This plan is built on the scheme in SLPRB Rc.No.81/2026 (details on the exam pattern page). Study tips are ours; official facts are attributed; arithmetic from the marking scheme is labelled as arithmetic.
1. Where the marks are
| Part of the process | Marks | Role (from Rc.81) |
|---|---|---|
| Prelims Paper 1 (Arithmetic and Reasoning) | 100 | Qualify separately |
| Prelims Paper 2 (General Studies) | 100 | Qualify separately |
| PET (Civil) | Qualifying: 1,600 m plus 100 m or long jump | |
| Final Paper I (English, descriptive) | 100 | Qualifying |
| Final Paper II (Telugu or Urdu, descriptive) | 100 | Qualifying |
| Final Paper III (Arithmetic and Reasoning) | 200 | Merit |
| Final Paper IV (General Studies) | 200 | Merit |
Two conclusions follow:
- Arithmetic and Reasoning is half of the merit. For SI (Civil), Paper III carries 200 of the 400 merit marks. Of all the syllabus areas, it rewards daily practice the most.
- The qualifying hurdles can end your attempt. Two prelims papers, the PET and two descriptive papers each have to be passed. A strong objective score does not rescue a failed Telugu paper.
Arithmetic from the scheme: the final objective papers are 200 questions in 180 minutes, 54 seconds a question. The prelims papers are 100 questions in 180 minutes, 108 seconds a question. Train for the faster final pace from the start, and the prelims will feel easy on time.
Target. The 2022 open-category cut-off was 246 to 257 out of 400 (cut-offs). A mock target of around 65% to 70% on combined Papers III and IV gives a margin. That target is our suggestion, not SLPRB's.
2. Paper-wise strategy
Arithmetic (Paper 1 / Paper III). The official list is number system, interest, ratio, average, percentage, profit and loss, time and work, work and wages, time and distance, clocks and calendars, partnership and mensuration. Learn the core shortcuts (percentage-fraction equivalents, ratio methods, the efficiency method for time and work) and drill them. Aim for an average under 45 seconds a question.
Reasoning (Paper 1 / Paper III). The official heads (analogies, similarities and differences, spatial visualisation, problem solving, decision making, visual memory) translate in practice into series, coding, blood relations, directions, arrangements, syllogism and non-verbal figures. Volume is what builds speed here; do a mixed set every day.
General Studies (Paper 2 / Paper IV). Degree standard and wide. Follow the five official heads:
- General Science: applied and current science and the environment, not only textbook theory.
- Current events: a daily habit plus monthly revision.
- History: social, economic, cultural and political, plus the National Movement.
- Geography of India: maps first.
- Polity and Economy: the official scope names rural development, planning and economic reforms, so give them dedicated time.
English (Paper I) and Telugu or Urdu (Paper II). Write one essay, one letter or report and one precis a week in each language from the start. After the prelims, raise it to three pieces a week. Practise translation both ways. Time yourself: a descriptive paper is only qualifying, but it still has to be finished in 3 hours.
3. The physical side
For SI (Civil): the 1,600 m run (8:00 General, 9:30 ex-servicemen, 10:30 women) plus one of the 100 m run (15 / 16.5 / 18 s) or long jump (3.80 / 3.65 / 2.75 m). Electronic timing. RSI (AR) and SI (SPF) must do all three for 100 marks, so the PET is part of their merit too.
Our advice: time a 1,600 m in week one; train four or five days a week, mixing easy runs and intervals; practise the second event twice a week. Get medical advice before hard training if you have any health condition. Check your PMT measurements early.
4. A 60-day plan
About six to seven hours of study and one hour of training a day. Move phases when your scores justify it.
| Days | Objective papers | Descriptive papers | Physical |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-10 | Arithmetic basics; verbal reasoning; History | One English and one Telugu essay | Baseline 1,600 m; easy runs |
| 11-20 | Arithmetic word problems; non-verbal reasoning; Polity and rural development | One letter and one precis in each language | Add intervals; second-event technique |
| 21-30 | Geography, Economy, General Science; current events revision | One report and one translation in each language | Two interval sessions; weekly timed 1,600 m |
| 31-40 | Topic tests on weak areas; first full Paper III and Paper IV mocks | Two pieces a week per language | Hold volume |
| 41-50 | Two full 200-question papers a week with analysis | Timed full descriptive paper once a week | Timed trials at standard |
| 51-60 | Full papers, revision sheets, last six months of current events | Revise formats and common mistakes | Taper, avoid injury |
If the prelims date arrives first, shift the last ten days of objective revision forward and continue descriptive practice after the prelims.
5. Mock analysis
After each full paper, tag every lost question: did not know, forgot, ran out of time, or careless (including OMR errors). The biggest tag sets next week's focus. Check Paper III and Paper IV separately: a high combined score can hide a weak paper.
6. Using Pareeksha for AP SI
- Free: a 10-question mini-mock and the Daily Dangal quiz.
- Pro: full-length mocks, previous-year papers and topic-wise practice for Arithmetic, Reasoning and every General Studies head.
Use Daily Dangal from day 1 for the habit, topic-wise practice as you finish each topic, and full-length mocks from day 31 with the analysis routine. The platform has 10 Lakh+ MCQs, 5,000+ full-length mocks and 25k+ topic-wise tests across 100+ exams.
Dates were not yet announced as on 2026-10-08; watch slprb.ap.gov.in and fit this plan to the real date.
Related: Syllabus · Exam pattern · Cut-offs