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How many marks is each question in TNPSC Group 4?
Each question in the TNPSC Group 4 paper carries 1.5 marks. The paper has 200 questions for 300 marks, and every question is worth the same whether it is in Tamil, General Studies or aptitude.
Marks by part
| Part | Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Tamil Eligibility-cum-Scoring Test | 100 | 150 |
| B | General Studies | 75 | 112.5 |
| C | Aptitude and Mental Ability | 25 | 37.5 |
| Total | 200 | 300 |
Parts B and C together have 100 questions and 150 marks, the same as Part A. The notification states 150 marks for Part A and 150 for Parts B and C combined (para 6.1). The split of 112.5 and 37.5 between B and C follows from 1.5 marks a question.
What each answer is worth
- A correct answer adds 1.5 marks.
- A wrong answer subtracts nothing.
- A question left completely blank subtracts 0.5 mark from your total, which is a third of what a correct answer earns.
Shade every question, because a blank is the only thing that costs marks. The mechanics, including option E, are in the OMR option E answer.
Useful conversions
- Passing mark. 90 of 300 equals 60 correct answers. Part A needs 60 of 150 marks, which is 40 correct answers out of 100 in that part.
- Score from a known number of correct answers. Multiply by 1.5 and subtract 0.5 for each blank. For example, 140 correct, 50 wrong and 10 blank gives 210 minus 5, or 205 marks.
- Tamil first. Fifty percent of the marks are in Tamil, and a weak Part A can sink a strong General Studies performance because of the 60-mark gate.
Check these numbers against the Group 4 exam pattern and use the Group 4 answer key page to calculate a real score after the exam.
Source
Marks and question counts can change between notifications, so confirm them for your cycle.
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- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
More in TNPSC
- 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.
- 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 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 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.
- 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.
- 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 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 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.