Group 4 / VAO (Combined Civil Services Examination-IV)
App coming soon
TNPSC Guide is not the official TNPSC website. Notices: tnpsc.gov.in · Apply: apply.tnpscexams.in
By TNPSC Guide editorial team · Last updated:
App coming soon
Notification No. 11/2026 · Combined Civil Services Examination-IV (Group IV Services)
- Last date to apply
- Application correction window
- –
- Written exam
- Exam time
- 09.30 A.M. to 12.30 P.M.
- Eligibility
- SSLC standard
Checked on 26.10.2026 · Full guide
Exam pattern
Notification 11/2026 · page 20
- A · Tamil · 100 questions · 150 marks
- B · General Studies · 75 questions
- C · Aptitude · 25 questions
Parts B and C together: 150 marks.
Parts B and C are marked only if you score at least 60/150 in Part A.
200 questions · 300 marks · 3 hours
The exam pattern in fullSyllabus
A · Tamil Eligibility-cum-Scoring Test (7 units)
Minimum 60/150
Each unit is published after the founder's sign-off · 7/7 units live now
- Grammar25 in the exam · 2 notes · 20 free questions
- Vocabulary15 in the exam · 2 notes · 20 free questions
- Writing skills15 in the exam · 2 notes · 20 free questions
- Technical terms10 in the exam · 2 notes · 20 free questions
- Reading comprehension15 in the exam · 2 notes · 20 free questions
- Translation5 in the exam · 2 notes · 20 free questions
- Literature and Tamil scholars15 in the exam · 2 notes · 20 free questions
B · General Studies (6 units)
Each unit is published after the founder's sign-off · 6/6 units live now
- General Science5 in the exam · 2 notes · 20 free questions
- Geography5 in the exam · 2 notes · 20 free questions
- History, Culture and Indian National Movement10 in the exam · 2 notes · 20 free questions
- Indian Polity15 in the exam · 2 notes · 20 free questions
- Indian Economy and Development Administration in Tamil Nadu20 in the exam · 2 notes · 20 free questions
- History, Culture, Heritage and Socio-Political Movements in Tamil Nadu20 in the exam · 2 notes · 20 free questions
C · Aptitude and Mental Ability (2 units)
Each unit is published after the founder's sign-off · 2/2 units live now
- Aptitude15 in the exam · 2 notes · 20 free questions
- Reasoning10 in the exam · 2 notes · 20 free questions
Eligibility
The age limit differs by post and by category. The rows for the Village Administrative Officer post are below, with their page numbers. For other posts, see pages 5-8 of the notification.
Which posts fit your age? The age eligibility check
- Age is counted as on 01.07.2026 (para 4.1).
- Village Administrative Officer (post code 2025), Others: should have completed 21; should not have completed 30.Source: page 5, checked on 19.10.2026
- Village Administrative Officer (post code 2025), SCs, SC(A)s, STs, MBCs/DCs, BC(OBCM)s and BCMs: should have completed 21; should not have completed 40.Source: page 6, checked on 19.10.2026
Notification 11/2026: page 5
The notification PDF may ask for a security check (captcha) before it opens.
Full guide: TNPSC Group 4 eligibility: age limit, qualification, Tamil knowledge and PSTMHow to apply / OTR
First complete One Time Registration (OTR), then apply for this exam on the same portal. The fee and the last date are in the notification.
How to apply: Notification 11/2026, page 23
Full guide: How to apply for TNPSC Group 4: One Time Registration to fee payment, step by stepPrevious papers
Papers typed in Tamil, with the answer key:
- 2025 · exam on 12.07.2025 · Final answer keyCombined Civil Services Examination-IV (Group IV Services), held 12.07.2025, final answer key
- 2024 · exam on 09.06.2024 · Final answer keyCombined Civil Services Examination-IV (Group IV Services), Notification 01/2024, held 09.06.2024 FN, final answer key
- 2022 · exam on 24.07.2022 · Final answer keyCombined Civil Services Examination-IV (Group IV Services), held 24.07.2022 FN, final answer key
Practise in the app, with year, paper, question number and answer-key status.
Full guide: TNPSC Group 4 previous year question papers and answer keys: official links by yearHow to study
The 30-day program teaches the Part A, B and C units one lesson a day, with practice, revision and mock tests. It does not help with applying or with certificate verification.
About the 30-day programFull guide: TNPSC Group 4 study schedule to the 10.01.2027 exam: 10 weeks, for working people tooImportant dates
- Applications: – (05.11.2026 11.59 PM)
- Application correction window: – (09.11.2026 12.01 A.M to 11.11.2026 11.59 P.M.)
- Written exam: (09.30 A.M. to 12.30 P.M.)Source: page 1, checked on 19.10.2026
We never guess exam dates. Check them only in the TNPSC Annual Planner and the notification. The planner is an advance schedule. When its date differs from the notification or a TNPSC press release, follow the notification or press release.
Links checked on 26.10.2026
Mock test calendar
This is our study plan up to the exam. Only two dates are official: the written exam (10.01.2027) and the last date to apply (05.11.2026); every other date is ours, not a TNPSC date.Source: page 1, checked on 20.10.2026
The next three tests
Frequently asked questions
How many questions and marks are in the Group 4 exam?
It is one paper of 200 questions and 300 marks in 3 hours. Part A, the Tamil Eligibility-cum-Scoring Test, has 100 questions for 150 marks. Part B General Studies (75 questions) and Part C Aptitude and Mental Ability (25 questions) carry 150 marks together. The exam is in OMR mode (Notification 11/2026, page 20).
What is the minimum mark in Part A?
You need at least 40% in Part A, that is 60 of 150. Only then are Part B and Part C of your answer sheet evaluated (Notification 11/2026, page 20, para 6.1).
What are the minimum qualifying marks overall?
The minimum qualifying marks are 90 out of 300, the same for all communities. The total of Parts A, B and C is used for ranking (Notification 11/2026, page 20, paras 6 and 6.1).
What is the last date to apply, and where do I apply?
Apply online from 06.10.2026 to 05.11.2026, 11.59 PM. The notification names www.tnpscexams.in. Register once on the One Time Registration (OTR) platform first, then fill in the application for this exam. The correction window is open from 09.11.2026 to 11.11.2026 (Notification 11/2026, page 1).
How much are the registration fee and the exam fee?
One Time Registration (OTR) costs Rs.150 and is valid for five years (page 23). The exam fee is Rs.100, paid with the online application unless you claim an exemption (page 28, para 3.9). The exemption rules are in Annexure II of the notification.
When is the Group 4 written exam?
Notification 11/2026 gives the written exam as 10.01.2027, from 09.30 AM to 12.30 PM (page 1, para 1.2).