Table of Contents
The TNPSC Cut Off Marks 2026 is the minimum score a candidate must secure to qualify for the next stage of selection — whether that’s Document Verification for Group 4, the Mains exam for Group 1/2, or the final merit list. Since TNPSC releases cut-off marks separately for every Group, category (General/BC/MBC/SC/SC(A)/ST), and often gender, understanding this data helps you set a realistic target and gauge your actual selection chances rather than just your raw score. Explore the complete TNPSC Cut Off 2026 details for Group 1, Group 2, Group 2A, and Group 4. Learn about expected cut-offs, past trends, influencing factors, and how to access the official cut-off list.
Tamil Nadu PSC Notification 2026 Details Here!
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) Exam 2026 |
| Conducting Body | Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) |
| Exam Level | State-Level Competitive Examination |
| Job Location | Tamil Nadu |
| Posts Covered | Group 1, Group 2, Group 2A, Group 4, VAO, Combined Engineering Services, Assistant Engineer, and other departmental posts |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Exam Mode | Offline (OMR-Based) / Computer-Based (for selected posts, as notified) |
| Selection Process | Preliminary Exam, Main Exam, Interview (for applicable posts), and Certificate Verification |
| Official Notification | As per the TNPSC Annual Planner 2026 |
| Official Website | www.tnpsc.gov.in |
| Purpose of the Planner | Provides notification dates, application schedules, and exam timelines for TNPSC recruitments throughout the year |
What Is the TNPSC Cut Off Marks 2026?
The cut-off represents the minimum marks a candidate must score to progress to the next round of the selection process. It is not fixed in advance — TNPSC determines it only after the exam is conducted, based on how candidates actually performed. Certain factors affect the cut-off, causing slight changes every year: the number of vacancies announced (more vacancies generally mean a lower cut-off, fewer vacancies mean a higher cut-off), the number of applicants (higher competition raises the cut-off), the difficulty level of the exam paper (a tougher paper lowers the cut-off, an easier one raises it), and the category of candidates, since cut-off marks are released separately for General, BC, MBC, SC, ST, and other groups.
TNPSC Cut Off Marks 2026 – Minimum Qualifying & Expected Marks
| Group | Total Marks | Minimum Qualifying (General) | Minimum Qualifying (SC/ST) | Recent Actual/Expected Cut-Off (General) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group 1 (Prelims) | 300 | 120 (40%) | 90 (30%) | ~120+ (varies by vacancy count) |
| Group 2/2A (Prelims) | 300 | 90 (qualifying) | 90 (qualifying) | ~155–163 |
| Group 4 (Written) | 300 | 90 | 90 | ~158–170 |
These are qualifying/expected reference figures — actual official cut-offs are released only after each cycle’s result and can vary based on vacancy count, applicant volume, and paper difficulty.
TNPSC Group 1 Cut Off Marks 2026
The TNPSC Group 1 Preliminary Exam qualifying marks require General, BC, MBC, and DNC category candidates to score at least 120 marks (40%) out of 300, while SC, ST, and SC(A) candidates need a minimum of 90 marks (30%) to qualify.
TNPSC Group 1 Cut Off Marks 2025
The TNPSC Group 1 2025 Preliminary Examination was held on 15th June 2025, and the Commission declared the Prelims result on 28th August 2025. The official cut-off is released along with the result on tnpsc.gov.in, category-wise, for candidates to check their qualifying status.
In past cycles, the TNPSC Group 1 cut-off for the General category has been around 120, while the MBC category cut-off has been around 116, with variations year to year based on exam difficulty and vacancy count
TNPSC Group 1 Cut Off Marks 2026 — What to Expect
With the Group 1 2026 Preliminary Examination scheduled for 27 September 2026 and only 26 vacancies notified for this recruitment (a notably lower count than recent years), competition — and consequently the cut-off — is likely to trend on the higher side compared to years with larger vacancy counts, since fewer seats combined with a large applicant pool typically pushes cut-offs up.
TNPSC Group 2 & Group 2A Cut Off 2026
Candidates clearing the Prelims exam become eligible for the Mains exam, and those clearing all phases are appointed to the advertised posts — meaning a separate cut-off applies at both the Prelims and Mains stages.
TNPSC Group 2 & Group 2A Cut Off 2025
The TNPSC Group 2 Exam 2025 was held on 28th September 2025 for Revenue Assistant, Assistant, and Assistant Section Officer posts. The TNPSC Group 2 Result 2025 was released on 22nd December 2025 on the official website, with cut-off marks released along with the final result. Cut-offs for the general category were expected to be around 158–163 marks for males and 155–160 for females, with slightly lower cut-offs for BC, MBC, SC, SC(A), and ST categories.
Cut-off marks may vary each year depending on factors such as vacancies, exam difficulty level, number of candidates appearing, and overall performance.
| Category | Cycle 1 (Male) | Cycle 1 (Female) | Cycle 2 (Male) | Cycle 2 (Female) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | 151+ | 149+ | — | — |
| BC | 147+ | 145+ | 153 | 151 |
| MBC | 145+ | 144+ | 151 | 149 |
| BC(M) | 143+ | 141+ | — | — |
| SC | 141+ | 139+ | 149 | 147 |
| SC(A) | 137+ | 134+ | — | — |
| ST | 134+ | 131+ | — | — |
TNPSC Group 4 Cut Off 2026 – Latest & Previous
Group 4 is unique among TNPSC exams because it has no separate Prelims/Mains split — a single written exam cut-off directly decides who advances to Document Verification.
The written exam is conducted for a total of 300 marks, and candidates must score at least 90 marks to qualify — those who fail to reach this passing mark are disqualified from further stages, including certificate verification and counselling. This 90-mark minimum applies uniformly across all categories.
TNPSC Group 4 Cut Off 2026 – Expected Marks
The expected qualifying marks for the TNPSC Group 4 2026 cycle are estimated at 160–170. Candidates scoring within this range are expected to be called for Document Verification. The Group 4 2026 exam is scheduled for 20 December 2026, with the result expected to be released in February 2027.
TNPSC Group 4 Cut Off 2025 – Previous Year Marks
For the Group 4 exam held on 12th July 2025, cut-off marks were expected to vary, with general category candidates requiring higher scores compared to OBC, MBC, SC, and ST categories. The Group 4 Result 2025 was officially declared on 22 October 2025.
TNPSC Group 4 Cut Off 2024 – Previous Year Marks
The previous year’s TNPSC Group 4 exam (2024) had cut-offs in a similar range — General category candidates scored between 158 and 162 marks to qualify, while BC and MBC categories had cut-offs around 150–158 marks.
Tamil Paper Qualifying Requirement 2026 (Part A)
Candidates must score at least 40% (60 marks) in Part A (Tamil Eligibility/Scoring Test) for Part B to be evaluated at all — final ranking and merit are based on the combined marks of Part A and Part B.
Factors That Determine the TNPSC Cut Off Marks 2026
Four main factors drive cut-off variation year to year:
- Number of Vacancies — More vacancies generally lead to a lower cut-off, while fewer vacancies lead to higher cut-off marks.
- Number of Applicants — A higher number of applicants increases competition, resulting in a higher cut-off
- Difficulty Level of the Exam — A tougher paper typically results in fewer candidates scoring high marks, which can lower the cut-off; an easier paper can push cut-offs higher.
- Category of Candidates — Cut-off marks are always released category-wise (General, BC, MBC, SC, ST, etc.), since reservation policy directly affects how many seats are available per category.
How to Check the Official TNPSC Cut Off Marks 2026
Follow these steps to check your official cut-off once released:
- Visit the official TNPSC website (tnpsc.gov.in).
- Navigate to the “Cut Off Marks” section.
- Click on the relevant Group’s cut-off link (e.g., Group 1, Group 2, Group 4) for the current year
- Download the PDF to view category-wise and, where applicable, gender-wise cut-off marks
- Alternatively, log in with your OTR credentials, locate your scorecard, and the official cut-off applicable to your category will typically be shown alongside your obtained marks.
How to Use TNPSC Cut-Off Trends to Improve Your Preparation Strategy
- Target above the historical range, not at it — since cut-offs can rise year to year (e.g., Group 4’s General cut-off moved from ~158–162 in 2024 toward an expected 160–170 in 2026), aim comfortably above the highest recent figure rather than the minimum qualifying mark.
- Track your category’s specific trend, not just the General category figure — SC/ST/MBC/BC cut-offs move somewhat independently based on category-wise vacancy distribution.
- Factor in vacancy count for the specific cycle — a lower-vacancy cycle (like Group 1 2026’s 26 posts) usually means a tighter, higher cut-off than a high-vacancy cycle.
- Don’t rely solely on expected cut-offs published right after the exam — cross-check multiple sources and wait for the trend to stabilize closer to result time.
- Remember the qualifying mark is a floor, not a target — clearing the minimum qualifying mark (e.g., 90/300 for Group 4) only avoids outright disqualification; the real competitive cut-off is almost always significantly higher.
