APSC CCE Exam Pattern 2026: Prelims, Mains, and Interview
APSC CCE 2026 Exam Pattern will be divided into three stages: Prelims, Mains, and Interview. Prelims will be in objective-type, and Mains will be in Subjective/ Written-type. Prelims will have a total of 180 questions containing 400 marks, and Mains will contain 6 papers having 250 marks each. There will be a negative marking of 0.25 marks in APSC CCE Prelims, and it will be a qualifying paper. Shortlisted candidates will appear for APSC CCE Mains, which will be followed by Interview stage.
APSC CCE Prelims Exam Pattern 2026
APSC CCE Prelims 2026 will be an objective-type exam consisting of two subjects, General Studies I and General Studies II, each carrying 200 marks and a total of 400 marks as shown below:
| Subject | Type of Questions | TotalQuestions | Total marks | Duration | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Studies I | Objective (MCQ) | 100 | 200 | 2 hours | 30-35% questions will be related to Assam only. |
| General Studies II | Objective (MCQ) | 80 | 200 | 2 hours | It is a Qualifying exam. 33% is the minimum score to get qualified. |
| Total | 180 | 400 | 4 hours |
Note: There will be negative marking as well. For every incorrect answer, 1/4 or 0.25 marks will be deducted. APSC CCE Prelims’ marks will not add up to the Final Result, as it is only a Qualifying exam for APSC CCE Mains.
ASPC CCE Mains Exam Pattern 2026
APSC CCE 2026 Mains exam will be in descriptive form, consisting of 6 Papers of 1500 marks. It is an offline mode of exam which usually takes 7-10 days, and exams for different papers happen in multiple shifts (mostly one paper per Day). The detailed syllabus is listed below:
| Papers | Type | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | Essay | 250 | 3 hours |
| Paper 2 | General Studies I | 250 | 3 hours |
| Paper 3 | General Studies II | 250 | 3 hours |
| Paper 4 | General Studies III | 250 | 3 hours |
| Paper 5 | General Studies IV | 250 | 3 hours |
| Paper 6 | General Studies V: Assam-based | 250 | 3 hours |
| Total Marks | 1500 | Schedule in multiple shifts |
APSC CCE Syllabus 2026
APSC CCE 2026 Syllabus sets a layout for preparation for Prelims, Mains, and Interview. Prelims will be in 2 parts, while Mains will be divided into 5 parts, including descriptive-type questions. Check the table below for a detailed APSC CCE 2026 Syllabus for Prelims, Mains, and Interview preparation-
| Stage of Exam | Paper Name | Nature of Paper | Marks | Key Syllabus Areas | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PreliminaryExam | General Studies Paper I | Objective (MCQs) | 200 | Indian History, Indian & World Geography, Indian Polity & Governance, Economy, Environment & Ecology, General Science, Current Affairs, Assam History, Geography, Economy, Culture | 2 Hours |
| General Studies Paper II (CSAT) | Objective (MCQs) | 200 | Comprehension, Logical Reasoning, Analytical Ability, Decision Making, Basic Numeracy, Data Interpretation | 2 Hours | |
| Mains Exam | Essay | Descriptive | 250 | Essay writing on national, international, and Assam-related topics | 3 Hours |
| General Studies Paper I | Descriptive | 250 | Indian Heritage & Culture, History, Society, Assam culture and traditions | 3 Hours | |
| General Studies Paper II | Descriptive | 250 | Indian Constitution, Governance, Polity, Social Justice, International Relations | 3 Hours | |
| General Studies Paper III | Descriptive | 250 | Indian Economy, Assam Economy, Agriculture, Science & Technology, Environment | 3 Hours | |
| General Studies Paper IV (Ethics) | Descriptive | 250 | Ethics, Integrity, Aptitude, Human Values, Case Studies | 3 Hours | |
| Interview / Personality Test | Viva-Voce | In person | 180 | Personality traits, communication skills, leadership qualities, and suitability for civil services | No-fix duration |
APSE CCE Marking Scheme 2026
APSE CCE 2026 Marking Scheme for Prelims, Mains, and Interview/ Personality Test is given below-
- Preliminary Examination-
- Each paper carries 200 marks
- Questions are objective (MCQs)
- Negative marking applies for incorrect answers
- Marks of Prelims are not counted in the final merit
- Used only for shortlisting candidates for Mains
- Main Examination-
- Papers are descriptive in nature
- Each paper carries 250 marks (as prescribed)
- Marks obtained in all Mains papers are counted for the final ranking
- Answers are evaluated based on content quality, clarity, and presentation
- Interview / Personality Test
- Carries 180 marks
- Assesses personality traits, communication skills, and suitability for civil services
- Interview marks are added to Mains marks for final merit preparation
- Final Merit Calculation
- Final Merit = Total Mains Marks + Interview Marks
- Prelims marks are not included in the final result
APSC CCE Interview 2026
APSC CCE 2026 Interview will be conducted after Main exam. Only Main-qualified candidates will be allowed in the interview phase. The interview will comprise a total of 180 marks, which will contribute to APSC CCE 2026 Main scorecard. Check below for the detailed distribution of marks-
| Particulars | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| APSC CCE 2026 Mains(1500 Marks) | APSC CCE 2026 Interview(180 Marks) | APSC CCE 2026 Mains + APSC CCE 2026 Interview = Final Merit (1680 Marks) |
Candidates must ensure that no extra time will be given in case of any situation. Only PwD candidates with a Benchmark disability are provided with extra time and a scribe (if applicable) for APSC CCE Prelims and Mains. The original documents must support the candidate profile to avoid rejection and disqualification.
APSC CCE 2026 Exam Pattern FAQs
Ques: How much extra time will be granted to PwD candidate in APSC CCE 2026 exam?
Ans: 20 minutes per hour will be added to the exam duration for a PwD candidate as per APSC. This means for a 3-hour exam, 1 hour extra will be added to it, granting 4 hours duration to a PwD candidate.
Ques: What are the modes of exam for APSC CCE 2026?
Ans: APSC CCE 2026 Prelims and Mains will both be in offline mode. Prelims will be conducted on an OMR Sheet, and Mains will be in descriptive form. Later, APSC CCE Interview will be conducted in offline or in-person mode.
Ques: What is the medium for APSC CCE 2026 exam?
Ans: APSC CCE 2026 exam will be conducted in both English and Assamese. Questions will be in both languages in Prelims and Mains. In APSC CCE Interview, the candidate is allowed to use Assamese as a medium.
Ques: Will there be a Language Proficiency Paper in APSC CCE 2026 Exam?
Ans: No. There will be no Language Proficiency paper in both Prelims and Mains exams. Prelims will contain only General Studies papers. Mains will contain only the Essay and General Studies papers.
Ques: What is the qualifying criteria for APSC CCE 2026 Prelims?
Ans: APSC CCE 2026 Prelims will be conducted in two parts. Part 1 will comprise General Studies I, containing MCQ-based questions with a 30-33% weightage to Assam-based questions only. Part 2 will be of General Studies II, containing MCQ-based questions, and this part is a qualifying part for Mains.
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