Online Assessments (OAs) have become a near-universal first filter in Indian campus and off-campus hiring. TCS NQT, Infosys InfyTQ, Wipro NLTH, Capgemini, Accenture, Cognizant — all use online tests to screen thousands of applicants before any human involvement. These assessments are scored automatically, and candidates who clear them advance; those who don’t are eliminated without any interview. Preparing specifically for OA formats gives you a significant edge. This guide covers everything you need to know.
What Is an Online Assessment?
An OA is a timed, automated test that companies use to screen candidates at scale. It typically includes a combination of:
| Section | What It Tests |
|---|---|
| Aptitude / Quantitative | Percentages, profit/loss, time-speed-distance, probability |
| Logical Reasoning | Seating arrangements, blood relations, syllogisms, series |
| Verbal / English | Reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, para-jumbles |
| Coding | 1–3 programming problems (DSA) |
| Domain / Technical | Computer science fundamentals, domain-specific questions |
| Personality / Behaviour | Situational judgement, culture fit (no right/wrong answers) |
Not all companies include all sections. Verify the specific format for your target company before preparing.
OA Formats by Major Indian Companies
| Company | Test Name | Key Sections |
|---|---|---|
| TCS | NQT (National Qualifier Test) | Verbal, quant, reasoning, coding, advanced coding |
| Infosys | InfyTQ / HackerRank Test | Aptitude, reasoning, coding (Java/Python) |
| Wipro | NLTH (National Level Test for Hiring) | Aptitude, English, coding (2 problems) |
| Accenture | Online Assessment | Aptitude, reasoning, communication, coding |
| Cognizant | GenC / GenC Elevate | Aptitude, reasoning, coding, essay |
| Capgemini | SVAR + Pseudo Code + BPAT | Pseudo code, aptitude, behavioural |
| HCL | AMCAT | Aptitude, reasoning, technical MCQ |
| Amazon | Online Assessment | Coding (2 problems) + workstyle survey |
| OA | Coding only (2-3 LeetCode Medium problems) |
Aptitude: The Most Commonly Underestimated Section
Many engineering students focus exclusively on coding preparation and score poorly on aptitude, costing them the overall cut-off. Aptitude sections typically include:
- Number System: Divisibility, LCM, HCF, remainders
- Time and Work: Work rates, pipe and cistern
- Percentages / Profit-Loss: Successive discounts, marked price vs. selling price
- Speed-Distance-Time: Relative speed, trains, boats
- Data Interpretation: Bar charts, pie charts, tables
- Probability and Combinations: Basic counting, selection problems
Preparation resources: Aptitude section on IndiaBIX (free), R.S. Aggarwal Quantitative Aptitude (book), PrepInsta company-specific question sets.
Coding Section: What Companies Test
For IT services companies (TCS, Wipro, Infosys), the coding section typically features:
- 1–2 problems at LeetCode Easy–Medium difficulty
- 30–60 minute time limit
- Java, Python, or C++ accepted
For product and FAANG companies (Amazon, Google):
- 2–3 problems at LeetCode Medium–Hard
- Stricter time pressure
- Efficiency (time/space complexity) is scored, not just correctness
Key insight: In service company OAs, getting a partial working solution often scores better than submitting nothing. In FAANG OAs, time and space complexity matter — a brute force solution may score 0 on large test cases.
Verbal / Communication Sections
Common in Accenture, Cognizant, and Capgemini assessments:
- Reading comprehension: Practice 2–3 RC passages daily with time pressure
- Para-jumbles: Learn sentence connector words (however, therefore, furthermore)
- Fill-in-the-blanks: Vocabulary + grammar rules
- Error correction: Subject-verb agreement, tense, preposition usage
Resource: Verbal section on IndiaBIX, Wren & Martin Grammar (reference), PrepInsta company-specific verbal questions.
OA Strategy: Day-Of Tips
Before starting:
- Read all instructions carefully — note section time limits
- Check internet stability and disable background apps
- Have your ID and environment ready (many OAs are proctored)
During the test:
- Attempt easy questions first within each section
- Do not spend more than 2–3 minutes on any single question — skip and return
- In aptitude: eliminate obviously wrong options to improve guessing odds
- In coding: write a working brute force first, then optimise if time allows
- Watch the clock — leaving questions unattempted is worse than a wrong guess (most OAs have no negative marking unless stated)
Common mistakes:
- Spending too long on one difficult coding problem and neglecting the second
- Not reading the problem statement carefully (many wrong answers come from misunderstanding the problem)
- Skipping the personality section (these are evaluated and affect cut-off rankings)
4-Week OA Preparation Plan
| Week | Focus |
|---|---|
| 1 | Aptitude fundamentals (IndiaBIX daily + 2 timed mock tests) |
| 2 | Reasoning (puzzles, syllogisms, seating arrangements) + Verbal |
| 3 | Coding (50 LeetCode Easy problems + 20 Medium) |
| 4 | Full-length company-specific mock OAs (PrepInsta, MockTest.in) |
References:
- TCS NQT Preparation Guide – https://www.tcs.com/careers/tcs-ninja
- PrepInsta Company-Specific OA Practice – https://prepinsta.com/
- IndiaBIX Aptitude Practice – https://www.indiabix.com/
- LeetCode Interview Preparation – https://leetcode.com/
- Naukri.com Campus Placement Tips – https://www.naukri.com/blog/campus-placement-tips/