Preparing for a Cognizant interview? Discover the most asked questions in the Online Test, Technical Interview, and HR Round with sample answers, coding examples, and expert tips to succeed.
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Most Asked Questions in Cognizant Interview – [Full Guide 2025]
Getting ready for a Cognizant interview? Whether you’re aiming for a technical role or a business analyst position, preparing with the right set of questions is crucial. Here’s a complete breakdown of the most frequently asked questions in each round to help you ace your interview!
📋 Online Test Round
The online test is your first step toward landing a job at Cognizant. It generally includes three main sections:
🔢 1. Aptitude Test
Be prepared for questions that assess your logical reasoning, mathematical skills, and problem-solving abilities. Common topics include:
✔️ Number series: Identify the pattern and find the missing number. Example: 2, 6, 12, 20, ?, 42. Solution: The pattern adds consecutive even numbers (2+4=6, 6+6=12, etc.). The missing number is 30.
✔️ Arithmetic problems: Solve problems involving percentages, ratios, and proportions. Example: A product costs $200 after a 20% discount. What was the original price? Solution: $200 ÷ 0.8 = $250.
✔️ Time and Work: Example: If A can complete a task in 10 days and B in 15 days, how long will they take together? Solution: (1/10) + (1/15) = 1/6 → They will finish in 6 days.
✔️ Profit and Loss: Example: A product is bought for $100 and sold for $120. Calculate the profit percentage. Solution: Profit = 20/100 × 100 = 20%.
✔️ Speed, Distance, and Time: Example: A car travels 240 km in 4 hours. What is its average speed? Solution: 240 ÷ 4 = 60 km/h.
🗣️ 2. Verbal Ability
This section tests your English language skills, so focus on grammar, vocabulary, and comprehension. Typical questions include:
✔️ Error detection and sentence correction: Example: “The manager along with the team were present at the meeting.” (Correct answer: was)
✔️ Synonyms and Antonyms: Example: Synonym of ‘Abundant’ (Answer: Plentiful)
✔️ Reading Comprehension: Practice understanding key ideas from paragraphs. Example: What is the main theme of the passage?
✔️ Para Jumbles: Arrange sentences in the correct sequence to form a meaningful paragraph. Example: Sentence A -> Sentence C -> Sentence D -> Sentence B.
💻 3. Coding Round
If you’re applying for a technical role, coding is key. Expect questions like:
✔️ Arrays and Strings: Example: Write a program to reverse a string.
function reverseString(str) {
return str.split('').reverse().join('');
}
console.log(reverseString("Cognizant")); // Output: tazinogC
✔️ Sorting Algorithms: Example: Implement Bubble Sort to sort an array in ascending order.
function bubbleSort(arr) {
let n = arr.length;
for (let i = 0; i < n - 1; i++) {
for (let j = 0; j < n - i - 1; j++) {
if (arr[j] > arr[j + 1]) {
[arr[j], arr[j + 1]] = [arr[j + 1], arr[j]];
}
}
}
return arr;
}
console.log(bubbleSort([64, 34, 25, 12, 22, 11, 90])); // Output: [11, 12, 22, 25, 34, 64, 90]
✔️ Recursion: Example: Write a function to calculate the factorial of a number.
function factorial(n) {
if (n === 0) return 1;
return n * factorial(n - 1);
}
console.log(factorial(5)); // Output: 120
✔️ SQL Queries: Example: Write a query to retrieve employees with a salary greater than $5000.
SELECT * FROM Employees WHERE salary > 5000;
✔️ Linked List Implementation: Example: Create a simple linked list in JavaScript.
class Node {
constructor(data) {
this.data = data;
this.next = null;
}
}
class LinkedList {
constructor() {
this.head = null;
}
add(data) {
const newNode = new Node(data);
if (!this.head) {
this.head = newNode;
} else {
let current = this.head;
while (current.next) {
current = current.next;
}
current.next = newNode;
}
}
printList() {
let current = this.head;
while (current) {
console.log(current.data);
current = current.next;
}
}
}
const list = new LinkedList();
list.add(10);
list.add(20);
list.add(30);
list.printList(); // Output: 10 20 30
✔️ Coding platforms like LeetCode and HackerRank offer ideal practice environments for these types of problems.
✔️ Be prepared to explain your logic and approach to solving the problem.
🛠️ Technical Interview Round
This round evaluates your technical knowledge and problem-solving skills. Expect questions such as:
✔️ Object-Oriented Programming (OOP): Example: Explain the concept of inheritance with code examples.
class Animal {
constructor(name) {
this.name = name;
}
makeSound() {
console.log("Some generic sound");
}
}
class Dog extends Animal {
makeSound() {
console.log("Woof Woof");
}
}
const myDog = new Dog("Buddy");
myDog.makeSound(); // Output: Woof Woof
✔️ Database Concepts: Example: Differentiate between SQL and NoSQL databases.
✔️ Data Structures and Algorithms: Example: Write a program to implement a linked list or binary search.
✔️ System Design: Discuss designing scalable systems like an e-commerce platform.
✔️ Cloud Technologies: Questions related to AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud basics may also be asked.
🤝 HR Interview Round
The HR round is all about understanding your personality, goals, and team fit. Common questions include:
🗣️ ‘Tell me about yourself.’
🗣️ ‘What are your career goals?’
🗣️ ‘Why do you want to join Cognizant?’
🗣️ ‘Tell me about a challenging situation you faced and how you handled it.’
🗣️ ‘Where do you see yourself in five years?’
🗣️ ‘Do you prefer working independently or in a team?’
🚀 Pro Tips for Cracking Cognizant’s Interview
- Practice coding regularly on competitive platforms to improve your logic-building skills.
- Stay updated with trending technologies like AI, ML, and Cloud Computing.
- Take part in mock interviews to boost confidence.
- Be confident and communicate your answers clearly during the HR round.
- Showcase your achievements, certifications, and personal projects to stand out.
With the right preparation and mindset, you can confidently tackle Cognizant’s interview process. Best of luck! 💪
