions | 25 minutes |
| Advanced Coding | 3 Questions | 90 minutes |
Points To Remember
- There is no negative marking
- Rough sheets are provided if you write exams in “In Center.”
TCS NQT Interview Rounds
Technical Interview
- Learn Basic Coding Languages like C and C++
- Learn Basic Programming Questions on:
- C Programming
- DSA
- OOPS
- Software Engineering
- Questions on final year projects
- Learn Basic Programs like:
- Procedural Programs
- Palindrome
- Recursion
HR and MR Interview
- Work on your ethics
- Have strong communication skills in English
- Learn the basics of managerial qualities
TCS NQT – Eligibility Criteria
| Qualification | For B.E./B.Tech. (all streams), for M.E./M.Tech. (only CSE, IT and ECE are eligible) |
| Academic performance | 60% marks in academics in X/XII/UG/PG levels |
| Backlog information | one active backlog while appearing for the exam is allowed |
| Academic gap | Overall Gap in academic career not to exceed 2 years. |
| Age limit | Above 18 and below 28 years of age |
TCS NQT Syllabus
The following segments will explain the various topics along with detailed information on the concepts covered in both foundation and advanced sections of the TCS NQT syllabus.
Foundation Section
The foundational level comprises questions that evaluate your verbal and numerical ability, and reasoning. This round of tests evaluates your basic essential skills in these topics. Let us see the various topics that are covered in the foundational section. TCS Salary for Freshers is high if you qualify in both the foundation and advanced sections.
Numerical Ability
| Topic | Concepts covered |
| Number System | Divisibility, Numbers and Decimal Fractions, Number Systems, HCF and LCM |
| Mensuration | Geometry, Shapes, Area and Perimeter |
| Arithmetic Ability | Ages, Averages, Equations Probability, Percentages Profit and Loss Work and Time Clocks and Calendar Ratios and Proportion Series and Progressions Allegations and Mixtures Distance, Speed and Time Permutation and Combination |
| Elementary Statistics | Mean, Median, Mode, Standard Deviation and Variance |
| Data Interpretation | Tabular Data Interpretation Graphical Data Interpretation Pie Charts Data Interpretation |
| Simplifications and Approximation | Simple Arithmetic Calculations |
Verbal Ability
| Topic | Concepts covered |
| English Grammar | Spelling, Grammar Selecting Words, Error Correction Passage Ordering, Error Identification Sentence Completion Synonyms and Antonyms |
| Reading Comprehension | Cloze Test Reading and Comprehension |
Reasoning Ability
| Topic | Concepts covered |
| Identifying Word | Word Series Word Pattern |
| Numeric Patterns | Number Series |
| Problem Solving | Blood Relations, Data Arrangements Seating Arrangements |
| Figural and Factual Analysis | Cube Folding, Paper Cuts and Folds |
| Decision Making | Decision Making, Data Sufficiency Syllogism |
| Propositional Reasoning | Statements and Conclusions Venn Diagram |
| Visual/ Spatial Reasoning | Visual Reasoning |
Advanced Section
The advanced section covers the concepts at a higher level of difficulty. It features coding assessments to evaluate your programming abilities, many quantitative tests to measure your numerical skills (higher difficulty level), and reasoning assessments to determine your logical thinking. This round explores these topics in greater depth to find out and assess your expertise and aptitude in more complex concepts. If you want to crack Digital and Prime, clearing this section with good scores is a must.
| Topic | Concepts covered |
| Logical Ability | Words Identification,Meaningful Word Creation Numerical Patterns, Letter Analogy, Ages Blood Relations, Complex Seating Arrangements Distance and Directions, Odd Man Out Symbols and Notations, Cube and Paper Folding Data Sufficiency, Decision Making Syllogism, Prepositional Reasoning Visual Reasoning |
| Advanced Coding | C, C++, Java, Python, Perl |
TCS NQT Registration Process: How Can You Apply For The Exam?
TCS Interview Process essentially starts with candidates’ registration for the eligibility exam. The registration process for TCS NQT has only two simple steps. They are:
Step 1 – Create an account for yourself and register via TCS iON
Get started with the TCS iON Portal by visiting their official website and create a new account if you don’t have one. If you already have an account (an existing user), you can sign in with your credentials. In the registration process, register as a learner and provide all necessary details, like your name, email ID, mobile number, and password in the appropriate spaces given. If you are less than 18 years of age, select the “minor” option and provide information about your guardian. Lastly, accept the terms and conditions and then click “Create an account”. You have now successfully completed your registration.
Step 2: Purchase The Variants Of TCS NQT
The NQT cognitive skill test is very important if you want to participate in various NQT variants, like Industry NQT and Subject NQT. The NQT bundle pack is an all-inclusive pack and you don’t need to purchase a separate cognitive skills pack. To purchase the NQT cognitive skills pack, you can log into the TCS iON home page, click on “Apply Now,” and then select the cognitive skills option. You can opt for “Buy Now” or “Activate” in case you have an activation key received via email.
New users should create an account, while existing users can log in with their credentials. Provide all personal information and complete the payment process. You will receive an activation key. Activate your pack by entering the key in the given pop-up window. After confirmation, you will be redirected to “My Dashboard,” a confirmation message will be sent to your registered email or mobile number. By doing this, you can efficiently register and purchase the TCS NQT products for your exam preparation. TCS NQT passing marks are explained on the official website of TCS iON.
What are TCS NQT Variants?
NQT full form is the National Qualifier Test. There are three variants in the TCS NQT exams. They are explained below.
- NQT -> NQT (Cognitive Test) -> Attitudinal Alignment (Psychometric Test): The first variant is common for the rest of all tests. The NQT evaluates cognitive skills, including verbal, numerical, and reasoning abilities of the candidates. Then comes the Attitudinal Alignment (Psychometric Test), to assess your personality traits, work styles, and workplace dispositions.
- Subject NQT -> IT Programming -> Basic Computer Skills -> Accountant: This variant checks your skills on specific job roles and skills. This test covers topics like pseudocode, programming constructs, algorithms, and the concepts of basic Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC). You are expected to demonstrate your programming skills in C, C++, and Java.
- Industry NQT -> Information Technology -> Banking -> Retail -> Banking and Financial Services: The third variant evaluates your expertise of industry-specific dimensions. It opens a lot of opportunities for you to begin your career with. It includes Information Technology, Retail and Banking and other Financial Services.
Preparation Tips To Efficiently Crack TCS NQT Exams
TCS NQT preparation is very important for successfully clearing the NQT exams. Here are some important tips to help you crack the TCS NQT exams.
- Learn the marking schemes and always get an updated syllabus. Research on the familiar and unfamiliar topics and start your preparation accordingly.
- While preparing for the Numerical ability test, start with the basics and start training. Reasoning tests and numerical tests always have several sample questions available on the Internet. Practice every day.TCS Freshers Jobs are aplenty and possible if you practice for the test sincerely.
- Make a timetable for you to study all the necessary topics so that you don’t get stuck in the same concept. Take short breaks and combine easy/difficult concepts. This improves your confidence and reduces distraction.
- There are a wide range of study materials available on the internet to help you crack the TCS NQT exams. Printed books are also readily available. Choose them wisely and benefit from them.
- Solve model question papers from previous years. You will have a clear idea about the question patterns, and it saves a lot of time during the exam.
- Strictly follow time management and try answering all questions within the stipulated time.
- Find out where you lag and fix it by dedicating more time to such sections. Also, target to solve as many sample question papers as possible.
- TCS NQT qualifying marks entirely depend on your sincere preparation. So start early before finishing your graduation.
- Improve your speed of solving questions by setting a timer. This reduces tension and improves your efficiency.
- Practice programming by solving coding questions and brush up the basics of your coding concepts thoroughly.
In conclusion, clearing the TCS NQT exams is possible and you can find a career in TCS if you start preparing for the entrance test well in advance. You can start preparing when you are in the last year of your graduation/post-graduation program. Maintaining a decent CGPA (above 6) in all semesters is crucial, and practising reading magazines and writing essays will boost your confidence.
