The Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) has officially announced the Combined Civil Services Examination-IV (Group 4) under notification number 11/2026. With the written examination set for 10 January 2027, aspirants must adopt a strategic approach to cover the vast syllabus effectively. This guide provides a detailed breakdown of the exam structure and preparation milestones based on the official syllabus document (Code 496).
TNPSC Group 4 Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme
The exam is designed at the SSLC (Class 10) level and consists of 200 objective-type questions. Candidates have a total of 3 hours to complete the test, which carries 300 marks in total. Notably, there is no negative marking, allowing candidates to attempt all questions.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruitment Body | Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) |
| Exam Name | TNPSC Group 4 |
| Exam Level | SSLC (10th Standard) |
| Mode | Offline (OMR-based) |
| Total Marks | 300 |
| Duration | 3 Hours |
| Min. Qualifying | 90 Marks (30% overall; 40% in Tamil) |
How to Prepare for the TNPSC Group 4 Exam 2026
Success in the TNPSC Group 4 examination requires a structured approach. Follow these steps to optimize your study routine:
- Prioritize the Tamil section: Cover grammar, literature, Thirukkural, and author details thoroughly as it is the qualifying hurdle.
- Build General Studies foundations using Tamil Nadu State Board textbooks from 6th to 10th standard.
- Stay updated with national and state-specific current affairs regularly.
- Practice aptitude and logical reasoning daily under strict time constraints.
- Solve previous year papers to identify recurring patterns and high-weightage topics.
- Attempt full-length mock tests within the 3-hour limit to build endurance.
- Maintain short revision notes for quick retrieval of formulas and literary works.
90-Day Preparation Plan
- Days 1-30: Concept Building (Tamil Grammar, Thirukkural, Aptitude formulas, 6th-10th State Board books)
- Days 31-60: Topic Practice & PYQs (History, Polity, Previous Year Papers, 25 daily aptitude questions)
- Days 61-90: Mock Tests & Revision (Full-length OMR tests, short notes, current affairs, avoiding new topics)
Official Resources
Candidates should refer to the official www.tnpsc.gov.in website for the latest updates. You can find more information in this TNPSC Group 4 Notification 2026 article. If you haven't registered yet, visit the TNPSC Group 4 Apply Online portal.
Download the official syllabus PDFs here:
Once you have finished your preparation, check the TNPSC Group 4 Cut off for insights into previous performance trends.