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What is the minimum mark to qualify TNPSC Group 1 prelims?
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In the Group 1 prelims you need at least 90 out of 300 marks if you belong to a reserved category (SC, SC(A), ST, MBC/DC, BC, BCM) and at least 120 out of 300 if you are in the Others category. These are minimum qualifying marks from Notification No. 04/2025 (Advt No. 706), not the actual cut-off.
The prelims in brief
The prelims is one objective OMR paper of 3 hours: 175 General Studies questions (degree standard) plus 25 Aptitude and Mental Ability questions (SSLC standard), 200 questions in all, for 300 marks. The prelims is a screening test. Its marks are not added to your mains or interview marks.
| Category | Minimum qualifying mark (out of 300) |
|---|---|
| SC, SC(A), ST, MBC/DC, BC, BCM | 90 |
| Others | 120 |
Why the minimum is not the cut-off
Meeting the minimum only makes you eligible to be considered. The number of candidates called for the mains is fixed by a ratio, 1:20 per reservation group. If more than that many candidates cross the minimum in a group, the actual cut-off is higher than 90 or 120. We have not verified any past cut-off figure from an official table, so none is quoted here. See how many candidates are shortlisted for Group 1 mains.
How this differs from Group 2 and Group 4
| Exam | Minimum qualifying mark |
|---|---|
| Group 1 prelims (2025) | 90 reserved, 120 Others, out of 300 |
| Group 2/2A prelims (2025) | 90 for all communities, out of 300 |
| Group 4 (2026) | 90 for all communities, out of 300, plus 60 of 150 in Part A |
Only Group 1 sets a higher bar for the Others category.
What it means for your target
Treat 120 as the floor if you are in the Others category, not the goal. The paper has 200 questions for 300 marks, so 120 marks is the equivalent of 80 questions at 1.5 marks each. Aim well beyond it by building General Studies depth first. The Group 1 exam pattern shows all the stages and the Group 1 syllabus the topics.
PrepMatic's Group 1 support is for the prelims only, with 200-question mocks. It does not cover mains answer writing or the interview.
Source
Confirm the figures in the current Group 1 notification.
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- 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 exam patternTNPSC Group 1 exam pattern: a 200-question prelims, four descriptive mains papers, a 100-mark interview, qualifying marks and the 850-mark rank formula.
More in TNPSC
- 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 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 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.
- 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 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.