TCS Prime Interview Experience 2027 batch I How He Cracked Prime Role| TCS NQT 2026| TCS NQT 2027

Main ideas / lessons conveyed

• Interview preparation is about focused practice + time management, especially for timed quantitative sections and pattern-based reasoning/numerical topics.
• Math/numerical preparation should focus on high-frequency areas, such as:
  • ratios & proportion
  • trains/time & distance
  • edge/other numerical topics
  • simplification
• Reasoning and verbal preparation should follow the syllabus format closely, for example:
  • sentence completion without options
  • passage recall with separate memorization + writing timers
  • email writing with strict keyword sequencing
• Coding round strategy requires completing sections in order (no jumping/backtracking between Numerical → Reasoning → Coding). In coding, the input format may require writing more than just the core function logic.
• For DSA/technical interviews, pattern learning via a structured playlist/sheet is more effective than randomly switching resources.
• Interview success depends on confidence and “read-the-room” communication—speak simply, clearly, and confidently; show fundamentals; be responsive to what interviewers ask.
• For AI/ML project questions, demonstrate fundamentals and correct reasoning, not just claiming AI usage (and be ready to discuss limitations like deployment knowledge).
• Final takeaway: consistency over months (and not getting stuck on one topic like arrays) drives improvement.

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A) TCS NQT / Online Assessment: Numerical preparation

Prioritize high-yield topics

• Ratio & proportion (described as very high frequency)
• Train & stream / distance–speed–time related problems (including trains and stations)
• Edge-type numerical topics (example mentioned: “wide edge”)

Time management approach

• Numerical section: ~20 questions in ~25 minutes (tight)
• Target solving speed: roughly ~1 minute 15–20 seconds per question
• The implied strategy: repeated practice until solutions become fast under pressure

Practice volume

• Spend 4–5 days on numerical
• Solve about ~60 questions per relevant topic
• YouTube tutorials are okay, but the key is repeat practice and familiarity with question types

Difficulty note

• Numericals were described as hard-level, but still solvable with practice

Advanced numerical tip (simplification-heavy)

• Advanced numericals may feel easier due to simplification-type problems, such as:
  • expressions like (x + 1)²
  • square roots
  • powers like “to the 4”
• Add quick-math practice

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B) Online Assessment: Reasoning preparation

Start reasoning close to the exam

• Preparation began the day before / around NQT timing

Use a focused long video/topic list

• Used a 10-hour YouTube resource covering important topics only

High-frequency reasoning topics listed

• Blood relations
• Syllogism / related relation-pattern types
• Alphabet patterns (examples referenced with sequences like A-B-C-X-Z style)

Expected performance

• From ~20 questions, expected about 8–10 to be relatively easier if completed in time

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C) Verbal Ability format & how to handle it

Section 1: Sentence completion (20 questions)

• No options (open fill-in)
• 25-second timer per question
• If time runs out, the question is effectively lost
• Guidance: choose a word that fits the meaning/context (exact word may differ, but context must be correct)

Section 2: Passage recall

• Passage length: ~3–5 lines
• ~30 seconds to remember
• ~90 seconds to write the meaning
• Don’t rewrite word-for-word—write the overall meaning
• Memory trick:
  • recall in a comfortable language (example: Odia; also Hindi/any comfort language)
  • then write the meaning in English during the output timer (paraphrase allowed)

Section 3: Email writing

• A context is given (to manager/team leader/head/juniors)
• 3–5 keywords are provided
• Requirements:
  • keywords must appear in the same sequence
  • do not change the tense of the provided keywords
• Time: about 8–9 minutes (around 9 minutes)
• Target length: about 100–120 words (the exact upper bound noted was garbled)

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D) Coding round strategy (important rules)

Follow strict section order

• No skipping
• Fixed order: Numerical → Reasoning → Coding
• No backtracking to previous sections

Test structure and approach

• Easy question first, then medium
• Easy question:
  • described as very easy
  • included mention of an erasure-related question (topic unclear)
  • key point: you must write the input portion yourself (the prompt may not provide full scaffolding)
• Medium question:
  • array-based with logic
  • brute force might pass limited/private tests, but optimal logic is needed for larger constraints

Time note

• They completed the easy question in about 5 minutes
• Then waited about ~30 minutes before the medium question appeared (since they couldn’t proceed out of order)

Outcome mentioned

• Brute force did not pass all private tests
• They passed 4 out of 4 visible test cases, while private ones failed

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E) DSA / Interview preparation plan (resource strategy)

Use one structured playlist/sheet

• Recommended: Striver A to Z sheet (free version) or equivalent structured plan
• Avoid randomly switching to reels/videos mid-way—consistency matters

Use one programming language

• Practiced only in Python

DSA topics progression mentioned

• Arrays (emphasized as fundamentals)
• Sorting: selection sort, quick sort, merge sort (basic sorting fundamentals)
• Pattern-based methods: two pointers, sliding window
• Hashing
• Recursion: basic + intermediate
• Stacks/queues and linked lists
• Trees / binary search related practice
• “HIPS” mentioned (unclear, but implies extended practice)

Core principle

• Focus on fundamentals, especially arrays, to build logic

Practice volume

• Solved about ~300–400 LeetCode-style problems (transcript wording imperfect, but volume is clear)

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F) Choosing “skill” for NQT interview (AI vs SQL example)

• There’s a section: choose your skill for the interview
• Many choose AIML, but the speaker chose SQL because:
  • comfort from more practice in SQL
  • AI/LMM/agents/overfitting concerns felt like they could lead to deeper questioning

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G) Interview rounds & how to behave

Interview structure

• Only two rounds:
  • Technical
  • HR

Confidence and communication rules

• Enter with confidence (mentioned: “big smile”)
• Treat it like a discussion, not adversarial
• Use simple, clear English
• Don’t rush—avoid stuttering from speed; speak comfortably
• Show fundamentals and be responsive to interviewer questions

Technical topics mentioned

• DSA examples:
  • reverse a string (discuss optimal approach, not just brute/trivial)
  • merge two sorted arrays (tie to merge sort intuition)
  • trapping rainwater (write intuition/thought process/pseudocode)
• Python basics:
  • slicing and slicing syntax
  • justify why an approach is optimal (time complexity)
• SQL basics:
  • update/alter/write queries
  • joins: left join, right join, inner join, full join
    • explain with example tables (dummy data)
  • window functions:
    • difference between rank, dense_rank, and row_number

Handling AI/ML project questions

• If asked how much AI you know and what you did:
  • use AI tools for assistance, but emphasize fundamentals
  • acknowledge gaps (e.g., deployment knowledge)
  • explain how you used a model approach and discuss classification vs what you used

Personal fit questions

• Questions like:
  • where you live
  • willingness to explore
  • hobbies (used to show time management and growth mindset)

Asking questions back

• Don’t say “no questions”
• Example suggestion: ask what the interviewer expects from the candidate if hired

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H) Final preparation tips (explicit)

• Consistency is everything: start and complete whatever you begin thoroughly.
• Don’t get stuck on arrays:
  • If arrays take too long (e.g., 1–2 weeks), move on to the next topic
  • Revisit later (e.g., practice difficult items on weekends; revise on weekends)
• Timeline: run this cycle for 4–5 months for a drastic improvement

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Speakers / sources featured

Speakers

• Ummiti Mittal (host/channel presenter)
• Shakti Marana (guest; candidate who cleared TCS Prime Interview / NQT)

Sources referenced

• YouTube (NQT numerical/reasoning and DSA playlists/videos)
• Striver A to Z sheet (recommended DSA resource)
• LeetCode (used for “famous questions” reference)
• Python (primary coding/DSA language)
• ChatGPT / similar AI tools (used for assistance and explanations, including deployment-related learning)