RPSC 1st Grade Exam Pattern 2026: Marks and Marking

The RPSC 1st Grade exam pattern has a single written stage with two objective papers: Paper I on General Awareness and General Studies and Paper II on the concerned subject. The Rajasthan Public Service Commission used this scheme for the 2025 School Lecturer (School Education) recruitment, whose exam was held from 31 May to 11 June 2026. Both papers count towards merit, and there is no interview.

This page sets out the questions, marks and time for each paper, the negative marking rule, the minimum qualifying marks, and how the final merit is formed. It also turns the numbers into a practical plan for using your time in the exam hall.

Table of Contents

• Exam pattern at a glance

• Paper I pattern

• Paper II pattern

• Marking scheme and negative marking

• What the pattern means for you

• Physical Education and Coach posts

• Final merit calculation

• Time management and exam-day strategy

RPSC 1st Grade exam pattern at a glance

Paper I pattern

Paper I is common for all subjects and has 75 questions of 2 marks each.

The time allowed is 1 hour 30 minutes, which works out to 72 seconds per question.

Paper II pattern

Paper II tests your teaching subject at three levels plus teaching methods. It has 150 questions of 2 marks each.

Paper II lasts 3 hours, so you get 72 seconds per question, the same pace as Paper I. Check the advertisement for the language in which your subject paper is set.

Marking scheme and negative marking

• Correct answer: 2 marks.

• Wrong answer: one-third of the marks of the question is deducted, that is about 0.67 marks.

• Minimum marks: at least 40% in each paper, with relaxation for SC and ST as per rules. Missing the minimum in either paper means you are not considered for merit, whatever your total.

• Unanswered questions: the rules for questions you leave are printed in the instructions on the admit card and the OMR sheet. Recent RPSC exams have added specific OMR requirements for unattempted questions, so read them before exam day rather than in the hall.

What the pattern means for you

• Paper II carries two-thirds of the marks: a 10-question gain in Paper II is worth 20 marks, the same as the whole current affairs section of Paper I.

• Guessing has a cost: one wrong answer wipes out a third of a correct one, so guess only after eliminating at least two options.

• The 40% floor is real: you need 60 marks in Paper I and 120 in Paper II at the minimum; do not neglect Paper I just because it is smaller.

• Pedagogy is steady marks: the 30-question teaching methods block is predictable and rewards regular revision.

Physical Education and Coach posts

Physical Education Lecturer and Coach posts follow a modified scheme with their own papers, question counts and timings, and Coach posts can earn additional marks for sports achievements. Check the scheme for these posts in the advertisement and their separate syllabus PDFs before you plan.

Final merit calculation

Merit is prepared subject-wise and category-wise from the total of Paper I and Paper II out of 450, for candidates who clear the minimum marks in both papers.

Candidate B scores lower in Paper I but ranks higher overall, which shows why subject preparation drives selection. Both clear the 40% minimum in each paper (60 and 120 marks). These are illustrative numbers, not cut-offs.

Time management and exam-day strategy

1. First pass: answer every question you are sure of; do not stop on any single question for more than a minute.

2. Second pass: return to the marked questions and attempt those where you can eliminate two options.

3. Last 10 minutes: check OMR bubbling, roll number and question booklet series, and complete any entries the OMR instructions require for unattempted questions.

Older pages may still show different question counts or durations from earlier cycles, so follow the scheme of examination published with the latest advertisement on the official RPSC website.