ECGC PO Cut-Off: How It Works and How to Set Your Target

The ECGC PO cut-off decides who is shortlisted for the interview, and it is applied in more than one way. ECGC Ltd. sets a cut-off on each section of the online examination and another on the total score, then fixes the actual marks after the exam based on the number of vacancies. This page explains how the ECGC PO cut-off works and how to set a target for it.

The detailed advertisement for the 2025-26 cycle does not state any cut-off marks, and we have not used unofficial figures here. Check the result and scorecard notices on the official website for any published numbers, and treat last year's figures as a benchmark only.

How the cut-off is applied

A candidate needs a minimum score in every test and a minimum total to be shortlisted. Because the descriptive paper is evaluated only for candidates who clear the objective test and rank high enough, the objective score also decides whether your writing is read. ECGC evaluates it for at least 12 times the number of vacancies in each category.

Previous cut-off and trend

ECGC states that scores are not shared with shortlisted candidates before the interview process ends, and the advertisement itself carries no cut-off table. Figures on third-party websites are not official and can differ from each other, so this page does not quote them. Look for any score or cut-off notice that ECGC publishes on ecgc.in, and note the year before you compare it with your own mock scores.

With about 30 vacancies in the last cycle, the shortlist for interview is small. When the number of posts is low, the overall cut-off tends to be decided by how many candidates cross the sectional minimums, so a balanced score across all tests is safer than a high score in one.

What affects the cut-off

• Difficulty of the paper: a harder set lowers the marks needed, and ECGC equates scores across sessions when more than one session is held.

• Number of vacancies: fewer posts raise the competition for each interview slot.

• Number and quality of applicants: a larger pool of well-prepared candidates pushes the cut-off up.

• Category: cut-offs are decided category-wise because reservation is applied to the vacancies.

• Negative marking: each wrong answer costs 0.25 marks, so accuracy matters as much as attempts.

How to set your target

1. Aim for a clear margin, not a bare pass: set your mock target well above what you expect the cut-off to be, because the real paper can feel harder under pressure.

2. Clear every section: avoid a score below your own sectional target in any test, including the 20-mark Computer Knowledge test.

3. Track accuracy next to attempts: a rising score with falling accuracy usually means guessing.

4. Use full-length mocks in the real sequence: check your total, your sectional scores and your time per test after every mock.

5. Keep the interview in view: the interview carries 20% of the final merit, so keep a weekly slot for communication and current affairs.

Always confirm official notices on ecgc.in.