Pattern
About 54 MCQs, about 100 minutes, sectional cut-offs, no negative marking reported. Some drives add an essay or one coding question. Sets below come from prep sites that collect candidate reports; Infosys publishes no papers, so treat them as the best available picture.
Bar height = minutes: Reasoning 25, Maths 35, Verbal 20, Pseudocode 10, Puzzles 10.
2026Essay topics reported
Generative AI and entry-level jobs, remote work, digital privacy. 150 to 200 words: intro, 2 or 3 points with an example each, one-line conclusion.
2026Level of Maths section
Called basic by 2027-batch candidates. Accuracy matters more than hard problems.
2026SP/DSE (not SE) drives
3 coding questions in 3 hours with hidden test cases. Partial credit counts, so submit brute force if stuck.
Quant
Maths: 10 questions in 35 minutes.
2024Item marked 30% above cost, 10% discount. Profit?
1.3 × 0.9 = 1.17. 17%
Trick and method: Assume cost = 100. Mark up first (130), then take the discount on the MARKED price (117). Profit 17. Rule: chained percents multiply, 1.3 × 0.9 = 1.17.
2024A does a job in 20 days, B in 30. They work 6 days together, then A leaves. Days for B to finish?
Together 1/12 per day, 6 days = half done. B needs 15 days.
Trick and method: Days to units: total = LCM(20,30) = 60, A = 3/day, B = 2/day. Six days of both = 30 units, 30 left, B alone needs 30 / 2 = 15. LCM units remove all fractions.
202420% of a number is 60. What is 35%?
Number 300. 105
Trick and method: Unitary method: 20% is 60, so 1% is 3 and 35% is 105. You never need the full number.
2024Ages of A and B are 3:5. After 10 years 5:7. A now?
3x+10 : 5x+10 = 5:7 gives x=5. 15 years
Trick and method: Write the ratio as 3x and 5x, add the years to BOTH, cross-multiply, solve x. Works for any after-n-years ratio.
2024A sum is 2400 in 2 years and 3200 in 4 years (SI). Principal?
Interest 400 per year. 2400 − 800 = 1600
Trick and method: Simple interest is the same every year. The 2 extra years add 800, so 400 per year. Principal = amount − years × 400 = 2400 − 800.
2024CI on 10000 for 2 years at 10%?
12100 − 10000 = 2100
Trick and method: Growth factor 1.1 each year, so 1.1 × 1.1 = 1.21. CI = amount − principal. Two-year shortcut: 10% gives 10 + 10 + 1 = 21%.
2024Train 150 m crosses a 200 m platform in 20 s. Speed in km/h?
350/20 = 17.5 m/s × 18/5 = 63 km/h
Trick and method: Distance = train + platform. m/s to km/h: × 18/5 (or × 3.6). 17.5 × 3.6 = 63.
2024Abdul realises he will cover only 75% of the distance in the scheduled time, doubles his speed and arrives on time. Without the change he would be 3 h late. When did he change speed?
Scheduled time T=9 h (0.75 of full time D/V=12). Change at 2T − 12 = 6 hours. (One prep site prints 18, which is wrong: after 6 h, remaining 6V at 2V takes 3 h, total 9 ✓.)
Trick and method: Write one equation per fact. Reaching only 75% by schedule T means T = 0.75 D/V. Late by 3 h means D/V − T = 3, so D/V = 12, T = 9. Change at t: Vt + 2V(T − t) = D gives t = 2T − D/V = 6.
2024Code word: 2 letters then 2 distinct digits 1 to 9. How many?
26×26×9×8 = 48672
Trick and method: Multiplication principle: slot by slot. Letters may repeat (26 × 26), digits must differ (9 × 8). Ask repeat allowed? at each slot.
2024Pipe A fills in 10 h, pipe B empties in 15 h. Time to fill a half-empty tank?
Net 1/30 per hour, half tank = 15 h
Trick and method: Inlet positive, outlet negative: 1/10 − 1/15 = 1/30 per hour. Only HALF the tank is needed, so half of 30 = 15 h. Check the portion asked.
2024Two dice thrown. P(sum 7)?
6 of 36 = 1/6
Trick and method: Count favourable pairs out of 36: (1,6),(2,5),(3,4) and their reverses = 6. Sum 7 is the most likely sum; remember 1/6.
2024Water mixed with milk at ₹12/L to get ₹8/L. Ratio?
Alligation (12−8):(8−0) = 4:8 = 1:2 water:milk
Trick and method: Alligation cross: put the mean in the middle, subtract diagonally. Water costs 0. Water : milk = (12 − 8) : (8 − 0) = 4 : 8 = 1 : 2.
2024Average of 5 numbers is 25. One removed, average 23. Removed number?
125 − 92 = 33
Trick and method: Work with totals (average × count). Removed number = old total − new total = 125 − 92.
2024Remainder of 2^31 divided by 5?
Cycle 2,4,3,1; 31 mod 4 = 3 gives 3
Trick and method: Remainders of powers repeat in a cycle. 2^n mod 5 goes 2,4,3,1. Exponent 31 mod 4 = 3, third in the cycle is 3.
2024Sales 50000 in 2020, up 20% each year. Sales in 2024?
50000 × 1.2⁴ = 103680
Trick and method: Repeated growth multiplies per step. 2020 to 2024 is 4 steps, not 5. 50000 × 1.2^4 = 103680. Count the steps.
20245 children born 3 years apart, ages sum to 50. Youngest?
5x+30=50. 4 years
Trick and method: Ages in AP: sum = 5x + (3+6+9+12) = 5x + 30. Or the middle child is the average, 10, so the youngest is 10 − 6 = 4.
2024A puts 5000, B 7000. After 6 months A withdraws 2000. Profit 4500. B’s share?
A 48000, B 84000, ratio 4:7. B = 7/11 × 4500 = ₹2863.64
Trick and method: Profit shares are proportional to money × months. Split A into phases: 5000 × 6 + 3000 × 6 = 48000. Reduce the ratio, then multiply by the total.
2024Boat 8 km/h in still water, stream 2. Time for 30 km downstream?
30/10 = 3 h
Trick and method: Downstream speed = boat + stream. Time = distance / speed.
2024Trains 120 m and 180 m, opposite directions at 40 and 50 km/h. Crossing time?
90 km/h = 25 m/s. 300/25 = 12 s
Trick and method: Opposite directions ADD speeds, same direction SUBTRACT. Distance = sum of lengths. 90 km/h × 5/18 = 25 m/s.
2024Length +20%, breadth +10%. Area change?
1.2 × 1.1 = 1.32. 32%
Trick and method: Combined percent = a + b + ab/100 = 20 + 10 + 2 = 32. Or multiply 1.2 × 1.1 = 1.32.
2025Price up 20%. Cut in consumption to keep spend same?
Spend 100 → 83.33 units. 16.67%
Trick and method: To keep spend the same, cut = x/(100 + x) = 20/120 = 16.67%. Or use 100 units: 120 per unit buys 83.33.
2025Milk:water 3:2. Add 10 L water, ratio becomes 2:3. Original quantity?
3x/(2x+10)=2/3, x=4. 20 L
Trick and method: Milk stays 3x, only water changes. Write the NEW ratio as an equation: 3x/(2x + 10) = 2/3.
2025Successive discounts 10% and 20%. Effective?
0.9 × 0.8 = 0.72. 28%
Trick and method: Multiply factors 0.9 × 0.8 = 0.72, so 28% off. Never add 10 + 20.
2025A is twice as efficient as B. Together 12 days. A alone?
3 units/day × 12 = 36. 36/2 = 18 days
Trick and method: Efficiency units: B = 1, A = 2, together 3. Total work = 3 × 12 = 36. A alone = 36 / 2 = 18.
20258000 becomes 9600 in 4 years (SI). Rate?
1600 = 8000×R×4/100. 5%
Trick and method: Rearrange SI = PRT/100 for the unknown. Interest = amount − principal = 1600.
2025CI on 5000 for 1 year at 10% compounded half-yearly?
5000×1.05² = 5512.50. ₹512.50
Trick and method: Half-yearly: halve the rate, double the periods. 5% for 2 periods, 1.05² = 1.1025.
2025Trains 100 m and 150 m, same direction at 50 and 40 km/h. Time for faster to overtake?
10 km/h = 25/9 m/s. 250 ÷ 25/9 = 90 s
Trick and method: Same direction: subtract speeds. 10 km/h = 25/9 m/s. Distance = both lengths = 250.
20255 people in a row, two must sit together. Ways?
4! × 2! = 48
Trick and method: Together: glue the pair into one block (4!), then arrange inside the block (2!). Never together = total − together.
2025Choose 3 from 8 students?
56
Trick and method: Order does not matter, so nCr. 8 × 7 × 6 / 6 = 56.
2025Pipes fill in 12, 15, 20 h. All open?
5+4+3 = 12/60 = 1/5. 5 h
Trick and method: Add the rates, then invert. LCM 60: 5 + 4 + 3 = 12 units per hour. 60 / 12 = 5 h.
2025Two cards from 52. P(both aces)?
4/52 × 3/51 = 1/221
Trick and method: Without replacement: multiply successive probabilities, 4/52 × 3/51. Or 4C2 / 52C2.
2025A:B = 2:3, B:C = 4:5. A:B:C?
Make B equal (12). 8:12:15
Trick and method: Make the shared term equal using the LCM of 3 and 4 (= 12).
2025Number up 25% then down 20%. Net?
100 → 125 → 100. 0%
Trick and method: Use 100: +25% gives 125, −20% of 125 is 25, back to 100. A +25% then −20% always cancels (1.25 × 0.8 = 1).
2025A takes 10 days, B 15. 4 days together then A leaves. Wages 3000. B’s share?
Work A:B = 2:3. ₹1800
Trick and method: Wages split by WORK DONE. LCM 30: A = 3/day, B = 2/day. In 4 days 20 units done, B finishes the remaining 10. A did 12, B did 18, ratio 2:3, B = 1800.
2025Father:son = 7:3. After 10 years 2:1. Father now?
x=10. 70
Trick and method: Same as the 3:5 ages problem. 7x and 3x, add 10, cross-multiply, x = 10.
2025A invests 5000 for 6 months, B 6000 for 8 months. Profit 4200. A’s share?
30000:48000 = 5:8. 5/13 × 4200 = ₹1615.38
Trick and method: Money × months: 5000 × 6 = 30000, 6000 × 8 = 48000. Reduce to 5 : 8, then multiply by profit.
2025Boat takes 3 h for 12 km upstream, 2 h downstream. Still-water speed?
4 and 6. 5 km/h
Trick and method: Upstream = boat − stream. Still-water speed is the average of upstream and downstream: (4 + 6)/2.
2025Smallest number to add to 1056 to be divisible by 23?
1056 mod 23 = 21. 2
Trick and method: Divide, take remainder r, add (divisor − r). 1056 / 23 leaves 21, so add 2.
2026Arrangements of INFOSYS with vowels never together?
Total 7!/2! = 2520, together 720. 1800
Trick and method: Total arrangements with repeats = 7!/2! (S twice). Never together = total − (vowels glued: 6!/2! × 2!).
2026Two cards from a deck, both kings?
1/221
Trick and method: Same as the aces question: 4/52 × 3/51 = 1/221.
Reasoning
15 questions in 25 minutes.
All A are B, all B are C: A sits inside B, inside C.
20242, 5, 11, 23, 47, ?
×2+1. 95
Trick and method: When numbers roughly double, test ×2 ± k. 2 to 5 is ×2+1, 5 to 11 is ×2+1.
20243, 8, 15, 24, 35, ?
Differences 5,7,9,11. 48
Trick and method: Differences 5, 7, 9, 11 grow by 2, so +13. Also n² − 1: 3, 8, 15, 24, 35 are n = 2 to 6, next 7² − 1 = 48.
2024A, D, G, J, ?
+3. M
Trick and method: Convert to positions: 1, 4, 7, 10, add 3 to get 13 = M.
20242, 6, 12, 20, 30, ?
Differences 4,6,8,10. 42
Trick and method: These are n(n+1): 1×2, 2×3 … 5×6 = 30, next 6×7 = 42.
20252, 5, 10, 17, 26, ?
n²+1. 37
Trick and method: n² + 1 for n = 1 to 5, next 6² + 1 = 37.
20253, 6, 12, 24, 48, ?
×2. 96
Trick and method: Constant ratio: each term doubles.
2025B, E, H, K, ?
+3. N
Trick and method: Positions 2, 5, 8, 11: add 3 to get 14 = N.
20263, 6, 11, 18, 27, ?
Differences 3,5,7,9. 38
Trick and method: n² + 2: 3, 6, 11, 18, 27, next 6² + 2 = 38. Differences 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 agree.
20267, 10, 8, 11, 9, 12, ?
+3, −2 alternating. 10
Trick and method: Interleaved series: split odd and even positions. 7, 8, 9 and 10, 11, 12. Next term continues the first: 10.
2024Shift every letter by +2: code for COMPUTER?
EQORWVGT
Trick and method: Convert letters to numbers, add 2 to each, wrap Z to B. C to E, O to Q, M to O, P to R, U to W, T to V, E to G, R to T.
2024With A=1, B=2…: code for MANGO?
13,1,14,7,15 = 13114715
Trick and method: A = 1 ... Z = 26. M=13, A=1, N=14, G=7, O=15. Join without spaces.
2025CAT = 3120 (letter positions). DOG?
4157
Trick and method: D=4, O=15, G=7. Same position-number rule as in the example.
2024Code reverses letters: COMPUTER → RETUPMOC. KEYBOARD?
DRAOBYEK
Trick and method: Always test plain reversal first, then shifts.
2024All green are blue; all blue are white. Conclusions: I some blue are green, II some white are green, III some green are white, IV all white are blue.
I, II, III follow, IV does not.
Trick and method: Draw nested circles: green inside blue inside white. A reversed some is always valid (some blue are green). Reversing an all is not (all white are blue).
2025Some books are novels; all novels are stories; no story is a poem. I some books are stories, II no novel is a poem, III some stories are books.
All three follow.
Trick and method: Chain the premises and use some-reversal. No story is a poem plus all novels are stories gives no novel is a poem.
2025All roses are flowers; some flowers are red. Which must be true: some red things are flowers?
Yes. Some roses are red does not follow.
Trick and method: Some flowers are red reverses to some red things are flowers, always true. Anything linking roses to red is not forced.
2024All roses are flowers, some flowers are red. I some roses are red, II all red things are flowers.
Neither follows.
Trick and method: All in one direction and some in another give nothing between the ends. Roses sit inside flowers, red overlaps flowers anywhere.
2024All managers are leaders; some leaders are innovators. Must be true: all/some managers are innovators, some innovators are managers?
None of the above. (A site prints “some innovators are managers”; it does not follow.)
Trick and method: For each option try a world where it fails. Managers can sit in the part of leaders that does not touch innovators, so nothing about managers and innovators is forced.
2024Woman points to a man: “His mother is the only daughter of my mother.” Woman is his?
Mother
Trick and method: Only daughter of my mother is me, so she is his mother.
2025Photo: “She is the daughter of my grandfather’s only son.” Relation?
Sister
Trick and method: Grandfather’s only son is my father, his daughter is my sister.
20245 km north, 3 km east, 2 km south. Distance and direction from start?
3 N, 3 E: 3√2 km north-east
Trick and method: Do N/S and E/W separately: 5 − 2 = 3 north, 3 east. Distance √(9 + 9) = 3√2. Both positive means north-east.
202510 m N, 5 E, 10 S, 5 W. Where is he?
At the start.
Trick and method: Equal opposite moves cancel: 10 − 10 = 0 and 5 − 5 = 0.
2025Facing north, turns 90°, then 180°, then 270° clockwise. Facing now?
Total 540° = 180°: South (one site prints North, wrong).
Trick and method: Add the turns: 90 + 180 + 270 = 540, minus 360 = 180° clockwise from north = South.
2025Ravi is 15th from front and 20th from back. Queue size?
15+20−1 = 34
Trick and method: From front + from back − 1, since the person is counted twice. 15 + 20 − 1 = 34.
2024Rank 15 from top in 40 students. Rank from bottom?
26th
Trick and method: From bottom = total − from top + 1 = 26.
2024Cube painted on all faces, cut into 27. Cubes with exactly one face painted?
6
Trick and method: Cutting an n×n×n cube: one painted face = 6(n−2)², two faces = 12(n−2), three = 8, none = (n−2)³. n = 3 gives 6.
2024Five in a row: A not at an end, B immediately right of A, C at an end, D between C and E. Middle person?
Only A-B-E-D-C works. E
Trick and method: Start with the tightest clue: C at an end, D between C and E so C D E or E D C. A cannot be an end and B is right of A, so only A B E D C works.
2024What is x? (1) x²=16 (2) x>0
Both together give x=4.
Trick and method: Test each statement alone first. x² = 16 gives ±4, so statement 1 fails alone. Statement 2 removes −4.
Verbal
20 questions in 20 minutes. Do the grammar items first, passages last.
2024Neither the students nor the teacher ___ present.
was (agrees with nearer subject).
Trick and method: Neither-nor: the verb agrees with the NEARER noun (teacher, so was).
2024The team of players ___ ready. (error spotting)
“are” should be “is”
Trick and method: A team is one unit, so is, not are.
2024She was ___ by the sunset: amazed / amazing?
amazed
Trick and method: Feelings use -ed (amazed). Passive = was + past participle.
2024The manager ___ the importance of teamwork.
emphasized (no preposition)
Trick and method: Emphasize, discuss, mention, reach and enter take no preposition.
2024She is good ___ mathematics.
at
Trick and method: Fixed pairs: good AT, interested IN, afraid OF, allergic TO, senior TO, prefer X TO Y. Use an before a vowel sound (honest).
2024Synonym of ABUNDANT? Antonym of TRANSPARENT?
Plentiful; Opaque
Trick and method: Remove the opposite meanings first. Transparent is see-through, opaque is the opposite.
2024Idiom: Break the ice.
Start a conversation
Trick and method: Guess idioms from the social situation. Ice means awkwardness, so breaking it starts a conversation.
2025Each of the students ___ completed ___ assignment.
has … his or her
Trick and method: Each is singular, so has and his or her.
2025Correct: reading, writing and ___
dancing (parallel form)
Trick and method: Parallel structure: make every item the same form (-ing, -ing, -ing).
2025If I ___ rich, I would travel the world.
were
Trick and method: Unreal if (second conditional) uses were for every subject.
2025She studied hard ___ she could pass.
so that
Trick and method: Purpose is so that, reason is because, contrast is although.
2025She is allergic ___ peanuts. He is ___ honest man.
to; an
Trick and method: Learn the preposition pairs. a/an depends on the sound, and honest starts with a vowel sound.
2025The ___ of the meeting was productive: affect or effect?
effect (noun)
Trick and method: After the, you need a noun. Effect is the noun, affect the verb.
2025Synonym of MAGNIFICENT, antonym of BRILLIANT?
Splendid; Dull
Trick and method: Magnificent means splendid. Brilliant (bright) is opposite to dull.
2025Passive: They are building a new bridge.
A new bridge is being built by them.
Trick and method: Passive: object becomes subject, keep the tense. are building becomes is being built.
2025Idiom: Hit the nail on the head.
To be exactly right
Trick and method: Use the literal image: hitting exactly the nail head means being exactly right.
2025Order: exercise reduces stress; it improves mental health; it also enhances cognition; therefore exercise is essential.
Evidence, benefit, extra benefit, conclusion: 3 2 4 1
Trick and method: Para jumble: evidence first (studies show), then claims, also adds, therefore comes last.
2024RC: AI passage lists job displacement and ethics concerns. Main concern?
Job displacement and ethical implications
Trick and method: Find the sentence starting with However or concerns. The answer copies its meaning, not your opinion.
2025RC: cloud computing passage. Main advantage?
Cost savings and flexibility
Trick and method: Look for the sentence with leading to or resulting in. That is the stated advantage.
Pseudocode
5 questions in 10 minutes. Make a table of variable values for every pass.
12 ^ 10 = 6 (1100 ^ 1010 = 0110). Lit cubes are 1 bits.
2026a=5,b=3,c=0; for i=1..4: if (a+i)%3==0 then c=c+i else a=a-1. Print a+c.
i=1 gives c=1; then a=4,3,2. 3
Trick and method: Trace table with columns i, a, c. The true branch changes c, the false branch changes a. Re-evaluate the condition with the newest a each pass.
2026x=12,y=10; x=x^y; y=x&y; print x+y.
x=6, y=6&10=2. 8
Trick and method: 12 = 1100, 10 = 1010, XOR = 0110 = 6. y = 6 & 10 = 0010 = 2. & keeps bits set in both.
2026x=5,y=0; while x>0: y=y+x; x=x-2. Print y.
5+3+1 = 9
Trick and method: Table of (x, y): (5,5), (3,8), (1,9), then x = −1 stops. Check the loop condition before every pass.
2026a=5,b=10,c=15; a=(a^b)^a; b=a+b+c; print a+b.
a=10, b=35. 45
Trick and method: a ^ b ^ a = b, equal pairs cancel. a = 10, b = 10 + 10 + 15 = 35, so 45.
2025int a=5,b=10; printf("%d %d",a++,++b); printf(" %d %d",a,b);
5 11 6 11
Trick and method: Post-increment a++ gives the old value then adds 1. Pre-increment ++b adds first. The second printf shows final values 6 and 11.
2025for(i=1;i<=10;i++){if(i==5)break;print i}
1 2 3 4
Trick and method: break leaves the loop at i = 5 before printing, so only 1 to 4.
2025arr={10,20,30,40}; p=arr; print *p, *(p+3)
10 40
Trick and method: *p is arr[0], *(p+3) is arr[3]. Pointer + n is the element n ahead.
2025sum(n)=n==0?0:n+sum(n-1), print sum(5)
15
Trick and method: Unroll: 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1 + 0 = 15. The base case returns 0.
2025Length of "INFOSYS" using a while loop.
7
Trick and method: Count characters up to the end-of-string marker: I N F O S Y S = 7.
2025arr={1,2,3,4,5}; p=&arr[2]; print p[-1], p[1]
2 4
Trick and method: p points to arr[2] = 3. p[-1] is arr[1], p[1] is arr[3].
2025for i=1..3, for j=1..i print j, newline.
1 / 12 / 123
Trick and method: The outer loop makes the line, the inner loop prints 1 to i: a triangle.
2025Java: s1="Hello"; s2=new String("Hello"). Print s1==s2 and s1.equals(s2).
false, true
Trick and method: == compares references, equals compares content. new String always creates a new object.
2025Python: func(lst)=0 if empty else lst[0]+func(lst[1:]). func([1,2,3,4])?
10
Trick and method: Peel the head each call: 1 + (2 + (3 + (4 + 0))) = 10.
2025Sum of even elements of {1,2,3,4,5}. Digits counted in 1234 by loop /10.
6; 4
Trick and method: Even test x % 2 == 0, so 2 + 4 = 6. Dividing by 10 until 0 counts digits: 4.
2025void change(int x){x=20;} called with a=10. Print a.
10 (pass by value)
Trick and method: C passes copies, so change() alters its own x only.
202525/4 and 25%4 in C.
6 1
Trick and method: Integer division truncates: 25 / 4 = 6, remainder 1.
2024for i=0..4, continue when i==3, print i.
0 1 2 4
Trick and method: continue skips the rest of that pass only, so i = 3 is not printed.
2024arr={1,2,3,4,5}; print *(p+2), arr[3]
3 4
Trick and method: Same pointer rule: *(p+2) = arr[2] = 3 and arr[3] = 4.
2024func(n)=n<=1?1:n*func(n-1), func(5)
120
Trick and method: Factorial: 5 × 4 × 3 × 2 × 1 = 120.
2024ptr=arr+2 on {10,20,30,40,50}; print *(ptr+1)
40
Trick and method: ptr = arr + 2 starts at 30, ptr + 1 is 40.
20243×3 loops, count when i==j.
3
Trick and method: Count pairs where i equals j: the diagonal of a 3×3 grid, 3.
2024Java: x=10; print x++ + ++x.
10 + 12 = 22
Trick and method: Java defines this: x++ gives 10 (x becomes 11), ++x gives 12. 10 + 12 = 22.
2024Python: func(n)=1 if n<=1 else n*func(n-2). func(6)?
6×4×2×1 = 48
Trick and method: Step of 2: 6 × 4 × 2 × func(0) = 48, with base case 1.
2024arr={1,2,3,4,5}; print arr[arr[2]]
arr[3] = 4
Trick and method: Work from the inside out: arr[2] = 3, then arr[3] = 4.
2024Two char arrays both "HELLO", compare with ==.
Not Equal (addresses differ)
Trick and method: Two arrays are separate memory and == compares addresses, so Not Equal.
202417 % 5, and add(3,4)*2.
2; 14
Trick and method: 17 = 3 × 5 + 2, remainder 2. add(3,4) = 7, times 2 = 14.
Puzzles
4 numerical puzzles in 10 minutes: grids, wheels and letter arithmetic.
2026Grid rows (A,B,C): (3,5,34), (4,6,52), (2,7,?)
C = A² + B². 53
Trick and method: Try relations row by row: sum, product, squares. 3² + 5² = 34 and 4² + 6² = 52 fit, so 2² + 7² = 53.
2026Wheel: 2,3,6,7,5,10,?,50. Opposite pairs: (2,5), (3,10), (7,50).
Opposite = n²+1, so opposite of 6 is 37.
Trick and method: Check opposite pairs: 2 to 5 (2² + 1), 3 to 10, 7 to 50. All n² + 1, so the opposite of 6 is 37.
2024WAIT + ALL = GIFTS, A=6, S=5. Find G+I+F+T.
G=1, I=0, F=2, T=8 (9608 + 677 = 10285). 11
Trick and method: A 4-digit plus 3-digit equals a 5-digit sum, so G = 1. Hundreds: 6 + 6 + carry gives F = 2 with carry 1. Thousands: W + 1 = I + 10, so W = 9, I = 0. Units and tens give T = 8, L = 7. G + I + F + T = 11.
2024Reported theme: SEND + MORE = MONEY style columns.
Leading letter is 1, solve units column first, track carries.
Trick and method: Leading letter of a longer sum is 1. Solve the units column first, carry forward, check digits are all different.
Coding
Only some drives (and SP/DSE) include coding. Reported problems with the approach to say out loud.
2024Palindrome string (case-insensitive)
Two pointers from both ends. O(n).
2024Second largest element
One pass, track first and second, skip equals.
2024Reverse an array in place
Swap start and end, move inward.
2024Factorial with recursion
n==0 or 1 returns 1, else n × f(n−1).
2024Prime check
Handle ≤3, then test divisors up to √n.
2024First n Fibonacci
Keep two previous values, loop.
2024Rotate array right by k
k %= n, then reverse whole array, first k, rest.
2024Maximum subarray sum
Kadane: best ending here = max(a, prev + a).
2024Remove duplicates from sorted array
Slow and fast pointers, return new length.
2024Two sum
Hash map of value to index. O(n).
2024Anagram check
Count array +1 / −1, then all zeros.
2024Binary search
mid = l + (r−l)/2, shrink the half.
2025Find missing number 1..n
Expected sum minus actual sum.
2025Count vowels, character frequency
One pass with a count array.
2026Subarrays with sum divisible by k (SP/DSE)
Prefix sums mod k with a frequency map. Normalise negatives: ((p%k)+k)%k. [4,5,0,−2,−3,1], k=5 gives 7.
2026Spiral matrix on paper (Feb 2026 offline drive)
Four boundaries top, bottom, left, right, shrink after each side.
HR
Combined with the technical round in most campus drives, 15 to 30 minutes.
2026Introduce yourself
2 minutes: name, college, skills, 1 or 2 projects, one non-technical point.
2026Why Infosys, and why over other IT firms?
Scale, domains, training at Mysuru, learning culture, plus one skill-based reason.
2025Strengths and weaknesses
Real strength with an example, real weakness with the fix.
2025Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Strong engineer growing into a project lead role at Infosys.
2025Family and parents’ profession
Short and factual.
2025Handling pressure, time management
One STAR story: situation, task, action, result.
2025Team conflict
STAR, end with what you learned.
2026Relocation, night shifts, US client hours
Say yes if true.
2025Trending topic: future of AI
Opportunity plus responsible use, one real example.
2026Essay or project follow-up
Defend what you wrote.
2025A riddle or situational question
Think aloud.
2026Do you have questions for us?
Ask about training and project allocation.
Technical
Mostly basics plus your resume.
2025Four pillars of OOP, overloading vs overriding, abstract class vs interface
Map each to one of your projects.
2025DBMS: normalisation, ACID, primary vs unique key
Give a one-line example each.
2025SQL: employees earning more than their managers
Self-join: e.manager_id = m.id and e.salary > m.salary.
2025OS and networking: TCP vs UDP, OSI
Reliable and ordered vs fast and light.
2025Valid palindrome, merge sorted arrays, reverse linked list
Two pointers.
2025REST: PUT vs POST
PUT is idempotent.
2026Walk through your React/Node, Web3 or ML project
Problem, your role, stack, one challenge, result.