The Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission recruits to the state's Group-I Services through a single examination in three stages. Everything below is taken from the commission's Notification No. 07/2026 (Annexure-II, pages 26–39); the page references are given so you can check each figure against the notification itself.
The three stages at a glance
| Stage | Papers | Marks | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screening Test | Paper I: General Studies; Paper II: General Aptitude | 120 + 120 | Objective, with negative marking |
| Main examination | Telugu and English (qualifying); Papers I–V | 150 each | Written |
| Interview | Personality Test | 75 | Oral |
Each stage decides who reaches the next one, so the way to read this table is from left to right: the Screening Test sets the field, the Main examination does most of the ranking, and the Interview completes it.
Stage 1: the Screening Test
The Screening Test is two objective papers, each of two hours.
Paper I: General Studies carries 120 marks over 120 questions in 120 minutes. The notification divides it into four parts — A, B, C and D — of 30 marks each (pages 26–27). In practice this means no single subject area can carry the paper: a candidate strong in one part and weak in the other three is working with a quarter of the marks.
Paper II: General Aptitude also carries 120 marks over 120 questions in 120 minutes. It is in two parts: Part A of 60 marks, and Part B split into B(i) and B(ii) of 30 marks each (pages 26 and 29).
Negative marking applies to both papers. The notification's wording (page 13, para 10.2) is that each wrong answer will be penalised with one-third of the marks prescribed for the question. On a one-mark question, a wrong answer therefore costs a third of a mark — which changes how you should treat a question you cannot answer with confidence. We work through that arithmetic in negative marking explained.
Stage 2: the Main examination
The Main examination is written, and every paper is of three hours and 150 marks.
The two qualifying papers
Two papers — Telugu and English, both of S.S.C. standard — are qualifying only. The notification is explicit that the marks secured in them are not counted for merit, and sets the minimum qualifying marks for each paper at 40% for OC, sports persons and EWS candidates, 35% for BC candidates and 30% for SC, ST and PBD candidates (page 15, para 12.8).
Qualifying papers are easy to neglect for exactly that reason. They should not be: failing one ends the candidacy however well the merit papers went.
The five merit papers
| Paper | Subject | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General Essay | 150 |
| Paper II | History, Culture and Geography of India and Andhra Pradesh | 150 |
| Paper III | Polity, Constitution, Governance, Law and Ethics | 150 |
| Paper IV | Economy and Development of India and Andhra Pradesh | 150 |
| Paper V | Science and Technology | 150 |
Together the five carry 750 marks. Two features are worth noticing before you plan:
- Andhra Pradesh runs through three of the five. Papers II and IV name the state in their titles, so state history, culture, geography, economy and development are not a side topic; they are a large share of the written examination.
- The essay paper is three essays. Candidates write three essays, one from each of three sections, of about 800 words each (page 33). That is a test of range and of writing at speed, and it rewards practice under time more than reading.
Stage 3: the Interview
After the Main examination, eligible candidates are called for an Interview (Personality Test) of 75 marks. The notification states that candidates are called at a ratio of 1:2 with reference to the number of vacancies, as per G.O.Ms.No.100, GA (SER-A) Department, dated 30/09/2022 (page 15, para 12.10). In other words, roughly two candidates are interviewed for every post.
What this means for preparation
Read as a whole, the pattern points to three priorities:
- Breadth for the Screening Test. Four equal parts in Paper I and two parts in Paper II reward covering everything to a reasonable level over mastering one area.
- Writing for the Main examination. Five written papers of three hours each, plus an essay paper, are won by answers you can produce on time — which means practising them, not only reading.
- The state, everywhere. Andhra Pradesh's history, geography, economy and development appear in the titles of two merit papers.
A paper-by-paper preparation plan is in preparing for the APPSC Group 1 Screening Test, and the commission's exam page on PrepShark — APPSC Group 1 — lists the pattern alongside the chapters that cover it.
Always check the current notification
Patterns change between notifications. The figures above are from Notification No. 07/2026. Before you plan around any number, open the notification linked below and check the annexure for the cycle you are applying in.