KVS Senior Secretariat Assistant Cut Off: Shortlisting, Merit and Target Score
The KVS Senior Secretariat Assistant cut off works differently in the current two-tier exam. There are two cut-offs that matter. The first is the Tier 1 score needed to be shortlisted for Tier 2. The second is the Tier 2 score of the last candidate selected in each category. Only the second decides final selection, because SSA merit is based on Tier 2 marks alone.
For the 2025 cycle, CBSE declared the SSA Tier 2 result on 1 September 2026 and showed each candidate's score in the candidate login. As of October 2026, CBSE has not published a separate category-wise cut-off notice for SSA. This page explains how the cut-off is formed, what moves it, and how to set a target. Treat any figure you see as a benchmark only.
How the KVS SSA Cut Off Is Decided
Stage | What the cut-off means | How it is set |
|---|---|---|
Tier 1 (out of 300) | Minimum score to be shortlisted for Tier 2 | Candidates are shortlisted category-wise in a 1:10 ratio against vacancies, with ties at the last score included |
Tier 2 (out of 100) | Score of the last selected candidate in each category | Merit list prepared on Tier 2 marks against the 288 notified vacancies |
The notification does not state a fixed minimum qualifying percentage for SSA. In practice, the cut-off is the rank-based score at which the vacancies or the shortlisting ratio run out.
Previous KVS SSA Cut Off
Cycle | Pattern | Official category-wise cut-off |
|---|---|---|
2025 (Notification 01/2025) | Tier 1 (300 marks) and Tier 2 (100 marks), conducted by CBSE | Not published as a separate notice; individual scores shown in the candidate login |
2022-23 (Advertisement 15/2022) | Single computer-based test conducted by KVS | No official SSA cut-off notice could be verified |
Some websites quote SSA cut-off figures for the 2022-23 cycle, but we could not trace them to an official KVS or CBSE document. That cycle also used a different pattern and total marks, so its numbers cannot be compared with the current Tier 2 score out of 100. If CBSE or KVS releases category-wise cut-offs for the 2025 cycle, this page will be updated with those figures.
What Affects the KVS SSA Cut Off
Vacancies: The 2025 cycle had 288 posts after revision. More posts in a category usually lower the cut-off for that category.
A limited, experienced pool: Only Central Government clerical staff with 3 years' service can apply. Many candidates already work with these rules daily, which can push Tier 2 scores up.
Paper difficulty: A tougher rules paper or harder descriptive questions bring the cut-off down.
Negative marking: Deductions of 1 mark in Tier 1 and 0.25 mark in the Tier 2 objective part pull scores down for candidates who guess heavily.
Answer-key changes: Final answer keys after challenges can shift scores, and with them the cut-off.
How to Set Your Target Score
Cut-offs change every year with difficulty, vacancies and the number of applicants. Aim for a clear margin above the likely cut-off rather than a bare pass.
Tier 1 target: Because shortlisting is 1:10, you must finish within roughly the top ten candidates per vacancy in your category. As a working goal, aim for high accuracy across all six parts rather than relying on one strong section.
Tier 2 target: In mocks, aim to score consistently well above half of the 100 marks, and keep improving your descriptive answers. These working goals are indicative only, not official figures.
Track your mock trend: One good score proves little. Look for five or more mocks in a row at your target level.
Check results and notices on the CBSE recruitment page.
Frequently Asked Questions
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