UPPCS Cut Off: Prelims, Mains and Interview Marks Guide

The UPPCS cut off is the lowest score that gets a candidate into the next stage or the final list. UPPCS is the Combined State / Upper Subordinate Services Examination of the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC). Because the exam has three stages, there is no single cut off. Each stage works differently.

This page explains how the cut off is decided at each stage, which minimum marks are fixed by rule, and how to set a target. We have not listed category-wise cut-off scores for the latest cycle, because we could not verify an official figure. Third-party sites publish expected numbers that disagree with each other, and an expected figure should never be read as official.

How the UPPCS cut off works at each stage

The minimum qualifying marks of 35 percent and 40 percent come from the commission's notification. Calculated from them, the floor in Prelims Paper I is 70 and 80 marks out of 200, and the floor in Mains is 525 and 600 marks out of 1,500. These floors are a minimum, and the real cut off is usually higher.

Cut off trend and what to expect

The real cut off moves with each cycle, because it depends on how many vacancies are filled and how many candidates compete. News coverage reported that the vacancy count for the previous cycle was raised sharply before the Prelims result, which shows how much the number can change. Check the details-of-posts notice of each advertisement on the commission's website for the actual vacancy figure.

The commission's practice for sharing cut-off marks has varied. Marks and cut-offs for some stages appear on the website, while others reach candidates through their login. Use the official site and your own dashboard, not social media posts, for any number you plan to rely on.

What affects the UPPCS cut off

• Paper difficulty: A harder Paper I lowers the raw cut off, and an easier one raises it.

• Number of vacancies: More vacancies mean a larger Mains list and usually a lower Prelims cut off.

• Number of applicants: A larger pool of serious candidates pushes the cut off up.

• Category and reservation: Each category has its own list, so cut offs differ by category.

• Negative marking: Reported one-third deduction in Prelims rewards accuracy, so careless attempts lower final scores.

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. Prelims: Aim well above the 80-mark floor in Paper I, and keep CSAT comfortably above 66 marks so it never decides your attempt.

2. Mains: Plan for steady scores in all eight papers instead of relying on one strong paper, since the 1,500-mark total rewards balance.

3. Interview: Treat the 100 marks as a margin builder, because a few extra marks can move your rank.

4. Mock benchmark: Track your accuracy and section scores across timed papers and aim to stay above your own target for at least three papers in a row.

Check results on uppsc.up.nic.in.