TNPSC Group 2 Cut Off: Qualifying Marks and Previous Trends

The TNPSC Group 2 cut off works at two levels. The first is the official minimum qualifying mark for each paper, which every candidate must reach. The second is the actual cut-off, the last mark at which candidates are shortlisted or selected, which TNPSC works out community-wise and post-wise after each stage. The second figure is always higher than the first, and it changes every cycle.

Cut-offs change every year with difficulty, vacancies and the number of applicants. Treat previous figures as a benchmark only, and aim for a clear margin above them rather than a bare pass.

Table of Contents

Minimum Qualifying Marks

These marks are fixed in Notification No. 07/2026 and apply to all communities.

Reaching 90 in the prelims makes you eligible for shortlisting, but candidates are called to the Mains in order of marks against the vacancies in each community, so the real shortlisting mark is far higher.

Indicative Prelims Cut-off Ranges

The table below shows the ranges widely estimated after the 28 September 2025 prelims, which followed the same 200-question, 300-mark pattern as the current cycle. These are not official figures. TNPSC publishes marks and rank positions rather than one common cut-off, and the actual mark varies by post and community.

Women candidates in some communities have historically been shortlisted a few marks lower, but this depends on the vacancies reserved for women in that cycle.

What Affects the Cut-off

• Vacancies: More posts usually mean a lower shortlisting mark. The 2026 cycle has 846 tentative vacancies, and the number can change before the prelims results.

• Paper difficulty: A tougher language or General Studies section pulls the cut-off down for everyone.

• Number of candidates: Higher turnout increases competition for each Mains seat.

• Reservation and post mix: Community-wise and post-wise vacancy splits produce different cut-offs for each group.

How to Set Your Target Score

• Prelims: Aim for 170 or more out of 300 in full-length mocks, which puts you above the upper end of recent General ranges.

• Language part: Target 85 or more out of 100 questions correct, since this SSLC-standard section decides most shortlists.

• Tamil Eligibility Test: Prepare to score well above 40, because a narrow miss means Paper II is not evaluated at all.

• Paper II: Remember that your final rank depends only on this paper, so track your mains practice scores separately.

Official results are published on the official TNPSC website.