Coding and technical tests: the times, rules and aptitude stages that come with them

TCS states a 90-minute coding section in its Advanced part. HCLTech describes a coding or technical test of 60 to 90 minutes. Accenture says its technical assessment takes about 30 to 90 minutes, in a coding environment, within 72 hours of the invitation. NatWest states 15 minutes for SQL and 60 minutes for coding in technical roles.

The spread is wide, so find your own time. The shorter ones reward a rehearsed workflow; the longer ones reward planning, because you can lose half an hour on a single bug.

Accenture says external AI tools are not allowed, with a labelled built-in assistant in some coding questions. Standard Chartered says its Coding Simulation is scored automatically and can use AI-based proctoring. Revature says its online assessment uses a proctoring browser. Capgemini says its coding and technical assessments are proctored online.

So expect to be watched. Close other programs, clear your desk and use the device the notice names.

At many IT services employers the coding test is only one part. TCS starts with Foundation sections for numerical, verbal and reasoning ability. HCLTech starts with a cognitive test. Infosys's published sample has reasoning and verbal sections before pseudocode. If you fail the aptitude gate, your coding is never read.

This is the part you can drill with our free tests: the reasoning test for numerical and verbal skills, and the CCAT test for logic and number series.

Pick one language the employer allows and practise reading input, writing a loop, handling edge cases and printing output until none of it needs thought. Practise on the platform the employer names where one is published: Standard Chartered names a Coding Simulation and Accenture points candidates to HackerRank practice.

Time is the constraint. Practise finishing a small problem in 30 minutes, then moving on. If your notice says partial solutions earn credit, submit working code for part of a problem rather than unfinished code for all of it.

Several of these figures come from pages that are one or two years old, and some, such as HCLTech's, say so. Employers change their platforms often. Your drive notice or invitation is the authority.

Beware of anyone who charges you for a job. HCLTech states that neither it nor its recruitment partners ask for fees at any stage, and Accenture warns about payment requests. See our IT services assessment guide for the aptitude half of these processes.