UKPSC Upper PCS Cut Off: Previous Year and Qualifying Marks

The UKPSC Upper PCS cut-off is the minimum score at which a candidate is shortlisted for the next stage. The commission publishes it with each result, and the Prelims cut-off is the one most candidates track. For the 2026 recruitment, the Prelims cut-off is not out yet, because the exam is only proposed for 29 November 2026 and that date is tentative.

This page gives the official qualifying percentages and the Prelims cut-offs of earlier cycles, so you can set a realistic target. Confirm all figures on the official UKPSC website.

Table of Contents

• Official qualifying marks

• Previous year Prelims cut-off

• What affects the cut-off

• How to set your target

UKPSC Upper PCS Official Qualifying Marks

These percentages are minimums fixed in the advertisement. They are not the cut-off, which is usually much higher.

Prelims merit uses Paper I only, and Paper II needs 33% from all candidates. No separate Mains or Interview cut-off is released, since final merit is Mains plus Interview out of 1,650.

Previous Year Prelims Cut-Off (Out of 150)

No Prelims was held in 2023. The 2025 Prelims was held on 29 June 2025, and its cut-off was revised and notified on 6 January 2026. Figures are for combined posts. Some posts, such as Deputy Education Officer, closed higher, so check the post-wise notice. The commission also lists sub-categories such as women and ex-servicemen.

The trend is not a straight line. The unreserved cut-off fell in 2024 and rose again in 2025, which shows how paper difficulty and competition move it.

What Affects the Cut-Off

• Paper difficulty: A harder Paper I lowers the raw score needed.

• Vacancies: This cycle has 67 posts, which may be revised.

• Applicants and attendance: More serious candidates push the cut-off up.

• Shortlisting size: The number called for Mains sets where the line falls.

• Negative marking: Each wrong answer costs 0.25 marks.

How to Set Your Target

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

1. Anchor on the recent range: Unreserved cut-offs between roughly 87 and 94 suggest a working target of 100 or more in Paper I.

2. Clear Paper II early: You need 49.5 of 150, so practise reasoning and comprehension weekly.

3. Track mock scores: Treat your average over the last five full mocks as your real level.

Also see the UKPSC Upper PCS exam pattern for marking rules. Knowing the UKPSC Upper PCS cut-off trend helps, but your own mock average is the better guide.