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TCS CodeVita Season 13: Registration, Prizes, Eligibility, Sample Questions & Preparation Guide (2025)

TCS CodeVita Season 13: Registration, Prizes, Eligibility, Sample Questions & Preparation Guide (2025)

Lets Code•July 24, 2025

TCS CodeVita, launched in 2012 by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), is a global programming competition renowned as the world’s largest, holding a Guinness World Records™ title. Season 12 saw over 537,000 participants from 96 countries across 3,500+ institutes, showcasing its massive scale and global appeal. Season 13, themed “United by Code,” promises to bring together coders from diverse backgrounds to compete, innovate, and solve real-world problems. This guide covers everything you need to know about TCS CodeVita Season 13, including eligibility, structure, preparation resources, sample problems, and tips to excel.

What is TCS CodeVita?

TCS CodeVita is an annual coding competition that promotes programming as a sport. It challenges participants to solve complex coding problems within a time limit, testing their problem-solving skills, algorithmic knowledge, and coding proficiency. The competition is open to students globally and offers significant rewards, including:

  • Prize Money: Top 3 coders share a total of USD 20,000 ($10,000 for 1st, $7,000 for 2nd, $3,000 for 3rd).
  • Career Opportunities: Top performers may receive job offers or internships with TCS, including opportunities with the TCS Research and Innovation team.
  • Global Recognition: A global ranking that enhances your resume and visibility to recruiters.
  • Travel Opportunity: Finalists may travel to India for the Grand Finale, an in-person event at a TCS campus.

Eligibility Criteria

To participate in TCS CodeVita Season 13, you must meet the following requirements:

  • Be a full-time student pursuing undergraduate or postgraduate courses in any stream (science, engineering, or related fields).
  • Expect to graduate in 2026, 2027, 2028, or 2029.
  • Be enrolled in a recognized institute anywhere in the world.
  • There is typically no strict age limit, but most participants are between 18-25 years old.

Note: Students from India must be enrolled in a recognized institution, and non-bona fide students may be disqualified.

Competition Structure

TCS CodeVita Season 13 consists of multiple stages designed to filter the best coders:

  1. Registration:
    • Register on the official TCS CodeVita portal: codevita.tcsapps.com.
    • Use the TCS Next Step Portal to create an account or log in with existing credentials.
    • Complete the registration form accurately, ensuring details like GPA are entered correctly (e.g., 9.0, not 9). Incorrect details can lead to disqualification.
    • Set up Microsoft Authenticator for one-time code (OTC) verification to secure your account.
    • Optimize your resume before applying – Resume Templates
  2. MockVitas:
    • Optional practice rounds that mimic the actual contest format.
    • Typically two MockVita rounds are scheduled on weekdays and weekends.
    • Use these to familiarize yourself with the platform and problem types.
    • Practice for mock mcq questions from here – Free MCQ Test
  3. Pre-Qualifier Round:
    • An online round with 6 coding questions to be solved in 6 hours.
    • Questions vary from easy (e.g., string manipulations) to complex (e.g., dynamic programming, graph algorithms).
    • No minimum number of questions is required to clear, but solutions must pass the maximum number of test cases.
    • TCS CodeVita Previous year Coding questions
  4. Qualifier Round:
    • A more challenging online round with 8 questions and a higher difficulty level.
    • Clearing this round often secures a job interview with TCS.
  5. Grand Finale:
    • An in-person round held at a TCS campus in India (e.g., Chennai, Mumbai, or Hyderabad in past seasons).
    • Participants solve 10 questions in a highly competitive environment.
    • Top performers win cash prizes, internships, and job offers.

Key Notes:

  • The competition is individual, with no team participation allowed.
  • You cannot pause the timer or log out during a round, so choose your time slot wisely.
  • Closing the browser without saving locally may result in lost work, so save your code frequently.

Syllabus and Topics

While there’s no official syllabus, TCS CodeVita problems typically cover the following areas:

  • Programming Languages: C, C++, Java, Python, C#, Perl, PHP, Ruby, or JavaScript. Choose a language you’re comfortable with, but Python, C++, and Java are popular due to their versatility.
  • Data Structures:
  • Algorithms:
    • Sorting (e.g., QuickSort, MergeSort)
    • Searching (e.g., Binary Search)
    • Dynamic Programming
    • Graph Algorithms (e.g., DFS, BFS, Shortest Path)
    • Greedy Algorithms
  • Problem-Solving:
    • Bit Manipulation
    • Recursion
    • Time and Space Complexity Analysis
  • Mathematics:
    • Number Theory (e.g., GCD, LCM, Prime Numbers)
    • Combinatorics
    • Geometry (e.g., coordinate geometry for problems like “On A Cube”)
  • Other Topics:
    • Condition Statements
    • Exception Handling
    • Frameworks and Libraries (basic understanding)
    • Edge Case Handling

Sample Problems

Below are the sample problems provided for TCS CodeVita Season 13, along with their descriptions and key concepts tested:

1. On A Cube

Description: A beetle navigates a 10x10x10 cm cube to reach honey spots. It moves in a 60-degree arc (distance = π/3 ≈ 1.05) on the same face or the shortest path across faces, avoiding the bottom face (z=0). Given N points’ coordinates, compute the total distance traveled, rounded to two decimal places.

Input:

  • First line: Integer N (2 ≤ N ≤ 10), the number of points.
  • Second line: 3N comma-separated numbers (x, y, z coordinates).

Output: Total distance traveled, rounded to two decimal places.

Example:

Input: 3, 1,1,10,2,1,10,0,1,9
Output: 4.05

Key Concepts: Coordinate geometry, shortest path on a 3D surface, precision in rounding.

2. Sorting Boxes

Description: Given boxes with weights, each swap incurs a cost equal to the product of their weights. Sort the boxes in ascending order with the minimum total cost.

Key Concepts: Greedy algorithms, sorting optimization, permutation cost calculation.

3. Sport Stadium

Description: Assign seats to group members in a stadium with scattered available seats, some of which are inaccessible or wet. Minimize the total distance between group members’ seats.

Key Concepts: Graph theory, optimization, shortest path algorithms.

4. Water Cistern

Description: A bug moves along the curved surface of a cylindrical water cistern, either in arcs or straight lines. Compute the shortest path between two points on the surface.

Key Concepts: Geometry, shortest path on curved surfaces, mathematical modeling.

5. Square Free Numbers

Description: For a given number N, count how many of its divisors are square-free (not divisible by any perfect square > 1).

Key Concepts: Number theory, divisor enumeration, square-free number identification.

6. Codu and Sum Love

Description: Involves sequences or mathematical relationships, requiring optimized calculations using number theory or pattern recognition.

Key Concepts: Number theory, sequence analysis, optimization.

7. Obstacle Game

Description: Find a safe path across a grid with obstacles (walls, water, stones). Requires condition-based traversal to reach the destination.

Key Concepts: Graph traversal (BFS, DFS), shortest path with constraints.

Check the complete problem statement on the official poratl.

Preparation Resources

To excel in TCS CodeVita Season 13, leverage these resources:

  1. Official Resources:
    • TCS CodeVita Portal: Access sample questions like “On A Cube,” “Sorting Boxes,” and “Square Free Numbers” on codevita.tcsapps.com.
    • MockVitas: Practice with mock tests to understand the platform and question types.
  2. Online Platforms:
    • GeeksforGeeks: Comprehensive tutorials on DSA, algorithms, and past CodeVita problems.
    • LeetCode: Practice problems ranging from easy to hard, with solutions in multiple languages.
    • Codeforces: Competitive programming contests to build speed and accuracy.
    • HackerRank: Offers challenges similar to CodeVita’s problem-solving format.
    • CodeChef: Access past CodeVita questions and practice problems.
    • PrepInsta: Provides previous year CodeVita questions, sample papers, and preparation tips.
  3. Books:
    • Introduction to Algorithms by Thomas H. Cormen: In-depth coverage of algorithms and data structures.
    • Programming Pearls by Jon Bentley: Practical problem-solving techniques.
    • Cracking the Coding Interview by Gayle Laakmann McDowell: Coding interview preparation with relevant problems.
  4. Coding Communities:
    • Lets Code community: Engage with students discussing CodeVita experiences and tips.Join now
    • Quora: Read success stories from past participants, like a Season 9 participant who cleared with a 176th rank.
    • DEV Community: Articles and guides on CodeVita preparation.

Preparation Tips

  1. Master Fundamentals:
    • Focus on core data structures (arrays, trees, graphs) and algorithms (sorting, searching, dynamic programming).
    • Understand time and space complexity to optimize solutions.
  2. Daily Practice:
    • Solve 3-5 problems daily on platforms like LeetCode or Codeforces to build problem-solving skills.
    • Practice past CodeVita questions to anticipate difficulty and patterns.
  3. Mock Contests:
    • Participate in MockVitas and other online contests to simulate the 6-hour coding environment.
    • Work on time management to solve problems efficiently under pressure.
  4. Language Proficiency:
    • Master one or two languages (e.g., Python for simplicity, C++ for performance). Ensure familiarity with input/output handling and libraries.
    • Check supported language versions on the CodeVita portal to avoid compatibility issues.
  5. Code Attribution:
    • If you use code from external sources, cite the precise URL to avoid plagiarism penalties.
    • Write clean, modular code to make debugging easier.
  6. Platform Familiarity:
    • The CodeVita interface lacks features like auto-complete or test case debugging, so practice writing precise code.
    • Save your code locally to prevent loss if the browser closes.
  7. Mathematics and Logic:
    • Brush up on mathematical concepts like geometry and number theory, as problems like “On A Cube” involve coordinate calculations.
  8. Stay Updated:
    • Check the official TCS CodeVita website and your email for updates on exam dates, time slots, and guidelines.

FAQs

  • How do I register? Visit codevita.tcsapps.com, log in via the TCS Next Step Portal, and complete the registration form. Use Microsoft Authenticator for OTP verification.
  • What if I delete my Authenticator account? Go to the login page, click “Deleted OTP Account?”, enter your username/email, and follow the emailed instructions to reconfigure.
  • Can I take breaks during the contest? No, the timer cannot be paused, and logging out may disrupt your session. Plan your 6-hour slot carefully.
  • Do I need to solve questions in order? No, you can attempt questions in any order.
  • What happens if I close my browser? Your work may not be saved unless submitted or stored locally. Save frequently.
  • How long before a session expires? Sessions expire after 15 minutes of inactivity. Log in again after expiration.

Why Participate?

TCS CodeVita is more than a competition—it’s a gateway to:

  • Showcase Talent: Compete with top coders globally and earn a global ranking.
  • Career Boost: Secure job offers or internships with TCS, a global IT leader.
  • Skill Development: Tackle real-world problems to enhance coding and problem-solving skills.
  • Community: Connect with a global community of coders and industry experts.

Conclusion

TCS CodeVita Season 13 is an unparalleled opportunity for students to test their coding prowess, gain global recognition, and kickstart their careers with TCS. With 537,000+ participants in Season 12, the competition is fierce, but thorough preparation using the right resources can set you apart. Start practicing now, register on the official portal, and embark on your journey to become one of the world’s top coders!

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Lets Code

Contributing Writer

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