FCI Assistant Grade 3 Exam Pattern 2026: Phase 1, Phase 2 and Marking Scheme

The FCI Assistant Grade 3 exam pattern has two online stages. Phase I is a common 100-mark screening test for every post, and Phase II decides your rank. Phase II has a common Paper I for all AG-III posts and a post-specific Paper II for the Accounts, Technical and Hindi streams.

FCI has not released a new Category III notification as of 11 October 2026, so the pattern below follows the last official cycle, Advertisement No. 01/2022. Each section runs on its own timer, which changes how you should plan your time. FCI can revise the pattern in the next notification, so confirm it once that is out.

FCI Assistant Grade 3 Exam Pattern at a Glance

FCI Assistant Grade 3 Phase 1 Exam Pattern

Phase I is common for all Category III posts. Candidates numbering about 15 times the advertised vacancies are called to Phase II, and Phase I marks are not added to the final merit.

FCI Assistant Grade 3 Phase 2 Exam Pattern

Paper I (All AG-III Posts)

General Studies in Paper I covers History, Geography and Economy (25 questions), General Science up to Class 10 (10), Current Affairs (5) and Computer Awareness (5).

Paper II (Post-Specific)

The online test is bilingual, in English and Hindi, except for language sections. The English Language section is in English only.

Marking Scheme and Negative Marking

• Phase I and Paper I: 1 mark per question; one-fourth of a mark (0.25) is deducted for each wrong answer.

• Paper II: 2 marks per question; the one-fourth rule for Phase II means a wrong answer costs 0.5 marks.

• Unanswered questions: No marks and no penalty.

What the Pattern Means for You

• Phase I rewards speed: 25 questions in 15 minutes leaves about 36 seconds a question, so skip long sets early and come back if time remains.

• General Studies is the swing section: It is 45 of the 120 Paper I marks and needs less time per question than puzzles or DI, so strong GK lifts your rank quickly.

• Wrong guesses are costly but not fatal: Four wrong answers cancel one right answer. Guess only when you can eliminate at least two options.

• Paper II doubles your merit base: For Accounts, Technical and Hindi, Paper II carries as many marks as Paper I in half the questions, so each Paper II question is worth twice as much.

Later Stages

There is no interview or skill test for AG-III posts. After Phase II, FCI calls shortlisted candidates for document verification, followed by a medical examination and verification of character and antecedents. A skill test applies only to Stenographer Grade II, not to Assistant Grade III.

Final Merit Calculation

Worked example: An Accounts candidate attempts 100 questions in Paper I with 90 correct and 10 wrong, scoring 90 minus 2.5, or 87.5. In Paper II they attempt 50 with 44 correct and 6 wrong, scoring 88 minus 3, or 85. Their merit score is 172.5 out of 240. For candidates with equal scores, the 2022 notification ranks higher Paper II marks first, then the older candidate, then alphabetical order.

Time Management and Exam-Day Strategy

1. Read the section, then choose: Spend the first 30 seconds of each section scanning for easy questions.

2. Cap time per question: If a question passes 60 seconds in Phase I, mark it and move on.

3. Protect accuracy in GS: Answer what you know confidently and avoid blind guesses.

4. Use full-length mocks with sectional timers: Practise in the exact sectional format so the clock does not surprise you.

Older pages may still show an interview stage or different section timings, so follow the official notification on the Food Corporation of India website.