What is an OA? Online assessments for campus and off-campus
OA means online assessment - the timed test companies use before interviews. How they work in India and how to practise.
Updated 2026-09-15
An OA (online assessment) is a timed, usually proctored test companies use to shortlist candidates before interviews. In India this includes TCS NQT, Infosys and Cognizant papers, and product-company coding tests. You take it on the company’s vendor platform - not on CareerLoka. We provide pattern explainers and practice quizzes.
What happens in an OA
- Fixed duration (often 60–180 minutes)
- Sections you cannot always jump between
- Auto-proctoring (camera, tab-switch rules)
- A score or percentile that decides interview shortlist
Types you will see
- Services - TCS NQT, Infosys, Accenture, GenC
- Product - more coding, e.g. Amazon SDE-1
How to practise
Use practice with a timer. Start at Fresher - how levels work. The goal is finishing cleanly, not memorising one leaked PDF.
FAQ
Is an OA the same as an interview?
No. The OA is the filter. Interviews come after you clear it.
Are CareerLoka quizzes the real company paper?
No. They are calibrated MCQs so you learn under a timer. The live OA is on HackerRank, TCS, or whoever the company hired.
Do I need a webcam?
For most off-campus OAs, yes. Read the invitation.
Open practice quizzes
Practice this →