Complete TCS National Qualifier Test guide — exam pattern, section-wise syllabus, and a 6-week study plan to crack it.
The TCS National Qualifier Test (NQT) is TCS's standard hiring assessment for freshers from any stream. Clearing it makes you eligible for TCS hiring drives. The score is valid for 2 years. NQT has two parts: Aptitude (Cognitive) + Advanced Qualifier (Programming Logic + Coding).
Tip: This is the easiest section to score high in. Solve 20+ questions daily for 2 weeks.
Tip: Read English news articles daily. Focus on RC and Sentence Correction — they carry the most marks.
Tip: Practice diagrams for seating and blood relations. These questions take time — manage your pace carefully.
Tip: Trace code line-by-line with pen & paper. Common topics: loops, recursion, arrays, pointers.
Tip: Write clean, working code — partial marks are given for partial solutions. Any language is allowed.
Numerical Ability
Percentages, Profit & Loss, Time & Work — 30 problems/day
Numerical Ability
Ratio, SI/CI, Number System, P&C — 30 problems/day
Verbal Ability
RC, Sentence Correction, Vocabulary — 2 passages/day
Reasoning Ability
Series, Coding-Decoding, Seating — 20 problems/day
Programming Logic + Coding
Output tracing, C/Java basics, 1 coding problem/day
Full Mock Tests
3 full mocks, analyze weak areas, targeted revision
Don't spend more than 2 min per aptitude question. Skip and return. The coding section needs at least 20 min per problem.
Attempt all aptitude questions — even if unsure, guess intelligently. Negative marking exists in some sections; always check before attempting.
TCS provides a practice platform (iAssist). Simulate the real test environment as much as possible before your actual date.
TCS iON Young Professional is a free certification that signals readiness for TCS. Complete it before your NQT date.
Full-length TCS NQT practice tests with answers and explanations — attempt as many times as needed.
Start TCS NQT Practice