Grade IV is the entry level of the Assam state government service. It is the doorway for candidates who have passed Class 10 (HSLC) and want a stable government job in a department, office, hospital, school or court in their own state. The posts are simple in nature, but competition is heavy because the eligibility is low and the job security is high. That is why every Grade IV vacancy attracts a very large number of applications.
The Assam government has moved these recruitments into a common examination known as the Assam Direct Recruitment Exam (ADRE). This guide explains how Grade IV recruitment works, who can apply, what the written test typically contains, and how a Class 10 pass candidate can prepare in a few months with school-level books. The advertisement of each cycle is the final authority on dates, vacancies, fees, age and marks, so verify every detail there.
What ADRE Grade IV Recruitment Means
The Assam government classifies its non-gazetted posts as Grade III and Grade IV. Grade IV posts are the lowest tier and include support and helper-type jobs such as peon or office attendant, orderly, chowkidar or watchman, sweeper, cook, gardener, hospital attendant, laboratory attendant, driver in some departments and other similar roles. The exact names of posts differ by department, and a driver or a hospital attendant may need a special licence or certificate. That is why the post-wise list in each advertisement is important.
Before ADRE, each department filled such posts by itself, with separate advertisements and interviews. The state government decided to remove the interview and to use a written test for Grade III and Grade IV, with candidates ranked by merit and allotted posts according to their preferences and the reservation roster. The examination has been held in more than one round in recent years, and later rounds have been reported as ADRE 2.0. Which agency conducts the current exam and what it is called this year appear in the official advertisement. Do not rely on a social media post for this.
A common cycle looks like this:
| Step | What usually happens |
|---|---|
| Advertisement | Departments, post names, vacancies, qualifications, age, fee and dates are published |
| Online application | The candidate applies once, and lists the posts and preferences if the form provides them |
| Admit card | Downloaded from the portal a few days before the test |
| Written test | Objective paper on a fixed date, at centres across the state |
| Post-specific test | Driving test, physical test or trade test for posts that need one, as notified |
| Merit list | Rank by marks with reservation applied; posts allotted by rank and preference |
| Verification | Original certificates are checked, followed by medical checks where required |
What a Day in a Grade IV Job Looks Like
A Grade IV employee assists the running of an office or institution. In a school or college office, this means opening and closing rooms, carrying files, cleaning, helping teachers and staff. In a hospital, an attendant supports nurses and doctors with moving patients, keeping wards ready and non-clinical tasks. In a department office, a peon delivers files between sections and helps with photocopying and messaging. Drivers operate government vehicles and maintain logbooks. A night watchman guards the premises.
The work is physical to some extent and depends on discipline and punctuality. It also brings regular pay, leave, allowances and, after some years, promotion to higher posts through departmental rules, sometimes to Grade III positions through a seniority quota or after passing a departmental test. Ask the department for the exact rules, because promotion policies change.
Post and Vacancy Structure
Vacancies are listed department-wise in the advertisement, with reservation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes (Plains), Scheduled Tribes (Hills), OBC and MOBC, and persons with benchmark disabilities, as per the state's roster. No vacancy figure is quoted here on purpose. Any number that does not come from the official advertisement can mislead you.
Eligibility
Educational Qualification
A pass in Class 10 (HSLC from SEBA, CBSE or another recognised board) is usually the requirement for Grade IV. Some posts require a special qualification: a driver needs a valid driving licence of the type mentioned, a laboratory attendant may need science subjects, and a cook or gardener may need proof of experience or a certificate. A few posts may ask for a pass in Class 8 alone, so check each post carefully.
Age Limit
State recruitments in Assam have historically kept the minimum age at 18 years and the general upper limit higher than many other states, with relaxation for reserved categories, persons with disabilities, ex-servicemen and other groups. Since the limit and the relaxation years can change, use the cut-off date and category-wise limits from the current notice.
Residence and Category Certificates
State jobs of this level are meant for candidates who belong to Assam as defined in the rules of the government, and the advertisement states which document proves this. Reserved-category candidates need the caste certificate in the state's prescribed format. Get any correction done in advance, since the certificate process may take weeks. Names and dates of birth must match in the HSLC certificate, admit card and identity documents.
Physical and Medical Fitness
Some posts (driver, chowkidar, hospital attendant) may require basic medical fitness, and some may carry physical standards. Read the post description. If a driving licence is required, keep it valid and ready.
Application Process
- Read the notice in full and list the posts for which you qualify.
- Prepare scanned copies of your photograph, signature, HSLC certificate, category and residence certificates, and other documents.
- Register on the portal named in the advertisement with your own mobile number and email.
- Fill in the form with the exact spelling of your name, and fill in post preferences carefully if the form asks.
- Pay the fee online in the manner described and take a copy of the receipt.
- Submit the form, take a printout and keep the application number safe.
- Download the admit card when released, and check the centre in advance.
Do not depend on a single day close to the last date. Servers often slow down near deadlines.
The Written Test: Typical Structure
The Grade IV paper is set at a level that a Class 10 student should be able to attempt. It is generally objective, in multiple-choice format. Common subjects have included general English or language, general knowledge including Assam, mathematics at a basic level, general science and reasoning. The number of questions, total marks, time and negative marking are given in the notice of each cycle.
| Feature | Typical structure (verify in the notice) |
|---|---|
| Type | Objective multiple choice |
| Subjects | Language or English, General Knowledge with Assam, basic Mathematics, General Science, simple Reasoning |
| Level | Class 10 standard |
| Negative marking | May apply; read the instructions |
| Post-specific tests | For driver and similar posts, as notified |
A good approach is to prepare for all the subjects, even if a rumour suggests that one of them will be dropped.
Detailed Syllabus and How to Study
Language and English
Basic grammar: nouns, pronouns, verbs, tenses, articles, prepositions and punctuation, along with vocabulary (synonyms, antonyms), simple sentence correction and a short comprehension passage. If an Assamese, Bodo or Bengali language part is included as notified, revise your school grammar and common idioms.
Study tip: Read your Class 9 and 10 English grammar book once fully, then solve 20 questions a day. Learn five new words daily with meaning and a sentence.
General Knowledge with Assam
Focus on facts that can be learnt and revised:
- Places and geography: the capital Dispur; Guwahati on the Brahmaputra; the Brahmaputra as the main river, with tributaries such as the Subansiri and Manas; the Barak river in southern Assam; Majuli as a river island; the hills of Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao; major cities such as Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Silchar, Tezpur and Tinsukia.
- Wildlife: Kaziranga (one-horned rhinoceros), Manas, Nameri, Orang and Dibru-Saikhowa; the golden langur and the hoolock gibbon are also well-known species of the region.
- Festivals: Bohag Bihu in April, Magh Bihu in January, Kati Bihu in October, Ambubachi at Kamakhya, Ali-Ai-Ligang of the Mising community, Baisagu of the Bodo community, and Raas festival at Majuli.
- Products: tea from Assam is famous across the world, Assam silk includes muga, eri and pat, the gamosa is a cotton towel with a red pattern used for respect, and the japi is a bamboo and cane hat.
- Persons: Sankardeva, Lachit Borphukan, Gopinath Bordoloi (first Chief Minister), Bhupen Hazarika (musician), Lakshminath Bezbaroa (writer), Mamoni Raisom Goswami (writer), Kanaklata Barua, and sportspersons of Assam.
- Institutions: Gauhati University, Dibrugarh University, IIT Guwahati, Tocklai Tea Research Institute at Jorhat, and the Gauhati High Court.
- India: Prime Minister, President, Chief Ministers, national symbols, capitals, major rivers, important days, and Constitution basics.
Study tip: Use a small pocket notebook for facts. Revise it while travelling. Ask a family member to quiz you.
Basic Mathematics
Arithmetic at Class 8 to 10 level: number system, fractions, decimals, percentage, ratio, average, simple interest, profit and loss, time and work, speed and distance, area and perimeter of simple shapes, and simple data reading.
Study tip: Do not chase difficult problems. Master easy and medium-level questions and learn quick methods such as fraction-to-percentage tables (1/8 is 12.5 percent, 1/6 is about 16.67 percent).
General Science
Class 8 to 10 science: physical and chemical changes, states of matter, acids and bases, metals and non-metals, force, motion and energy, light and sound, electricity in daily life, human body, nutrition and diseases, plants and animals, environment and pollution, basic health and first aid.
Study tip: NCERT-based summaries are enough. Prepare short notes on vitamins and their deficiency diseases, common diseases and vaccination, and units of physical quantities.
Reasoning
Number and letter series, odd one out, analogy, coding, direction sense, blood relations, simple ranking, and figure-based problems. Start with easy sets and build speed.
Post Preference and Result
After the result, posts are allotted by merit and the preferences given by candidates. A high rank does not guarantee a favourite department, because vacancies and reservation decide the final allotment. If your form allows preferences, think about where you can live, what the working hours are and what the promotion path is. Fill the order with care, because you cannot always change it later.
Salary and Career Growth
Grade IV employees are paid on the state pay structure, with dearness allowance and other allowances. The exact scale and the total in-hand pay change with pay revisions and the location of posting, so read the pay level printed in the advertisement rather than accept a figure from a friend. After joining, you become part of the department's seniority list. With years of service and, where rules allow, promotion tests or quotas, employees can move to higher grades. Some employees also use the age relaxation for government servants to appear in higher recruitment tests such as ADRE Grade III or other state exams.
Trends in Previous Rounds
- Very large numbers of candidates applied for a limited set of vacancies, so even a small difference in marks changed the rank.
- Papers were mostly objective and school-level, but time pressure mattered.
- Assam-related questions came from places, people, festivals and symbols, and were not very deep.
- Basic mathematics and simple reasoning made the difference between an average and a good score.
- Candidates with weak English or language grammar lost easy marks.
No cut-off marks are quoted here because they depend on the paper and category in each round. Rely on the official result notice.
Practice Questions with Answers
Q1. What is 15 percent of 240? Answer: 36. Explanation: 10 percent of 240 is 24 and 5 percent is 12. Adding gives 24 + 12 = 36.
Q2. The average of 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 is: Answer: 30. Explanation: The sum is 150, and dividing by 5 gives 30.
Q3. Which of the following is a national park in Assam and a UNESCO World Heritage Site? (a) Sultanpur (b) Kaziranga (c) Corbett (d) Ranthambore Answer: (b) Kaziranga. Explanation: Kaziranga is famous for the one-horned rhinoceros and was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1985.
Q4. Which of the following is a tributary of the Brahmaputra flowing from the north? (a) Subansiri (b) Barak (c) Godavari (d) Chambal Answer: (a) Subansiri. Explanation: The Barak flows in southern Assam and drains into Bangladesh. Godavari and Chambal are in other parts of India.
Q5. Fill in the blank: He ___ to school every day. (a) go (b) goes (c) going (d) gone Answer: (b) goes. Explanation: "He" is a third-person singular subject, so the present simple verb takes "-es".
Q6. Which vitamin deficiency causes night blindness? Answer: Vitamin A. Explanation: Vitamin A is needed for the working of the retina, and its shortage makes it hard to see in dim light.
Q7. A rectangular field is 20 m long and 15 m wide. What is its perimeter? Answer: 70 m. Explanation: Perimeter = 2 × (length + width) = 2 × 35 = 70 m.
Q8. Who was the first Chief Minister of Assam after independence, later awarded the Bharat Ratna? Answer: Gopinath Bordoloi. Explanation: He led the state in the years after independence, is known as Lokapriya, and received the Bharat Ratna in 1999.
Q9. Find the odd one out: Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Tezpur, Shillong. Answer: Shillong. Explanation: The first three are towns in Assam, while Shillong is the capital of Meghalaya.
Q10. A train travels 180 km in 3 hours. What is its speed? Answer: 60 km/h. Explanation: Speed = distance divided by time = 180 / 3 = 60.
Q11. Which festival of Assam is celebrated by the Mising community and is linked with the start of the sowing season? Answer: Ali-Ai-Ligang. Explanation: It is held in February and marks the beginning of sowing (Ahu paddy), with dance and community feasts.
Q12. Convert 2.5 hours into minutes. Answer: 150 minutes. Explanation: 2 hours is 120 minutes and 0.5 hour is 30 minutes.
Documents Checklist
Keeping documents ready is a part of preparation, because a wrong or missing paper can cancel a good rank at the verification stage.
| Document | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| HSLC admit card and pass certificate | Proof of qualification, name and date of birth |
| Residence or domicile proof as notified | Eligibility under the state's residence rules |
| Category certificate (SC, ST-P, ST-H, OBC/MOBC) | Needed only if you claim reservation; must be in the current prescribed format |
| Disability certificate | For candidates claiming benefit under the disability quota |
| Driving licence or trade certificate | Only for posts that ask for it |
| Photo identity such as Aadhaar or voter card | Entry to the exam hall and verification |
| Passport-size photographs and signature scan | Application and admit card |
If a name is spelt differently in two documents, apply for a correction or make an affidavit early. Government offices need time, and it is better not to leave this for the last week.
Exam-Day Advice
Reach the centre at least an hour before the reporting time and carry the admit card, an original photo ID and the pen or pencil allowed by the instructions. Read the paper's instructions before starting. Attempt the questions you know first, mark the doubtful ones for the second round and do not spend more than a minute on a single question. If there is negative marking, answer a doubtful question only when you can remove at least two options. Keep your mind calm, because most candidates lose marks through haste on questions that they actually know.
Month-by-Month Preparation Plan (Three Months)
- Month 1: Revise Class 8 to 10 maths (percentage, ratio, average, time and work) and English grammar. Start the Assam notebook (geography, festivals, symbols). Read one newspaper page daily.
- Month 2: Continue maths with speed and distance, interest and mensuration. Complete general science notes. Start reasoning series and coding. Add Assam history and personalities.
- Month 3: Solve full-length mock tests twice a week, and analyse each mistake. Revise notes, formulas and current affairs. If a driving or physical test applies to your post, practise it in parallel.
Fix the time for study, and treat it like a job. Two to three hours daily is enough for most candidates.
Books and Resources
- SEBA or NCERT textbooks of Classes 8, 9 and 10 for mathematics, science and English.
- A basic quantitative aptitude book and a reasoning book for beginners.
- A concise Assam general knowledge book, along with reliable state government publications.
- A newspaper and a monthly current affairs summary.
- Regular mock tests at pareeksha.in to practise the objective format with a timer.
Common Mistakes
- Thinking that a Class 10 level paper needs no practice, and then losing time in the real paper.
- Ignoring English grammar and general science, which are easy scoring areas.
- Not checking the qualification for a particular post such as a driver or a laboratory attendant.
- Filling wrong details in the form, or using a mobile number that is not active.
- Believing agents or middlemen who promise a job for money. Recruitment is through the written test and the official process only, and any offer of a shortcut is a fraud.
- Not preparing certificates in time.
- Guessing wildly under negative marking.
Comparison with Other Assam Exams
| Aspect | ADRE Grade IV | ADRE Grade III | Assam Police Constable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical qualification | Class 10 | Class 12 | School level, as per notice |
| Work | Support and helper roles | Office and clerical | Uniformed field duty |
| Selection | Written test, plus skill test for some posts | Written test, plus skill test for some posts | Written and physical stages |
| Competition | Very high | Very high | High |
Candidates who have passed Class 12 should consider ADRE Grade III, which has better pay prospects and a clerical career path. Those who are physically fit and prefer a uniform may look at Assam Police Constable. For health-related roles, see Assam Pharmacist and Assam Lab Technician.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What qualification is required for ADRE Grade IV? A Class 10 (HSLC) pass is the usual requirement, with additional conditions for some posts. Verify in the notice.
2. Is there an interview? Recent state policy has used a written test without an interview for Grade III and IV. Confirm in the current advertisement.
3. What subjects are in the exam? Typically language or English, general knowledge with Assam, basic mathematics, general science and reasoning, but check the pattern in the notification.
4. Is there negative marking? It may apply. Read the instructions given with the admit card.
5. Can I apply for a driver post? Only if you meet the qualification and hold the driving licence required by the post.
6. Do I need an Assam residence certificate? The advertisement sets out the residence requirement and the acceptable proof. Get your documents ready early.
7. Can women apply? Yes, subject to the qualifications and the nature of the post. Some posts may have separate rules.
8. How many months of preparation are needed? Two to three months of regular preparation is enough for candidates with good school fundamentals.
9. Are agents useful in getting these jobs? No. Never pay anyone for a job. Use only the official portal and notice.
10. What should I do if my name is wrongly spelt in the admit card? Contact the helpline mentioned in the notice, and keep proof of your correct name ready at the centre.
Related Reads
- ADRE Grade III
- Assam Police Constable
- Assam Pharmacist
- Assam Lab Technician
- Latest exam news on Pareeksha
Final Word
Grade IV recruitment is competitive but fair for candidates who prepare in a disciplined way. Strengthen your maths and grammar, learn Assam facts steadily, and keep your documents ready. When you want to check your speed and accuracy, timed mock tests on pareeksha.in are available for practice.
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