APPSC Group 4 (Junior Assistant) Guide: Scheme, Syllabus, CPT and Preparation

Group-IV Services is the clerical and office-cadre route of the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission. Most aspirants know it through one post, Junior Assistant cum Computer Assistant, but the Commission's pages show that "Group-IV" is a label for several recruitments, each with its own scheme. That is the single most useful thing to understand before you buy a study plan: there is no one Group-IV exam, and the scheme you must prepare for is the one in the notification you intend to apply to.

This guide is built from the Commission's own documents: its scheme and syllabus for Junior Assistant cum Computer Assistant published on 22 February 2019, its older Group-IV schemes for Junior Assistants (S.S.C. standard) and for Hostel Welfare Officers Grade-II (Intermediate standard), its web note of 15 September 2026 listing current notifications, and district-administration notices on the Group-IV recruitment of 2021. Age-relaxation information comes from G.O.Ms.No.187 of 14 September 2026. It complements the Group-I guide, the Group-II guide and the Group-III guide, and the wider Andhra Pradesh government exams 2026 overview and list of state government exams in Andhra Pradesh. Time-sensitive points are labelled "As on October 2026".

1. Where Group-IV stands in October 2026

The most recent Junior Assistant cum Computer Assistant recruitment I could verify is Notification No. 23/2021, dated 28 December 2021, for the post of Junior Assistant cum Computer Assistant in the A.P. Revenue Department under Group-IV Services. District administration notices on that recruitment describe its later stages: the publication of Computer Proficiency Test results with original-certificate verification on 26 August 2023, and a selection list published with a call for objections in November 2023. I did not find a new Junior Assistant cum Computer Assistant notification among the notifications shown on the Commission's home page as on October 2026.

There is, however, a Group-IV-labelled recruitment in the pipeline. The Commission's web note dated 15 September 2026 lists Notification No. 25/2026 for Hostel Welfare Officer Grade-II in the BC Welfare Department (29 posts), the Social Welfare Department (21 posts) and the Tribal Welfare Department (23 posts), with tentative online application dates of 9 October 2026 to 29 October 2026. The note says vacancies and qualifications are tentative and that detailed notifications follow. The Commission's syllabus page lists a Group-IV (Intermediate standard) scheme for Hostel Welfare Officers Grade-II in the A.P. Social Welfare Sub Service, but I could not confirm that it is the scheme for Notification 25/2026, so read the Detailed Notification of that recruitment before relying on anything in section 6 below.

2. The Junior Assistant cum Computer Assistant scheme

The Commission's scheme document, published on 22 February 2019, is labelled Bachelor's Degree standard and sets a three-step process.

Stage	Paper	Questions	Duration	Marks
Screening Test	Section A: General Studies and Mental Ability	100	100 min	100
Screening Test	Section B: General English and General Telugu (25 marks each, S.S.C. standard)	50	50 min	50
Mains	Paper-I: General Studies and Mental Ability	150	150 min	150
Mains	Paper-II: General English and General Telugu (75 marks each, S.S.C. standard)	150	150 min	150
Qualifying	Computer Proficiency Test	not stated	not stated	qualifying

The Screening Test totals 150 marks and the Mains 300 marks; both are objective type. A wrong answer costs one third of the marks for the question under G.O.Ms.No.235, Finance (HR-I, Plg and Policy) Department, dated 6 December 2016. The Computer Proficiency Test is a qualifying test for eligible candidates in the ratio of 1:2 with reference to the total number of vacancies notified, which means about two candidates per vacancy are called to it after the written stages.

Two arithmetic points are useful. First, languages carry real weight: in the Screening Test, 50 of 150 marks are English and Telugu split 25 each, and in the Mains 150 of 300 are English and Telugu split 75 each. A candidate who is strong in general studies but weak in one language can lose a quarter of the entire written marks. Second, the Screening Test is a gate: its marks shortlist candidates for the Mains. Whether and how the stages are combined into the final merit is stated in each notification, so confirm it there.

3. Syllabus for General Studies and Mental Ability

The Screening Test Section A and the Mains Paper-I carry the same twelve-item syllabus. The items are: events of national and international importance; current affairs (international, national and regional); general science and its applications to daily life, with contemporary developments in science, technology and information technology; social, economic and political history of modern India with emphasis on Andhra Pradesh; Indian polity and governance (constitutional issues, public policy, reforms and e-governance initiatives, with specific reference to Andhra Pradesh); economic development in India since independence with emphasis on Andhra Pradesh; physical geography of the Indian sub-continent and Andhra Pradesh; disaster management (vulnerability profile, prevention and mitigation, remote sensing and GIS in disaster assessment); sustainable development and environmental protection; logical reasoning, analytical ability and data interpretation; data analysis (tabulation, visual representation, and basic summary statistics such as mean, median, mode, variance and coefficient of variation); and the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh with its administrative, economic, social, cultural, political and legal implications.

Look at the pattern in the list. Seven of the twelve items are explicitly tied to Andhra Pradesh or the state's circumstances, and two are data-oriented (reasoning and data analysis). A good division of study time by item is roughly one third to Andhra-specific content, one third to polity, economy, history and geography, and one third to reasoning, data and current affairs. Our notes on the formation of Andhra Pradesh, the Reorganisation Act, 2014, AP geography, AP economy and budget and AP polity and Panchayati Raj map to these items.

For the data-analysis item, the statistics listed are mean, median, mode, variance and coefficient of variation. Many candidates revise only mean, median and mode. Variance and coefficient of variation are short formulas, and questions on them are cheap marks when you have practised ten of them.

4. Syllabus for General English and General Telugu

The English half (S.S.C. standard) lists comprehension, usage and idioms, vocabulary and punctuation, logical re-arrangement of sentences, and grammar. The Telugu half lists synonyms and vocabulary, grammar, Telugu-to-English meanings, English-to-Telugu meanings, and usage and idiom.

Because the standard is S.S.C., the questions are not literary; they test whether a graduate can handle everyday office language correctly. The best preparation is the one you can do every day. For English, read one editorial and do five error-spotting or sentence-rearrangement questions daily. For Telugu, keep a small vocabulary sheet with word, synonym, meaning in English and a sample sentence. Because 75 marks per language in the Mains is a large block, practise the translation items in both directions; they are quick to learn and quick to lose if neglected.

Candidates whose first language is not Telugu should read the Detailed Notification for any language provision, since the scheme document I read does not discuss an alternative.

5. The Computer Proficiency Test

The scheme calls the Computer Proficiency Test a qualifying test and states its ratio; the district notices on the 2021 recruitment show it came after the written stages and before certificate verification and the final list. I could not find the test's detailed syllabus in the pages I opened, so confirm it in the Detailed Notification. Practically, a post named "Junior Assistant cum Computer Assistant" expects office-automation skills: word processing, spreadsheets, file and folder handling, printing and basic internet use. Plan for hands-on practice, not theory. Two or three hours a week on a real computer in the last two months, producing a letter, a table with simple formulas and a saved, correctly named file, is a sensible minimum.

Treat the CPT as pass-or-fail. A qualifying test cannot raise your rank, but it can remove you from the list, so give it exactly the time it needs and no more.

6. Other Group-IV schemes on the Commission's site

The Commission's syllabus page also carries older Group-IV schemes. Two matter for orientation.

The scheme for Junior Assistants in various departments under Group-IV Services (S.S.C. standard) has two objective papers: Paper-1 General Knowledge and Paper-2 Secretarial Abilities, each with 150 questions, 150 marks and 150 minutes. Paper-1 is based on the syllabus formulated by the Board of Secondary School Certificate, A.P., for the tenth class: history, geography, civics, economics, physics, chemistry, botany, zoology and current affairs. Paper-2 covers verbal and non-verbal mental ability, logical reasoning, comprehension, re-arrangement of sentences to improve the analysis of a passage, and numerical and arithmetical abilities.

The scheme for Hostel Welfare Officers Grade-II in the A.P. Social Welfare Sub Service under Group-IV Services (Intermediate standard) has two papers as well: Paper-1 General Studies (current affairs of national importance, history and geography of Andhra Pradesh, mental ability and language ability) and Paper-2 on the concerned subject, with 150 questions, 150 marks and 150 minutes each. The concerned-subject syllabus I read covers foundations of education, educational psychology and trends in education, which tells you that this recruitment is subject-specific, not a clerical one.

The lesson is plain. Group-IV schemes differ by post: some are at S.S.C. standard, some at Intermediate standard, some at Bachelor's degree standard, and some have a concerned-subject paper. A "Group-IV syllabus" downloaded from a social-media post may belong to a different post. Always match the scheme to the notification number you are applying under.

7. Eligibility, age and the application

Qualification and post-wise age limits sit in the Detailed Notification of each recruitment. The Junior Assistant cum Computer Assistant scheme is pitched at Bachelor's degree standard, which suggests a degree-level qualification, but qualification is decided by the notification, and I could not open one for a current Junior Assistant recruitment. Do not assume that an Intermediate certificate is enough or that a degree is required until you have read the notification.

For age, G.O.Ms.No.187 of 14 September 2026 relaxes the upper age limit from 34 to 44 years for posts in all non-uniform services for recruitments notified by the APPSC and other agencies up to 30 September 2027, in addition to the concessions under Rule 12 of the A.P. State and Subordinate Service Rules, 1996. Junior Assistant and Hostel Welfare Officer posts are not uniformed posts, so the order is likely to apply, but the notification states which age limit applies to the post and the date on which age is reckoned. Calculate your age in years, months and days against that date.

Create or update your One Time Profile Registration early. Names, dates of birth and photographs must match your certificates, because certificate verification checks them against the documents.

8. A study plan built on the marks

Because the scheme gives languages half the Mains marks, an equal-time plan between general studies and languages is closer to the marks than a general-studies-heavy plan. An eight-week plan for a Junior Assistant cum Computer Assistant style scheme could look like this.

Weeks 1 and 2: Andhra-specific general studies. Cover the bifurcation item, the history of modern Andhra, the state's geography and a first pass on economic development. Do not read widely; use one source per topic.

Weeks 3 and 4: polity, economy, disaster management and environment, with a daily 30-minute reasoning set. Start the English and Telugu daily habits from day one and keep them through all eight weeks.

Weeks 5 and 6: data analysis and interpretation, including the summary statistics, and the translation exercises in both languages. Take one timed Section-B style test (50 questions in 50 minutes) every week.

Weeks 7 and 8: timed full-length tests. For the Screening Test pattern, simulate 100 questions in 100 minutes and 50 questions in 50 minutes back to back. For the Mains pattern, simulate 150 questions in 150 minutes. After each test, split the score by section and by language.

A worked example for one day: 60 minutes of Andhra bifurcation or geography reading, 30 minutes of reasoning practice, 20 minutes of English error-spotting, 20 minutes of Telugu vocabulary and translation, and 20 minutes of reviewing yesterday's errors. That is 2 hours and 30 minutes, and it covers every part of the written scheme.

On elimination: because wrong answers cost one third of a mark, a guess between two options is worth about one third of a mark in expectation, while a blind guess among four is worth nothing. In a 150-question paper, a candidate who can eliminate at least one option on 30 extra questions gains a few marks on average, which is often the margin between the shortlist and the rest.

9. Common mistakes

The first mistake is treating Group-IV as one exam and using a syllabus meant for another post. The second is underestimating the language marks: 50 of 150 in the Screening Test and 150 of 300 in the Mains for the Junior Assistant cum Computer Assistant scheme. The third is leaving the CPT until the written result, when practice time is short. The fourth is assuming "Group-IV is easy" because the standard is S.S.C. in the languages; the competition is large and the margins are thin. The fifth is ignoring certificate details: a spelling mismatch between the S.S.C. certificate and the application can delay or derail selection. The sixth is relying on forwarded notification dates; use only the Commission's website.

A subtler mistake is over-reading. The general-studies syllabus is twelve items long and has a clear boundary. Candidates who read five books on modern history lose time that would be better spent on the Andhra items and data analysis.

10. Key facts for exams

• Latest verified Junior Assistant cum Computer Assistant notification: No. 23/2021, dated 28 December 2021, A.P. Revenue Department, Group-IV Services; later stages included Computer Proficiency Test results and certificate verification on 26 August 2023.
• Scheme (published 22 February 2019, Bachelor's degree standard): Screening Test 150 marks (Section A 100 General Studies and Mental Ability; Section B 50 English and Telugu, 25 each); Mains 300 marks (Paper-I General Studies and Mental Ability 150; Paper-II English and Telugu 150, 75 each); Computer Proficiency Test qualifying, ratio 1:2.
• Negative marking: one third of the marks for the question (G.O.Ms.No.235, Finance, 6 December 2016).
• Older S.S.C.-standard Junior Assistant scheme: two papers of 150 questions, 150 marks and 150 minutes (General Knowledge; Secretarial Abilities); General Knowledge follows the tenth-class syllabus of the Board of Secondary School Certificate, A.P.
• Hostel Welfare Officer Grade-II: Notification No. 25/2026 (BC Welfare 29, Social Welfare 21, Tribal Welfare 23); tentative applications 9 to 29 October 2026 per the 15 September 2026 web note.
• Age: G.O.Ms.No.187 (14 September 2026), 34 to 44 for non-uniform services up to 30 September 2027; confirm in the notification.

11. Ten practice MCQs

1. Notification No. 23/2021, dated 28 December 2021, is for which Group-IV post? A. Hostel Welfare Officer Grade-II B. Junior Assistant cum Computer Assistant in the A.P. Revenue Department C. Panchayat Secretary D. Deputy Tahsildar Answer: B. It is the Junior Assistant cum Computer Assistant recruitment in the Revenue Department under Group-IV Services.

2. In the 2019 Junior Assistant cum Computer Assistant scheme, what is the marks distribution of the Screening Test? A. 100 plus 50 B. 75 plus 75 C. 120 plus 30 D. 150 only in General Studies Answer: A. Section A (General Studies and Mental Ability) is 100 marks and Section B (English and Telugu) is 50 marks.

3. How are the 50 marks of Screening Test Section B divided? A. English 30, Telugu 20 B. English 25, Telugu 25 C. English 40, Telugu 10 D. Telugu only Answer: B. The scheme says 25 marks each at S.S.C. standard.

4. What is the total of the Mains marks in that scheme? A. 150 B. 200 C. 300 D. 450 Answer: C. Paper-I and Paper-II carry 150 marks each.

5. What does Mains Paper-II contain? A. General Studies B. English and Telugu, 75 marks each C. Secretarial Abilities D. Computer Proficiency Answer: B. Paper-II is General English and General Telugu at S.S.C. standard.

6. What is the nature of the Computer Proficiency Test in the scheme? A. Final, rank-deciding B. Qualifying, for eligible candidates in the ratio of 1:2 to vacancies C. Optional D. Held before the Screening Test Answer: B. The scheme calls it a qualifying test.

7. What is the penalty for a wrong answer in these objective papers? A. None B. One fourth C. One third D. One half Answer: C. It follows G.O.Ms.No.235 of 6 December 2016.

8. As per G.O.Ms.No.187 of 14 September 2026, the upper age limit for non-uniform services is relaxed from 34 to how many years? A. 40 B. 42 C. 44 D. 46 Answer: C. The relaxation is valid for recruitments notified up to 30 September 2027.

9. What is Paper-2 called in the older S.S.C.-standard Group-IV scheme for Junior Assistants? A. Secretarial Abilities B. Rural Development C. Social History D. Science and Technology Answer: A. Paper-1 is General Knowledge and Paper-2 is Secretarial Abilities, each of 150 marks.

10. Which syllabus does General Knowledge follow in that older scheme? A. Intermediate board B. The S.S.C. syllabus of the Board of Secondary School Certificate, A.P., for the tenth class C. Degree-level university syllabus D. NCERT class XII Answer: B. The paper is based on the tenth-class history, geography, civics, economics, physics, chemistry, botany, zoology and current affairs.

12. Frequently asked questions

Is there a Junior Assistant notification now? As on October 2026, I did not find a Junior Assistant cum Computer Assistant notification on the Commission's home page. The 15 September 2026 web note lists Hostel Welfare Officer Grade-II posts, which are a different recruitment.

Is there an interview? The scheme document for the Junior Assistant cum Computer Assistant post lists no interview.

What is the qualifying test for Junior Assistant cum Computer Assistant? A Computer Proficiency Test for eligible candidates in a 1:2 ratio to vacancies. Its detailed syllabus is in the Detailed Notification.

Is a typing test required? The Junior Assistant cum Computer Assistant scheme I read lists a Computer Proficiency Test and no typing test. Where a notification includes a typist post, it will state the typing requirement.

Which language papers are there? General English and General Telugu at S.S.C. standard, in both the Screening Test and the Mains.

Which educational qualification is needed? It is fixed by each notification. The scheme document is pitched at Bachelor's degree standard, so read the notification of the post you apply for.

Can I prepare for Group-IV along with Group-II? Yes, the general-studies layer overlaps. Group-II adds the Mains sections on Andhra social history, the Constitution, the economy and science and technology, as described in our Group-II guide.

13. Related reading

• APPSC Group 1 guide, Group 2 guide, Group 3 guide
• Andhra Pradesh government exams 2026
• List of state government exams in Andhra Pradesh
• AP formation history
• AP geography notes
• AP economy and budget notes

14. Practise on pareeksha.in

When you finish a topic, test it under time. Pareeksha has 10 Lakh+ MCQs, 100+ Exams and 5,000+ Full-Length Mocks. Practise the Screening Test pattern (100 questions plus a separate 50-question language section) and the 150-question Mains pattern, and review errors by section and by language. Read the Commission's syllabus first and use practice papers to find the gaps.

Sources and verification

Pages and documents actually opened for this guide:

• Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission, scheme and syllabus for the post of Junior Assistant cum Computer Assistant (published 22 February 2019), and the Group-IV schemes for Junior Assistants (S.S.C. standard) and for Hostel Welfare Officers Grade-II (Intermediate standard) on the Commission's syllabus pages (psc.ap.gov.in and portal-psc.ap.gov.in).
• APPSC web note dated 15 September 2026 listing Notification Nos. 07/2026 to 26/2026, including No. 25/2026, and the web note dated 6 October 2026 (psc.ap.gov.in).
• Government of Andhra Pradesh district-administration notices (Kurnool, Kakinada) on APPSC Notification No. 23/2021 and its CPT and certificate-verification stages (ap.gov.in district sites).
• Government of Andhra Pradesh, G.O.Ms.No.187, General Administration (Ser.A) Department, 14 September 2026.

Not verified: the qualification and age limit for any current Junior Assistant recruitment, the detailed Computer Proficiency Test syllabus, how the stages combine into the final merit, the scheme and qualification for Notification No. 25/2026, and the number of posts in the 2021 recruitment at state level. I could not open a Detailed Notification for any of these, so they remain "check the latest notification".