There is no APPSC Forest Section Officer cut-off to report. Brief Notification No. 17/2026 (15 September 2026) opens applications from 16 October to 5 November 2026, but the exam date is not announced, no test has been held, and APPSC has published no marks. No earlier-cycle FSO figure verifiable against an APPSC document exists either, so this page quotes none and instead sets out how the 2026 selection is built. Eligibility and dates are in the FSO guide.
How selection works in 2026
| Step | Filter | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Application | Degree with a listed subject; age and physical standards per detailed notification | Notification 17/2026 |
| Qualifying test | General English (50) and General Telugu (50); qualify in each; marks not counted | Scheme annexure |
| Papers I, II, III (CBRT) | Merit on 150 + 150 + 150 = 450 marks (our arithmetic); one-third negative marking; normalisation if multi-session | Scheme annexure |
| Walking test and medical | Qualifying; arranged by the Forest Department | Notification note |
| Final selection | Merit among those who pass, by community and local rules | Detailed notification |
So the cut-offs that will eventually matter are the written merit mark for the walking-test call list and the last-selected mark in each community line. The language test, the walk and the medical are pass-or-fail.
The qualifying test does not add to merit
The English and Telugu test has its own qualifying mark (in the detailed notification), and you must clear each language separately. A wide margin earns nothing extra; failing either half removes you regardless of your Paper I to III score. Measure it as a hurdle, not as part of your target.
What will move the cut-off
Our explanation of how such cut-offs generally behave, not an APPSC statement:
- Number of applicants. With no screening round, every eligible applicant sits all three papers; a larger field for 26 posts pushes the call-list mark up.
- Paper III difficulty. General Forestry separates candidates most, because few have studied all eleven heads; your rank, not your raw score, decides.
- Negative marking. Three wrong answers cancel one right answer (3 × 1/3 = 1, our arithmetic), so heavy guessing lowers raw scores and the mark needed is usually below what an error-free attempt suggests.
- Normalisation. In a multi-session CBRT, published marks may be normalised and differ from your own key's raw score.
- Community and local lines. With 26 posts split across lines, several hold one or two posts, each with its own last-selected mark, and ranks there can be a mark apart.
Where APPSC publishes results
Results, keys and the walking-test call list are posted as web notes under the notification on the APPSC recruitment page. When APPSC publishes marks, we will add them here with the source PDF; treat numbers elsewhere as unofficial.
How to set your own target without a cut-off
- Sit full-length mocks in the real shape: 150 questions in 150 minutes per paper, with the one-third penalty, and track your percentile, not raw marks. Full mocks on Pareeksha are Pro; the 10-question mini-mock and Daily Dangal are free.
- Make Paper III your widest margin; it is where scores spread most.
- Train for the walk early; the standards are in the detailed notification. The sister post, Forest Beat Officer, ends in the same test.
What this page does not have
Any official cut-off or last-selected marks for Forest Section Officer, for 2026 or earlier; the language-test qualifying mark, age limits, fee, physical standards and community-wise breakup of the 26 posts (detailed notification); any forecast.
Related: Syllabus · Exam pattern · Preparation strategy