UPSC CAPF AC Cut-Off: How Qualifying Marks Work and How to Set Your Target

The UPSC CAPF AC cut off is not one number. It is a series of marks thresholds that you must clear at different stages: a minimum in Paper I, a minimum in the written exam, and finally the marks of the last recommended candidate in your category. Understanding which threshold applies when helps you set a realistic target.

This page explains how each cut-off is formed, what changes it every year, and how to turn the idea into a score you can aim for in mock tests. It does not quote an expected cut-off as official, because the Union Public Service Commission publishes the figures only after each stage is complete.

How the cut-off works in CAPF AC

The PST, PET and medical standards are qualifying and carry no marks, so they do not appear in any cut-off. They only decide whether your marks are counted.

Where to find the official figures

UPSC releases the written result first, with roll numbers of qualified candidates. After the interview stage, it publishes the final result and, on its website, the marks of candidates recommended for appointment. Category-wise cut-off marks and the marks of the last recommended candidate can be compared year by year from these notices.

Use only the official result notices on the UPSC website for numbers. Many third-party pages mix up out-of-total marks or list expected values as final, so treat unofficial tables with care. Figures in this page are intentionally not listed until they can be taken from the official final result notice of a specific year.

What affects the cut-off

• Paper difficulty: A tougher Paper I lowers the marks needed to qualify, while an easier one raises them.

• Number of vacancies: The 2026 notice carried 349 posts. More vacancies in a category usually lower the final cut-off for that category.

• Applicants and attendance: The number of candidates who actually sit the exam changes the competition.

• Category and gender: Reservation and separate vacancy lines for categories lead to different cut-offs.

• Interview scores: Final merit includes 150 marks from the interview, which can move a rank by a large margin.

• Paper II evaluation: Descriptive marking varies more than objective marking, which makes the written cut-off less predictable.

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. Look up two or three recent final results: Note the marks of the last recommended candidate in your category from the official notices.

2. Split the total across stages: Decide a target for Paper I, Paper II and the interview, instead of one overall number.

3. Add a safety margin: Aim to score comfortably above the earlier figures in practice, because actual exam stress usually lowers scores.

4. Protect accuracy: Because of negative marking, a clean 90 attempts can beat 120 with many errors.

5. Do not ignore the physical stage: A strong written score is wasted if you miss the PET standards.

Using mock tests as a benchmark

A mock test gives you a score, an attempt count and an accuracy figure. Track all three across several tests, and watch your average rather than one best score. If your Paper I average stays well above the safe level you set from official data, your preparation is on track. If not, the section-wise report shows where to improve.

Check the latest notices on the official UPSC website for result and cut-off information.