If you are preparing for the Assam Public Service Commission Combined Competitive Examination, one question stays on your mind throughout the entire preparation: what score is actually enough to clear the cut-off? The APSC CCE expected cut-off is not just a number. It tells you exactly where to set your target, how much buffer you need, and whether your current preparation level puts you in a safe zone or not.
This guide puts together everything you need, past trends, category-wise figures, factors that shift the cut-off every year, and a clear picture of what the APSC CCE cut-off looks like for 2026.
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What Is the APSC CCE Cut-Off and How Does It Work?
Before getting into the numbers, it helps to understand how the cut-off system actually works for this exam.
The APSC CCE Prelims has two papers, GS Paper I and CSAT (Paper II). CSAT is purely qualitative in nature. You need a minimum of 33%, which means 66 marks out of 200, to pass it. However, CSAT marks do not count toward your ranking at all. Only your GS Paper I score determines whether you make it to the Mains shortlist. So when people talk about the APSC CCE expected cut-off for Prelims, they are referring entirely to GS Paper I marks.
Also, both papers carry a negative marking of 0.25 marks per wrong answer. This means every incorrect attempt pulls your score down slightly, and it matters especially when you are close to the cut-off.
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The mains cutoff, on the other hand, is calculated out of 1500 marks and varies post-wise. Your final merit list combines Mains marks (1500) and personal interview marks (180). Prelims marks do not carry forward at all into your final ranking.
The Assam Public Service Commission releases the official cut-off marks as a PDF on its official website, apsc.nic.in, alongside each stage of results. The PDF breaks down figures category-wise and, for mains, post-wise as well.
What Is the APSC CCE Expected Cut-Off for 2025-26 Prelims?
The 2026 Prelims is scheduled for 5 July 2026. Based on the past trend and the fact that vacancies this cycle are significantly lower at just 78 posts, the APSC CCE expected cut-off for 2026 is likely to be higher than 2024 for most categories. Here is a realistic expected range:
| Category | Expected Cut-off Marks (Out of 200 |
| General (UR) | To Be Updated |
| OBC / MOBC | To Be Updated |
| SC | To Be Updated |
| ST (P) | To Be Updated |
| ST (H) | To Be Updated |
These are expected ranges based on trend analysis and should not be treated as official figures. The actual APSC CCE expected cut-off for 2026 will be updated as soon as APSC releases the official PDF after the results.
How Has the APSC CCE Cut-Off Moved Over the Years?
Looking at past data is one of the best ways to understand where the APSC CCE expected cut-off might land in 2026. Here is the prelims cut-off trend for the general category based on GS Paper I only, out of 200 marks:
| Exam Year | General Category Prelims Cut-Off (Paper I) |
| 2024 | 87.50 |
| 2023 | 95.00 |
| 2022 | 74.50 |
| 2020 | 122.50 |
| 2018 | 263.00 |
The 2018 figure looks dramatically higher because the exam used a different marks structure at that time. From 2020 onward, the pattern shows more consistency. The 2023 cut-off of 95 went up compared to 2022’s 74.50, mainly because the 2022 paper was moderately difficult and had a higher vacancy count. The 2024 drop to 87.50 reflects fewer vacancies and tighter competition dynamics.
What Were the APSC CCE 2024 Prelims Cut-Off Marks Category-Wise?
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The 2024 Prelims cut-off gives you the most recent and directly relevant benchmark. Here is the full breakdown:
| Category | Male | Female |
| General (UR) | 87.50 | 86.00 |
| OBC / MOBC | 76.00 | 76.00 |
| SC | 71.50 | 71.50 |
| ST(P) | 70.50 | 70.50 |
| ST(H) | 60.00 | 60.00 |
| Ex-Servicemen (ESM) | 29.50 (Combined) | — |
| PWBD – Locomotor | 57.00 | — |
| PWBD – Deaf | 18.50 | — |
| PWBD – Low Vision | 51.00 | — |
Note: The APSC CCE 2026 Prelims is scheduled for 5 July 2026. The 2026 category-wise cut-off will be updated here as soon as APSC releases the official figures after the result.
What Were the APSC CCE 2024 Mains Cut-Off Marks?
The Mains cut-off is post-wise and varies quite a bit depending on the number of vacancies available for each post. Here is the 2024 Mains cut-off data:
| Category | Assam Civil Service (Jr. Grade) | Assam Police Service (Jr. Grade) | Labour Officer | District Transport Officer | Block Development Officer | Asst. Manager / AIO / Superintendent of Industries |
| OC | 873 | 855 | 847 | 854 | 851 | 841 |
| OBC / MOBC | 856 | 854 | 845 | — | 839 | 833 |
| Moran | 807 | 805 | — | — | — | — |
| Motak | 862 | 842 | — | — | — | — |
| SC | 746 | 838 | — | — | — | 831 |
| ST(P) | 839 | 837 | — | — | 832 | 807 |
| ST(H) | 823 | 820 | — | — | — | 764 |
| Ex-Servicemen | 746 | 736 | — | — | — | — |
These figures show that for the most sought-after post, Assam Civil Service Junior Grade, the General category Mains cut-off stood at 873 out of 1500. That is a challenging but achievable target with focused and consistent preparation. Targeting 700 or above as a strong benchmark during your preparation remains a practical strategy for General category candidates aiming to perform well in the Mains. Similarly, a proper Google Business Profile Setup helps businesses establish a strong online presence, improve local search visibility, and attract more potential customers through accurate and optimized business information.
What Are the APSC CCE 2022 Prelims Cut-Off Marks?
The 2022 prelims cut-off was lower across all categories, mainly because the vacancy count was higher and the paper was considered moderately difficult. Here are the figures:
- Open Category: Male — 74.5, Female — 71.0
- OBC / MOBC: 54.5 (Male and Female)
- SC: 50.5 (Male and Female)
- ST(P): 49.5 (Male and Female)
- ST(H): 38.5 (Male and Female)
The comparison between 2022 and 2024 clearly shows how vacancy numbers directly influence where the APSC CCE expected cut-off lands.
What Were the 2018 Prelims Cut-Off Marks?
In 2018, the exam structure was different, and the marking scheme carried higher total marks, which is why the figures look much larger:
| Category | Male | Female |
| Open | 263 | 261 |
| OBC / MOBC | 243 | 242 |
| SC | 228 | 223 |
| ST(P) | 236 | 236 |
| ST(H) | 219 | 219 |
| PwD – HI | 170 | — |
| PwD – OH | 185 | — |
| PwD – VI | 228 | — |
These 2018 figures are not directly comparable to post-2020 data because of the structural difference in the exam. However, they do reflect how competitive the exam was in that cycle.
Why Does the APSC CCE Expected Cut-Off Change Every Year?
The APSC CCE expected cut-off does not stay fixed, it shifts every year based on several real factors. Here is what drives those changes:
1. Number of Vacancies: Fewer vacancies mean fewer candidates get shortlisted, which drives the cut-off up. More vacancies bring it down. In 2026, there are 78 posts notified, down sharply from 289 in the 2024 cycle. This reduction alone means competition for each post is significantly more intense this year.
2. Exam Difficulty Level: A tougher paper pushes the cut-off down because fewer candidates score high. A relatively easier paper does the opposite. The 2022 and 2023 papers were both considered moderately difficult, which explains the cut-off levels in those years.
3. Number of Candidates Appearing: More applicants mean more competition overall, which can push the cut-off upward. APSC CCE draws lakhs of applications every cycle, so even small shifts in turnout can affect the final threshold.
4. Category Reservation: Reserved categories have lower cut-offs because the candidate pool competing for reserved seats is smaller. This is consistent across all years and all categories in the data above.
5. Normalization: If APSC conducts the exam in multiple shifts in a given year, a normalization process may apply to standardize scores across shifts. This can affect the effective cut-off for all categories. Always track official notifications for any announcement on this.
How Is the APSC Cut-Off Decided?
A lot of candidates assume that APSC simply picks a round number as the cut-off after the exam. That is not how it works. The APSC CCE cut-off for each cycle goes through a systematic calculation process, and understanding it helps you make smarter decisions about how much to attempt and how to manage your score.
Step 1 — Total candidates who appear vs total vacancies APSC starts by looking at how many candidates actually sat for the exam and how many seats are available across all categories. The commission shortlists candidates for Mains in a ratio based on vacancies, typically, a fixed multiple of the vacancy count moves forward from each category.
Step 2—Ranking by GS Paper I score: All candidates who qualify for CSAT (33% minimum) get ranked purely on their GS Paper I score. APSC then draws the line at the score of the last candidate who falls within the shortlisting ratio for each category. That score becomes the cut-off for that category.
Step 3 — Category-wise separation: The cut-off calculation happens separately for each category, General, OBC/MOBC, SC, ST(P), ST(H), Ex-Servicemen, and PwD subcategories. Reserved category candidates who score above the general cut-off get counted in the General merit pool. Those below the general cut-off but above their respective category cut-off get counted against reserved seats.
Step 4 — Tie-breaking: When two or more candidates score the same marks in GS Paper I, APSC uses age as the tie-breaker. The older candidate gets preference in the merit order. This rarely affects the final cut-off number itself but determines who from a tied group moves forward.
Step 5 — Official release: Once all calculations are complete, APSC publishes the cut-off marks as an official PDF on apsc.nic.Alongside the shortlist of Mains candidates. No provisional or unofficial figure comes out before this, any number you see circulating before the official release is an estimate, not a confirmed cut-off.
This entire process means the APSC CCE expected cut-off is not a number that anyone inside the APSC decides in advance. It is a direct result of how many people appeared, how they performed, and how many seats are available in each category. That is also why it shifts every year.
How Should You Use This Cut-Off Data for Your Preparation?
Knowing the APSC CCE expected cut-off data is only useful if you use it strategically. Here is how to do that:
- Set a target above the expected cut-off. Aim for at least 10 marks above the expected Prelims cut-off for your category. This buffer protects you from minor variations in paper difficulty or normalization.
- Do not guess in Paper II. CSAT carries a negative marking of 0.66 marks per wrong answer. Even a few careless wrong answers in Paper II can affect your qualifying status. Attempt only what you are confident about.
- Build your strength in Assam-specific topics. Around 30 to 35 percent of GS Paper I focuses on Assam, history, culture, economy, geography, and current affairs. This section is where serious Assam aspirants gain a real scoring edge over candidates from outside the state.
- Aim for 700 or above in the Mains if you are in the General category. Post-wise Mains cut-offs in 2024 ranged between 841 and 873 for the General category across major posts. Targeting 700 gives you a foundation to build on, though you should push toward 850 or higher to feel genuinely safe.
- Track post-wise mains cutoffs carefully. The cut-off for Assam Civil Service Junior Grade is different from posts like Labour Officer or Sub-Registrar. Know the specific target for the post you are most interested in.
How Does the APSC Cut-Off Compare to Other State PSC Exams?
The APSC CCE cut-off in Prelims, sitting around 87 to 95 marks out of 200 in recent years, is broadly comparable to other state PSC exams at the Prelims level. It is lower than UPSC, which is expected given the smaller applicant pool and different paper design. However, the Mains cut-off for APSC, which hovered around 870 out of 1500 for the top post in 2024, is quite demanding and reflects how seriously aspirants in Assam take this exam.
The relative difficulty of APSC CCE has increased year on year as more graduates compete for fewer posts. So treating this as an easy exam compared to UPSC is a mistake that costs many candidates their first few attempts.
Conclusion
The APSC CCE expected cut-off is one of the most important numbers an APSC aspirant needs to track, and this blog gives you the full picture, from 2018 all the way through to 2026. might look like. With only 78 vacancies in the 2026 cycle compared to 289 in 2024, the competition per seat is sharper this year. That means the cut-off is likely to go up, and every mark in GS Paper I counts more than ever. Use the historical data as your benchmark, set a target that stays at least 10 marks above the expected threshold for your category, take negative marking seriously in both papers, and build a strong foundation in Assam-specific topics where you can build a real scoring advantage.
The APSC CCE expected cut-off for 2026 will be updated officially after the 5 July exam. Until then, aim high, stay consistent, and let the numbers work in your favor.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Prelims has two papers, GS Paper I and CSAT. CSAT is only qualifying and requires a minimum of 33%, which is 66 out of 200. Only GS Paper I marks determine your shortlisting for Mains. Both papers carry a negative marking of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer.
Mains cut-offs are calculated out of 1500 marks and vary by post. In 2024, the General category cut-off for Assam Civil Service Junior Grade was 873, while District Transport Officer was 854. The safe target for General category is 850 and above.
No, Prelims is only a screening test to shortlist candidates for Mains. Your final merit list uses only Mains marks out of 1500 and Interview marks out of 180. Prelims scores play no role beyond determining who proceeds to the next stage.
APSC releases the official cut-off marks as a downloadable PDF on its official website at apsc.nic.in. The PDF appears alongside the result under the Latest Updates section and covers all categories and posts.
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