PrepMaticExam questions answered · TNPSC
Do prelims marks count in TNPSC Group 2?
No. In the Group 2 and Group 2A scheme of Notification No. 11/2025, the preliminary exam is only a screening test. Its marks decide whether you reach the mains but are not counted in your final rank, which is decided by your marks in Main Paper II alone.
What the prelims does
The prelims is a single OMR paper of 200 questions for 300 marks in 3 hours. Part A is language (General Tamil or General English, 100 questions), Part B is General Studies (75 questions) and Part C is Aptitude and Mental Ability (25 questions). You need at least 90 marks, whatever your community. The prelims is common to Group II and Group IIA.
From prelims to mains
| Stage | What counts |
|---|---|
| Prelims | Screening only; marks not counted |
| Mains shortlist | 1:10 per reservation group; candidates tied at the cut-off are all admitted |
| Mains Paper I (Tamil Eligibility Test) | 40 of 100 to pass; not counted for rank |
| Mains Paper II | Decides the rank; minimum 90 of 300 |
| Interview | None in the 2025 scheme |
The shortlist for the mains is made in a ratio of 10 candidates per vacancy within each reservation group. So if a group has 20 vacancies, about 200 candidates from it are called for the mains, plus anyone tied with the last candidate. Whether you are in the top 10 per vacancy depends on how everyone did, not on a fixed mark.
What this changes for your preparation
- A great prelims score does not carry forward. Once you qualify, you start from zero in the mains.
- The prelims can be treated as a hurdle to clear with a comfortable margin, while your mains preparation, especially the General Studies depth, decides the rank.
- Do not lower your prelims effort just because it does not count. The shortlist is competitive and the cut-off is not published in advance.
See the Group 2 study plan for how to split time between the two stages, and the Group 2 exam pattern for the whole scheme.
Source
Check the scheme in the current notification, since it can change between cycles.
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- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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