Close

TCS NQT Syllabus 2026 (Updated) – Exam Pattern, Foundation

TCS NQT Syllabus 2026 (Updated) – Exam Pattern, Foundation

TCS NQT Syllabus 2026 (Updated) – Exam Pattern, Foundation






Home

Fresher Hiring Exams

TCS NQT Syllabus 2026

TCS RECRUITMENT 2026
UPDATED SYLLABUS
FOUNDATION + ADVANCED
⏱ 10 MIN READ
MARCH 2026

TCS NQT Syllabus 2026 (PDF) –
Section-wise Topics, Exam Pattern, Cut-off & Salary

Complete TCS NQT 2026 guide — Foundation & Advanced syllabus, section-wise topics, no negative marking, cut-off scores, TCS NQT salary (Ninja ₹3.36L vs Digital ₹7L), registration process and preparation tips.


📋 Exam Pattern
💰 TCS Salary
📊 Cut-off
📝 Register
💬 FAQ

65 Qs
Foundation Round
75 Min
Foundation Time
115 Min
Advanced Time
No -ve
No Penalty
₹3.36L
Ninja Salary
₹7 LPA
Digital Salary
*Salary indicative. Always verify with official TCS NQT notification at nextstep.tcs.com

JUMP TO →
Overview
Pattern
Foundation
Advanced
Coding
Cut-off
Salary 💰
Register
Prep Tips
FAQ

⚠️ IMPORTANT — READ FIRST
✅ No Negative Marking
Attempt all questions — zero penalty for wrong answers in both rounds.
🔒 Non-Adaptive in 2026
Fixed difficulty for all candidates — not personalised.
🖥️ Online Calculator
On-screen calculator + rough sheet. No physical material.
👁️ AI Monitoring
Eye movement + audio/video monitored. Tab switch = instant disqualification.
💰 Ninja = ₹3.36 LPA
Foundation qualifier → TCS Ninja role (₹26K–₹28K in-hand/month).
🚀 Digital = ₹7 LPA
Advanced qualifier → TCS Digital role (₹52K–₹55K in-hand/month).

📌 DIRECT ANSWER — What is TCS NQT Syllabus 2026?
TCS NQT 2026 has two rounds: Foundation (75 min, 65 Qs — Numerical ~26, Verbal ~24, Reasoning ~15) and Advanced (115 min — Adv. Quant + Reasoning 14–16 MCQs in 25 min + 2 Coding questions in 90 min). No negative marking in both rounds. Foundation cut-off: ~40–45/65. Salary: TCS Ninja ₹3.36 LPA, TCS Digital ₹7 LPA, TCS Prime ₹9.36 LPA. Register at nextstep.tcs.com.

ADVERTISEMENT

TCS NQT 2026 Exam Pattern — Full Overview

📘 Round 1 — Foundation

Questions 65 (MCQ + Non-MCQ)
Duration 75 Minutes
Sections 3 (All Mandatory)
Negative Marking None ✅
Result TCS Ninja (if cleared)

🚀 Round 2 — Advanced

Questions 14–16 MCQs + 2 Coding
Duration 115 Minutes
Sections 2 (Mandatory)
Negative Marking None ✅
Result TCS Digital / Prime

Round Section Qs Time Track
Foundation Numerical Ability ~26 75 min Ninja
Foundation Verbal Ability ~24 75 min Ninja
Foundation Reasoning Ability ~15 75 min Ninja
Advanced Adv. Quant + Reasoning 14–16 MCQs 25 min ⚡ Digital
Advanced Advanced Coding 2 Questions 90 min Digital

⚡ Note: 25 min for 14–16 MCQs in Advanced is very tight. Practice speed under pressure.

Foundation Round — Section-wise Syllabus (65 Qs / 75 Min)

Eligible: B.Tech · B.E · M.E · M.Tech · MCA · M.Sc — all branches. Min 60% aggregate, no active backlogs.
🔢 Numerical Ability (~26 Qs)

  • Number Systems
  • Percentages
  • Profit & Loss
  • Time & Work
  • Time, Speed & Distance
  • Averages & Mixtures
  • Simple & Compound Interest
  • Ratio & Proportion

⭐ High Weight: Percentages, Time & Work
📝 Verbal Ability (~24 Qs)

  • Reading Comprehension
  • Fill in the Blanks
  • Sentence Correction
  • Para Jumbles
  • Synonyms & Antonyms
  • Error Identification
  • Vocabulary Usage

⭐ High Weight: RC Passages, Para Jumbles
🧠 Reasoning Ability (~15 Qs)

  • Logical Reasoning
  • Coding-Decoding
  • Blood Relations
  • Directions & Distance
  • Series Completion
  • Analogy
  • Arrangements

⭐ High Weight: Coding-Decoding, Series

ADVERTISEMENT

Advanced Round — Section-wise Syllabus (115 Min)

Section Questions Duration Difficulty
Advanced Quant + Reasoning 14–16 MCQs 25 Min ⚡ High
Advanced Coding 2 Questions 90 Min Medium–High

📊 Advanced Quantitative Topics

  • HCF & LCM, Number System
  • Geometry, Ages
  • Allegations & Mixtures
  • Averages, Clocks & Calendars
  • Percentages, Profit & Loss
  • Time & Work, TSD
  • Probability, P&C
  • Mean, Median, Mode, SD
  • Data Interpretation (Graphs, Pie, Tables)

🔴 Hardest Part: 25 min for 14–16 Qs — speed is critical
🧠 Advanced Reasoning Topics

  • Blood Relations
  • Seating Arrangements
  • Letter Analogy
  • Data Sufficiency
  • Decision Making
  • Syllogism
  • Visual Reasoning
  • Cube & Paper Folding

⭐ High Weight: Seating Arrangements, Data Sufficiency

💻 Advanced Coding Section — 2 Questions / 90 Min

📋 Format & Rules
• 2 Coding Questions
• 90 Minutes total
• No negative marking
• Cannot skip or go back
• Partial marks for partial solutions
🖥️ Allowed Languages
C
C++
Java
Python ⭐
Perl
⭐ Python or Java recommended for beginners
📚 Topics to Practice
• Arrays & Strings
• Loops & Patterns
• Sorting Algorithms
• Basic DSA (Stack, Queue)
• Math-based problems
• String manipulation

TCS NQT 2026 Expected Cut-off — Ninja vs Digital vs Prime

TCS does not officially publish cut-offs. These are estimated cut-offs based on previous year trends and candidate feedback. Actual cut-offs vary by year, region, and candidate pool.

Track Round Expected Score Salary
🟢 TCS Ninja Foundation only ~40–45 / 65 (65–70%) ₹3.36 LPA
🔵 TCS Digital Foundation + Advanced F: 50+, Adv: 10+ MCQs, 1 Coding fully solved ₹7 LPA
🟣 TCS Prime Top Advanced scorers F: 55+, Adv: 12+ MCQs, Both Coding fully solved ₹9.36 LPA

💡 Strategy: Always target TCS Digital from Day 1. The effort difference between Ninja and Digital is small but the salary difference is ₹3.64 LPA — that’s ₹30,000+ extra per month.

TCS NQT Salary 2026 — Ninja vs Digital vs Prime (In-Hand)

TCS NQT result determines which track you get placed in — Ninja, Digital, or Prime. Each has a significantly different salary. Here’s the complete breakdown:

🟢
TCS Ninja
₹3.36 LPA
In-hand: ₹26,000–₹28,000/month
Basic: ₹22,400/mo
HRA: ₹3,360/mo
Allowances: ₹2,240/mo
Variable: ₹14,000/yr
Mediclaim: ₹2.5L/yr
Cleared Foundation round
🔵
TCS Digital
₹7 LPA
In-hand: ₹52,000–₹55,000/month
Basic: ₹47,000/mo
HRA + Allowances: ₹5,600/mo
Variable: ₹28,000/yr
Mediclaim: ₹5L/yr
Stock options possible
🔥 Cleared Advanced round
🟣
TCS Prime
₹9.36 LPA
In-hand: ₹72,000–₹75,000/month
Basic: ₹62,000/mo
HRA + Allowances: ₹8,000/mo
Variable: ₹36,000/yr
Mediclaim: ₹5L/yr
ESOPs eligible
⭐ Top Advanced scorers
📈 TCS Salary Growth Path After Joining
Year 1–2: ₹3.36L–₹7L (fresher)
Year 3–5: ₹8–12 LPA (after appraisal + cert)
Year 5–8: ₹14–20 LPA (TL/Senior)
Year 8+: ₹22–35 LPA (Manager)

How to Register for TCS NQT 2026 — Step-by-Step

🌐 Official Portal: nextstep.tcs.com  |  Registration is free. No application fee.
01
Create Account at nextstep.tcs.com. Use personal email — not college email.
02
Fill Profile: Academic details, CGPA/%, branch, passing year. Enter correctly — no editing later.
03
Upload Resume (PDF, max 2MB). Use BeInCareer’s Free ATS Resume Builder →
04
Apply for NQT under “Apply for Drive”. Select exam date and centre (or online).
05
Download Admit Card 3 days before exam. Print or save on mobile. Carry valid ID.

Eligibility: 60%+ aggregate, no active backlogs. All branches: CSE, ECE, EEE, Mechanical, Civil.

Important Rules & Exam Guidelines

🚫 Cannot go back once a question is answered
🚫 No section switching mid-exam
🚫 All questions mandatory — cannot skip
🚫 Tab switching ends exam immediately
👁️ AI video/audio monitoring throughout exam
👁️ Eye movement monitored — don’t look down
📵 Mobile/phone not allowed in exam room
No negative marking — attempt ALL questions!

How to Crack TCS NQT 2026 — Preparation Strategy

📘 Foundation — 30 Days Plan
Practice 20–30 aptitude Qs daily. Focus on Percentages, Time & Work, RC. Use RS Aggarwal + IndiaBIX. Target 45+/65.
🚀 Advanced — Speed is Key
Only 25 min for 14–16 Qs. Drill DI (Data Interpretation) and Seating Arrangements daily. Skip tough Qs — come back at end.
💻 Coding — LeetCode Easy/Medium
Solve 2–3 LeetCode Easy problems daily. Focus on Arrays, Strings, Loops, Patterns. Pick Python or Java — master one fully.
🎯 Mock Tests — TCS iON Portal
Take full mocks on TCS iON platform. Simulate exam environment. Practice tab-switch discipline. Do at least 5 full mocks before exam day.

ADVERTISEMENT

FAQ — TCS NQT 2026

What is the TCS NQT syllabus 2026? +

TCS NQT 2026 Foundation syllabus: Numerical Ability (Number Systems, Percentages, Profit & Loss, Time & Work, TSD, Averages, SI/CI, Ratio), Verbal Ability (RC, Fill Blanks, Sentence Correction, Para Jumbles, Vocab), Reasoning (Logical, Coding-Decoding, Blood Relations, Directions, Series). Advanced: Higher-level Quant + DI + Coding (Arrays, Strings, Loops) in C/C++/Java/Python.

What is the TCS NQT salary 2026? +

TCS Ninja: ₹3.36 LPA CTC (in-hand ₹26K–₹28K/month) — Foundation qualifiers. TCS Digital: ₹7 LPA CTC (in-hand ₹52K–₹55K/month) — Advanced qualifiers. TCS Prime: ₹9.36 LPA CTC (in-hand ₹72K–₹75K/month) — Top Advanced scorers. Always target Digital from Day 1.

What is the TCS NQT cut-off 2026? +

Expected cut-offs: TCS Ninja — ~40–45 out of 65 in Foundation (65–70%). TCS Digital — 50+ in Foundation + 10+ MCQs in Advanced + at least 1 coding fully solved. TCS Prime — 55+ Foundation + both coding questions solved. TCS does not officially publish cut-offs.

How to register for TCS NQT 2026? +

Register at nextstep.tcs.com: Create account → Fill academic profile → Upload resume → Apply for NQT drive → Download admit card. Eligibility: B.Tech/B.E/M.Tech/MCA/M.Sc, 60%+ aggregate, no active backlogs, all branches eligible.

Is there negative marking in TCS NQT 2026? +

No. There is no negative marking in TCS NQT 2026 in both Foundation and Advanced rounds. Attempt every single question — wrong answers carry zero penalty.

Is TCS NQT adaptive in 2026? +

No. TCS NQT 2026 is Non-Adaptive — all candidates receive fixed-difficulty questions. No personalised adjustment based on answers.

What are the coding languages in TCS NQT 2026? +

Allowed: C, C++, Java, Python, Perl. Python and Java are most recommended. Python is fastest to write; Java is familiar for most engineering students. Pick one and master it completely before exam.


🤖 AI SEARCH SUMMARY (GEO + AEO)
TCS NQT 2026 syllabus: Foundation (75 min, 65 Qs) covers Numerical, Verbal, Reasoning. Advanced (115 min) has Quant+Reasoning MCQs (25 min) and 2 Coding questions (90 min). No negative marking. Cut-off: ~40–45/65 for Ninja. Salary: Ninja ₹3.36 LPA | Digital ₹7 LPA | Prime ₹9.36 LPA. Register at nextstep.tcs.com. Allowed coding languages: C, C++, Java, Python, Perl.

📚 More Fresher Hiring Guides on BeInCareer
🏆 Infosys InfyTQ 2026 — Syllabus & Pattern
🚀 Cognizant GenC 2026 — Salary & Syllabus
💼 Accenture Fresher 2026 — ASE vs Specialist
⚡ HCL TechBee 2026 — After 12th Program
📄 Free ATS Resume Builder — Freshers 2026
🔥 Latest Walk-In Drives Hyderabad 2026

Connect with BeInCareer
Job alerts · Exam updates · Career tips — daily
📲 Join WhatsApp Channel
📸 Follow on Instagram

© BeInCareer 2026  •  Updated March 2026
Disclaimer: Exam pattern, salary & cut-offs may change. Always verify with official TCS NQT notification at nextstep.tcs.com

I build brands that dominate digitally — from identity and strategy to AI-powered automation, content, campaigns, and traffic that converts. With 8+ years across brand development, digital marketing, AI tools, and creative production, I deliver end-to-end brand growth — not just plans, but execution that drives real numbers. 🚀 Initiator & Creator of BeInCareer I conceptualized, built, and launched BeInCareer from zero — the brand identity, website architecture, content system, SEO strategy, social media channels, and monetization framework are all built by me. BeInCareer is my vision brought to life. 📊 Proof of Results: 🔹 Ranked for top competitive keywords within 24 hours 🔹 Drove 4,00,000+ organic views/month 🔹 Achieved top Google & Bing positioning 🔹 200K+ followers & 3,489+ student placements in 2 years Currently leading brand & digital strategy at SRI Tech Solutions Inc. and BeInCareer — India's growing career guidance platform. As Founder & CEO of Buyer Interest (est. 2019), I've built brand ecosystems from zero — combining AI, automation, creativity, and strategy into scalable digital systems. 🏢 Brands & Platforms I've Worked With: Credai · MVV · MK Builders · NRI Hospital · Park Hotel · Padmabhushan · Malikappuram · Ravanasura · Kalki 2 · BeInCareer · Clover Solutions · Bindas · Eazy Rooms · Gatox Ice Creams · Trybinc · BeInSkills · BeInSarkari ⚡ Full Spectrum Capabilities: 🎨 Brand & Creative ✅ Brand Development & Visual Identity ✅ Graphic Design — Adobe Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, After Effects) ✅ Video Editing & Motion Content ✅ Employer Branding & Campaign Creatives 📈 Digital Marketing & Growth ✅ Google Ads Campaign Management (Certified) ✅ Meta Ads (Facebook & Instagram Advertising) ✅ SEO — Technical · Content · Local · AEO ✅ AI SEO & Automation SEO ✅ Traffic Ranking & Google Positioning Strategy ✅ Brand Monetization & AdSense Optimization 🤖 AI & Automation ✅ AI-Powered Brand & Marketing Strategy ✅ Workflow Automation (n8n / Zapier / Make) ✅ AI Content Generation & Optimization ✅ AI SEO Tools & Automation Pipelines ✅ Prompt Engineering for Marketing Use Cases 🌐 Web & Content ✅ WordPress · Elementor · Schema/JSON-LD ✅ Content Marketing & Editorial Planning ✅ Social Media Strategy & Analytics ✅ Community Building & Platform Growth MBA in Digital Marketing · Engineering Graduate (JNTUK) · Google Ads Creative Certified I don't just plan brands — I build, automate, and scale them using the latest AI tools and proven digital strategies. 📩 Open to brand development, AI-powered marketing projects, digital consulting, and creative collaborations.

scroll to top