The APSC Prelims question paper is one of the most important resources for candidates preparing for the Assam Public Service Commission Combined Competitive Examination (CCE). It helps you understand the latest exam pattern, question format, important topics, and the overall difficulty level of the examination. By solving the question papers regularly, you can improve your accuracy, strengthen your time management skills, and identify the areas that need more practice. In this article, you will find the APSC Prelims question paper, its answer key, the download process, previous year papers, and preparation tips to help you perform better in the upcoming APSC CCE Prelims examination.
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What Is the APSC Prelims Exam Date 2026 ?
Understanding the exam cycle helps every aspirant stay on track for the right preparation period.
The APSC Prelims exam for the 2024 cycle was held on 8 June 2025 and the official answer key has since been released. Meanwhile, the APSC CCE 2025 Prelims exam is scheduled to take place on 5 July 2026. Aspirants who are preparing for the next cycle should mark this date and calibrate their entire preparation plan accordingly.
| Exam Cycle | Prelims Exam Date |
| APSC CCE 2024 | 8 June 2025 (Completed) |
| APSC CCE 2025 | 5 July 2026 (Upcoming) |
What Does the APSC Prelims Exam Pattern Look Like?
The APSC Prelims consists of two objective-type papers, both carrying 200 marks each.
General Studies Paper 1: This is the merit paper. It tests History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Environment, Science, Current Affairs, and Assam-specific content. A candidate’s score in this paper determines their rank for Mains shortlisting.
General Studies Paper 2 (CSAT): This is a qualifying paper. It covers Comprehension, Logical Reasoning, Analytical Ability, Data Interpretation, and Basic Numeracy at Class 10 level. Candidates must score a minimum of 33% in this paper to clear the Prelims stage. CSAT marks are not added to the GS Paper 1 score for ranking purposes.
The APSC Prelims exam pattern uses an objective multiple-choice format for both papers, and the marking scheme is the same across all sets.
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What Is the Marking Scheme for the APSC CCE Prelims Exam?
Candidates who want to use the APSC Prelims answer key to estimate their score must apply the correct marking scheme.
- Each correct answer: +2 marks
- Each wrong answer: −0.25 marks (1/4th of 2 marks)
- Unattempted questions: 0 marks
So a candidate who attempts 90 questions and gets 75 correct and 15 wrong would calculate their estimated score as (75 Ă— 2) − (15 Ă— 0.25) = 150 − 3.75 = 146.25 marks. Using this formula with the official answer key gives every candidate a reliable estimate of where they stand before the official result.
How to Download the APSC CCE Answer Key 2026 PDF?
Downloading the official APSC Prelims answer key from the APSC website is a straightforward process. Here are the steps.
Step 1: Visit the official website of the Assam Public Service Commission at www.apsc.nic.in.
Step 2: Click on “Answer Keys” under the Examinations section on the homepage.
Step 3: Search for the notification titled “Notification on Answer Key for Combined Competitive Examination Exam-2025.”
Step 4: Click on the link for “General Studies Paper 1 and Paper 2 PDF.”
Step 5: The APSC Prelims question paper answer key PDF will open on screen. All sets (A, B, C, D) are enclosed in a single PDF file.
Step 6: Download the answer key PDF and cross-check your responses carefully against the correct answers.
APSC CCE Answer Key and Question Paper 2026 — Download Links
The official APSC Prelims answer key will be released for both the General Studies Paper 1 and the CSAT Paper, right after the prelims exam. Use the links below to access the PDFs.
Candidates interested in APSC ADO Recruitment 2026 should also stay updated with important Assam and national current affairs.Â
| Papers | APSC CCE Answer Key |
| General Studies Paper 1 | To be updated |
| General Studies Paper 2 (CSAT) | To be updated |
GS Paper 1 — Set-Wise APSC Prelims question paper PDFs
These are the set-wise question paper PDFs for General Studies Paper 1 prepared by subject experts.
| GS Paper 1 Set | Answer Key PDF |
| Set A | To be updated |
| Set B | To be updated |
| Set C | To be updated |
| Set D | To be updated |
CSAT Paper 2 — Set-Wise APSC Prelims question paper PDFs
The CSAT paper is qualifying in nature, and a minimum of 33% is required. Set-wise PDFs are available below.
| CSAT Paper Set | Answer Key PDF |
| Set A | To be updated |
| Set B | To be updated |
| Set C | To be updated |
| Set D | To be updated |
How to Raise an Objection on the APSC CCE Prelims Answer Key 2026?
Candidates who find any error in the provisional APSC Prelims answer key can formally object to the official APSC portal within the allowed time limit. Only objections supported by strong evidence will be reviewed, so every candidate must back their objection with valid proof or supporting documents.
Here is the complete objection process.
Step 1: Visit the official website of the Assam Public Service Commission at www.apsc.nic.in.
Step 2: Search for the link titled “Raise Objection For CCE 2025 Answer Key” and click on it.
Step 3: Log in with your registration number and password.
Step 4: Select the specific paper and question number that you believe is incorrect.
Step 5: Upload a supporting document that justifies the correct answer you are proposing.
Step 6: Pay the required objection fee as specified on the portal.
Step 7: Submit the objection and wait for the final answer key, which will be released after APSC reviews all valid challenges.
Once the review is complete, the final APSC Prelims question paper answer key will be published. This final key, not the provisional one, is the document used for result preparation and Mains shortlisting.
What Is the APSC CSAT Paper and Why Is the 33% Threshold Important?
The CSAT component of the APSC Prelims is qualifying only, which means it does not contribute marks toward the merit list for Mains shortlisting. However, failing to score 33% in the CSAT paper leads to immediate disqualification from the Prelims, regardless of how high the GS Paper 1 score is.
This is a common mistake candidates make, they prepare extensively for GS Paper 1 and underestimate CSAT. Since CSAT covers Comprehension, Logical Reasoning, and Basic Numeracy: candidates who have not actively practised these sections sometimes fall below the 33% threshold and lose their chance at Mains despite a strong GS score.
Since the APSC CCE 2025 exam is scheduled for 5 July 2026, every aspirant preparing for the next cycle must allocate consistent practice time to CSAT from the beginning of their preparation, not just as a final-month afterthought. Similarly, maintaining an updated Google Business Page with accurate information, regular posts, and customer reviews helps businesses build credibility, improve local visibility, and achieve long-term online growth.
How Should You Use the APSC Prelims Question Paper for Last-Day Preparation?
The APSC Prelims question paper from the 2024 cycle is one of the most valuable preparation tools for candidates appearing in the 2025 cycle on 5 July 2026. Using the previous year’s paper strategically in the final days before the exam can significantly sharpen both accuracy and exam temperament.
- Solve the full paper under exam conditions: Attempt the 2024 GS Paper 1 under a timed 2-hour window without any reference material. This builds the speed and pressure-handling ability that the actual exam demands.
- Check your answers against the official key: After finishing the paper, cross-check every answer against the official key using the correct marking scheme of +2 for correct and −0.25 for wrong. This gives you a realistic score estimate and highlights the topic areas where errors are clustering.
- Analyze error patterns: Group the wrong answers by topic. If six of ten errors come from Assam history, that topic needs focused revision in the remaining days. This targeted approach compresses improvement into the available time efficiently.
- Attempt the CSAT paper separately with a timer: Treat CSAT as seriously as GS Paper 1. Since a 33% minimum is non-negotiable, spending at least one hour solving the CSAT paper and reviewing it strengthens confidence before exam day.
- Revise high-frequency topics: The previous year’s APSC Prelims question paper reveals which topics recur across cycles. Modern Assam History, Indian Polity, environment, and current affairs consistently appear. Prioritizing these in the final days maximizes the impact of every remaining hour.
Conclusion
The APSC Prelims question paper is one of the most valuable resources for every serious APSC aspirant. It helps you understand the latest exam pattern, the types of questions asked, important topics, and the overall difficulty level. By solving the APSC Prelims question paper regularly and reviewing your performance, you can identify your strengths and work on weaker areas more effectively. Along with consistent revision and mock tests, practicing previous years’ papers will help you approach the APSC CCE Prelims with better accuracy, speed, and confidence. Best of luck with your preparation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The APSC Prelims for the 2024 cycle was successfully conducted on 8 June 2025, and the official answer key has been released. The APSC CCE 2025 prelims exam is scheduled to take place on 5 July 2026. Aspirants preparing for the 2025 cycle should use the 2024 cycle paper and answer key as their primary reference for understanding question patterns and difficulty levels.
The APSC Prelims consists of two objective-type papers, General Studies Paper 1 carrying 200 marks and General Studies Paper 2 (CSAT) also carrying 200 marks. The marking scheme for both papers is identical: each correct answer earns 2 marks, and each wrong answer results in a deduction of 0.25 marks. Unattempted questions carry no penalty.
The General Studies Paper 2 (CSAT) is a qualifying paper and not a merit paper. Candidates must secure a minimum score of 33% in the CSAT to clear the Prelims stage, regardless of their GS Paper 1 performance. The CSAT marks are not counted toward the merit ranking that determines Mains’ shortlisting, only the GS Paper 1 score matters for rank purposes once the 33% CSAT threshold is cleared.
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