By the ExamguruX Editorial TeamUpdated 2 October 20264 min read
Key dates
- Registration: closes 7 October 2026, on the TCS NextStep / TCS iON portal.
- Test: 19 October 2026, online at TCS iON centres.
- Hall ticket: emailed to registered candidates about two days before the test.
The test, section by section
Every section has its own timer, and you cannot go back to a section once its time runs out. The Foundation section is common to all candidates. The Advanced section, for the higher-package Digital and Prime roles, follows it.
- Foundation, Numerical Ability: about 20 questions.
- Foundation, Verbal Ability: about 25 questions.
- Foundation, Reasoning Ability: about 20 questions.
- Advanced, Quantitative & Reasoning: about 35 questions.
- Advanced, Coding: 2 programming problems, checked against test cases.
A two-week plan
- Days 1–5: Numerical ability basics (percentages, ratios, time and work, probability) and one verbal set a day. Verbal is the easiest section to score in quickly.
- Days 6–10: Reasoning puzzles and data arrangements, plus one coding problem a day in the language you'll use. Focus on arrays and strings.
- Days 11–13: Full timed mocks with sectional locks. Practise moving on when the timer is close, rather than finishing a question.
- Day 14: Check your hall ticket, ID and the centre location. Don't practise new topics.
For the coding round
Hidden test cases decide your score, so check the edge cases (empty input, a single element, very large numbers) before you submit. A simple solution that handles every case beats a clever one that fails two. Read the input format twice. Mismatched input reading is the most common reason correct logic fails.
Key takeaways
- TCS NQT October 2026: register by 7 October; the test is on 19 October at TCS iON centres.
- Every section has its own timer, and you can't go back once it ends.
- Advanced and coding scores decide eligibility for the Digital and Prime roles. In coding, test edge cases before you submit.
Sources
Dates and patterns change — always confirm on the official website before applying.
