TNPSC Group 2 Cut Off 2026: Expected Prelims Cut Off, Previous Year Marks and Category-Wise Trends

The Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) conducted the Combined Civil Services Examination-II (Group II and IIA Services) preliminary exam on 1 November 2026, from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. Lakhs of aspirants are now asking one question: what will the TNPSC Group 2 cut off 2026 be?

This guide explains how the cut off works, what previous years looked like, how to estimate your score from the answer key, and what to do next. It is updated as official information is released.

TNPSC has not announced any 2026 category-wise cut off yet. Every figure for 2026 on this page is an estimate, not an official number. Always confirm on tnpsc.gov.in.

TNPSC Group 2 Exam 2026 Details

What Is a Cut Off in TNPSC Group 2?

The cut off is the minimum mark a candidate must score to move to the next stage. TNPSC releases separate cut offs for each stage and for each category and gender.

• Prelims cut off: The prelims is a screening test, calculated out of 300 marks. It decides who qualifies for the mains exam. Prelims marks are not added to your final rank.
• Mains cut off: Decides who is called for the interview (for Group II posts) or document verification.
• Final cut off: Decided from the marks of the mains and interview stages, not from prelims.

TNPSC Group 2 Prelims Cut Off 2026 (Expected)

The official cut off will be published only after the result. Until then, three factors decide where it will land:

1. Difficulty level of the paper. A tougher paper pushes the cut off down; an easier paper pushes it up.
2. Number of vacancies. The commission shortlists a multiple of the vacancies for mains, so 821 posts decide how many candidates qualify.
3. Number of candidates who appeared. Higher attendance means more competition at the top end.

How to read the expected cut off

TNPSC Group 2 Previous Year Cut Off

Previous year marks give a useful benchmark, but exam patterns and paper difficulty change, so treat old numbers as a trend, not a target.

As per reports, the TNPSC Group 2 cut off for 2017 was:

The general pattern across years is that female cut offs run slightly below male cut offs, and reserved categories sit below the general category. Check the official result notifications for the exact figures of the 2024 and 2025 cycles before publishing them.

How to Calculate Your TNPSC Group 2 Score

The prelims has 200 questions carrying 300 marks, so each question is worth 1.5 marks.

Score = Number of correct answers x 1.5

For example, 120 correct answers = 120 x 1.5 = 180 marks.

Steps to check your score

1. Wait for TNPSC to release the provisional answer key on tnpsc.gov.in. It is published online only, before the prelims result.
2. Download the answer key for each subject.
3. Match your OMR responses with the key.
4. Multiply correct answers by 1.5.
5. Compare your score with the expected cut off for your category.

How to Challenge TNPSC Group 2 Answer Key 2026

TNPSC first releases a provisional answer key so candidates can raise objections. In recent cycles the objection window has stayed open for about a week. After reviewing objections, the commission publishes the final answer key, and no further corrections are accepted. All objections must be submitted through the official TNPSC portal.

TNPSC Group 2 Result and Cut Off Date

• The result is released first.
• The cut off is published after the result.
• The mains exam date will be announced along with the prelims result.

Bookmark this page, as it will be updated the moment official information is available.

What to Do If You Think You Will Qualify

1. Start mains preparation now. Do not wait for the result. The gap between prelims result and mains can be short.
2. Revise the descriptive paper pattern. Practise Tamil and English answer writing under time limits.
3. Strengthen General Studies and current affairs. Read the daily current affairs updates.
4. Solve previous year mains papers to understand question trends.

What to Do If You Think You Will Not Qualify

There is no need to lose a year. TNPSC conducts several exams, including Group IV, Group I and Combined Technical Services. Start building a plan for the next notification, because your Group 2 preparation carries over to all of them.

Prepare for TNPSC Exams with Entri App

Whether you are preparing for the Group 2 mains or planning your next attempt, structured preparation makes the difference. With the Entri app, you can:

• Learn from TNPSC-focused video classes in Tamil
• Practise with mock tests and previous year questions
• Track daily current affairs
• Get guidance on study plans and exam strategy