Start Here: APPSC Exam Patterns

1. APPSC Group 2, Group 4 and Sachivalayam Exam Patterns

The Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) recruits officers for many state posts. Group 2 is the most popular exam for posts like Deputy Tahsildar, Sub-Registrar, Assistant Commercial Tax Officer, Municipal Commissioner Grade III and Assistant Section Officer. This lesson explains the pattern given in the Group 2 notification of October 2026, and the pattern of other common AP exams. Always read the detailed notification for your post, because patterns can change.

APPSC Group 2: 2026 notification and Screening Test

• APPSC issued Brief Notification No. 37/2026 on 13 October 2026 for 686 Group 2 posts (provisional, Executive and Non-Executive). Online applications were announced for 10 to 30 November 2026.
• The age limit reported was 18 to 42 years, with relaxations for reserved categories as per rules (confirm in the detailed notification). The previous Group 2 cycle was notified in December 2023.
• Stage 1 is a Screening Test (offline, OMR): one objective paper on General Studies and Mental Ability with 150 questions, 150 marks, 150 minutes.
• In the previous (2023) scheme it had five sections of 30 marks each: Indian History, Geography, Indian Society, Current Affairs and Mental Ability. Check the 2026 detailed syllabus for any change.
• The Screening Test is used only to shortlist candidates for the Main Examination. Its marks are not counted for the final merit list.

APPSC Group 2: Main Examination and CPT

• The Main Examination has two objective papers, each of 150 questions, 150 marks and 150 minutes (300 marks in total).
• Paper I: Social and Cultural History of Andhra Pradesh (75 marks) and a general overview of the Indian Constitution (75 marks).
• Paper II: Indian and Andhra Pradesh Economy (75 marks) and Science and Technology (75 marks).
• Negative marking: for every wrong answer, one-third (1/3) of the marks for that question is deducted, in both the Screening Test and the Mains.
• Some posts also need a Computer Proficiency Test (CPT) on office automation: 100 marks, 60 minutes, qualifying only (30 for SC/ST/PBD, 35 for BCs, 40 for OCs).
• No interview is mentioned for Group 2 in the 2026 brief notification. Check the detailed notification for the final scheme.

Group 4 and Grama/Ward Sachivalayam exams

• APPSC Group 4 recruits posts such as Junior Assistant-cum-Computer Assistant. In past cycles it had objective papers on General Studies & Mental Ability and on Secretarial Abilities, with 1/3 negative marking.
• No fresh Group 4 notification is covered here; if one is issued, follow its scheme of examination.
• The Grama and Ward Sachivalayam recruitments (such as Panchayat Secretary Grade V and other functionaries) were held in 2019 and 2020 by the state government.
• Their pattern: one 150-mark paper of 150 minutes, Part A General Studies & Mental Ability (75 marks) and Part B subject or post-related topics (75 marks).
• In those exams, 0.25 (one-quarter) mark was deducted for each wrong answer. Note the difference from APPSC's 1/3.

Official sources

• APPSC's official website is psc.ap.gov.in. One Time Profile Registration (OTPR) is needed before applying.
• Notifications, hall tickets, initial answer keys and results are published on the APPSC website.
• Sachivalayam recruitments are announced through the state government's official portals; check the notification for the correct website.
• Do not trust social media messages about exam dates or posts. Check the official site first.

💡 Note the two different penalties: APPSC deducts 1/3 per wrong answer, while the Sachivalayam exams deducted 1/4. Decide your guessing rule based on your exam.

📝 5-question quiz on this lesson: enrol free to take it and track your score.

2. Preparation Plan and Course Mapping

APPSC exams test Andhra Pradesh topics more deeply than national exams. This lesson maps the syllabus to this course and to the other free courses on learn.nishu.digital, and gives a simple plan to follow.

Mapping the syllabus to this course

• AP history and culture (Group 2 Mains Paper I): Module 2 of this course covers dynasties, the freedom movement, formation of Andhra State and Telugu culture.
• AP geography and economy (Screening Test and Mains Paper II): Module 3 covers districts, rivers, projects, ports and industries.
• AP Reorganisation issues, administration, schemes and AP current affairs: Module 4.
• Telugu language questions (for Sachivalayam-type exams and AP culture questions): Module 5.
• Indian polity, Indian economy, Indian history, geography, science, aptitude and national current affairs are covered in the other courses of this series.

Handling 1/3 negative marking

• Correct answer +1, wrong answer minus 1/3. Three wrong answers cancel one correct answer.
• A blind guess among four options gives zero gain on average (1 right x 1 minus 3 wrong x 1/3 = 0), so it only adds risk.
• If you can remove one wrong option, choosing from three gives a small positive average (1 minus 2/3 = 1/3 mark per three guesses).
• If you can remove two options, guessing between two is clearly worth it (1 minus 1/3 = 2/3 mark per two guesses).
• Rule: never guess blindly in APPSC exams; answer when you can rule out at least one option.

A 10-week plan

• Weeks 1 to 2: read the notification; finish Module 1; take one previous Screening Test to know your level.
• Weeks 2 to 5: AP history, culture, geography and economy (Modules 2 and 3), along with Indian polity.
• Weeks 5 to 7: AP Reorganisation Act, schemes and current affairs (Module 4) and national current affairs of the last 12 to 18 months.
• Weeks 7 to 10: daily mental ability practice and full timed mock tests, followed by revision of weak areas.
• Group 2 Mains papers are long (150 questions each). Practise sitting for 150 minutes without a break.

💡 Make a single 'AP numbers' sheet: 175 MLAs, 58 MLCs, 25 Lok Sabha seats, 11 Rajya Sabha seats, 28 districts, key dates of 1953, 1956 and 2014. Revise it every week.

📝 5-question quiz on this lesson: enrol free to take it and track your score.