HCL Aptitude Questions 2026
HCLTech hires fresh engineering graduates through AMP (Ascend, Momentum, Polaris). Its Ascend test has a cognitive test (numerical, verbal, reasoning) of about 90 minutes, a coding or technical test of 60 to 90 minutes, and a Versant English test, then technical and HR interviews. HCLTech states minimum academics of 65% or 70%, depending on location.
A note on sourcing: the stages, timings, Versant score and eligibility below come from HCLTech’s own campus hiring page. HCLTech doesn’t publish question counts, negative-marking rules or sectional cutoffs, so those details come from prep-site reporting as of October 2026. The prep sites disagree with each other and sometimes with HCLTech, and several appear to repeat each other. We keep the two apart and haven’t picked a figure to settle a disagreement.
What Does HCLTech Officially Say About the AMP Test?
On its campus hiring page, HCLTech describes AMP as a merit-based selection process for fresh engineering graduates, where skills decide the salary. The Ascend test has three stages:
| Stage | What HCLTech states |
|---|---|
| Cognitive test | Numerical, verbal and reasoning, about 90 minutes |
| Coding or technical test | 60 to 90 minutes |
| Versant test | Assesses English speaking and listening. A score of 46 to 56 (B1 level) is required to qualify |
Only candidates who clear the cognitive and coding tests go on to the Versant test. After that, candidates move to technical and HR interviews.
Candidates who clear Ascend get an offer at Rs 4.5 LPA, or Rs 3.75 LPA at the New Vistas locations (Lucknow, Nagpur, Vijayawada and Madurai). HCLTech says the top 10% of Ascend candidates are evaluated further, through additional interviews, hackathons or technical tests, and may be upgraded to Momentum (Rs 6 LPA) or Polaris (Rs 10 LPA). Off-campus candidates are eligible too.
Eligibility, as HCLTech states it: an engineering degree in any branch, with 65% or above throughout academics (Class 10, Class 12 and graduation) for the four New Vistas locations, and 70% or above for all other locations.
HCLTech also states that it never asks for recruitment fees and sends emails only from @hcltech.com. Its page doesn’t give question counts, negative-marking rules or sectional cutoffs.
What Do Prep Sites Add About Counts and Timings?
Prep sites go further than HCLTech and describe question counts. These figures are reported, not official:
| Reported version | What it says |
|---|---|
| Most repeated | 77 questions in 95 minutes: numerical 15, verbal 15 and reasoning 15 (15 minutes each), computer programming 30 (30 minutes), then 2 coding questions in 20 minutes. Described as the updated 2025 pattern, with no negative marking |
| Shorter | 60 questions in 60 minutes: quant, logical, verbal and technical at 15 questions and 15 minutes each, sometimes with a short optional general-knowledge part |
| Variable | One site gives 65 questions in 65 minutes, and another says 60 to 110 minutes with four to six sections and possibly coding |
The two sites behind the 77-question version use identical numbers, so their agreement isn’t independent confirmation.
Where Sources Disagree
| Detail | HCLTech | Prep sites |
|---|---|---|
| Test stages | Cognitive, coding or technical, then Versant | Four or more timed sections, often with no mention of Versant |
| Cognitive section | About 90 minutes | 15 minutes per section, or 95 minutes for the whole test |
| Eligibility | 65% or 70% throughout academics, by location | 60% throughout is the common claim |
| Sectional cutoff | Not stated | A 70% floor is reported by one site, which itself says HCL doesn’t publish cutoffs |
| Negative marking | Not stated | Sites say none |
Where HCLTech and a prep site disagree, trust HCLTech, and read the instructions on your own test.
Which Question Types Are Reported?
HCLTech names numerical, verbal and reasoning. Prep sites most often list these topics:
- Quantitative: number system, percentages, ratio and proportion, time and work, simple and compound interest, and probability.
- Reasoning: coding-decoding, series, blood relations, direction sense, syllogisms and seating arrangements.
- Verbal: grammar, reading comprehension, para jumbles and vocabulary.
- Technical: programming basics, data structures, operating systems, networking, databases and SQL, where the version includes a technical section.
The technical part is outside what this guide covers.
Practice Questions in the Reported Style
These are original practice questions written for the reported topic areas, not claims that they appeared on a real HCL test.
1. Simple interest. What is the simple interest on Rs 5,000 at 8% per year for 3 years? Answer: Rs 1,200. 5,000 x 8 x 3 / 100 = 1,200.
2. Ratio. Rs 1,200 is divided between two people in the ratio 3 : 5. What is the larger share? Answer: Rs 750. There are 8 parts, and each is worth 1,200 / 8 = 150, so the larger share is 5 x 150 = 750.
3. Profit. An item bought for Rs 400 is sold for Rs 500. What is the profit percentage? Answer: 25%. The profit is 100, and 100 / 400 = 25%.
4. Letter series. What comes next: B, D, G, K, ? Answer: P. The letters are in positions 2, 4, 7, 11, so the gaps are 2, 3, 4 and the next gap is 5. Position 16 is P.
5. Direction sense. A person walks 6 km north, turns right and walks 8 km. How far is she from the start? Answer: 10 km. The two legs are at right angles, so the distance is the square root of 6^2 + 8^2 = 100, which is 10 km.
6. Syllogism. Statements: All pencils are pens. All pens are books. Conclusion: All pencils are books. Does it follow? Answer: yes. Pencils are inside pens, and pens are inside books, so pencils are inside books.
7. Distance. A car travels at 60 km/h for 2.5 hours. How far does it go? Answer: 150 km. Distance = speed x time = 60 x 2.5 = 150.
8. Verbal. Choose the correct word: “He is senior ___ me.” (to / than) Answer: to. Adjectives such as “senior”, “junior” and “superior” are followed by “to”, not “than”.
How to Prepare When the Sources Disagree
Prepare for the three stages HCLTech states. Practise numerical, verbal and reasoning questions under time pressure, add coding practice for the second stage, and work on spoken English for the Versant test. Read the instructions on your test invite before relying on any figure from a prep site.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the HCL aptitude test for freshers?
HCLTech hires fresh engineering graduates through AMP. The Ascend test has a cognitive test of numerical, verbal and reasoning questions (about 90 minutes), a coding or technical test (60 to 90 minutes) and a Versant English test, followed by technical and HR interviews.
What is the AMP programme at HCLTech?
AMP stands for Ascend, Momentum and Polaris. Everyone who clears the selection process gets an Ascend offer, and the top 10% of Ascend candidates can be upgraded to Momentum (Rs 6 LPA) or Polaris (Rs 10 LPA) after further assessment.
What is the eligibility for HCL AMP?
HCLTech states an engineering degree in any branch and 65% or above throughout academics for Lucknow, Nagpur, Vijayawada and Madurai, or 70% or above for all other locations. Some prep sites quote 60%, which doesn’t match HCLTech’s statement.
What Versant score does HCL require?
HCLTech states that a score of 46 to 56 (B1 level) is required to qualify. Only candidates who clear the cognitive and coding tests take the Versant test.
How many questions are there in the HCL aptitude test?
HCLTech doesn’t publish question counts. Prep sites most often report 77 questions in 95 minutes, but others report 60 in 60. Check your own invite.
Does HCL charge a fee for campus recruitment?
No. HCLTech states on its campus hiring page and freshers site that it does not charge recruitment fees, and that it sends emails only from @hcltech.com.