PrepMaticExam questions answered
Exam questions answered
This section answers one exam question per page. Can a final-year student apply? Is Tamil compulsory? What happens if a question is left blank? Each page opens with the answer in a sentence or two, so you can stop reading there, then gives the context, the exceptions and the official source it comes from.
The answers are written for aspirants in India, many of them in Tamil Nadu, who are comparing notifications, forums and coaching advice that do not always agree. Where an official notification settles the point, the page names the notification and the paragraph. Where the rule differs between cycles, the page says which cycle it describes and how to check the next one. If a detail has not been confirmed from an official document, the page does not state it as fact.
TNPSC
- Aadhaar for TNPSC OTRYes. Linking Aadhaar is mandatory to create, renew or access your TNPSC One Time Registration and to apply for any exam. What it means and what else you need.
- Applying for Group 2 and 2AGroup 2 and 2A share one notification and one prelims. You can be shortlisted for both mains, paying Rs.300 instead of Rs.150. How selection works.
- Blank answer penaltyLeaving a question completely blank costs 0.5 mark in the TNPSC Group 4 OMR, while a wrong answer costs nothing. How the penalty works and what to do.
- Can I write TNPSC in English?General Studies questions come in Tamil and English, but Group 4 Part A is Tamil only. Here is where English is allowed in Group 1, 2/2A and 4.
- Destitute widow in TNPSCTNPSC treats a widow with total monthly income of Rs.8,000 or less as a destitute widow. Divorcees are excluded. Fee, age and reservation benefits explained.
- Diploma holders and Group 4Diploma holders can apply for TNPSC Group 4 if they have passed SSLC. What the 2026 notification says on qualification order, age and extra post conditions.
- Do Group 2 prelims marks count?In TNPSC Group 2 and 2A the prelims is only a screening test. Its marks are not added to the final rank, which Main Paper II decides. Shortlist ratio 1:10.
- Editing a TNPSC applicationTNPSC opens a three-day correction window after the last date to apply. Group 4 2026 corrections run 9 to 11 November 2026. What OTR edits need.
- Failing the Group 2 Tamil testIn TNPSC Group 2 and 2A mains, Paper I is a Tamil test with a pass mark of 40 of 100. Fail it and your Paper II is not evaluated. How the rule works.
- Failing the Group 4 Tamil paperScore below 60 of 150 in Group 4 Part A (Tamil) and your General Studies and aptitude answers are not evaluated. What it means and how to avoid it.
- Final year students and Group 4Final-year degree, diploma and HSC students can apply for TNPSC Group 4 because the minimum is an SSLC pass. What to check on age, posts and exam dates.
- Government employees and Group 4Under the Group 4 2026 notification, Others with five or more years of central or state government service are not eligible. What it means for employees.
- Group 1 age limitTNPSC Group 1 age limit as on 1 July 2025: minimum 21, maximum 34 for Others and 39 for reserved categories, with limits for PwBD, ex-servicemen and widows.
- Group 1 mains shortlist ratioTNPSC Group 1 shortlists 20 candidates per vacancy for the mains in each reservation group, then 2 or 3 per vacancy for the interview. Worked example.
- Group 1 marks for final rankYour TNPSC Group 1 final rank is based on 850 marks: three General Studies mains papers of 250 each plus a 100-mark interview. Prelims and Tamil do not count.
- Group 1 prelims minimum markTNPSC Group 1 prelims need at least 90 of 300 for reserved categories and 120 of 300 for Others. Prelims marks only screen; the 1:20 shortlist decides.
- Group 1 vacancies (2025)TNPSC Group 1 Notification 04/2025 listed 70 vacancies across six posts, including Deputy Collector (28) and DSP (7), all at pay Level 22. Post-wise table.
- Group 2 age limitTNPSC Group 2 and 2A age limit as on 1 July 2025: 18 to 32 for Others, no maximum for most reserved candidates. Post-specific limits for Forester and more.
- Group 2 and 2A vacancies (2025)TNPSC Group 2 and 2A Notification 11/2025 listed 645 vacancies: 50 in Group II and 595 in Group IIA. Posts, pay levels and the later addendum.
- Group 2 interview?In the 2025 notification TNPSC Group 2 has no interview. Ranking is based only on marks in Main Paper II. Where interviews still exist in TNPSC exams.
- Group 4 2026 vacanciesTNPSC Group 4 Notification 11/2026 lists 6,574 vacancies across 46 post codes. Post-wise numbers for VAO, Junior Assistant, Typist and more.
- Group 4 age limitGroup 4 age limit as on 1 July 2026: 30 for Others, 32 for BC/MBC, 35 for SC/ST on most posts, and no maximum for higher-qualified reserved candidates.
- Group 4 educational qualificationThe minimum qualification for TNPSC Group 4 is an SSLC pass. Which posts need typewriting, shorthand or a degree, and the order rule for qualifications.
- Group 4 exam dateThe TNPSC Group 4 exam under Notification 11/2026 is on 10 January 2027, 9.30 AM to 12.30 PM. Application dates and why the planner date changed.
- Group 4 interview?TNPSC Group 4 has no interview. Your rank comes only from the written paper, followed by certificate verification and counselling. The steps after the exam.
- Group 4 passing markThe minimum qualifying mark in TNPSC Group 4 is 90 out of 300 for all communities, plus 60 of 150 in the Tamil Part A. Passing is not the same as selection.
- Is Group 2A mains objective?Group 2A Main Paper II is a computer-based objective test of 200 questions, while Group 2's is descriptive. Both have a qualifying Tamil paper. Full comparison.
- Is Tamil compulsory for Group 4?Yes. Group 4 Part A is a Tamil-only test of 100 questions and 150 marks, and you need 60 marks in it for Parts B and C to be evaluated. Exceptions explained.
- Is Tamil needed to apply?TNPSC requires adequate knowledge of Tamil, shown by studying Tamil at school or college, or by passing the TNPSC Second Class Language Test later.
- Is there a Group 8 exam?Executive Officer Grade IV, once the Group 8 post, is now recruited through TNPSC Group 4, and EO Grade III through Group 2A. Eligibility and the HR&CE rules.
- Marks per question in Group 4Each TNPSC Group 4 question carries 1.5 marks: 200 questions for 300 marks. How marks split across Tamil, General Studies and aptitude, and what a blank costs.
- Option E on the OMR sheetOption E on the TNPSC OMR sheet means "answer not known". Why it exists, what happens if you leave a question blank, and the other OMR deductions.
- TNPSC attempt limitTNPSC notifications for Group 1, 2/2A and 4 set no cap on attempts. The real limits are the maximum age and the number of free fee-concession chances.
- TNPSC community reservationTNPSC follows Tamil Nadu's community reservation: SC 15%, SC(A) 3%, ST 1%, BC 26.5%, BC Muslim 3.5% and MBC/DC 20%. Plus women and disability quotas.
- TNPSC concessions for PwBDTNPSC gives persons with benchmark disabilities 4% reservation, full fee exemption, higher age limits and relaxations in Tamil papers. Group-wise details.
- TNPSC exam feeTNPSC fees: Rs.150 for OTR once, then Rs.100 for Group 4, Rs.100 plus Rs.150 for Group 2, and Rs.100 plus Rs.200 for Group 1. Who pays nothing.
- TNPSC fee exemptionSC, SC(A), ST, disabled candidates and destitute widows pay no TNPSC exam fee. BC, MBC and DC get 3 free chances and ex-servicemen 2. How the count works.
- TNPSC helpdesk numberTNPSC helpdesk toll-free number 1800 419 0958 works 10 AM to 5.45 PM on working days. Email addresses for OTR queries and grievances, and when to use each.
- TNPSC OTR validityA TNPSC One Time Registration is valid for 5 years from registration and costs Rs.150 once. What it does and does not cover, and how renewal works.
- TNPSC photo and signature sizeTNPSC photo and signature specs from the 2026 notification: 20-50 KB photo, 10-20 KB signature, 4.5 x 3.5 cm with a name and date strip. No selfies.
- Typist and Steno-Typist qualificationTNPSC Group 4 Typist needs SSLC plus a government typewriting certificate; Steno-Typist Grade III also needs shorthand. Vacancies, pay level and age.
- VAO age limitTNPSC VAO age limit as on 1 July 2026: minimum 21; maximum 30 for Others and 40 for reserved categories. PwBD, ex-servicemen and destitute widow limits.
- VAO and Group 4: same exam?No. VAO is a post filled through the TNPSC Group 4 exam. One paper, one application, then post choice by rank at counselling. Where VAO rules differ.
- VAO qualificationA Village Administrative Officer is recruited through TNPSC Group 4 on an SSLC pass. Qualification, minimum age 21 and eligibility rules from the 2026 notice.
- VAO salaryA Village Administrative Officer is paid at Level 8 of the Tamil Nadu pay matrix, as listed in TNPSC Group 4 Notification 11/2026. How to read the pay level.
- Which TNPSC group is easiest?No TNPSC group is officially easier, but their standards, stages and interview rules differ. A fair comparison to help you pick between Groups 4, 2A, 2 and 1.
- Women's reservation in TNPSCTNPSC Group 4 reserves 30 percent of posts for women, with a further 10 percent of that for destitute widows up to Level 10. How the quota works in 2026.
Bank exams
- Are IBPS past papers official?IBPS, SBI, RBI and NABARD do not publish past question papers. Only sample question types in handouts are official. Learn how to use unofficial papers well.
- Bank PO probation periodSBI PO probation is 2 years, with a ₹2 lakh bond for 3 years of service, per the 2026 advertisement. IBPS PO terms are set by the allotted bank.
- Banks in IBPS POThe 2026 IBPS PO/MT-XVI recruits for 11 public sector banks, from Bank of Baroda to Union Bank of India. SBI, RBI and NABARD recruit separately.
- CIBIL score and SBI POSBI removed the credit-history clause from its 2026 PO advertisement by corrigendum on 1 July 2026. Here is what changed and what to check next cycle.
- Computer knowledge in IBPS PO MainsIBPS PO Mains 2026 has no separate Computer Aptitude section. See where computer questions still appear across SBI PO, SBI JA, IBPS RRB and RBI exams.
- Do Prelims marks count?In IBPS PO, SBI PO and RBI Grade B, Prelims only qualifies you; the final merit comes from Mains and interview. See the weightage for each exam.
- Easiest bank examNo bank exam is officially easy. Compare IBPS Clerk, SBI JA, RRB Office Assistant and PO exams by number of stages, paper length and interview.
- Final year students and IBPS PONo. IBPS PO needs you to be a graduate on the day you register, with the result declared by the last date. See how SBI PO and clerk exams differ.
- Final year students and SBI POFinal-year and final-semester students can apply for SBI PO provisionally if they show proof of passing by the date in the advertisement. 2026 rules.
- IBPS Clerk age limitIBPS Clerk (Customer Service Associate) age limit is 20 to 28 years as on 1 August 2026, with relaxation for SC/ST, OBC, PwBD and ex-servicemen.
- IBPS Clerk in TamilIBPS Clerk question papers are in English, Hindi and the state language, so Tamil is available for Tamil Nadu. The English section is in English only.
- IBPS Clerk is now CSAIBPS now recruits clerks as Customer Service Associate (CSA). The 2026 Mains has 160 questions and no Computer Aptitude section. Old patterns are outdated.
- IBPS Clerk local language testIBPS Clerk (CSA) requires proficiency in the local language of your state. You are exempt only if your Class 10 or higher mark-sheet shows you studied it.
- IBPS Clerk Mains 2026 dateIBPS Clerk (CSA-XVI) Prelims is tentatively on 10 and 11 October 2026 and the Mains on 27 December 2026. See the pattern and what follows.
- IBPS Clerk salaryIBPS Clerk (Customer Service Associate) starts at a basic pay of ₹24,050 in a scale ending at ₹64,480. See the scale, the SBI clerk comparison and caveats.
- IBPS Clerk: one state onlyIBPS Clerk (CSA) lets you apply for vacancies in one State or UT only. SBI Junior Associate has the same rule. How to choose your state wisely.
- IBPS PO attempt limitThe IBPS PO/MT-XVI notification sets no attempt limit. Only the age limit of 20 to 30 years, with relaxations, decides how long you can keep applying.
- IBPS PO Mains 2026 dateIBPS scheduled the PO/MT-XVI Mains for 4 October 2026 in its tentative calendar. See the Mains pattern and the later stages, with dates marked tentative.
- IBPS vs SBIIBPS runs one common exam for 11 public sector banks; SBI hires for itself. Compare the 2026 PO and clerk exams, selection weightage and eligibility.
- Interview for IBPS ClerkThere is no interview for IBPS Clerk (CSA). Selection is on Mains marks, followed by a language test where needed. See the stages and other no-interview posts.
- Local language in IBPS RRBFor IBPS RRB Office Assistant and Officer Scale I, the local language is an essential qualification. Proof of Std VIII study, or 6 months to learn it.
- Minimum percentage for bank examsIBPS and SBI exams ask for graduation with no stated minimum percentage. RBI Grade B and NABARD Grade A do. See the marks required, exam by exam.
- Negative marking in IBPS POYes. IBPS PO deducts one-fourth of the marks assigned to a question for each wrong answer, in Prelims and Mains. See what it costs per section.
- Negative marking in SBI POSBI PO deducts one-fourth of the marks assigned to a question for each wrong answer in Prelims and Mains. See the penalty by section for 2026.
- RBI Grade B interview marksThe RBI Grade B interview carries 75 marks and final merit is Phase II plus the interview. Phase I marks do not count. 2026 rules and how it compares.
- RBI Grade B salaryRBI Grade B starts at a basic pay of ₹78,450 a month in a 16-year scale. The 2026 advertisement states gross emoluments of about ₹1.55 lakh a month.
- RRB PO and Clerk togetherYes. In IBPS RRBs-XV you can apply for Office Assistant and one officer post, with a separate application and fee for each. Dates, fees and limits.
- SBI PO age limitSBI PO age limit is 21 to 30 years as on 1 April 2026. See upper-age relaxation for OBC, SC/ST, PwBD and ex-servicemen, and why relaxations do not stack.
- SBI PO attempt limitSBI PO allows 6 attempts for UR/EWS, 9 for OBC and PwBD, and no limit for SC/ST. Only appearing in Mains counts. Rules from the 2026 advertisement.
- SBI PO descriptive paperSBI PO Mains 2026 has a typed descriptive test, Communication Skills: 3 questions, 30 marks, 30 minutes. See the format and why letter and essay is outdated.
- SBI PO Prelims sectional cut-offSBI PO Prelims 2026 has no sectional cut-off; about ten times the vacancies are shortlisted on total score. IBPS has one. Here is how it works.
- SBI PO salarySBI PO starts at a basic pay of ₹48,480 plus four advance increments in scale JMGS-I. See the pay scale, the advertised CTC, bond and probation terms.
NEET
- 15% All India QuotaThe All India Quota fills 15% of seats in state government medical colleges through MCC counselling, open to every state. Rounds, institutions and TN's share.
- 7.5% quota in Tamil NaduThe 7.5% reservation gives Tamil Nadu government school students preferential MBBS and BDS admission under Act 34 of 2020. Who qualifies and the proof needed.
- After the NEET resultAfter the NEET-UG result you check you qualified, register for MCC and state counselling, fill choices, get an allotment and report. The steps in order.
- Class 12 marks for NEETTo be eligible for MBBS through NEET you need 50% in Physics, Chemistry and Biology together in Class 12 (45% General-PwBD, 40% SC, ST, OBC), with examples.
- Community reservation in TN MBBSTamil Nadu MBBS state quota seats are reserved at 69%: BC 30%, MBC/DNC 20%, SC 18%, ST 1%. The OC share, horizontal quotas and how rank-based open seats work.
- Is NCERT enough for NEET?NCERT is the base of the NEET-UG syllabus, but whether it is enough for you depends on your mock results. How to run a simple check and decide what to add.
- Is NEET held twice a year?NEET-UG has one valid exam per admission cycle. The 2026 re-examination replaced a cancelled exam and was not a second chance. What that means for how you plan.
- NEET 2026 result dateThe NEET-UG 2026 (Re-NEET) result came out on 16 July 2026: 22.79 lakh registered, 19.99 lakh appeared, 11.21 lakh qualified. Cut-offs and a 2025 comparison.
- NEET 2027 computer-based?The Education Minister announced that NEET-UG goes computer-based from 2027 with 720 marks unchanged. What is confirmed, what is not, and how to prepare.
- NEET age limitNEET-UG needs you to be 17 on or before 31 December of the admission year. How the date works, what is reported on an upper age limit and what to verify.
- NEET attempts allowedRecent NEET-UG bulletins have reportedly set no cap on attempts. What a repeat year involves, how the 2026 re-exam fits, and where to confirm the rule.
- NEET exam languagesNEET-UG is held in 13 languages. English, Hindi and Urdu are at every centre, regional languages only in their own states. The rule that locks your choice.
- NEET qualifying percentileNEET-UG qualifies the 50th percentile for General and EWS, the 40th for SC, ST and OBC, the 45th for General-PwBD. See what that meant in marks in 2024 to 2026.
- NEET tie-breaking rulesNEET-UG ties are broken by Biology marks first, then Chemistry, Physics and fewer wrong answers. Age and application number are no longer used. The full order.
- Negative marking in NEETNEET-UG gives +4 for a right answer and −1 for a wrong one, with no penalty for blanks. See when guessing pays and how errors change your score.
- NRI and OCI students and NEETNRIs, OCI/PIO cardholders and foreign nationals can apply for NEET-UG. How OCI/PIO candidates are treated in Tamil Nadu and where the NRI quota sits.
- Number of questions in NEETNEET-UG has 180 compulsory questions: 45 Physics, 45 Chemistry and 90 Biology, for 720 marks in 3 hours. What changed from the 200-question format.
- Other-state students and TN MBBSTamil Nadu's state quota needs a TN Nativity Certificate. Other-state students can compete for the 15% All India Quota, and some count as Open Category.
- State Board students and NEETNEET-UG follows the NMC syllabus aligned with NCERT, not a school board, so State Board students sit the same paper. What to check and how to close any gap.
- TN government MBBS feeIn 2026-27 the MBBS fee in Tamil Nadu government colleges is ₹18,073 a year, of which ₹6,000 is tuition. Plus application, counselling and deposit amounts.
- TN government MBBS seatsTamil Nadu has 36 government medical colleges with about 5,050 MBBS seats in 2026-27: 753 All India Quota, 4,247 state quota and 50 ward seats.
- Who runs TN NEET counsellingTamil Nadu NEET counselling is run by the Selection Committee, DME&R, Kilpauk, Chennai. Which seats it fills, what MCC fills instead, and the websites.
- Why NEET 2026 was re-heldNEET-UG 2026 was cancelled after a paper leak. NTA held a re-exam on 21 June 2026 and declared the result on 16 July. Dates, rules and what changed.
- Writing NEET in TamilNEET-UG can be written in Tamil at centres in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. How the bilingual booklet works, which version is final and why the medium is locked.
GATE
- Age limit for GATEGATE has no age limit and no cap on attempts. The age limits that matter come from PSUs, such as POWERGRID's 28 years for 2027, and from admitting institutes.
- BSc, BCA, BCom and GATEGATE 2027 accepts B.Sc., B.A., B.Com. and BCA students from the third year, and M.Sc., M.A. and MCA students from the first. Which papers suit non-engineers.
- Calculator in GATEGATE provides an on-screen virtual scientific calculator. Physical calculators, phones and watches mean disqualification. How to practise and other hall rules.
- Engineering maths in GATE papersNo. In GATE 2027, 17 papers have a separate 13-mark engineering mathematics block and XE has a 15-mark one. Others fold maths into subject sections. The list.
- GATE 2027 exam datesGATE 2027 is scheduled for 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21 February 2027, in two sessions a day, with results on 19 March 2027. Timeline from registration to result.
- GATE 2027 organiserIIT Madras is the organising institute for GATE 2027, on behalf of the National Coordination Board. Recent organisers, the IISc and IIT system, and the site.
- GATE application feeThe GATE 2027 fee per paper is ₹1,000 for women, SC, ST and PwD and ₹2,000 for others, or ₹1,500 and ₹2,500 in the late window that closes 12 October 2026.
- GATE attempts allowedGATE has no limit on attempts, so you can sit every year. Each attempt needs a fresh application and fee, and a score stays valid for three years.
- GATE exam cities in Tamil NaduGATE 2027 lists 24 tentative exam cities in Tamil Nadu, from Chennai and Coimbatore to Ooty and Pollachi. How city choice and the 4 January 2027 allotment work.
- GATE previous year papersThe official GATE 2027 site has question papers from 2007 to 2026 and papers with answer keys for 2021 to 2026. Where to find them and how to use them for 2027.
- GATE score validityA GATE score is valid for 3 years from the result date. For GATE 2027, scorecards are issued only until 31 December 2027, so download yours. Key dates inside.
- M.Tech stipend after GATEM.Tech students admitted with a valid GATE score can get ₹12,400 a month, generally for 22 months. Direct PhD fellowship amounts and who decides who gets it.
- MSQ negative marking in GATEGATE has no negative marking for MSQ or NAT questions, only for MCQs (1/3 or 2/3 mark). MSQs give no partial credit, so pick every correct option.
- Number of GATE 2027 papersGATE 2027 has 30 papers. Robotics and Automation (RA) is new, and Textile Engineering (TF) is now section XE9 of Engineering Sciences. The list and new codes.
- Number of questions in GATEGATE has 65 questions for 100 marks in 3 hours: 10 General Aptitude and 55 subject questions, worth 1 or 2 marks. The marks split by paper and question types.
- PSU jobs through GATEPSUs recruit engineers on GATE scores only when they advertise for your paper. How it works, a verified POWERGRID 2027 example and what GATE does not promise.
- Third-year students and GATEGATE 2027 is open from the third year of any undergraduate degree, not just final year. Which degrees qualify, from when, and the 12 October late-fee deadline.
- Two GATE papersGATE 2027 lets you take one paper or two. The second must be on the allowed list for the first, in one application. Sample pairs, banned pairs and the rules.
- What is a good GATE score?There is no single good GATE score. What 350 and 900 mean on the score scale, how qualifying marks work and how to set a target for your institute or PSU.
How to use these answers
Start with the question closest to your situation. If your doubt is about eligibility, look for the age limit, qualification and attempt answers for your exam. If it is about marks, look for the marking, passing mark and shortlist answers. Each page links to the longer guide that covers the topic in depth, such as the TNPSC exam guide, the bank exams guide, the NEET guide and the GATE guide.
How to read the dates and numbers
Exam rules change from one notification to the next. A figure such as an age limit, a fee or a vacancy count belongs to the cycle named on the page. For the current cycle, always check the latest notification on the conducting body's website before you apply: tnpsc.gov.in for TNPSC, ibps.in and sbi.co.in for bank exams, nta.ac.in for NEET, and the GATE organising institute's site for GATE. The pages point to the official source at the bottom.
Where to go next
If your question is about a term you keep meeting, such as OTR or OMR, use the exam glossary. If it is about pay, see the salary by post pages. To find out where you stand before you plan, take the free assessment on PrepMatic. It is a short diagnostic of about 15 multiple-choice questions that shows your weakest subjects, and it leads into a study plan built from your exam date and daily hours.
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