- Class 10
- 65% and above
- Class 12
- 65% and above
- Active backlogs
- Not published by HCLTech, check the drive notification
- Backlog history
- HCLTech publishes no rule on cleared (history) backlogs
- Preferred branches
- CSE, IT, ECE, EEE, Mech, Civil, Chemical
- Package
- ₹3.75-4.5 LPA
- Selection gate
- Academic cutoff plus an online aptitude and coding test
- Cutoff type
- Officially published criteria
- Last checked
- Q4 2026
Placement drive
HCLTech Graduate Engineer / Software Engineer (Ascend): Eligibility and Resume Checklist (2026)
HCLTech's Graduate Engineer / Software Engineer (Ascend) is a mass recruiters hiring track. There is no published CGPA cutoff, so your performance in the online test and interviews is what decides it. HCLTech does ask for 65% in Class 10 and 12. This page lays out the full eligibility, the skills your resume should surface, and how to check your resume against the role.
Eligibility criteria
The hard gates a HCLTech recruiter (and the drive's own filter) checks first.
Source, hcltech.com, sightsinplus.com, sahildubey.com, last checked Q4 2026, confidence high
Skills your resume should show
These are the skills HCLTech tests and screens for on this track. List only the ones you can defend, and prove each with a real project or bullet. An unbacked skill list reads as filler.
- C
- C++
- Java
- Python
- SQL
- DBMS
- Object-Oriented Programming
- Data Structures
- Algorithms
- Operating Systems
- Computer Networks
- Quantitative Aptitude
- Logical Reasoning
- English
Source, hcltech.com, sightsinplus.com, sahildubey.com, last checked Q4 2026
What to know before you apply
From HCLTech's campus-hiring page (AMP programme, read 25 Sep 2026; re-checked through search snippets on 2 Nov 2026 when the page timed out): 65% or above throughout academics (10th, 12th and graduation) for Lucknow, Nagpur, Vijayawada and Madurai, and 70% or above for all other locations; an engineering degree in any branch. Ascend pays ₹3.75 LPA at those four locations and ₹4.50 LPA elsewhere; the top 10% can move up to Momentum (₹6.0 LPA) or Polaris (₹10.0 LPA) after a further assessment. The test has three stages: Cognitive (about 90 minutes), Coding or Technical (60-90 minutes), then Versant spoken English (B1, score 46-56). HCLTech states no backlog, gap or batch rule; prep sites report no active backlogs (not verified). TechBee is a separate programme for Class 12 students.
Source, hcltech.com, sightsinplus.com, sahildubey.com, last checked Q4 2026
How the interviews go
Official
- 1Technical Interview
- 2HR Interview
Technical: OOP, Java/C basics, DBMS/SQL, OS basics, final-year project. HR: introduction, goals, relocation, night shifts, bond/service terms. Some campuses report a short group discussion (speak ~2 min on a topic) before the technical round.
Based on the company's own page, checked 2 Nov 2026. Interviews vary by drive and interviewer.
Source, HCLTech campus hiring (round names official), GfG HCLTech Interview Experience For GET (focus details; last updated 2023-07-20)
The HCLTech online test: its sections, timing and what each round checks.
HCLTech Graduate Engineer / Software Engineer (Ascend) FAQ
What is the CGPA cutoff for HCLTech Graduate Engineer / Software Engineer (Ascend)?
HCLTech does not set a fixed CGPA cutoff for this track. Selection is driven by the online test and interviews, so a strong showing there matters more than a specific grade.
Are backlogs allowed for the HCLTech Graduate Engineer / Software Engineer (Ascend) drive?
Not published by HCLTech, check the drive notification. HCLTech publishes no rule on cleared (history) backlogs.
Which skills should my resume show for HCLTech Graduate Engineer / Software Engineer (Ascend)?
Prioritise C, C++, Java, Python, SQL, DBMS, Object-Oriented Programming, Data Structures. List only what you can defend in an interview, and back each claim with a project or a bullet that shows you used it, an unproven skill list reads as filler.
What percentage do I need in 10th and 12th for HCLTech?
You need 65% in Class 10 and 12. These school marks are a hard gate at document verification, they are checked exactly, so make sure your marksheets clear the line before you apply.
What is the salary for HCLTech Graduate Engineer / Software Engineer (Ascend)?
The package is around ₹3.75-4.5 LPA. Compensation shifts every cycle and by location, so confirm the exact number in the official offer.
How current is this HCLTech eligibility information?
Last checked Q4 2026 against the sources listed on this page. Eligibility criteria change each hiring cycle, so always re-confirm on the official careers page before you apply.
Source, hcltech.com, sightsinplus.com, sahildubey.com, last checked Q4 2026