ASRB AO Exam Pattern: Tier-I, Tier-II and Interview Marks
The ASRB AO exam pattern has three stages: a qualifying objective Tier-I, four descriptive Tier-II papers and a 100-mark structured interview. The Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board (ASRB) uses this pattern to select Administrative Officers (AO) and Finance and Accounts Officers (F&AO) for ICAR institutes. The pattern below comes from the 2021 notification (F.No. 2(2)/2021-Exam.II), the latest AO and F&AO advertisement we could verify.
Understanding the pattern changes how you study. Tier-I only qualifies you, so Tier-II and the interview decide your rank. This page explains marks, timing, negative marking and the final merit calculation, and shows where your effort should go. The full notification is available on the ASRB website.
Table of Contents
Pattern at a glance
Stage | Format | Marks | Duration | Counted in final merit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Tier-I | Online objective test (MCQs) | 200 | 3 hours | No, qualifying only |
Tier-II | Four descriptive papers | 600 | 3 hours per paper | Yes |
Tier-III | Structured interview | 100 | As scheduled | Yes |
Tier-I pattern
Test | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
A: General Knowledge | 50 | 50 | 3 hours (combined) |
B: General Intelligence and Reasoning | 50 | 50 | |
C: Arithmetical and Numerical Ability | 50 | 50 | |
D: Language Comprehension (Hindi or English) | 50 | 50 | |
Total | 200 | 200 |
Each question carries one mark. Tier-I is held in computer-based mode at centres across India, and candidates choose the language for section D while applying. Tier-I marks are not carried forward. As per the notification, the top 20 candidates per vacancy in each category are shortlisted for Tier-II, subject to the board's minimum qualifying marks. When Tier-I runs in several slots, ASRB normalises marks, so your reported score can differ from your raw score.
Tier-II pattern
Paper | AO marks | F&AO marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
Paper I: General Awareness (economic, social, scientific, cultural, history, geography) | 150 | 150 | 3 hours |
Paper II: Constitution, Polity, Governance and Social Justice | 150 | 150 | 3 hours |
Paper III: Essay writing | 150 (two essays of 75 each) | 100 | 3 hours |
Paper IV | 150 (Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude) | 200 (Commerce and Business Economics) | 3 hours |
Total | 600 | 600 | 12 hours (4 papers of 3 hours each) |
Both posts total 600 marks, but the split differs. If you apply for both posts, you prepare the common papers once and then handle two different Paper IV subjects, so plan your time accordingly. Tier-II is held at a smaller set of centres than Tier-I, so your Tier-II centre may differ from your Tier-I city.
Marking scheme and negative marking
Tier-I correct answer: 1 mark.
Tier-I wrong answer: one-third of a mark is deducted, so three wrong answers cost one mark.
Unattempted questions: no deduction is stated for blanks.
Tier-II: marks are awarded by evaluators on content, structure and language. The notification does not describe negative marking for descriptive answers.
What the pattern means for you
Accuracy beats volume in Tier-I: with a one-third penalty, a blind guess has a negative expected value unless you can remove at least one option.
Tier-I is a gate: clearing the cut-off is enough, so do not over-invest at the cost of Tier-II writing practice.
Tier-II carries the rank: 600 of the 700 final-merit marks come from descriptive papers, so writing speed and structure matter most.
Sectional risk: the board sets qualifying marks, so a very weak section can hurt even if your total looks fine.
Older pages may still show a single common Tier-II pattern for both posts, so follow the official notification.
Interview
The interview is a 100-mark structured interview. Roughly five candidates per vacancy, category-wise, are called based on Tier-II merit. Marks are awarded under heads that include the essential qualification (up to 5), highest qualification and experience (5), extracurricular activities (5), general awareness (10), in-depth subject knowledge (20), personality (20), working knowledge of computers (20) and aptitude and suitability (15).
Final merit calculation
Final merit is Tier-II marks (out of 600) plus interview marks (out of 100), a total of 700. Tier-I is not included. If two candidates tie, the older candidate ranks higher, and if the ages are also equal, the order follows the alphabetical order of names.
Worked example: a candidate scoring 330 in Tier-II and 60 in the interview has a final score of 390 out of 700. The example is only to show the arithmetic and is not a cut-off.
Time management and exam-day strategy
Tier-I: spend about 40 minutes on each of the first three sections and the rest on language comprehension, or pick the order that suits you. Attempt your strong section first.
Tier-II: divide time within each three-hour paper by marks, and keep 10 to 15 minutes at the end for revision.
Essays: for the 75-mark essays, plan for about 70 minutes each, including a five-minute outline.
Practice: take timed tests in the same format as the exam so that the clock feels familiar.
Frequently Asked Questions
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