APPSC Forest Beat Officer Cut Off and Qualifying Marks

The APPSC Forest Beat Officer cut-off works at three points: the screening test shortlist, the main exam merit list that decides who is called for the walking test, and the final selection list. The Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) fixes minimum qualifying marks in the notification, but the actual mark needed for selection is set by competition for a limited number of posts in each category and area.

This page sets out the official minimum marks, explains how each shortlist is drawn and shows how to set a target score. The rules come from Notification No. 06/2025, the latest notification with a full scheme.

Table of Contents

Minimum Qualifying Marks

These are the lowest marks at which a candidate can be considered for selection. They apply to the main exam, whose two objective papers total 200 marks.

The notification also allows SC and ST candidates to be selected in order of rank even below these marks. Separately, you must pass the 50-mark qualifying essay for your objective papers to be counted.

How Each Shortlist Is Drawn

Because only twice as many candidates as posts reach the walking test, the real cut-off is usually set by the main exam score of the last candidate called in each category and area, not by the minimum marks.

Previous Cut-off Figures

We could not verify category-wise cut-off marks for the screening test or the main exam of the 06/2025 cycle against an official APPSC document at the time of this update. Figures shown on some websites are labelled as expected or estimated, so we have not reproduced them here.

Check the results section of psc.ap.gov.in for official results, and treat any unofficial cut-off figures as estimates only.

What Affects the Cut-off

• Number of posts: Notification No. 06/2025 had 256 Forest Beat Officer posts, while the latest brief notification lists 23. Fewer posts mean fewer walking test places in each category and usually a higher selection mark.

• Local and agency rules: Posts in scheduled areas are reserved for local ST candidates, and 80% of plain-area posts go to local candidates, so cut-offs differ by area as well as category.

• Paper difficulty: A harder paper usually lowers the cut-off, and an easier one raises it.

• Negative marking: With one-third of a mark deducted per wrong answer, careless attempts pull scores down across the board.

• NCC bonus: Up to 5 bonus marks can move candidates ahead in a close merit list.

How to Set Your Target

• Do not aim for the minimum: The 40%, 35% or 30% bar only makes you eligible. Selection usually needs a score well above it.

• Use a working target: As a practical goal, aim for a net score of at least 60% (120 out of 200) in full-length mocks, then raise it as you improve. This is a preparation target, not an official or predicted cut-off.

• Track net score: Measure your score after negative marking, not the number of correct answers.

• Secure the qualifying stages: Practise the essay and the walking test, since failing either ends your candidature whatever your score.

To check where you stand, you can take full-length online tests on Testkart with negative marking and compare your net score after each attempt. The full marks scheme is on the APPSC Forest Beat Officer exam pattern page, and the topics are on the APPSC Forest Beat Officer syllabus page.

Official source for results: Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission.