What Does “Expected Cut Off” Mean?
“Expected cut off” refers to estimated qualifying marks in the Preliminary stage, based on:
Past year trends
Difficulty level of the current year’s paper
Number of candidates and competition
Vacancy count
Performance distribution among candidates
These are not official — they serve as reference ranges until TNPSC formally releases cut off marks.
Key Facts & Qualifying Marks (Base Line)
The Preliminary exam is qualifying in nature; clearing it allows entry to the Main exam.
The minimum qualifying mark for Prelims is fixed by TNPSC (for example, past notifications mention 90 out of 300 as a general baseline)
But the “cut off” to be competitive (i.e., among those selected for mains) is usually much higher than the baseline qualifying mark.
Thus, candidates should aim for marks significantly above the baseline to ensure they are not marginal.
Expected Cut Off 2025 — Category-Wise Ranges
Based on recent analyses by Oliveboard, Adda247, and competition portals, here’s a compiled expected cut off table for Prelims 2025:
| Category | Expected Cut Off – Males | Expected Cut Off – Females |
|---|---|---|
| General / Open | 160 – 165 | 155 – 160 |
| BC (Backward Classes) | 155 – 160 | 150 – 155 |
| MBC (Most Backward Classes) | 150 – 155 | 150 – 155 |
| BC (Muslims) | 145 – 150 | 145 – 150 |
| SC (Scheduled Caste) | 150 – 155 | 150 – 155 |
| SC(A) (Scheduled Caste – Arunthathiyar) | 145 – 150 | 145 – 150 |
| ST (Scheduled Tribe) | 140 – 145 | 140 – 145 |
These ranges are what leading exam portals suggest as safe estimates based on the present exam climate.
How These Expectations Compare to Past Years
Looking back helps validate whether these ranges are realistic.
In previous years, many candidates in the General category had cut off in the 150s+ in prelims, especially when papers were moderate or easier.
The expected ranges above place the General cut off slightly higher (160–165) which accounts for increasing competition and perhaps an easier or balanced 2025 paper.
For reserved categories like BC, SC, or ST, earlier cut offs were often 5–15 marks below the General range. The expected ranges reflect that pattern.
Also, male/female cut offs historically differ slightly (males often a few marks higher) — hence separate male/female ranges in projections.
Factors That Will Influence the Actual Cut Off
Several variables will determine where the final cut off lands:
Difficulty Level of the Paper: An easier paper pushes cut off upward; a tougher paper suppresses it.
Number of Candidates Who Perform Well: If many top-tier candidates score high, cut off will rise.
Vacancies Available: With 645 total vacancies in 2025 for Group 2 & 2A posts competition is stiff.
Performance Distribution: Clustering of scores around particular ranges can sharply influence adjustments.
Reservation / Category Dynamics: Category-wise adjustments, relaxation rules, and reserved quotas affect cut off per group.
Minimum Qualifying Marks: The baseline of 90 in prelims must be met; but effective competitive cut off will always be well above baseline.
What Candidates Should Aim For (Safe Zone)
Given the expected ranges, here is what aspirants should target:
General category: Aim for 165+ to stay safely above cut off
BC / MBC categories: 155+ (or closer to upper bounds in projections)
SC / SC(A): 150+ for safety
ST: 145+
Avoid relying on just reaching the lower bound of projected cut off — competition and margin errors can push actual cut off higher.
How to Use These Expected Cut Offs Wisely
Self-evaluate your preliminary exam performance: See if your marks fall in or above the expected range.
Do not panic if you fall just below expected — wait for official cut off, but also plan backup.
Use these as benchmarks to decide whether to focus more on mains preparation vs establishing backup options.
Compare with your peers’ performance and test series trends to get a realistic picture.
Caveats & Reminder
These are only estimates, not official cut offs. TNPSC’s final cut off may differ by several marks upward or downward.
Some posts (Group 2 vs 2A, interview vs non-interview) may have slightly different cut offs.
TNPSC may publish cut offs separately for male/female, reserved / unreserved categories.
Final merit ranking depends not only on prelims but also on Mains + Interview / Oral Test marks (for interview posts) in the later stages.
Summary
The minimum qualifying mark for Prelims is expected to remain 90 out of 300 (qualifying baseline) I
But to be competitive, candidates should aim much higher — the expected cut off for General male is projected 160–165, and Female General 155–160
For other categories:
BC: 155–160 (male), 150–155 (female)
MBC: 150–155 both genders
SC / SC(A): 145–155 depending on category and gender
ST: 140–145
Multiple factors — paper difficulty, candidate performance, vacancies — will shape the actual cut off.
If you like, I can also prepare a graphical chart of expected vs past year cut offs (2019, 2022, 2024) to help visualize the trend. Would you prefer me to build that for you
