APPSC Group 2 Exam Pattern 2026: Stages, Marks and Timing

The APPSC Group 2 exam pattern for 2026 has three stages: a Screening Test, a Main Examination of two papers and a Computer Proficiency Test (CPT). The Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission published the scheme with Brief Notification No. 37/2026 on 13 October 2026. Both written stages are objective and degree standard, and a wrong answer costs marks.

This page lays out each stage in numbers, explains the negative marking, and turns the pattern into a plan for time and effort. The detailed notification is due on or before 10 November 2026 and will state the screening test date and how the stages combine, so recheck psc.ap.gov.in once it is out.

Table of Contents

Exam Pattern at a Glance

Screening Test Pattern

The Screening Test is a single paper of General Studies and Mental Ability. It is held in offline mode with OMR answer sheets, and the date will be announced in the detailed notification.

The syllabus divides the paper into five subjects of 30 marks each: Indian History, Geography, Indian Society, Current Affairs and Mental Ability. The notification does not set separate time limits for each subject, so you manage the 150 minutes yourself.

Main Examination Pattern

Each paper has two sections of 75 marks. The notification does not state the language of the question papers, so check the detailed notification for the medium of the paper.

Marking Scheme and Negative Marking

The scheme in the notification, citing G.O.Ms. No. 235 of 6 December 2016, says each wrong answer is penalised with one-third of the marks prescribed for the question. This applies to the Screening Test and the Main Examination.

Because 150 questions carry 150 marks, each question is worth 1 mark, so a wrong answer costs one-third of a mark. The scheme mentions a penalty only for wrong answers and does not mention one for questions left unanswered.

The table is an illustration of the arithmetic, not a prediction of your score.

What the Pattern Means for You

• Roughly one minute per question: 150 questions in 150 minutes leaves little room for long reasoning problems, so settle quickly on what to skip.

• Three wrong answers erase one right one: Guess only when you can remove at least one option with confidence.

• Balanced screening paper: Five subjects of 30 marks each mean a weak subject drags the total more than in a lopsided paper.

• Andhra Pradesh weight in the mains: Paper I has 75 marks on Andhra Pradesh social and cultural history, and Paper II has 75 marks on the Indian and AP economy, so state-specific study is not optional.

• Two long mains days or sessions: Two 150-minute papers need stamina, so practise full-length papers back to back.

Computer Proficiency Test

The CPT is a practical test of 100 marks in 60 minutes, covering office automation with computers and associated software. Minimum qualifying marks are 30 for SC/ST/PBD candidates, 35 for BC candidates and 40 for OC candidates. The detailed notification will say which posts need the CPT. Typing speed, a formatted document, a spreadsheet and a presentation make up the bulk of the marks, so regular hands-on practice matters more than reading.

Final Merit

The brief notification does not state how marks from the Screening Test, Main Examination and CPT combine in the final merit list, or the ratio of candidates called for the Main Examination. We have not stated any weightage because it is not in the official document. Pages that quote a fixed formula before the detailed notification should be treated with caution.

Time Management Strategy

1. First pass, about 90 minutes in the screening paper: Answer every question you are sure of, and mark the rest.

2. Second pass, about 45 minutes: Return to the marked questions and eliminate options.

3. Last 15 minutes: Transfer and check the OMR sheet. Never fill the sheet at the very end in a hurry.

Older pages may still show earlier APPSC patterns, so follow the official notification on psc.ap.gov.in. To practise in the same format, you can attempt APPSC Group 2 mock tests on Testkart and use the section-wise analysis. Next, read the APPSC Group 2 syllabus to decide where to begin.