Aptitude · TCS
TCS NQT Preparation Guide 2026: Syllabus, Pattern & Tips
Complete TCS NQT 2026 preparation guide — exam pattern, syllabus, topic-wise weightage, cut-off trends, and practice strategy for Indian freshers applying through National Qualifier Test.
NQT is the gateway to most TCS fresher hiring. The exam rewards speed and accuracy over deep problem-solving — here is the full syllabus, pattern, and a week-by-week practice plan.
TCS NQT exam pattern 2026
NQT has two sections: Foundation Skills (Verbal, Reasoning, Numerical) and Programming Skills. Each section has a fixed time limit — you cannot go back to a previous section once time is up.
Numerical and Reasoning carry the most weight for shortlisting. Programming matters for Digital and specialist tracks.
- Verbal: 15 questions, 10 minutes
- Reasoning: 15 questions, 25 minutes
- Numerical: 15 questions, 25 minutes
- Programming Logic: 10 questions, 15 minutes
- Coding: 1–2 problems, 20 minutes
Topic-wise syllabus that matters
Do not study everything — focus on high-frequency topics. For Numerical: percentages, profit-loss, time-speed-distance, ratio-proportion, averages, number series. For Reasoning: syllogisms, blood relations, direction sense, coding-decoding, seating arrangement.
Verbal is usually the easiest section — reading comprehension, sentence correction, and synonyms. Do not over-prepare here.
Cut-off and shortlisting logic
TCS does not publish official cut-offs, but based on past drives, scoring 70%+ across sections usually clears the Foundation cut-off. Digital track shortlisting needs a stronger coding attempt and higher overall accuracy.
A safe strategy: attempt 12+ out of 15 in Numerical and Reasoning with 85%+ accuracy. Guess strategically — negative marking is not confirmed but accuracy matters for ranking.
Week-by-week practice plan
Two weeks of focused practice is enough if you already have basic math and English. Week 1: topic-wise practice (2 topics per day from Numerical + Reasoning). Week 2: full mock tests with timer + coding practice.
- Days 1–3: Percentages, profit-loss, ratio, averages
- Days 4–5: Time-speed-distance, series, syllogisms
- Days 6–7: Blood relations, coding-decoding, seating
- Days 8–10: Full mocks + review mistakes
- Days 11–14: Coding practice (arrays, strings) + final mocks
How Apply helps for NQT
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