TCS NQT Aptitude Questions 2026 (Numerical Ability Practice + Solutions)
Sourced from public job listings; aggregated by PapersAdda. Snapshot for editorial context, not an offer count. Parent: tcs.
TCS uses three offer tiers post NQT/Digital. Section cut-offs decide which.
| Role | CTC |
|---|---|
| TCS Ninja (NQT pass)[1] Default offer for clearing NQT cut-off without Digital marker. | ₹3.36 LPA–₹3.6 LPA |
| TCS Digital[2] Requires NQT high-cut score + Advanced coding section. | ₹7 LPA–₹7.3 LPA |
| TCS Prime / Top Tier[3] Selective; Innovator/Prime panels usually in IIT/NIT drives. | ₹9 LPA–₹11.5 LPA |
Sources
- [1]TCS Recruit · 2026 batch JLs
- [2]TCS Digital JL · campus 2026
- [3]r/developersIndia verified offers 2026
Bands aggregated from publicly disclosed JLs + verified Reddit/LinkedIn offer threads. PapersAdda does not republish private offer letters; ranges are editorial estimates.
- 1
TCS NQT (online)
OA90 minMedium- •Verbal English
- •Quant Aptitude
- •Logical Reasoning
- •Programming Logic + Coding
Section cut-offs decide Ninja vs Digital.
- 2
Advanced Coding (Digital)
Coding60 minHard- •2 coding problems
- •Section optional unless aiming for Digital
- 3
Technical Interview
Tech30 minEasy- •DSA basics
- •OOP
- •Project discussion
- •DBMS
- 4
Managerial + HR
HR30 minEasy- •Why TCS
- •Bond / location
- •Strengths / weaknesses
Loop reconstructed from publicly shared candidate threads (r/developersIndia, LinkedIn). PapersAdda does not republish private question banks; rounds describe structure and difficulty, not specific problems.
What changed in 2026 drives
TCS has tightened section cut-offs in the NQT for 2026 batch - clearing the overall is no longer enough. Verbal English and Programming Logic now have independent floors. Digital track is still the only path to break ₹7L, and the Advanced Coding section is the entire selection criterion. Bond clauses are softer than 2024 (₹50K from ₹2L) but the 18-month minimum-tenure norm is still enforced informally via experience-letter delays.
What I'd actually study for TCS
- 01Verbal English - TCS uses long passages with context-trap MCQs; speed-read drills more than vocabulary
- 02Programming Logic + Coding - flowcharts, pseudo-code MCQs, then 1-2 actual problems in any language
- 03Quant - time-speed-distance, profit-loss, percentages; standard CAT-prep depth is overkill, R.S. Aggarwal level is enough
- 04Advanced Coding (only if Digital target) - 2 problems in 75 mins; arrays + strings + greedy beats trying to learn DP in week 2
Where most candidates trip up
Candidates clear the NQT, get the Ninja offer, and then go silent until joining - losing 3-4 months that should have gone into upskilling. The Ninja-to-Digital lateral within TCS exists but requires internal performance + certifications. Treat the Ninja offer as a backup, not a destination, and keep interviewing through till joining day.
Editorial commentary by Aditya Sharma · written for PapersAdda · not generated, not aggregated. For the full source dataset behind these notes, see our methodology.
Last Updated: June 2026
This page is a focused practice set for the TCS NQT numerical ability section, built around the topic mix candidates report from recent NQT cycles. It gives you a topic map, 30 solved MCQs at NQT-level difficulty, an answer key, full worked solutions, and a prep plan. For the exact, current exam pattern, cutoffs, and section structure, always confirm on the official TCS iON NQT portal, since these vary by cycle and track and are not always officially published in advance.
TCS NQT Numerical Ability: Reported Topic Map
Candidates consistently report the following topic spread for the NQT numerical ability section. Treat the question counts as indicative, not official, and verify the current pattern on the official TCS careers and TCS iON NQT pages.
| Topic | Reported Weight | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Percentages, Profit and Loss | High | First |
| Ratios, Proportion, Mixtures | High | First |
| Time and Work, Pipes | Medium | Second |
| Time, Speed, Distance, Trains | Medium | Second |
| Averages, Ages | Medium | Second |
| Number System, LCM and HCF | Medium | Third |
| Simple and Compound Interest | Low to Medium | Third |
| Basic Data Interpretation | Low to Medium | Third |
The section is widely described as time-pressured rather than conceptually hard. The marks are won by solving the high-frequency arithmetic fast enough to leave time for the harder middle tier.
Practice Set: 30 Numerical Ability MCQs
Sit this set in 35 minutes to simulate NQT pacing.
Q1. A shopkeeper sells an article at 25% profit. If the cost price is ₹240, find the selling price.
A) ₹280 B) ₹290 C) ₹300 D) ₹320
Q2. 35% of a number is 70. What is the number?
A) 180 B) 190 C) 200 D) 220
Q3. After two successive discounts of 10% and 20%, an item marked ₹1000 sells for:
A) ₹700 B) ₹720 C) ₹740 D) ₹760
Q4. A man buys 6 oranges for ₹5 and sells 5 oranges for ₹6. Find his profit percentage.
A) 38% B) 42% C) 44% D) 50%
Q5. The ratio of two numbers is 3:4 and their sum is 84. Find the larger number.
A) 36 B) 42 C) 48 D) 54
Q6. Divide ₹1500 among A, B, C in ratio 2:3:5. Find B's share.
A) ₹300 B) ₹450 C) ₹500 D) ₹600
Q7. A 60-litre mixture has milk and water in ratio 3:2. How much milk to add for ratio 2:1?
A) 10 litres B) 12 litres C) 15 litres D) 18 litres
Q8. A and B can do a work in 12 and 18 days. Together, how many days?
A) 6.2 B) 7.2 C) 8.0 D) 9.0
Q9. A pipe fills a tank in 8 hours; a leak empties it in 12 hours. With both, time to fill?
A) 18 hours B) 20 hours C) 24 hours D) 28 hours
Q10. A train 150 m long crosses a platform 250 m long in 20 seconds. Find its speed in km/hr.
A) 64 B) 68 C) 72 D) 76
Q11. A car covers 180 km in 3 hours. What distance in 5 hours at the same speed?
A) 280 km B) 300 km C) 320 km D) 340 km
Q12. The average of 5 numbers is 40. If one is removed, the average becomes 35. Find the removed number.
A) 55 B) 58 C) 60 D) 62
Q13. The present ages of A and B are in ratio 4:5. After 5 years, the ratio is 5:6. Find A's age.
A) 18 B) 20 C) 22 D) 24
Q14. The HCF of two numbers is 9 and their LCM is 90. If one number is 18, find the other.
A) 36 B) 45 C) 54 D) 63
Q15. The simple interest on ₹6000 at 5% for 4 years is:
A) ₹1100 B) ₹1200 C) ₹1300 D) ₹1400
Q16. The compound interest on ₹5000 for 2 years at 10% is:
A) ₹1010 B) ₹1030 C) ₹1050 D) ₹1100
Q17. A number increased by 20% gives 144. Find the original.
A) 110 B) 115 C) 120 D) 125
Q18. If 8 men finish a job in 15 days, how many days for 10 men?
A) 10 B) 12 C) 14 D) 16
Q19. Two numbers are in ratio 5:6. If 8 is subtracted from each, the ratio becomes 4:5. Find the smaller.
A) 36 B) 40 C) 44 D) 48
Q20. A boat goes 20 km downstream in 2 hours and 12 km upstream in 2 hours. Find boat speed in still water.
A) 7 km/hr B) 8 km/hr C) 9 km/hr D) 10 km/hr
Q21. The cost of 4 books and 5 pens is ₹112. The cost of 5 books and 4 pens is ₹122. Find the cost of one book.
A) ₹16 B) ₹18 C) ₹20 D) ₹22
Q22. A sum doubles in 8 years at simple interest. Find the rate per annum.
A) 10% B) 11.5% C) 12.5% D) 15%
Q23. The population of a town is 50000. It increases by 10% in the first year and 20% in the second. Find the final population.
A) 64000 B) 65000 C) 66000 D) 68000
Q24. A bag has 4 red and 6 blue balls. Probability of drawing a red?
A) 2/5 B) 3/5 C) 1/2 D) 1/5
Q25. The angle between clock hands at 3:30 is:
A) 70° B) 75° C) 80° D) 85°
Q26. A shopkeeper marks goods 40% above cost and gives a 25% discount. Find profit percentage.
A) 4% B) 5% C) 6% D) 8%
Q27. A man spends 80% of his income. If income rises 25% and expenditure rises 10%, find the percentage increase in savings.
A) 65% B) 75% C) 80% D) 85%
Q28. The sum of three consecutive even numbers is 84. Find the largest.
A) 28 B) 30 C) 32 D) 34
Q29. A wheel of radius 21 cm makes 100 revolutions. Distance covered? (Use pi = 22/7.)
A) 120 m B) 132 m C) 140 m D) 150 m
Q30. If 20% of A equals 25% of B, find A:B.
A) 4:5 B) 5:4 C) 2:3 D) 3:2
Answer Key
| Q | Ans | Q | Ans | Q | Ans | Q | Ans | Q | Ans |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | 7 | B | 13 | B | 19 | B | 25 | B |
| 2 | C | 8 | B | 14 | B | 20 | B | 26 | B |
| 3 | B | 9 | C | 15 | B | 21 | B | 27 | D |
| 4 | C | 10 | C | 16 | C | 22 | C | 28 | B |
| 5 | C | 11 | B | 17 | C | 23 | C | 29 | B |
| 6 | B | 12 | C | 18 | B | 24 | A | 30 | B |
Worked Solutions
Q1. SP = 240 × 1.25 = 300. Answer: C.
Q2. 35% = 70, so 1% = 2, number = 200. Answer: C.
Q3. 1000 × 0.9 × 0.8 = 720. Answer: B.
Q4. Use LCM 30 oranges. CP = 30/6 × 5 = 25. SP = 30/5 × 6 = 36. Profit = 11/25 × 100 = 44%. Answer: C.
Q5. Ratio 3:4, sum 7 parts = 84, 1 part = 12, larger = 4 × 12 = 48. Answer: C.
Q6. Total parts 10. B = 3/10 × 1500 = 450. Answer: B.
Q7. 60 litres in 3:2 means milk 36, water 24. For ratio 2:1 with water fixed at 24, milk must reach 48. Add 48 - 36 = 12 litres. Answer: B.
Q8. Combined rate = 1/12 + 1/18 = 3/36 + 2/36 = 5/36. Time = 36/5 = 7.2 days. Answer: B.
Q9. Net rate = 1/8 - 1/12 = 3/24 - 2/24 = 1/24. Time = 24 hours. Answer: C.
Q10. Distance = 150 + 250 = 400 m in 20 s = 20 m/s = 72 km/hr. Answer: C.
Q11. Speed = 180/3 = 60 km/hr. In 5 hours = 300 km. Answer: B.
Q12. Total of 5 = 200. Total of 4 = 140. Removed = 60. Answer: C.
Q13. (4x + 5)/(5x + 5) = 5/6. 6(4x + 5) = 5(5x + 5), 24x + 30 = 25x + 25, x = 5. A's age = 4x = 20. Answer: B.
Q14. Other = HCF × LCM / one = 9 × 90 / 18 = 810/18 = 45. Answer: B.
Q15. SI = 6000 × 5 × 4/100 = 1200. Answer: B.
Q16. A = 5000 × 1.1² = 6050. CI = 1050. Answer: C.
Q17. 1.2 × original = 144, original = 120. Answer: C.
Q18. 8 men × 15 days = 120 man-days. 120/10 = 12 days. Answer: B.
Q19. (5x - 8)/(6x - 8) = 4/5. 5(5x - 8) = 4(6x - 8), 25x - 40 = 24x - 32, x = 8. Smaller = 5x = 40. Answer: B.
Q20. Downstream = 20/2 = 10, upstream = 12/2 = 6. Still water = (10 + 6)/2 = 8 km/hr. Answer: B.
Q21. 4b + 5p = 112 and 5b + 4p = 122. Add: 9b + 9p = 234, so b + p = 26. Subtract the first from the second: b - p = 10. Solving, b = 18 and p = 8. Cost of one book = ₹18. Answer: B.
Q22. Doubles in 8 years means SI = principal, R = 100/8 = 12.5%. Answer: C.
Q23. 50000 × 1.1 × 1.2 = 50000 × 1.32 = 66000. Answer: C.
Q24. P(red) = 4/10 = 2/5. Answer: A.
Q25. At 3:30, minute hand at 180°, hour hand at 3×30 + 30×0.5 = 90 + 15 = 105°. Difference = 75°. Answer: B.
Q26. CP 100, MP 140, SP = 140 × 0.75 = 105. Profit = 5%. Answer: B.
Q27. Income 100, expenditure 80, savings 20. New income = 125, new expenditure = 80 × 1.1 = 88, new savings = 125 - 88 = 37. Increase = 17/20 × 100 = 85%. Answer: D.
Q28. Three consecutive even numbers: middle = 84/3 = 28, so 26, 28, 30. Largest = 30. Answer: B.
Q29. Circumference = 2 × 22/7 × 21 = 132 cm. Distance = 132 × 100 = 13200 cm = 132 m. Answer: B.
Q30. 0.2A = 0.25B, A/B = 0.25/0.2 = 5/4. A:B = 5:4. Answer: B.
30-Day TCS NQT Aptitude Prep Plan
| Phase | Days | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation | 1-10 | Percentages, profit-loss, ratios, averages, daily timed drills |
| Build | 11-20 | Time-work, time-speed-distance, number systems, interest |
| Simulate | 21-27 | Full timed numerical sections, review by root cause |
| Taper | 28-30 | Formula revision and error-log review, no new material |
Candidates report that the cutoff is cleared not by attempting every question but by banking the high-frequency arithmetic with high accuracy and managing the clock. Confirm the current cutoff and section timing on the official TCS iON NQT portal before your test, since these are set per cycle and are not always published in advance.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does the TCS NQT aptitude section cover?
Candidates report the TCS NQT numerical ability section covers arithmetic (percentages, profit and loss, ratios, averages), time-speed-distance, time and work, number systems, and basic data interpretation. Exact question counts and the cutoff vary by cycle and track, so confirm the current pattern on the official TCS iON NQT portal before your test.
How hard is the TCS NQT aptitude section?
Candidates generally describe the numerical ability section as moderate, with the difficulty coming from time pressure rather than concept depth. The arithmetic is standard placement-level, but the per-question time budget is tight, so speed and accuracy matter more than advanced techniques.
How should I prepare for TCS NQT aptitude in 30 days?
Spend the first two weeks on the high-frequency arithmetic topics, then two weeks on full timed sections. Candidates report that practicing under a strict clock and reviewing every wrong answer by root cause is the most reliable path to clearing the numerical ability cutoff.
Methodology applied to this articlelast verified 8 Jun 2026
- No fabricated salary numbers or success rates. If we quote a range, it's sourced.
- No noun-substituted templates. This article was not generated by swapping company names in a stock prompt.
- No paid placements, sponsored coaching links, or affiliate-shilled course pushes.
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