Bihar Police Constable Exam Pattern: Written Test, PET Marks and Selection Stages

The Bihar Police Constable exam pattern is different from most state police recruitments, and many candidates misunderstand it. The written test is only a qualifying round, and the final merit list is built from the Physical Efficiency Test (PET) alone. This guide explains every stage as per the Central Selection Board of Constables (CSBC), Bihar, so you can plan your preparation around what actually decides selection.

The figures below follow the recruitment cycle under Advt. No. 01/2025 (19,838 constable posts), the most recent completed cycle. CSBC issues a fresh advertisement for every recruitment, so always confirm the numbers in the latest notice on the official CSBC website before applying.

In this guide

• Bihar Police Constable selection process at a glance

• Written exam pattern

• Subjects and section-wise focus

• Physical Standard Test (PST)

• Physical Efficiency Test (PET) and marking

• How the final merit list is prepared

• Preparation strategy by stage

• Frequently asked questions

Bihar Police Constable Selection Process at a Glance

The selection runs in sequence. A candidate must clear each stage to move to the next one.

The key point to remember: marks scored in the written exam do not count toward the final merit. They only decide whether you are called for the physical stage.

Bihar Police Constable Written Exam Pattern

The written exam is an offline, OMR-based objective test conducted at centres across Bihar. The paper is set at around matriculation (Class 10) level, which matches the minimum educational qualification for the post.

With 100 questions in 120 minutes, you get roughly 72 seconds per question. That is a comfortable pace for a Class 10 level paper, so the challenge is accuracy and not speed.

Is there negative marking?

Competitor guides do not agree on this point, and not every one of them states it clearly. Read the negative marking clause in the official advertisement and on your admit card before the exam. Until then, a safe habit is to attempt only the questions you are reasonably sure about and avoid blind guessing.

What does the 30 per cent cut-off mean?

The written exam is a screening round. Candidates must score at least 30 per cent, which is 30 out of 100 marks, to be eligible for the next stage. After that, CSBC shortlists candidates for the PET in the ratio of roughly five times the number of vacancies in each category, based on written exam marks. In the 2025 cycle, more than 99,000 candidates were shortlisted for the PET from the 19,838 vacancies. Reserved categories have their own shortlisting, so your written score matters mainly for getting into this group.

Subjects and Section-Wise Focus

CSBC does not publish a section-wise mark split in the way banking or SSC exams do. The paper covers the broad areas below, and the weightage can vary between shifts. Treat the table as a preparation guide and not as a fixed division of marks.

Because the paper is qualifying, there is no need to over-prepare any single subject. Aim for dependable scores across all areas so you cross the cut-off with a margin, then spend the rest of your effort on physical training.

Physical Standard Test (PST)

The PST checks whether you meet the minimum body measurements. It is qualifying and is conducted before the PET. The standards below are those followed in the 2025 cycle.

Check the current advertisement for category-wise relaxations and for any separate standards applicable to specific groups, since these can change between notifications.

Physical Efficiency Test (PET) and Marking Scheme

The PET carries 100 marks and is the only stage that produces your merit score. There are three events, and a candidate must qualify the minimum standard in each of them.

Running

Men run 1.6 km and women run 1 km. Marks depend on the time taken.

Shot put

Men throw a 16 lb shot and women throw a 12 lb shot. Candidates get more than one attempt, as specified in the notice.

High jump

Competitor pages sometimes call the third event "long jump". The scoring above is for the high jump, with height measured in feet and inches. Confirm the event name and the distance or height units on your PET admit card.

What a good PET score looks like

• Running decides the outcome: Half of the PET marks come from the run. Moving from the 20-mark band to the 50-mark band adds 30 marks, more than the entire shot put section.

• Shot put and high jump are the tie-breakers: Candidates who score full marks in these two events gain a clear 50-mark base before the run.

• Failing any event ends your chance: The minimum standard is mandatory, so do not train only for the event you enjoy.

How the Final Merit List Is Prepared

Under the Advt. No. 01/2025 process, the merit list is prepared using PET marks only, category-wise and according to the reservation rules for Bihar. Candidates then go through document verification, medical examination and character verification. Only those who clear every stage are appointed.

This is why the written exam and the PET deserve different kinds of effort. The written round needs steady, broad practice to cross 30 per cent safely. The physical round needs focused training in running technique, throwing power and jump height, as even a few seconds in the run can change your rank.

Preparation Strategy by Stage

For the written exam

• Start with previous-year patterns: Solve past papers to understand question types and the difficulty level of a matric-standard paper.

• Take timed OMR-style mock tests: Practising on a fixed 2-hour schedule builds the habit of marking answers carefully and finishing without rushing.

• Keep a weekly current affairs routine: GK and Bihar-specific topics change quickly, so revise them in short, regular sessions.

• Analyse every mock test: Note which subject cost you marks, then revise that area before the next test.

For the PET

• Build running stamina first: Train for the full distance, 1.6 km for men and 1 km for women, then work on bringing the time under the next scoring band.

• Practise shot put with the correct weight: Use a 16 lb shot (men) or 12 lb shot (women) so your distance is not overestimated in practice.

• Work on high jump technique: Small gains in technique often add more height than strength alone.

• Plan your timeline: The gap between the written exam and the PET can be short, so begin physical training alongside your written preparation and not after the result.

Common Mistakes Candidates Make About the Pattern

• Treating the written score as part of merit: A high written score does not raise your final rank. It only helps you get into the PET shortlist, so do not spend months chasing extra written marks at the cost of physical training.

• Starting physical practice late: Since the PET is the merit stage, candidates who begin training only after the written result lose valuable weeks.

• Ignoring the minimum standards: Scoring full marks in the run does not help if you fall below the minimum in shot put or high jump.

• Relying on old pattern articles: The pattern, marks and standards can differ between advertisements, and some pages still show figures from earlier recruitments.

• Skipping the advertisement: Details such as negative marking, shortlisting ratio and relaxations are given in the notice, so read it fully before you apply.

Recent Recruitment Context

CSBC runs separate recruitments for different Bihar Police posts, and each has its own advertisement number and pattern. Advt. No. 01/2025 covered 19,838 constable vacancies, with the written exam held in phases from July to August 2025, followed by the PET and the final result. Other advertisements, such as those for Driver Constable, Special Branch and Operator posts, follow their own schedules and selection rules, so do not assume the pattern in this guide applies to them. Check the notice for your specific post.

For the official notification, vacancy details and the latest exam updates, always refer to the Central Selection Board of Constables, Bihar.