For TNPSC Group 4 aspirants in Tamil Nadu, 2026. Pattern summarised from the TNPSC notification — confirm the current notification for your exam. Educational information.
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| Group 4: 200 questions, 300 marks, no negative marking, no interview. |
TNPSC Group 4 Marks Calculator
- No negative marking — attempt all 200 questions.
- 200 × 1.5 = 300 marks; marks = correct × 1.5.
- Qualify with 90 marks overall and 40% in Tamil.
- No interview — pure written-merit, direct recruitment.
- Selection cut-off is category-wise, set each year, usually above 90.
Is there negative marking in TNPSC Group 4?
No — and this matters for your strategy. TNPSC Group 4 has no negative marking, so a wrong answer never reduces your score. That means you should answer all 200 questions, including the ones you're unsure of: an educated guess has only upside. Leaving a question blank is the one guaranteed way to lose a mark you could have earned.
How are TNPSC Group 4 marks calculated?
Group 4 is a single objective paper of 200 questions, each worth 1.5 marks, for a maximum of 300 marks in 3 hours. So:
Marks = correct answers × 1.5
Example: 160 correct = 240 / 300 (80%). No deductions apply for wrong answers.
The Group 4 exam pattern
| Section | Questions |
|---|---|
| Tamil Eligibility-cum-Scoring | 100 |
| General Studies | 75 |
| Aptitude & Mental Ability | 25 |
| Total | 200 (= 300 marks) |
Qualifying mark and the 40% Tamil rule
There are two conditions to keep in mind:
- Overall qualifying mark: 90 out of 300, for all categories.
- Tamil requirement: at least 40% in the Tamil eligibility-cum-scoring section. Since Tamil is 100 questions, this section is both a big scoring block and a gate you must clear.
Beyond qualifying, the actual selection cut-off is set category-wise every year, based on vacancies and paper difficulty, and is normally well above 90. So treat 90 as the floor and aim much higher.
No interview — it's written-merit only
Unlike Group 2's interview posts, Group 4 has no interview. It's a direct-recruitment exam, and the final merit list is built purely from your written marks after normalisation, with category-wise cut-offs. Group 4 fills posts such as Village Administrative Officer (VAO), Junior Assistant, Typist and Bill Collector. That makes one thing clear: your entire result rides on the 300-mark paper, so every attempted question counts.
Score-planning tip
The 100-mark Tamil section is the single biggest lever — securing it clears the 40% gate and banks a large block of marks. Aptitude & Mental Ability is the most scoreable with practice. With no negative marking, the winning habit is simple: attempt everything, and push accuracy with timed previous-year papers.
Related exam tools
Preparing for the other TNPSC exam too? Use our TNPSC Group 2 marks & cut-off calculator. For other exams, try the NEET marks-to-rank predictor or the general percentage calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Is there negative marking in Group 4?
No — attempt every question; wrong answers don't reduce your score.
How are Group 4 marks calculated?
200 questions × 1.5 = 300; marks = correct × 1.5 (160 correct = 240/300).
What is the qualifying mark?
90 out of 300 overall, plus at least 40% in the Tamil section; the selection cut-off is category-wise and usually higher.
Is there an interview?
No — Group 4 is direct recruitment on written merit only.
What posts does Group 4 fill?
VAO, Junior Assistant, Typist, Bill Collector and similar non-gazetted TN government posts.
About ComplyKraft. Built by Dinesh Kumar S in Chennai — B.Sc. Mathematics, M.Sc. IT. ComplyKraft makes free calculators and plain-language guides for Tamil Nadu students and citizens.
Disclaimer: General educational information. The TNPSC Group 4 pattern, qualifying mark, Tamil requirement and cut-offs can change and vary by year and category. Always confirm the current position in the official TNPSC notification and result at tnpsc.gov.in.