APPSC Group 2 2026: 686 Posts, Screening Test, Mains and CPT Pattern, and How to Calculate Your Score

The Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission has issued Brief Notification No. 37/2026 (13 October 2026) for Group-II services with 686 provisional vacancies in twelve posts. The detailed notification is due on or before 10 November 2026 at psc.ap.gov.in, with applications from 10 to 30 November 2026. This guide explains the vacancies, the screening test, the two-paper Mains, the computer proficiency test and how the one-third negative marking works.

Posts, Vacancies and Pay Scales

Community-wise and category-wise vacancy details are not given in the brief notification. Choosing among these posts is partly a question of preference and partly one of eligibility: for instance, the two accountant posts need a Commerce, Economics or Mathematics degree plus a computer qualification, while ASO (Law) needs a Law degree.

Eligibility

• Codes 01 to 08: a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university in India, a UGC-recognised institution, or an equivalent qualification. For Sub-Registrar Grade-II, candidates with a law degree get preference.
• Code 09 (ASO Finance): a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, Economics or Commerce. Code 10 (ASO Law): a bachelor’s degree in Law.
• Codes 11 and 12 (Accountants): a degree in Commerce, Economics or Mathematics plus a computer qualification, either one BTET certificate (Office Automation, PC Maintenance and Troubleshooting, or Web Designing) or a computer-related degree such as BCA, B.Sc (Computers) or B.Tech/B.E. in CS/IT.
• Age limit, relaxations and fee: not given in the brief notification. The detailed notification date is the crucial reference date for eligibility.

Exam Pattern

Screening Test (offline, OMR, objective)

One paper, General Studies & Mental Ability: 150 questions, 150 marks, 150 minutes. The five syllabus blocks are worth 30 marks each:

Main Examination (written, objective, degree standard)

Each paper is split into two sections of 75 marks. Paper I covers the social and cultural history of Andhra Pradesh from the Satavahanas and Ikshvakus to 2014, and the Constitution (Union–State relations, elections, the Anti-Defection Law, the 73rd and 74th Amendments). Paper II covers national income, the RBI, banking, GST, agriculture, industry and the AP economy and budget, plus space, defence, ICT, energy, environment, climate change and public health.

Computer Proficiency Test (CPT)

A practical test of 60 minutes and 100 marks, with minimum qualifying marks of 30 (SC/ST/PBD), 35 (BC) and 40 (OC). Which posts require it is not stated in the brief notification.

Worked Example: Screening Test Score

A candidate attempts 132 of the 150 questions and gets 96 right and 36 wrong, leaving 18 blank. The score is 96 − (36 ÷ 3) = 84.00 out of 150. Each block carries 30 marks, so a quick self-audit is to compute your net marks per block: if one block (say Mental Ability) shows many wrong answers, that is where the 1/3 penalty is costing you most, and it is the first place to tighten your attempts.

Preparing While You Wait for the Detailed Notification

• Start with the common base. History, Geography, Society and Current Affairs feed both the Screening Test and the Mains papers, so every hour spent here pays twice.
• Treat the Mains as depth papers. Paper I and Paper II are specific to Andhra Pradesh and the Constitution, so build notes on AP social history and the AP economy and budget early.
• Do not postpone computers. The CPT is practical and weighted toward typing, Excel and PowerPoint; regular hands-on practice for 30 minutes a day beats last-minute cramming.

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About the author. Thaseen Fathima is a B.Tech CSE (AI) student at Vignan Institute of Engineering and Technology, Visakhapatnam, who builds examination calculators and writes the guides behind them.