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Can I apply for both TNPSC Group 2 and Group 2A?
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Yes. Group II and Group IIA are announced in one notification and share a common preliminary exam. If you clear the prelims, you can be shortlisted for the mains of both groups, and the notification sets a combined mains fee of Rs.300 for candidates who are shortlisted for both.
How the two groups fit together
Notification No. 11/2025 (Advt No. 713) treats the groups as two paths from one prelims:
| Stage | Group II | Group IIA |
|---|---|---|
| Prelims | Common paper: 200 questions, 300 marks | Same paper |
| Mains Paper I | Tamil Eligibility Test, 100 marks, 40 to pass | Same |
| Mains Paper II | Descriptive General Studies | Computer-based objective test |
| Rank | Paper II marks | Paper II marks |
| Mains fee | Rs.150 | Rs.150 |
If you are shortlisted for both mains, the fee is Rs.300. The prelims fee is Rs.100. Fee concessions are explained in who gets fee exemption.
Why you would want both
The posts differ. Group II covers posts such as Sub Registrar Grade II, Probation Officer, Assistant Inspector of Labour and Assistant Section Officer (TNPSC), at higher pay levels. Group IIA covers Assistant posts in many departments, Senior Revenue Inspector and Executive Officer Grade III, mostly at Level 10 and below. The Group 2 vs Group 2A guide helps you rank your preferences.
The cost of doing both
The prelims preparation is shared, but the mains is not. Group II needs descriptive writing in 100 and 200 words. Group IIA needs speed on a computer across 150 General Studies and 50 reasoning questions. Training for both within the gap between prelims and mains is heavy. A common approach is to pick one main focus and treat the other group as a backup.
Exam rules to remember
- The mains shortlist is 1:10 per reservation group, with ties at the cut-off all admitted.
- Paper I must be passed first; see what happens if you fail the Tamil test.
- Prelims marks do not count in the final rank. See the prelims marks answer.
Source
Confirm how the current notification handles both groups.
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- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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