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Minimum qualifying marks in TNPSC exams
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Minimum qualifying marks are the lowest score you must reach at a stage to remain in the TNPSC selection, set in the notification before the exam. In Group 4 it is 90 out of 300 for every community. They are a floor, not a cut-off: clearing the minimum does not mean you will be selected.
The minimums in recent notifications
| Exam and stage | Minimum qualifying marks |
|---|---|
| Group 4 (2026), whole paper | 90 out of 300, all communities |
| Group 4 (2026), Part A | 60 out of 150 (40%), else Parts B and C are not evaluated |
| Group 2 and 2A (2025), prelims | 90 out of 300, all communities |
| Group 2 (2025), Main Paper II | 90 out of 300 |
| Group 2A (2025), Main Paper II | 90 out of 300 |
| Group 2 and 2A (2025), mains Tamil Eligibility Test | 40 out of 100 |
| Group 1 (2025), prelims | 90 for SC, SC(A), ST, MBC/DC, BC and BCM candidates; 120 for Others (out of 300) |
| Group 1 (2025), mains Tamil Eligibility Test | 40 out of 100 for all categories |
| Group 1 (2025), mains Papers II to IV together | 225 for reserved categories; 300 for Others (out of 750) |
| Group 1 (2025), interview | No minimum |
Minimum versus cut-off
The minimum is fixed in advance, in the notification. A cut-off is the last mark that actually got a candidate into the next stage or selected, and it is known only after the results. It can be higher than the minimum.
How to use these numbers
- Treat the minimum as a safety line for your mocks. If your full-paper score in Group 4 is hovering near 90, the issue is not rank but whether you qualify at all.
- Watch the sectional gates. A strong General Studies score cannot rescue a Part A below 60, because Parts B and C are not evaluated.
- Remember that each fully blank question costs 0.5 mark from the total, so unanswered questions can pull a near-minimum score down. Shade every bubble, as explained under option E.
An example
A Group 1 candidate in the Others category scores 118 in the prelims. The minimum for Others is 120, so the candidate does not qualify. A BC candidate with the same 118 clears the 90 minimum for BC, though whether it is enough for the mains depends on the 1:20 shortlist.
Group 4 is explained in the exam pattern, and the marking scheme guide covers how marks are earned and lost. PrepMatic's full-length Group 4 mocks follow the real 200-question, 180-minute format, so you can compare your mock scores with these lines.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum qualifying mark for TNPSC Group 4?
90 out of 300 for all communities, along with 60 out of 150 in Part A.
Is the Group 1 prelims minimum the same for all communities?
No. It is 90 for reserved categories and 120 for Others.
Is the minimum qualifying mark the cut-off?
No. The cut-off is the mark that actually decides who goes forward, and it is known only after results.
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- TNPSC cut-off marksTNPSC cut-off marks are the last scores that earned a stage or selection. Learn how they differ from minimum marks and which published numbers to ignore.
- Qualifying paperA qualifying paper must be passed but its marks are not added to your rank. See which TNPSC papers are qualifying (Group 1, 2, 2A Tamil) and which count.
- Tamil Eligibility-cum-Scoring TestPart A of TNPSC Group 4 is a Tamil-only test of 100 questions, 150 marks. Score under 40% and Parts B and C go unevaluated; above it, marks count for rank.
- 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.
More in TNPSC
- Junior AssistantJunior Assistant is the largest TNPSC Group 4 post: 2,610 non-security vacancies at Level 8 in 2026. See post codes, age limits and shortlist ratios.
- Interview and non-interview postsInterview posts add a viva to the written exam; non-interview posts are ranked on written marks alone. See which TNPSC groups are which, and Group 2's change.
- No maximum age limit"No maximum age limit" in a TNPSC notification means you must not have completed 60 years. See where it applies in Groups 2 and 4 and what it keeps.
- Higher-qualification age relaxationReserved-category candidates with a qualification above the minimum have no maximum age limit for most Group 4 posts. See the rule, exceptions and examples.
- OMR sheetHow the TNPSC OMR sheet works in Group 4: five bubbles a question, the blank-answer deduction, thumb impression and register number rules, with an example.
- General Turn (GT)General Turn (GT) is the unreserved share of TNPSC vacancies. Learn what GT means, how it differs from Others in age tables, and where its 31% comes from.
- One Time Registration (OTR)OTR is the permanent TNPSC candidate profile on tnpscexams.in. See the ₹150 fee, 5-year validity, the Aadhaar rule and why registering is not applying.
- Option E (answer not known)Option E on the TNPSC OMR sheet means "answer not known". Learn what it scores, why leaving a question blank costs 0.5 mark, and when guessing beats shading E.