AMCAT is an adaptive employability test that Indian employers use to shortlist freshers. It has three compulsory aptitude modules, a personality inventory and one optional subject module, with no negative marking, and you get a score report that many companies can read. This page covers what the AMCAT is, its format and timings, how it is scored, the rules to know before you start, how to prepare and a practice plan.
What the AMCAT is
AMCAT stands for Aspiring Minds Computer Adaptive Test. The compulsory part is the aptitude module (English, Quantitative Ability and Logical Ability) plus the AMPI personality inventory. You can add one skill module matched to your education, such as Computer Programming, Electronics and Communication, Mechanical or Civil Engineering, Accounts, Marketing, Human Resources or Financial Services, and employers can add Automata coding or SVAR spoken English. Each candidate gets a 14-digit AMCAT ID to keep for later applications.
Some employers use AMCAT as the platform for their own drives; HCLTech's graduate test has run on it in some cycles, as covered in our HCLTech online test guide.
Format and timings
| Part | What it involves | Time and questions |
|---|---|---|
| English | Adaptive: grammar, vocabulary and reading | Commonly reported: 18 questions, 16 minutes |
| Quantitative Ability | Adaptive: arithmetic and number problems | Commonly reported: 16 questions, 16 minutes |
| Logical Ability | Adaptive: deductive and inductive reasoning | Commonly reported: 24 questions, 35 minutes |
| AMPI personality inventory | Big Five statements, not adaptive, no right answers | Commonly reported: 90 statements, 25 minutes |
| Optional skill module (for example Computer Programming) | Subject questions | Commonly reported: 15 to 25 questions, 20 to 35 minutes |
| Automata (coding, when the employer adds it) | Write programs that are run on test cases | Commonly reported: 2 problems, 45 minutes |
| SVAR (spoken English, when added) | Speaking and listening tasks | Commonly reported: about 20 minutes |
Total: about 90 minutes for the compulsory modules, as commonly reported, plus any optional modules.
How it is scored
- The test is adaptive: AMCAT's FAQ says it gets harder or easier depending on your answer to the previous question.
- Each module gets its own score, commonly reported on a scale up to 900, with a percentile; there is no single overall score.
- The AMPI does not count toward your aptitude percentiles; employers use it as a secondary fit signal.
- Companies set their own cut-offs; prep sites cite about the 70th percentile in the core modules as a common bar for IT roles.
- The report includes employability feedback, a Job Match section and the areas to improve, and companies decide whether to use your latest, best or average attempt.
Rules to know before you start
- No negative marking, according to AMCAT's FAQ, so answer every question.
- Because each question depends on the last, you generally cannot skip ahead and return later.
- You can retake AMCAT 45 days after your last attempt, and you must retake all the mandatory sections.
- The FAQ lists the fee as Rs 900 plus taxes with an annual subscription (as listed in November 2026), paid again for each new attempt; your score is valid until the subscription expires.
- The current FAQ says AMCAT is taken in colleges where SHL is conducting it; older guides describe home tests, so check the booking options.
How to prepare
- Answer every question; a guess costs nothing.
- Pace the Logical module at about 85 seconds a question if your version has 24 questions in 35 minutes.
- Pick the optional module that matches the jobs you want, because employers filter on it.
- If your target employers add Automata, practice writing code that compiles and handles edge cases within 45 minutes.
- Answer the AMPI honestly; it has no right answers and does not change your percentiles.
A practice plan
- Week 1: aptitude daily (quantitative, reasoning and verbal) with section timers.
- Week 2: coding problems of easy to medium difficulty in one language, plus pseudocode or technical questions if the test has them.
- Week 3: full mock tests under exam conditions and spoken-English practice if there is a communication round.
Related guides: what an online assessment is, the new grad online assessment guide, the TCS NQT pattern.
On the day, and the mistakes to avoid
- Keep your ID, admit card or invitation and academic documents ready, as the drive requires.
- For centre-based tests, arrive early and follow the centre's rules on phones and belongings.
- For online tests, check your camera, microphone and connection, and use a quiet room.
- Note each section's timer: sections are often fixed in order and you cannot go back.
- Attempt every question where there is no negative marking.
- In coding rounds, submit code that compiles and passes some cases rather than nothing.
Mistakes that cost candidates:
- Neglecting the English or communication section, which is often an elimination round.
- Overspending time in one aptitude section when each has its own timer.
- Practicing only coding and skipping pseudocode and computer fundamentals.
- Registering through unofficial links; use the company's careers site or your placement cell.
- Skipping full mock tests, so the real section timers come as a surprise.
What happens after the AMCAT
Shortlisted candidates usually move on to technical and HR interviews, then an offer letter and onboarding. Prepare to explain your projects, basic programming concepts and why you want to join, and keep practicing spoken English for the interviews. For the next stage, see the new grad online assessment guide.
Where CoPilot Interview fits
Online assessments are tests you take on your own: outside help is not allowed, and proctoring settings can flag other apps, tab switches or a second voice. Practice beforehand instead. CoPilot Interview is an AI interview assistant; its free AI mock interview prepares you for the interviews that follow the assessment, with questions built from your résumé and the job description and each spoken answer scored out of ten. The free plan gives 15 minutes a day of live help in sessions of up to 15 minutes, with AI mock interviews included. Read the invitation carefully and follow your employer's rules.
Disclosure: CoPilot Interview is our product, so weigh what we say about it accordingly.
Frequently asked questions
Is there negative marking in AMCAT?
No. AMCAT's FAQ says there is no negative marking, so attempt every question.
How long is an AMCAT score valid?
Until your subscription expires, according to AMCAT's FAQ; the subscription is annual, and prep sites describe scores as valid for one year.
How soon can I retake AMCAT?
45 days after your last attempt, and you must retake all the mandatory sections, not just the weak one. Each attempt is paid.
Who owns AMCAT?
SHL. It acquired Aspiring Minds, which created AMCAT, at the turn of 2020, and the AMCAT site now runs under SHL (India).
Can I use AI tools during the AMCAT?
No, unless the instructions explicitly allow it. Assessments are meant to be taken on your own, and proctoring settings can flag other apps, tab switches or pasted code. Use AI tools to practice beforehand, and follow your employer's rules.
Practice this interview before the real one
The AI mock interview builds questions from your resume and the job description, reads them aloud and scores each spoken answer out of 10. Included on the free plan.
Start a mock interview