PrepMaticTamil Nadu Public Service Commission
TNPSC exam guide: groups, eligibility, pattern and preparation
"The TNPSC exam" is not one test. The Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission recruits for state government posts through separate group exams: Group 1 (Deputy Collector, DSP), Group 2 and 2A (Sub Registrar, Assistant, Executive Officer Grade III), Group 4 (Village Administrative Officer, Junior Assistant, Typist) and the Combined Technical Services Exam for technical posts. Groups 1, 2 and 2A need a degree. Group 4 needs an SSLC pass. Your qualification, age and appetite for a long exam decide which one to aim at.
The Group 4 recruitment is open right now. Notification No. 11/2026, dated 6 October 2026, lists 6,574 vacancies across 46 post codes. Applications close on 5 November 2026 and the exam is on 10 January 2027. If you are new, start with TNPSC groups explained to choose a group, then follow the beginner roadmap.
These guides are written from the Commission's own notifications and are updated for the rules that changed recently. PrepMatic, Tamil Nadu's first AI app for TNPSC, built in Chennai, publishes them next to its free assessment and mock tests.
Getting started
- TNPSC groups explainedA plain guide to the TNPSC groups: which posts sit in Group 1, 2, 2A and 4, qualification, interview or not, and what happened to Group 3, 7B and 8.
- TNPSC age limit & eligibilityTNPSC age limits for Group 1, Group 2/2A and Group 4 by community, PwBD, ex-servicemen and widows, plus qualification, Tamil knowledge and attempt rules.
- TNPSC OTR and how to applyHow to complete TNPSC One Time Registration and apply: Rs.150 OTR fee, Aadhaar linking, photo and signature specs, exam fees, free chances, corrections.
- TNPSC annual plannerWhat the TNPSC annual planner promises and doesn't, the 2026 planned dates against what happened, the notification-to-exam cycle and how to plan your year.
- TNPSC salary by groupTNPSC salary by pay-matrix level: Level 22 for Group 1, 16-18 for Group 2, 9-12 for Group 2A, mostly Level 8 for Group 4, plus how to estimate in-hand pay.
- TNPSC Tamil eligibility testHow the TNPSC Tamil eligibility test works in Group 4, Group 2/2A and Group 1: the 40% gate, whether marks count for rank, syllabus standard and how to prepare.
- TNPSC negative markingTNPSC has no penalty for wrong answers, but a fully blank question costs 0.5 mark. See option E, OMR rules, qualifying marks and the attempt strategy.
- TNPSC preparation for beginnersStart TNPSC preparation from scratch: pick your group, read the syllabus, use Samacheer books in order, follow a 30-60-90 day plan and avoid outdated advice.
AI for TNPSC
- AI app for TNPSCPrepMatic is Tamil Nadu's first AI app for TNPSC: a free assessment, day-by-day study plan, full-length mocks and readiness tracking for Groups 1, 2/2A and 4.
- AI study plannerHow an AI TNPSC study planner turns your exam date, daily hours and study days into a Today view and Roadmap, and how it differs from PDF timetables.
- TNPSC app in TamilUse a TNPSC app in Tamil: choose Tamil as your exam language for questions and mock tests, with Tamil dashboard and analytics. What is and is not in Tamil.
- Coaching vs self-studyCoaching centre, online course or self-study with an AI app for TNPSC? Compare cost, structure, personalisation, accountability and doubt clearing.
- Free TNPSC assessmentTake a free TNPSC online test: about 15 untimed MCQs that show your projected score, readiness %, weakest subjects and an answer review. How to read it.
- Group 4 appUse an AI app for TNPSC Group 4 and VAO: Tamil exam language, 200-question mocks, topic tests and a 13-week routine to the 10 January 2027 exam.
- Group 2 appWhat an AI app can and cannot do for TNPSC Group 2 and 2A: prelims mocks, objective practice for the Group 2A computer-based Paper II, and the gaps.
- Group 1 prelims appUse an AI app for the TNPSC Group 1 prelims: 200-question mocks, a plan tied to your exam date, readiness tracking. No mains or interview practice.
- Best TNPSC appHow to choose the best app for TNPSC preparation: eight criteria with a 10-minute test for each, and how PrepMatic scores on them, gaps included.
- Preparing while workingHow to prepare for TNPSC with a full-time job: weekly schedules built on 1 to 2 hours on weekdays, weekend mock routines and which group fits limited time.
Group 4 & VAO
- Group 4 syllabusThe official TNPSC Group 4 syllabus (code 496): seven Tamil units, six General Studies units and aptitude topics, with question counts and priorities.
- Group 4 exam patternGroup 4 is one 3-hour paper of 200 questions for 300 marks, with a 40% Tamil gate, a 90-mark minimum, a blank-answer penalty and no interview.
- Group 4 study planA week-by-week TNPSC Group 4 study plan with a 6-month schedule, a compressed 3-month version, daily routines and a mock-test calendar.
- VAO (Village Administrative Officer)How to become a Village Administrative Officer in Tamil Nadu: 2026 vacancies, age limits, SSLC qualification, selection through the Group 4 exam, and pay level.
- Group 4 cut-offWhat the TNPSC Group 4 cut off really is: the official 90/300 minimum and 60-mark Tamil gate, how selection thresholds emerge, and how to set a safe target.
- Group 4 previous year papersWhere to find official TNPSC Group 4 question papers and answer keys, how to match old papers to the 2026 pattern, and a method to use them well.
Group 2 & 2A
- Group 2 syllabusThe full TNPSC Group 2 and 2A syllabus: prelims language, GS and aptitude, the Tamil eligibility paper, and Group II and IIA Main Paper II, unit by unit.
- Group 2 exam patternTNPSC Group 2 and 2A exam pattern: 200-question prelims, qualifying Tamil paper, descriptive Group II mains, computer-based Group IIA mains, no interview.
- Group 2 vs 2ATNPSC Group 2 vs Group 2A: posts, pay levels, vacancies, how Paper II differs, why neither has an interview, and how to decide which one to aim for.
- Group 2 mains preparationHow to prepare for TNPSC Group 2 mains: the qualifying Tamil paper, Group II descriptive answer writing with a time plan, and the Group IIA computer-based test.
- Group 2 study planA TNPSC Group 2 study plan: an 8-month prelims-plus-mains schedule, a 3-week prelims sprint, weekly structure, revision cycles and the mains switch.
Group 1
- Group 1 syllabusThe TNPSC Group 1 syllabus: prelims units with question counts, the Tamil eligibility paper, and every mains GS unit with its marks and topics.
- Group 1 exam patternTNPSC Group 1 exam pattern: a 200-question prelims, four descriptive mains papers, a 100-mark interview, qualifying marks and the 850-mark rank formula.
- Group 1 mains answer writingHow to write high-scoring TNPSC Group 1 mains answers: time per mark, answer structure, Tamil Nadu examples, booklet rules and a weekly practice routine.
- Group 1 preparation strategyHow to prepare for TNPSC Group 1: a 12-month plan joining prelims and mains, a subject-wise time split, sources, and how it differs from Group 2.
- Group 1 interviewThe TNPSC Group 1 interview: 100 marks, who is called, what the board assesses, topics to prepare, how to answer and a mock-interview routine.
Other TNPSC exams
- Executive Officer examsWhere TNPSC recruits HR&CE Executive Officers now: Grade IV through Group 4 (2026) and Grade III through Group 2A (2025), with eligibility and what to prepare.
- Combined Technical Services ExamTNPSC Combined Technical Services Exam (CTSE) explained: the interview, non-interview and Diploma/ITI streams, 2026 planner dates, and how to prepare.
Notifications, hall tickets & results
- Group 4 notification 2026TNPSC Group 4 Notification 11/2026: 6,574 vacancies, apply by 5 November 2026, exam on 10 January 2027. Posts, age limits, fee and how to apply.
- Group 4 hall ticketTNPSC Group 4 hall ticket for the 10 January 2027 exam: release status, how to download it, what to check on it and the OMR rules for exam day.
- Group 4 answer keyTNPSC Group 4 answer key for the 10 January 2027 exam: where keys appear, how to raise objections and how to calculate your score at 1.5 marks a question.
- Group 4 resultTNPSC Group 4 result process for the 10 January 2027 exam: how marks, ranks, certificate verification and counselling work, and how to check the result.
- Group 2 notificationTNPSC Group 2 and 2A notification explained: the verified 2025 notification (645 posts), the reported 2026 cycle, eligibility, fees and how to apply.
- Group 2 hall ticketTNPSC Group 2 and 2A hall ticket for prelims and mains: how it is released, how to download it, what to check and what to know about the exam-day rules.
- Group 2 answer keyTNPSC Group 2 and 2A prelims answer key: where keys are published, how to raise objections and how to estimate your 300-mark prelims score from the key.
- Group 2 resultHow the TNPSC Group 2 and 2A result works: prelims shortlist at 1:10, mains qualifying rules, no interview, final rank on Paper II marks and how to check.
- Group 1 notificationTNPSC Group 1 notification explained: the verified 2025 notification (70 posts, Level 22), the reported 2026 cycle, age limits, fees and how to apply.
- Group 1 resultHow the TNPSC Group 1 result works at each stage: prelims cut-offs of 90 and 120, 1:20 mains shortlist, interview ratios, 850-mark final rank and how to check.
- TNPSC vacanciesTNPSC vacancy 2026 by exam: Group 4's 6,574 vacancies post by post, Group 2/2A and Group 1 counts, where TNPSC announces them and how they change.
- TNPSC counsellingHow TNPSC counselling works after Group 4: the 1:3, 1:2 and 1:1.5 shortlist ratios, certificate verification, documents to keep ready and choosing posts.
Subject-wise preparation
- General TamilTNPSC General Tamil (பொதுத்தமிழ்): Group 4 Part A's 100 questions, the official topic list, the 40% gate, and how to study grammar, literature and scholars.
- TN history and cultureTNPSC Tamil Nadu history, culture and heritage: the Unit VI syllabus, Sangam age to social reform, key sites and leaders, and a study order for Group 4 and Group 2.
- TN development administrationDevelopment administration in Tamil Nadu for TNPSC: syllabus lines, social justice, education and health systems, welfare schemes by purpose, and staying current.
- Indian polityTNPSC Indian polity: the six syllabus areas, articles worth memorising, local government in Tamil Nadu, constitutional bodies and a Group 4 and 2 study plan.
- Indian economyTNPSC Indian economy for Unit V: planning and NITI Aayog, budget, GST, RBI, agriculture and schemes, with worked examples, key years and a study plan.
- History & National MovementWhat to study for TNPSC History and the Indian National Movement (Unit III): official topics, a 20-milestone timeline, the named leaders and revision method.
- TNPSC geographyTNPSC Geography (Unit II) explained: the official topics, India and Tamil Nadu facts that recur, disaster management, and a map-practice routine for the 5 questions.
- TNPSC general scienceTNPSC General Science (Unit I) at SSLC level: the official topics, high-yield physics, chemistry and biology facts, worked examples and common traps for 5 questions.
- TNPSC current affairsHow current affairs fits the TNPSC syllabus, how far back to read, which Tamil Nadu and national sources to use, and a daily-weekly-monthly note and revision system.
- TNPSC aptitude & mental abilityTNPSC aptitude and mental ability: the 25-question section, the official topic list, key formulas, worked examples with answers and speed tips for SSLC maths.
- ThirukkuralWhat TNPSC asks about Thirukkural: the six syllabus aspects, the 25 chapters in the Group 4 Tamil part, the structure to memorise, and a study plan.
Books & practice
- Best books for TNPSCThe best books for TNPSC by subject: free Samacheer Kalvi textbooks (Class 6 to 12), standard references for polity, history and economy, and what TNPSC itself says.
- TNPSC mock test strategyHow to use TNPSC mock tests: when to start, how often, how to analyse a mock, keep an error log and practise OMR including option E and the blank-answer penalty.
TNPSC exams at a glance
| Exam | Minimum qualification | Stages | Interview | Latest notification we reviewed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group 1 (CCSE-I) | Degree | Prelims (screening), mains with a qualifying Tamil paper and three General Studies papers, interview | Yes, 100 marks | No. 04/2025 |
| Group 2 (CCSE-II) | Degree | Common prelims, descriptive mains | No, in the 2025 scheme | No. 11/2025 |
| Group 2A (CCSE-II) | Degree | Common prelims, computer-based mains Paper II | No | No. 11/2025 |
| Group 4 (CCSE-IV) | SSLC | One written paper, 200 questions, 300 marks | No | No. 11/2026 |
| Combined Technical Services Exam | Degree, PG, diploma or ITI, by post | Separate streams | Interview-posts stream only | See the annual planner |
Pay levels for each group are on the TNPSC salary by group page, and age limits and qualifications are in the eligibility guide.
Where to start
Pick the line that matches where you are.
- Not sure which group fits you: read TNPSC groups explained, then check the age limits.
- Ready to apply: complete OTR registration, including Aadhaar linking, photo and signature specs.
- Starting from zero: use the beginner roadmap and the Group 4 study plan.
- Preparing for Group 4 or VAO: the Group 4 syllabus, exam pattern and VAO guide.
- A graduate weighing Group 2 and 2A: Group 2 vs Group 2A and the Group 2 syllabus.
- Aiming for Group 1: the Group 1 exam pattern and preparation strategy.
- Worried about the Tamil paper: TNPSC Tamil eligibility test and General Tamil.
- Wondering about timing: the annual planner guide shows how planned dates have shifted.
- Ready to practise: TNPSC mock tests and the free TNPSC assessment.
How the stages fit together
Every route begins the same way. You complete One Time Registration once (Rs.150, valid 5 years, Aadhaar linking mandatory), then apply separately to each exam within the application window, which has been about 30 days in recent notifications. A short correction window follows.
After that the routes split.
- Group 4: one OMR paper of 200 questions in 3 hours, then certificate verification and counselling. There is no interview, so your written marks decide your rank.
- Group 2 and 2A: a common preliminary paper only screens candidates. A separate mains follows for each group, and the rank is decided by Main Paper II marks alone. The Tamil Eligibility Test in Paper I only needs a pass.
- Group 1: prelims, then a mains of one qualifying Tamil paper and three General Studies papers of 250 marks each, then a 100-mark interview. The final rank is out of 850.
What changed recently
Articles written a few years ago get several things wrong. These are the changes that matter, each from a current notification.
- Group 4 Part A is now a Tamil Eligibility-cum-Scoring Test. Score 40% (60 of 150) or Parts B and C are not evaluated, and the marks still count for rank. See the Tamil eligibility test.
- Group 2 has no interview in the 2025 scheme, and Group 2A's Main Paper II is computer-based.
- Executive Officer Grade IV and Junior Inspector of Co-operative Societies are recruited through Group 4, and Executive Officer Grade III through Group 2A. See the Executive Officer exams page.
- Blank answers cost 0.5 mark. Wrong answers carry no penalty. Read TNPSC negative marking before your first mock.
- OTR needs Aadhaar linking.
- Planner dates are not exam dates. Group 4 was planned for 20 December 2026 and is now on 10 January 2027.
Frequently asked questions
What is the TNPSC exam?
TNPSC is the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission, which recruits for state government posts. It holds different exams for different groups: Group 1, Group 2, Group 2A, Group 4 and the Combined Technical Services Exam. There is no single "TNPSC exam".
Which TNPSC exam can a 10th pass student write?
Group 4. The minimum qualification is a pass in SSLC, and posts include Village Administrative Officer, Junior Assistant, Bill Collector and Typist. Some posts also need typewriting or other certificates.
Is there negative marking in TNPSC exams?
There is no deduction for wrong answers in the Group 4 notification, but 0.5 mark is deducted for every question left completely blank. Each OMR question has an [E] "answer not known" option for that reason.
Is there an interview in TNPSC exams?
Group 1 has a 100-mark interview. Group 4 and, in the 2025 scheme, Group 2 and 2A have none. The Combined Technical Services Exam has an interview-posts stream.
How do I apply for a TNPSC exam?
Register once through One Time Registration at www.tnpscexams.in (Rs.150, valid 5 years, Aadhaar-linked), then apply online to each notified exam using your OTR user ID. The steps are on the OTR and how to apply page.
Official sources
- TNPSC official website: notifications, press releases and results.
- TNPSC online application portal: OTR and applications.
- TNPSC annual planner: the tentative programme of examinations.
- Group 4 Notification No. 11/2026
Notifications change every cycle. Confirm dates, vacancies and rules in the latest notification before you apply.
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