The interview is the last stage of the Group-I recruitment and the one that candidates understand least. The syllabus for the screening test and the Mains is printed in the notification, so there is a book list for it. The interview has no syllabus. It is a conversation with a board, and it carries a small but real share of the final merit. Many aspirants either ignore it until the Mains result arrives, or they prepare for it by memorising model answers that sound rehearsed in the room. Neither approach helps much.
This post explains what the official documents say about the interview, and then separates that from advice. The facts come from the detailed Group-I notification, Notification No. 07/2026 dated 6 October 2026, and from the Union Public Service Commission's published guidance on its own Personality Test. Everything marked "advice" in this post is the view of the writer, drawn from how such conversations are generally structured. It is not an APPSC rule, no board is bound by it, and following it does not promise any result. For the dates, posts, fee and the rest of the notification, read APPSC Group 1 Notification 2026 first, and for subject preparation use the APPSC Group 1 guide.
As on 7 October 2026. Source: APPSC Notification No. 07/2026 (detailed), dated 6 October 2026, at psc.ap.gov.in; UPSC Examination Notice No. 05/2026-CSE at upsc.gov.in. The Mains and interview dates have not been announced. Read the live notification and any later web notes before relying on a figure in this post.
What the notification actually says about the interview
The notification is short on this subject, so it is worth reading exactly. Para 12.10 says that after the Main written examination, eligible candidates will be called for an Interview (Personality Test) as per G.O.Ms.No.100, General Administration (Ser-A) Department, dated 30 September 2022, at the ratio of 1:2 with reference to the number of vacancies, duly following the special representation laid down in General Rule 22 of the A.P. State and Subordinate Service Rules, 1996, as amended from time to time. Para 15.3 says that selection to the posts is on the basis of merit in the Main written examination and the interview. Annexure II, the scheme of examination, gives the interview 75 marks and the total of the Mains and interview 825 marks.
Four facts follow directly from those lines, and each one affects how you prepare.
First, the interview is a merit stage. It is not a formality and it is not a qualifying test with a pass mark. Its 75 marks are added to the Mains marks, and the combined total decides the order of merit. The notification, as far as the pages opened for this post show, does not publish a separate minimum for the interview. It fixes minimum qualifying aggregate percentages for the whole selection (40 per cent for OC, sportspersons and EWS, 35 per cent for Backward Classes, 30 per cent for SC, ST and persons with benchmark disabilities) and states that merely securing them gives no right to selection.
Second, the call is in the ratio of 1:2 against vacancies. With 166 vacancies notified as on 6 October 2026, a plain 1:2 ratio would mean about 332 interview calls, but the exact number will depend on the final vacancy count, the special representation rule and how ties at the cut-off are handled. Treat 332 as an illustration of scale and not as a published figure. The point for you is that roughly half of those called will not be placed among the selected candidates, and the interview marks are part of what separates them.
Third, there is no waiting list. The notification says recruitment is made to the notified vacancies only. A candidate who is one rank outside the vacancy count at the end does not get a later chance if somebody declines.
Fourth, the interview is the only stage where you are assessed in person. Everything before it is an objective answer sheet or a written script. A board will see how you speak, how you listen, and how you handle a question you cannot answer.
| Item | What the notification states | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Interview marks | 75 | Annexure II, scheme of examination |
| Mains marks | 5 merit papers of 150 marks each = 750, plus 2 qualifying language papers | Annexure II |
| Merit total | 825 (Mains 750 + interview 75) | Annexure II |
| Call ratio | 1:2 against vacancies, with special representation per General Rule 22 | Para 12.10 |
| Governing order | G.O.Ms.No.100, GA (Ser-A) Dept, 30.09.2022 | Paras 12.10, 15.3 |
| Waiting list | None | Para 13.1 |
| Interview date and venue | Not announced as on 7 October 2026 | APPSC website |
How the 75 marks sit inside 825
Seventy-five out of 825 is about 9.1 per cent of the merit total. That number deserves a calm reading. It is too small to rescue a weak Mains performance, and too large to ignore when candidates are bunched near the cut-off. In recruitments of this kind, final ranks near the bottom of the selected list are often separated by a few marks, and a swing of ten or fifteen interview marks, which is a modest swing in a 75-mark test, can move a candidate across that line in either direction. This is a general observation about close rankings and not a statement about any past APPSC list.
The practical lesson is about sequence. The Mains comes first and has ten times the marks. A candidate who stops writing practice answers to polish interview answers has made a poor trade. The interview deserves a defined slice of time, not the whole of your attention. The scheme in the later sections assumes the Mains is the main task until its result, and the interview is prepared in parallel in small daily pieces, then intensively in the gap after the Mains result.
The timing itself is not known. The screening test is on 24 January 2027, the Mains and interview dates are yet to be announced, and the previous Group-I cycle shows how long the later stages can take. For Notification No. 12/2023, the APPSC web note of 9 January 2026 said the selection process was pending because of court cases, and the list of candidates provisionally selected was published only on 30 January 2026, according to the web note of that date. This does not predict the 2026 cycle. It is a reminder that the gap between the Mains and the interview can be uncertain, so a preparation plan that is flexible about timing is safer than one fixed to a guessed month.
What boards are meant to assess: the UPSC guidance
APPSC has not, in the notification pages opened for this post, published a description of what its interview boards look for. The nearest published official text is UPSC's, in Section II of its Civil Services Examination notice, and it is worth reading because State boards commonly follow a broadly similar understanding of a personality test. This is an inference, not an APPSC statement, so read it as context.
UPSC says the candidate will be interviewed by a board that has before it a record of the candidate's career, and that the candidate will be asked questions on matters of general interest. The object is to assess the personal suitability of the candidate for a career in public service by a board of competent and unbiased observers. In broad terms, it says, this is an assessment of not only intellectual qualities but also social traits and interest in current affairs. The qualities it lists are mental alertness, critical powers of assimilation, clear and logical exposition, balance of judgement, variety and depth of interest, ability for social cohesion and leadership, and intellectual and moral integrity.
It describes the technique as not a strict cross-examination but a natural, though directed and purposive, conversation intended to reveal the mental qualities of the candidate. It also says the interview is not a test of specialised or general knowledge, which has already been tested through the written papers, and that candidates are expected to have taken an intelligent interest in their own subjects of study and in events within and outside their State or country, and in modern currents of thought.
UPSC's Personality Test carries 275 marks, with no minimum qualifying mark, and about twice the number of vacancies are summoned. Notice how close this is to the APPSC arrangement of 75 marks and a 1:2 call. The scale differs, but the idea of a conversation after a written test, for roughly twice the vacancies, is the same.
Three working conclusions follow, all labelled as advice. The board is looking at the person more than at facts. A fact you do not know is not fatal if the way you handle not knowing is honest and composed. And the interview has no syllabus because the board's real subject is you: your record, your reasoning and your manner.
Dress and documents
Nothing in the opened pages of the notification prescribes a dress code for the interview, so what follows is advice. Formal, plain and comfortable clothing is the safe choice. A shirt and trousers, or a saree or salwar kameez in subdued colours, with clean and comfortable footwear, avoids drawing attention to the clothes. Avoid anything you have not worn for several hours before, because discomfort shows in posture. Carry a watch only if the venue allows it; for the written papers the notification bans watches and electronic devices, and the interview centre may have its own rules.
One instruction in the notification does bear on appearance. In its general instructions, the Commission asks candidates not to change their appearance until the recruitment process is complete, because the photograph uploaded with the application may be compared at verification. A candidate who shaves a long-held beard, changes hairstyle drastically or alters appearance in a way that makes the application photograph hard to match risks delay. Keep your look close to the uploaded photograph through all the stages.
Documents are a separate matter, and here the notification is clear in general terms. The Commission says admission to an examination does not mean the candidature has been finally cleared, and candidates must be found suitable after verification of original certificates and eligibility conditions. Post and zone preferences are taken online before the Mains and again at certificate verification, where the preferences are mandatory and final. The Commission may assign any notified post for which a candidate is eligible. The interview call letter will say what to bring, and that letter overrides anything in this post.
| Document group | Why it matters | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Degree certificate and marks memos | Educational qualification as on the crucial date | The notification treats the date of the detailed notification as crucial |
| Class I to VII study certificates, or residence proof | Local status | OTPR was updated for the Presidential Order, 2025 from 30 September 2026 |
| Community certificate | Reservation and age relaxation | Issued by an authority not below Tahsildar rank |
| Non-creamy-layer certificate (BC) | BC reservation | Issued on or after 1 April 2026 and not later than the application closing date |
| EWS certificate | EWS reservation | Digital format, income for FY 2025-26, on or after 1 April 2026 |
| Disability, service or sports certificates | Special claims | As the notification specifies |
| Photograph and identity proof | Matching with the application | Keep appearance close to the uploaded photograph |
| Printed application copy | Reference during the interview | Print and keep a copy of what you submitted |
The detailed application form is your interview script
The most useful object in the interview room is one you control completely before you enter: what you wrote in your application. UPSC's notice says the board has before it a record of the candidate's career. For APPSC the exact form of that record is not described in the opened pages, so the following is advice: assume that whatever you entered in your application, OTPR profile and any later forms can become a question.
Print your submitted application and read it as a stranger would. A hobby you listed will be asked about. A degree subject will be asked about. A district you named as hometown will be asked about. A job or internship, a sport, a certificate course, a language, a social service activity, all can open a line of questions. The golden rule of this section is simple: do not list anything you cannot discuss for five minutes.
A workable method is to build a one-page "profile sheet" for yourself, even if you never hand it to anyone. Divide it into short blocks.
Name, home and background. The meaning of your name, if you are asked. Your native village or town, its district, its main crops or industries, its history in two sentences, a current local problem and one thing the government has done there recently. Many first questions begin here because they are easy to ask and easy for a prepared candidate to answer.
Education. Your degree subject and why you chose it. Three topics from it that connect to governance. The college you attended and anything you learned outside the classroom. If your marks were weak in a particular year, an honest, brief explanation prepared in advance.
Work or study gap. If there is a gap between your degree and your application, say plainly what you did. Boards generally respond better to a straight account than to a hurried one.
Hobbies and interests. Pick only those you genuinely have. For each, be ready with a recent example, a favourite book, match, film or place, and one thing you learned from it.
Why civil service, and why this service. Prepare an honest answer in your own words, without slogans. Think about what the post you prefer actually does. A Deputy Collector in the Executive Branch of the State Civil Service, an Assistant Commissioner of State Tax, a District Educational Officer and a DSP (Civil) do very different work, and a candidate who understands the difference gives a more believable answer than one who says only "to serve society."
Post and zone preferences. If you are asked why you ranked posts in a certain order, the answer should connect to your abilities and interests, not to the perceived prestige of a post.
Handling questions on your academic and optional background
A point of confusion needs correcting first. Unlike the UPSC Civil Services Examination, the APPSC Group-I Mains in Notification 07/2026 has no optional subject. The five merit papers are General Essay, History, Culture and Geography of India and Andhra Pradesh, Polity, Constitution, Governance, Law and Ethics, Economy and Development of India and Andhra Pradesh, and Science, Technology and Environmental Issues, plus the two qualifying language papers in Telugu and English. So there is no "optional subject interview" in the UPSC sense. What the board can ask about is your degree subject, your postgraduate study if any, and any specialisation you listed. This is an inference from the scheme and from the way UPSC describes its own interview, not an APPSC statement.
UPSC says its interview is not meant to test specialised knowledge already tested by the written papers, but that candidates should have taken an intelligent interest in their own subjects of study. That is a helpful standard for this section. You are not expected to know everything in your degree subject. You are expected to discuss it with some depth and to connect it to the world.
A good way to prepare is the "three levels" exercise, which is advice. For your degree subject, write down three levels of understanding.
Level one is the core idea: what the subject is about, explained in two sentences to someone who has never studied it. A zoology graduate should be able to explain what ecology is and why biodiversity matters. A commerce graduate should be able to explain how a balance sheet differs from a profit and loss account.
Level two is the application: how the subject touches public life in Andhra Pradesh. An engineering graduate can speak about irrigation projects, power demand or urban water. A botany or agriculture graduate can speak about crops, horticulture and food processing in the State. A law graduate can talk about access to justice and legal aid. A history graduate can connect the Andhra movement or the 2014 reorganisation to present administration. For this purpose the guides on the AP Reorganisation Act 2014 and the district fact sheet are good background.
Level three is the debate: one open question in your field where thoughtful people disagree. A board often moves from facts to opinion. A candidate who has a reasoned, balanced view on a debate in their own field looks more mature than one who only has definitions.
If you are asked something in your own subject that you do not know, say so plainly, and then offer what you do know that is nearest, or the way you would find out. The attempt to bluff is the one thing that tends to make a conversation worse. This is advice, and it matches the UPSC description of a "balance of judgement" and "intellectual and moral integrity" as the qualities under observation.
State issues: Andhra Pradesh questions you can expect
Because the posts are State posts, a board is likely to ask about the State. This is advice, but the Mains syllabus itself leans heavily towards Andhra Pradesh, which supports the point. The history paper includes the Andhra movement, the formation of the State and the bifurcation of 2014, and the economy paper includes budgeting, resource mobilisation, industrial policy and infrastructure of Andhra Pradesh.
Prepare these clusters, each in a form you can speak about for two minutes.
Reorganisation and its aftermath. The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, its main provisions, the capital question, and the 2026 amendment that named Amaravati, as covered in the reorganisation post. Be neutral in tone. A board is more interested in how you describe a contested subject than in which side you prefer.
The economy and the budget. The size of the State budget, the main revenue sources, the share of agriculture, and the main schemes. Keep numbers dated and say "as per the latest budget" when you are not sure. The budget and socio-economic survey essentials post explains the headline structure.
Districts and administration. The present number of districts, the main divisions, and your own district's profile. The district fact sheet gives a revision frame. Be careful with any figure that has changed recently.
Agriculture and irrigation. Major crops, the Godavari and Krishna systems, Polavaram and other projects, and issues such as crop insurance and market prices.
Coast, disasters and environment. Cyclones, the long coastline, ports, coastal erosion, forests, and disaster management. A candidate who can speak about preparedness and relief in two or three concrete steps is easier to listen to than one who lists generalities.
Welfare and governance. The structure of Panchayati Raj, village and ward secretariats, e-governance, the Right to Information Act, and a few State schemes. You may be asked what you would change. The best answers name a real implementation problem and a practical, modest fix.
For a board, the aim is to see whether you have taken an intelligent interest in the State, as UPSC's text puts it. Read one State newspaper regularly, in whichever language you prefer, and follow the monthly AP current affairs and how to study current affairs approach to keep notes short and dated.
National issues and current affairs
The second cluster is national and international. UPSC explicitly mentions interest in events within and outside the State or country, and in modern currents of thought. Again this is the guidance of a different commission, so use it as a model.
A sustainable method is the "one issue a week" habit. Each week choose one national issue that has been in the news, such as a major Union Budget announcement, a Supreme Court judgment, a federal-state dispute, a trade or security development, a scientific mission, or a social policy debate. For each issue, write five lines on a card: what happened, why it matters, who is affected, the main arguments for and against, and your balanced view. In a few months you will have thirty or forty cards, and more importantly, you will have practised forming a view quickly.
Keep your tone measured. Boards generally do not look for a candidate with a strong political position. They look for reasoning that is fair to more than one side, and for the ability to say "there are two views, and this is the one I find stronger, for these reasons." That formula is useful in almost every contested topic. Avoid personal attacks on any political party, leader or community. This is also a safe rule in the interview room because the Commission's own rules require neutrality from a civil servant.
Some topics need extra care: religion, caste, regional rivalry, the status of the capital and any matter pending before a court. On those, state the facts, state the competing positions fairly, and avoid sounding like an advocate for either side.
Ethics, situational and administrative judgement questions
Paper III of the Mains includes Ethics in Public Service and knowledge of law: ethics and human interface, human values, attitude, emotional intelligence, the concept of public service, codes of conduct, leadership ethics, corruption, the Lokpal and Lokayukta, the RTI Act and basic knowledge of laws. The Screening Test's Paper II also lists emotional intelligence and social intelligence, decision making and problem solving. A board can therefore reasonably carry the same themes into the interview, though the interview has no fixed content. This is an inference.
Situational questions give you a scenario and ask what you would do. Here are three typical shapes, offered as practice, not as predictions.
A flood-relief situation. You are the officer in charge of a mandal after heavy rain. Relief materials are limited, two villages are cut off, and a local leader asks you to send supplies to his village first. What do you do?
A file with a flaw. A senior asks you to clear a file that, in your reading, breaks a procedural rule. The delay would hurt a group of beneficiaries. What do you do?
A public-facing complaint. A group of residents say a government hostel serves poor food. A department head says the complaints are exaggerated. How do you find the truth?
A reliable way to structure an answer, which is advice, is the following sequence. Name the values in conflict, for example fairness against urgency or obedience against legality. State the facts you would verify first. Say what immediate step you would take, what rule or authority you would consult, who you would inform, and what you would document. Then say what you would do to prevent a recurrence. This structure shows judgement without sounding scripted, and it works for most scenarios.
Do not try to find a "model answer." For many ethical situations there is no single correct action. What boards generally look for is a decision that is lawful, fair, practical and honestly reasoned. A candidate who says "I would first check the facts, follow the rule, inform my superior in writing, and meanwhile do what the rule allows to reduce harm" shows maturity. A candidate who announces a dramatic solution without checking facts does not.
| Question type | What it tests | A workable approach (advice) |
|---|---|---|
| Personal background | Honesty, clarity | Short, factual, no exaggeration |
| Degree subject | Depth of interest | Core idea, application to the State, one debate |
| State issue | Awareness of the State | Facts with dates, then a balanced view |
| National issue | Reasoning | Two sides, then one reasoned stand |
| Situational | Judgement, ethics | Values, facts, rule, action, prevention |
| Opinion on a contested topic | Balance | State positions fairly, avoid advocacy |
| Unknown fact | Honesty, composure | Say so, offer what you know, move on |
A mock-interview routine you can run alone and with others
Because the interview is oral, preparation has to be oral. Reading an answer silently does not prepare you to say it. The routine below is advice. It is built so that it does not compete with the Mains for time.
Stage one, from now until the Mains: one short habit a day. Choose one question a day from your profile sheet, a State issue or a national issue, and speak the answer aloud for ninety seconds while recording yourself on a phone. Play it back once. Notice filler words, speed, and whether you answered the question that was asked. This costs fifteen minutes. Over three months it gives about ninety recorded answers and a big improvement in fluency.
Stage two, after the Mains: structured mock interviews. Once the Mains is written, increase the time. Arrange sessions with a friend, a teacher, a retired officer or a study group. A useful mock has four features. The panel has at least two people, so you practise addressing more than one face. It runs for twenty-five to thirty minutes, since you do not know the actual length. The panel reads your printed application beforehand and asks from it. And it ends with feedback on three things only: content, communication and composure.
Stage three, the week before. Stop adding new material. Revisit your profile sheet, your short cards on State and national issues, and the notes from your recorded sessions. Practise the entrance: knocking if required, greeting, sitting only when asked, and thanking the board at the end. These small, mechanical parts are easy to rehearse and remove some nervousness.
Three habits help throughout, again as advice.
Speak in short, structured answers. A good answer usually has an opening statement, two or three supporting points, and a short closing line. If you cannot finish in a minute and a half, the board may interrupt you, and that is not a failure.
Practise listening. The most common mistake in practice sessions is answering the question you expected instead of the one asked. Pause, then answer. A two-second pause reads as thoughtful, not slow.
Practise in the language you will use. Check the call letter for what is allowed regarding the medium of the interview, and practise in that language, or in both if both are allowed. Telugu-medium candidates should practise technical terms in Telugu and English, because a board may use English terms and expect you to follow them.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
These are patterns that tend to appear in interviews of this kind. They are drawn from the general nature of a personality test and not from APPSC data, and they are advice.
Listing hobbies you do not have. If your application says you read, the board may ask for your last book. If it says you play cricket, expect a question about a recent match. Remove anything you cannot sustain.
Memorised speeches. A prepared opening is fine. A long monologue that does not answer the question tells the board you came to recite. Answer first, then add.
Overconfidence on a weak topic. Claiming a strong view on a subject you have only skimmed is worse than saying you know the outline and would like to learn more.
Arguing with the board. A board member may push back to see how you handle disagreement. Hold your position politely if your reasons are sound, and update it graciously if the point is fair. Neither stubbornness nor quick surrender looks good.
Strong political or religious statements. The role you are applying for requires neutrality. A balanced account of a contested issue is almost always better than a partisan one.
Complaining about the system or earlier decisions. A candidate who spends the interview blaming delays, courts or the Commission leaves a poor impression. If asked about a gap or delay, answer briefly and move to what you did with the time.
Ignoring the post. If you list post preferences, know what each post does. A candidate who prefers the police service but cannot name the main duties of a Deputy Superintendent has not thought through the choice.
Poor handling of "I do not know." Silence for a long time, nervous laughter or a guess dressed as a fact all look worse than a direct "I am not sure about that, but here is what I do know."
Seeking influence. The notification states that a candidate who canvasses or tries to enlist extraneous support, directly or through relatives or friends, for the appointment is liable to be disqualified. It also warns that giving false information or suppressing material information can lead to rejection and debarment. Do not approach anyone who claims they can influence an interview. Such offers are a standard form of fraud, and the Commission advises candidates to rely only on its website.
A 12-week plan to use after the Mains result
If the Mains result arrives and you have, say, twelve weeks before the interview, one way to use the time is below. It is a suggestion. The actual gap may be shorter or longer.
| Weeks | Focus | Output |
|---|---|---|
| 1-2 | Profile sheet, application review, background questions | One-page sheet, 20 recorded answers |
| 3-4 | Degree subject at three levels, link to the State | Three-level notes for each topic |
| 5-6 | State issues: reorganisation, economy, districts, agriculture, coast | Ten two-minute State answers |
| 7-8 | National and international issues, ethics scenarios | Thirty issue cards, ten scenarios |
| 9-10 | Full mock interviews with a panel | Two or three mocks, written feedback |
| 11 | Weak points, language, delivery | Revised notes, repeat of the weakest mock |
| 12 | Light revision, documents, travel, rest | Checklist done, early nights |
A last practical piece concerns health and logistics. Plan travel so you reach the venue early, keep copies of every document in a folder, carry water and a pen, and sleep properly the night before. Candidates often underestimate how much a hurried morning affects the first five minutes of a conversation.
Key facts for exams
- Group-I Notification No. 07/2026 (detailed) is dated 6 October 2026 and covers 166 vacancies in 13 post codes.
- Interview (Personality Test): 75 marks, called at 1:2 against vacancies with special representation under General Rule 22, per G.O.Ms.No.100, GA (Ser-A) Department, 30 September 2022.
- Mains: two qualifying language papers and five merit papers of 150 marks; with the 75-mark interview the merit total is 825.
- Final selection is on merit in the Mains and interview; no waiting list; recruitment only to notified vacancies.
- Minimum qualifying aggregate: 40 per cent for OC, sportspersons and EWS, 35 per cent for BC, 30 per cent for SC, ST and PBD; these give no right to selection.
- The Group-I Mains has no optional subject paper.
- Canvassing for support leads to disqualification; false information can lead to debarment.
- Candidates are asked not to change appearance until the process is complete, because the photograph may be compared at verification.
- UPSC's Personality Test carries 275 marks, with no minimum qualifying mark; this is for comparison only.
- Mains and interview dates: not announced as on 7 October 2026. Screening test: 24 January 2027.
10 practice questions
1. In Notification 07/2026, how many marks does the interview carry? a) 50 b) 75 c) 100 d) 275
2. The interview call is made at what ratio against vacancies? a) 1:1 b) 1:2 c) 1:3 d) 1:5
3. What is the merit total of the Mains and the interview together? a) 750 b) 800 c) 825 d) 900
4. Which of the following is stated in the notification about a waiting list? a) A waiting list of 10 per cent is kept b) A waiting list is kept for one year c) There is no waiting list d) A waiting list is kept for SC candidates only
5. The Group-I Mains in this notification includes which of the following? a) One optional subject paper b) Two optional subject papers c) No optional subject paper d) An optional paper only for graduates in science
6. A candidate canvasses through a relative for support in the appointment. According to the notification, the candidate is: a) liable to be disqualified b) given a warning only c) allowed if the relative is a government servant d) fined Rs 1,000
7. Why does the Commission ask candidates not to change their appearance until the process ends? a) To fix a dress code b) Because the application photograph may be compared at verification c) To reduce interview time d) Because the interview is held by video
8. Which of these best describes UPSC's own description of its interview technique? a) A strict cross-examination b) A written viva c) A natural but directed and purposive conversation d) A group discussion only
9. A board asks about a topic you do not know. Which response is the best advice? a) Guess confidently b) Stay silent c) Say you are not sure, offer what you know and move on d) Change the subject to your hobby
10. For a situational question, which sequence is the most sensible advice? a) Act first, check later b) Identify the values in conflict, verify facts, follow the rule, act, then prevent recurrence c) Ask the board for the answer d) Pass the problem to a friend
Answers and explanations
| Q | Answer | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | b | Annexure II gives the interview 75 marks |
| 2 | b | Para 12.10 states 1:2 with reference to vacancies |
| 3 | c | Five merit papers of 150 marks (750) plus 75 |
| 4 | c | Para 13.1: no waiting list |
| 5 | c | The scheme lists no optional paper; only language papers and five merit papers |
| 6 | a | The notification disqualifies canvassing |
| 7 | b | The photograph may be compared at verification |
| 8 | c | UPSC calls it a natural, directed, purposive conversation |
| 9 | c | Honesty and composure are what the board observes (advice) |
| 10 | b | A structured approach shows judgement (advice) |
Frequently asked questions
How many marks is the APPSC Group-I interview? It carries 75 marks, per Annexure II of Notification No. 07/2026, and these are added to the Mains marks for a merit total of 825.
How many candidates will be called for the interview? The notification says candidates will be called at the ratio of 1:2 against vacancies, following the special representation rule. With 166 vacancies as on 6 October 2026, the exact number will be fixed by the Commission after the Mains result and may change if vacancies change.
Is there a minimum qualifying mark in the interview? The pages opened for this post do not state a separate minimum for the interview. They state minimum qualifying aggregate percentages for the whole selection. Check the Commission's later notices.
When will the interview be held? Not announced as on 7 October 2026. The screening test is on 24 January 2027, and the Mains and interview dates will follow. Watch psc.ap.gov.in for web notes.
Is there an optional subject in the Group-I Mains? No. The Mains in Notification 07/2026 has two qualifying language papers and five merit papers, with no optional subject. Questions about your degree subject are still possible in a personality test, as an inference from how such boards work.
Can coaching or a contact guarantee a good interview score? No. The notification disqualifies canvassing, and no one can promise an outcome. Genuine preparation is practice and honesty.
Which language should I use in the interview? The call letter will state what is allowed. Until then, practise in the language you are most comfortable with and learn the English terms used in administration.
Should I prepare for the interview before the Mains? Prepare lightly. A short daily oral habit costs little. Keep most of your time on the Mains, which carries ten times the marks.
Related reading
- APPSC Group 1 guide
- APPSC Group 1 Notification 2026: posts, dates and exam scheme
- APPSC Group 1, 2, 3 and 4 compared
- AP Reorganisation Act 2014 explained
- AP budget and socio-economic survey essentials
- AP district-wise fact sheet
- AP current affairs, October 2026
- AP government job notifications tracker, October 2026
- Telugu version of this post
- Andhra Pradesh state guide: history, geography, government and every AP exam
Practise on pareeksha.in
Interview skills are built by speaking, and the Mains is built by timed writing and objective practice. Pareeksha.in offers 10 Lakh+ MCQs, 100+ Exams and 5,000+ Full-Length Mocks. You can try a free mini mock for the screening test, use the online test series for full papers, and keep dates in view on the exam calendar.
Sources and verification
Opened and read for this post:
- APPSC Notification No. 07/2026, detailed notification dated 6 October 2026 (Group-I Services), including paras 12.10, 13.1, 13.7, 15.1 to 15.10, general instructions on photographs and verification, and Annexure II (scheme and syllabus), psc.ap.gov.in.
- APPSC Web Note dated 6 October 2026 on the detailed notifications (07/2026, 08/2026, 19/2026), and the APPSC portal home page listing, portal-psc.ap.gov.in.
- APPSC Web Notes of 9 January 2026 and 30 January 2026 on Group-I Notification No. 12/2023, psc.ap.gov.in.
- APPSC Interview Announcements page (portal-psc.ap.gov.in), listing past interview schedules by notification.
- UPSC Examination Notice No. 05/2026-CSE dated 4 February 2026, Sections on the Personality Test and on the interview application update, upsc.gov.in.
Not verified: the dates of the Mains and the interview, the number of candidates who will be called, whether a separate minimum applies to the interview, the language options and the document list for the interview (the call letter will state them), and any APPSC guidance on how its boards assess candidates; none was found on the pages opened. G.O.Ms.No.100 (30 September 2022) and General Rule 22 were not opened and are cited only as the notification cites them. All advice in this post is the writer's own and is not an official rule.
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