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TNPSC Group 4 vs Group 2: which exam should you write?
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Group 4 is an SSLC-level, single-paper exam with no interview, and Group 2 is a degree-level exam with a prelims screening round and a mains. Group 4 has far more vacancies (6,574 in the 6 October 2026 notification) than Group 2 and 2A (645 in the 2025 notification). Group 2 posts sit at higher pay levels. If you are a graduate, you can write both, and the six General Studies units of the two prelims are the same.
Group 4 and Group 2 side by side
| Item | Group 4 (CCSE-IV, 2026) | Group 2 and 2A (CCSE-II, 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum education | SSLC pass (some posts ask more) | Degree from a UGC-recognised university |
| Stages | One written paper | Prelims (screening only), then mains |
| Interview | None | None in the 2025 scheme |
| First paper | 200 questions, 300 marks, 3 hours, minimum 90 | Prelims: 200 questions, 300 marks, 3 hours, minimum 90; marks not counted for rank |
| Language part | Part A Tamil Eligibility-cum-Scoring Test, 100 questions, 150 marks, Tamil only; must score 60 | Prelims Part A General Tamil or General English, 100 questions; mains Paper I Tamil Eligibility Test, 100 marks, qualifying 40 |
| General Studies standard | SSLC | Degree (language and aptitude parts stay at SSLC) |
| Rank decided by | Written marks of the one paper | Main Paper II marks (300) |
| Age, Others (maximum) | 30 (on 1 July 2026) | 32 for most posts (on 1 July 2025) |
| Age, reserved categories | BC/BCM/MBC/DC 32, SC/SC(A)/ST 35, no maximum with a higher qualification for most posts | No maximum for most posts |
| Pay levels (examples) | Level 8 for VAO, Junior Assistant, Typist, Bill Collector; Level 10 for Steno-Typist | Group 2A Level 9 to 12; Group 2 Level 16 and above |
| Vacancies | 6,574 (46 post codes, tentative) | 645 (Group II 50, Group IIA 595) |
| Exam fee | ₹100 | Prelims ₹100, mains ₹150 |
Every applicant also pays the One Time Registration fee of ₹150 once, valid for 5 years, and Aadhaar linking is mandatory. A 2026 Group 2 and 2A notification has been reported, so check tnpsc.gov.in for its vacancies, dates and any change before you rely on the 2025 figures.
How the structure differs
Group 4 is one sitting. Part A (Tamil) is both a gate and a scoring part: below 60 out of 150, your General Studies and Aptitude answers are not even evaluated. Your final rank comes from the full 300 marks.
Group 2 is two rounds. The prelims only screens you; the mains shortlist is 1:10 per reservation group. Group II mains has a Tamil Eligibility Test (qualifying) plus a descriptive General Studies paper. Group IIA mains has the same Tamil paper plus a computer-based objective Paper II. Neither has an interview in the 2025 scheme. The Group 2 and Group 2A comparison explains why the two mains differ.
What the two exams share
The General Studies units match. Both prelims split 75 questions across General Science (5), Geography (5), History and Indian National Movement (10), Indian Polity (15), Indian Economy and Development Administration in Tamil Nadu (20) and Tamil Nadu History, Culture, Heritage and Socio-Political Movements (20), plus 25 questions of aptitude and reasoning. The standard is what differs: SSLC for Group 4, degree for Group 2 General Studies. TNPSC calls the unit-wise counts "only indicative". See the Group 4 syllabus and Group 2 syllabus.
Who should choose which
- Group 4 only if you have SSLC or HSC but no degree. Group 2 needs a degree.
- Group 2 first if you have a degree and want a higher pay level and are ready for a two-round exam and a mains.
- Both if you are a graduate who wants more chances. Group 4's minimum qualification is SSLC, so a degree holder is not excluded, and the Tamil part and the shared units carry over. Check the age row first: Group 4's maximum for Others is 30, lower than Group 2's.
- Group 4 first if you need a quick result: it is one written paper with no mains.
Planning for both
Build Tamil and the six units once at SSLC level, then add degree-level depth for Group 2 and the Group 2 mains. The Group 4 study plan and Group 2 study plan give the week-by-week routes.
PrepMatic covers Group 4, Group 2 and 2A, with objective practice only. Its free assessment, about 15 untimed multiple-choice questions, shows your weakest subjects. Then you can take full-length mocks that match the real paper, in Tamil if you choose it. Descriptive answer practice for the Group II mains is not part of PrepMatic.
Frequently asked questions
Can a graduate write Group 4?
Yes. The minimum education for Group 4 is SSLC, and a higher qualification does not disqualify you. Check the age table for your community, and note that for most reserved-category candidates a higher qualification removes the maximum age (below 60) for most posts, though not VAO, Forest Guard or Forest Watcher.
Is there an interview in Group 4 or Group 2?
No. Group 4 is ranked on its written paper, and Group 2 and 2A in the 2025 scheme are ranked on Main Paper II marks. Group 1 is different: it has a 100-mark interview. See Group 2 vs Group 1.
Which has more vacancies, Group 4 or Group 2?
Group 4. The 2026 notification lists 6,574 vacancies against 645 in the 2025 Group 2 and 2A notification. Vacancies change with every notification, so use the latest one.
Official sources
- TNPSC Group 4 Notification No. 11/2026
- TNPSC Group 2 and 2A Notification No. 11/2025
- TNPSC website: current notifications and the annual planner.
Details change every cycle. Confirm them in the latest notification.
Find your weak TNPSC units before the exam does
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