APPSC Group 2 Previous Papers Analysis: Topic-Wise Weightage, Question Style and Preparation Plan

Every candidate who starts Group 2 preparation asks the same question first: "How many questions come from which topic?" If you know the honest answer, you can divide your study time intelligently. If you do not, you risk spending months on one subject and leaving a higher-scoring section for the final week. That is why this whole article focuses on a single theme: how much weight each section carries in the Group 2 exam, what form the questions take, and how to build a study plan around that weight.

First, a statement of honesty. Our question database does not hold the actual Group 2 question papers in digital form, question by question and year by year. What we have are practice questions that we wrote ourselves from the Group 2 syllabus. So we are not going to tell you things like "37 questions came from history in the last paper"; that would be guesswork dressed up as data. This analysis is based entirely on the official APPSC scheme of examination and syllabus, not on a count of past question papers. Fortunately, for Group 2 this is not a serious limitation, because APPSC states in the notification itself exactly how many marks each section carries. Those numbers are the real weightage.

Basis: APPSC Group 2 Notification No. 11/2023 (dated 07-12-2023), the syllabus annexed to it, and G.O.Ms.No.06, Finance (HR.I-Plg & Policy) Department, dated 06-01-2023. This is the last official Group 2 scheme published so far. For an introduction to the exam, read the APPSC Group 2 guide; for a deeper look at the second stage, read Group 2 Mains syllabus and strategy; and for a day-by-day screening plan, read the Group 2 prelims 90-day plan.

At a glance

This information is as on 8 October 2026.

• 2026 Group 2 notification: not yet released. Group 2 was not among the 20 notifications APPSC released on 15-09-2026.
• Expectation: news websites have reported that the third phase of the job calendar (15-10-2026) includes roughly 673 Group 2 posts. This is unofficial; wait for the official notification.
• Screening test (latest scheme): 150 questions, 150 marks, 150 minutes. Five sections of 30 marks each.
• Mains (latest scheme): two objective papers, each 150 questions, 150 marks, 150 minutes. Total 300. Four sections of 75 marks each.
• Negative marking: one-third of the marks for the question deducted for every wrong answer, at both stages.
• Computer Proficiency Test (CPT): 100 marks, 60 minutes, qualifying only.
• Type of analysis: official syllabus and scheme based. Not a count of question papers.

1. Recent history of the Group 2 exam

The Group 2 pattern has not stayed the same. To avoid being confused by old material, you need to know which scheme was in force in which year.

Cycle	Key point	Status
Notification 25/2018	Mains of three papers, total 450 marks	Old pattern
Notification 11/2023 (07-12-2023)	Screening 150 + Mains two papers 300 + CPT	Latest official pattern
Screening test	Held on 25-02-2024 (notification paragraph 4)	Completed
Mains	Reported to have been held on 23-02-2025 after postponements	Unofficial date
2026 cycle	No notification yet	Awaited

The thing to notice is that in 2018 the Mains had three papers. From 2023 these were compressed into two papers and a Computer Proficiency Test was added. That means advice from the 2018 era, such as "prepare Paper 3 like this", no longer applies directly. Even when you practise old question papers, use each question only after identifying which section of the current syllabus it belongs to.

If a fresh notification arrives in 2026, most people expect the scheme to stay the same as in 2023. But that is an expectation, not a fact. On the day the notification comes out, the first page to read is the "Scheme of Examination". If anything there has changed, revise the tables in this article accordingly.

2. How we did this analysis

Normally, a "previous papers analysis" means assigning every question in past papers to a topic and counting how many came from each. That method needs complete, reliable copies of the question papers. Our repository does not have that kind of data for Group 2 papers. So we used a three-level method instead.

1. Section-level weightage (official): the marks APPSC assigns to each section in the scheme. These are fixed and printed in the notification. For example, Indian history carries 30 marks in the screening test.
2. Unit-level split (syllabus structure): we counted how many units the syllabus lists under each section. In the Mains, every 75-mark section has a syllabus of five units.
3. Planning estimate (our assumption): APPSC does not split marks by unit. Purely for planning, we assumed that each unit is worth roughly 15 marks, divided equally. This is not an official figure; in the actual exam one unit may yield more questions and another fewer.

Looking at all three levels together gives a reasonable and honest answer to the question "where should I spend how much time". When we get the chance to do a paper-by-paper count, we will update this article.

3. Screening test: section-wise weightage

The screening test is titled "General Studies and Mental Ability". It is a degree-standard objective exam, conducted offline on OMR sheets. All five sections carry equal weight.

Section	Marks	Share of total	Key sub-topics (official syllabus)
Indian history	30	20%	Ancient, medieval and modern history; the national movement; post-independence reorganisation
Geography	30	20%	General and physical geography; physiography of India and AP; economic and human geography
Indian society	30	20%	Structure of society; social issues; welfare mechanisms and constitutional safeguards
Current affairs	30	20%	Major international, national and Andhra Pradesh state events
Mental ability	30	20%	Logical reasoning, series, coding, relations, basic numeracy, data analysis
Total	150	100%

What this table teaches

• No section is "optional". All five carry equal weight, so dropping one section entirely costs you a straight 30 marks, a fifth of the paper.
• Mental ability is the most controllable section. Answers here come from calculation, with no room for differing opinions. With practice, 24 to 27 out of 30 is achievable.
• Indian society is the section most candidates underestimate. It covers concepts such as family, marriage, kinship, caste and tribe; issues such as casteism, communalism, regionalism, crimes against women and child labour; and the constitutional and statutory safeguards for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, minorities, Backward Classes, women, persons with disabilities and children. It is a full 30-mark section.
• Andhra Pradesh events are explicitly in the current affairs syllabus. Alongside national news, track the state budget, schemes, appointments and awards.

Screening test marks are used only to shortlist candidates for the Mains. According to the 2023 notification, the Commission decides at the appropriate time the ratio in which candidates are admitted to the Mains. So it is risky to think "just clearing the line is enough" in the screening test; you cannot know in advance how stiff the competition will be.

4. Mains: section-wise weightage

The Mains decides the job. Under the 2023 scheme the Mains is also an objective exam, and the Commission has the authority to conduct it either on OMR or as a computer-based test (CBT).

Paper	Section	Marks	Share of Mains 300
Paper I	Section A: Social and cultural history of Andhra Pradesh	75	25%
Paper I	Section B: General overview of the Indian Constitution	75	25%
Paper II	Section A: Indian and AP economy	75	25%
Paper II	Section B: Science and technology	75	25%
Total		300	100%

Four sections, each exactly one quarter. This is a very important point. Many candidates enjoy history and polity and read them thoroughly, read the economy halfway, and abandon science and technology at the end. But according to the table above, science and technology carries 75 marks, the same as history. So allocate time by "weight of marks", not by "favourite subject".

How much of the Mains is AP-specific?

Working out how much of the Mains is specific to Andhra Pradesh makes the plan clearer.

Part	AP-specific content	Marks (approximate)
Paper I Section A	Entirely AP social and cultural history	75
Paper II Section A	Units 4 and 5: AP economy, public finance, agriculture, industry, services	About 30 (our estimate)
Paper I Section B	Nothing AP-specific; Unit 10 covers local self-government	0 (directly)
Paper II Section B	Nothing AP-specific	0 (directly)

So roughly 105 of the 300 Mains marks, about one-third, relate directly to Andhra Pradesh. The rest is national-level material. The "about 30" in the second row is the equal-split estimate described in the method above (two AP units out of five × 15). APPSC has nowhere said that it divides the marks this way.

5. Unit-wise weight: Mains Paper I

Now let us go inside each section. Every 75-mark section has a syllabus of five units. The "planning marks" column is only our equal-split estimate.

Section A: AP social and cultural history (75)

Unit	Syllabus topic	Planning marks	Priority
1	Pre-historic cultures; Satavahanas, Ikshvakus; Vishnukundins, Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi, Andhra Cholas: society, religion, Telugu language, art, architecture	15	High
2	Major and minor dynasties that ruled Andhra Desa between the 11th and 16th centuries; growth of Telugu language and literature	15	High
3	Advent of Europeans; Andhra under Company rule; impact of 1857; Justice Party and the Self-Respect movement; national movement 1885 to 1947; socialists and communists; anti-zamindari and peasant movements; national poetry, drama societies, role of women	15	Very high (many topics)
4	Origin of the Andhra movement; Andhra Mahasabhas; prominent leaders; formation of Andhra State in 1953; role of the press; library movement; folk and tribal culture	15	High
5	Events leading to the formation of Andhra Pradesh; Visalandhra Mahasabha; States Reorganisation Commission; Gentlemen's Agreement; major social and cultural events from 1956 to 2014	15	High

Look at Unit 3. It packs in far more topics than any other unit. A single unit covers nearly ninety years of history from 1857 to 1947, several movements and the literature of the period. Even though the marks are equal, this unit needs more study time. Likewise, Unit 2 uses the phrase "major and minor dynasties": that means questions can come not only from the big dynasties such as the Kakatiyas, the Reddi kings and Vijayanagara, but also from the smaller ones.

Our detailed notes for this section: Ancient Andhra history, Medieval Andhra history, Freedom struggle and social reform in Andhra, From the Andhra movement to 1956 and 2014.

Section B: Indian Constitution (75)

Unit	Syllabus topic	Planning marks
6	Nature, evolution and salient features of the Constitution; Preamble; Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles and their relationship; Fundamental Duties; amendment; basic structure	15
7	Structure and functions of the legislature, executive and judiciary; unicameral and bicameral; parliamentary executive; judicial review, judicial activism	15
8	Distribution of legislative and executive powers between the Centre and the States; administrative and financial relations; constitutional bodies; Human Rights Commission; RTI; Lokpal and Lokayukta	15
9	Reform of Centre-State relations: Rajamannar Committee, Sarkaria Commission, Punchhi Commission; unitary and federal features; party system; electoral reforms; anti-defection law	15
10	Centralisation versus decentralisation; Community Development Programme; Balwant Rai Mehta and Ashok Mehta Committees; 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments and their implementation	15

The thing to notice in the polity section: Units 8 and 9 are both about Centre-State relations. That single theme takes up two units of syllabus space, which under the equal split is worth around 30 marks. Committee names, their recommendations and Article numbers are likely to be asked often here. For details, see Indian Constitution notes and Panchayati Raj notes.

6. Unit-wise weight: Mains Paper II

Section A: Indian and AP economy (75)

Unit	Syllabus topic	Planning marks
1	Structure of the Indian economy; national income concepts and measurement; growth and development; planning strategy; 1991 reforms; devolution of financial resources; NITI Aayog	15
2	Money and banking; RBI functions and monetary policy; inflation; fiscal policy and deficit financing; tax system and GST; the recent Union Budget; balance of payments; FDI	15
3	Agriculture: cropping pattern, productivity, credit, marketing, MSP; industrial development, the 1991 industrial policy, disinvestment; services sector, IT	15
4	Structure of the AP economy: GSDP, sectoral shares, per-capita income; state revenue, expenditure and debt; central assistance; the recent AP Budget	15
5	AP agriculture and allied sectors; industry, industrial policy, MSMEs, industrial corridors; services sector; AP IT policy	15

The words "recent budget" and "recent policy" appear in three places in this section. In other words, this is not static textbook knowledge; you need the budget and socio-economic survey figures closest to the year in which the exam is held. Read those figures last, once the notification is out and the exam date is known. For fundamentals see Indian economy basics, and for the state part see AP Budget and Socio-Economic Survey essentials.

Section B: Science and technology (75)

Unit	Syllabus topic	Planning marks
1	Technology missions and policies: S&T policy; space (launch vehicles, satellites); defence (DRDO, IGMDP); ICT, Digital India, e-governance, cyber security; nuclear technology	15
2	Energy management: installed capacity and demand; national energy policy; biofuel policy; Bharat Stage norms; renewable energy	15
3	Ecosystems and biodiversity: hotspots, conservation, conventions; CITES; biosphere reserves; wildlife protection	15
4	Waste management and pollution control: solid waste; types of pollution; legislation; impact of genetically modified crops; bioremediation	15
5	Environment and health: global warming, climate change, acid rain, ozone depletion; international agreements; sustainable development; burden of disease, public health programmes	15

There is a surprise in this table. Seeing the name "Science and Technology", candidates expect textbook questions from physics and chemistry. But three of the five units (Units 3, 4 and 5) are about the environment. Under the equal split, roughly 45 of these 75 marks rest on environment, biodiversity, pollution and health. The other two units are about policies, missions and energy. So for this section, environment and policy notes are far more useful than a general science book. See our notes on Environment, cyclones and disaster management and Computer awareness and science and technology.

7. The two stages together: what to study once

Preparing for the prelims and the Mains separately wastes time. If you know where the two syllabuses overlap, a single round of study serves both stages.

Topic	In the screening test	In the Mains	How to study them together
History	Indian history 30	AP social history 75	The national movement portion serves both; the national movement in Andhra connects directly with Mains Unit 3
Society and Constitution	Indian society 30 (including constitutional safeguards)	Indian Constitution 75	Constitutional provisions for SCs, STs and minorities appear in both
Geography and economy	Geography 30 (economic geography, agriculture, industry)	Economy 75	Agriculture and the distribution of industries appear in both; read AP cropping patterns together
Current affairs	30	"Recent" items in S&T and economy	Recent satellite launches, budgets and policies serve both stages
Mental ability	30	None	Screening only; a little time every day, continuous practice

This table sends a clear message: apart from mental ability, everything is useful at both stages in some way. So if you begin studying at Mains depth even before the notification arrives, half of your screening preparation is done automatically.

8. Question style: how they ask

In APPSC objective exams, especially the degree-standard ones, questions do not come only in the "who, when, where" form. The following types are common. We have not counted how often each type appears (for the reason given above); these are only to help you understand the shapes questions take.

1. Direct questions

A fact is asked straight out. Example: "In which language is Hala's Gathasaptasati written?" These are finished quickly but need precise recall.

2. Statement questions

Two or three statements are given and you are asked "which are correct?". If a single word in a statement is wrong, the whole statement is wrong. For instance, "the Dowleswaram anicut is on the Godavari" is correct, but "the Vijayawada anicut is on the Godavari" is wrong (it is on the Krishna). Questions of this type catch half-knowledge.

3. Assertion-Reason

An assertion (A) and a reason (R) are given. You must decide whether both are true and whether R is the correct explanation of A. Think in two steps: first settle whether A and R are each true or false on their own; only then look at the "explanation" relationship.

4. Match the following

Four items have to be matched with four details. If you know even one pair for certain, two or three of the options drop out. That is why in such questions it is best to "start from the pair you know".

5. Chronological order

You are asked to arrange events in the correct order, for example the Balwant Rai Mehta Committee, the Ashok Mehta Committee, the 73rd Amendment and the PESA Act. Rather than memorising each event's year in isolation, draw a timeline and study from it.

6. Article- and committee-based questions

In polity, forms such as "under which Article", "which committee recommended" and "borrowed from which country's constitution" are common. These are easy marks, but without revision they are easily forgotten.

7. Application- and concept-based questions

In the economy, questions such as "what happens to the money supply when the RBI sells government securities". Rote learning does not work here; you have to understand the concept.

9. The negative marking calculation: how careful to be

Under G.O.Ms.No.235, Finance Department (06-12-2016), one-third of the marks allotted to a question is deducted for every wrong answer. Since every Group 2 question carries one mark, each wrong answer costs 0.33 marks.

Scenario	Attempted	Correct	Wrong	Net marks
A: Careful	120	100	20	100 − 6.67 = 93.33
B: Attempts everything	150	108	42	108 − 14 = 94.00
C: Over-cautious	100	92	8	92 − 2.67 = 89.33
D: Too many guesses	150	100	50	100 − 16.67 = 83.33

These examples are hypothetical, but the lesson is clear. Questions answered by pure guessing (one option out of four) cause a loss on average. But if you can confidently eliminate two options, choosing one of the remaining two is a gain on average: +1 if right, −0.33 if wrong, an average of +0.33. Hence the rule: attempt only if you can eliminate two options.

10. Time allocation based on weightage

If you think of your total study time as 100 parts, you can divide it as follows by combining three factors: the weight of marks, the size of the syllabus and usefulness at both stages. This is only our suggestion; adjust it to your own strengths and weaknesses.

Section	Share of time	Reason
AP social and cultural history	20%	Mains 75 + overlap with screening history; Unit 3 is very large
Indian Constitution	18%	Mains 75 + overlap with the society section
Indian and AP economy	18%	Mains 75 + overlap with geography (economic part); recent figures needed
Science and technology, environment	16%	Mains 75; environment dominates
Geography and Indian society	12%	Screening 30 + 30
Mental ability	8%	Screening 30; a little every day
Current affairs	8%	Screening 30 + "recent" items in the Mains

11. A 16-week preparation plan (starting before the notification)

Since the 2026 notification has not yet come, this is a plan you can start right now. It is for candidates who study 5 to 6 hours a day. Once the notification arrives, shorten or extend the final phase according to the exam date.

Weeks	Main subject (3 hours a day)	Second subject (1.5 hours a day)	Daily (1 hour)
1 to 2	AP history Units 1, 2	Constitution Unit 6	20 mental ability questions + news
3 to 4	AP history Unit 3	Constitution Unit 7	Same
5 to 6	AP history Units 4, 5	Constitution Units 8, 9	Same
7 to 8	Economy Units 1, 2	Constitution Unit 10	Same
9 to 10	Economy Units 3, 4, 5	Indian society	Same
11 to 12	S&T Units 1, 2	Geography (physical, economic, human)	Same
13 to 14	S&T Units 3, 4, 5 (environment)	Indian history (ancient, medieval)	Same
15	Full revision: history, Constitution	Section-wise tests	Two full screening mocks
16	Full revision: economy, S&T	Error diary	Two full mocks + analysis

How to run the plan

• On the day you finish each unit, do 25 to 30 questions. Reading without doing questions afterwards only "feels like" studying.
• Weekly revision every Sunday. A short test on the units covered that week, and write your mistakes in a diary.
• Build timelines and tables. A timeline for history, an Articles table for the Constitution, a key-figures table for the economy. In the last two weeks, these are your textbooks.
• Update the "recent" items at the end. Budget figures, satellite launches and policy numbers should be looked at once more close to the exam date.
• Never skip the daily hour. Mental ability and current affairs are not subjects you can study in one sitting; you only get a grip on them by doing a little every day.

12. The Computer Proficiency Test (CPT): do not forget it

Under the 2023 notification, candidates are called to the CPT on the basis of Mains merit, and those who do not qualify in the CPT are not eligible for appointment to a Group 2 post (G.O.Ms.No.26, G.A. (Ser.B), 24-02-2023).

Item	Detail
Type	Practical test: office automation, use of computers and related software
Time and marks	60 minutes, 100 marks
Minimum qualifying marks	OC 40, BC 35, SC/ST/PH 30
Syllabus	Computer basics, operating system, internet, email, word processing, spreadsheets and so on

CPT marks do not count towards merit, but if you do not qualify, even an excellent Mains rank is of no use. If you are not used to computers, practise typing, Word and Excel for 20 minutes a day from the first month of preparation.

13. Before applying: update your OTPR

According to the APPSC web note of 29-09-2026, the OTPR has been modified in line with the Andhra Pradesh Presidential Order 2025 (G.O.Ms.No.45, G.A (SPF&MC), 20-04-2026). From 30-09-2026, every candidate must update their OTPR details before applying to any APPSC notification. Do not wait for the Group 2 notification; complete this now. For details see OTPR update and local status 2026.

On the age limit: G.O.Ms.No.187 (GA (Ser-A), 14-09-2026) raised the maximum age for direct recruitment through APPSC to 44, applicable to notifications issued up to 30-09-2027. News websites reported the Group 2 age limit in the 2023 cycle as 18 to 42. Check the exact age limit for 2026 Group 2 only when the notification itself is published.

14. Common mistakes

1. Preparing to the 2018 pattern. Plans built around the old three-paper Mains no longer fit.
2. Treating science and technology as general science. This section is mostly environment and policy.
3. Dropping Indian society. It is a full 30-mark section in the screening test.
4. Memorising "recent" economic figures first. They change; concepts first, figures last.
5. Ignoring negative marking. Pure guesses reduce your net score.
6. Leaving the CPT to the last minute. It is only qualifying, but it is compulsory.
7. Trusting unofficial dates. For the number of posts and exam dates, rely on psc.ap.gov.in alone.

15. Ten practice questions

These questions were written by us from the Group 2 syllabus. They are not taken from previous question papers.

1. In which language was the Gathasaptasati, attributed to the Satavahana king Hala, composed? a) Prakrit b) Sanskrit c) Pali d) Telugu

2. From whom did the East India Company obtain the Northern Circars in 1765? a) The Nawab of Arcot b) The Mughal emperor Shah Alam II c) Tipu Sultan d) The Nizam of Hyderabad

3. Consider these statements about the Ikshvakus: (i) Royal women such as Santisri patronised the Buddhist structures at Nagarjunakonda. (ii) The Ikshvaku kings were entirely Buddhist; none of them performed Vedic sacrifices. Which is/are correct? a) (ii) only b) Both (i) and (ii) c) (i) only d) Neither (i) nor (ii)

4. Consider these statements: (i) The Dowleswaram anicut was built on the Godavari under Arthur Cotton. (ii) The Vijayawada anicut of 1855 was built on the Godavari. Which is/are correct? a) (ii) only b) Both (i) and (ii) c) (i) only d) Neither (i) nor (ii)

5. Assertion (A): Lead coins form a major part of Satavahana coinage. Reason (R): The Satavahana economy had no trade and no use of money. a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A c) A is true, R is false d) A is false, R is true

6. The idea that residuary powers rest with the Centre was borrowed from which country's constitution? a) The United States b) Australia c) Germany d) Canada

7. A constitutional amendment on which of the following requires ratification by at least half of the state legislatures? a) Representation of the States in Parliament b) Fundamental Duties c) The Speaker's salary d) Formation of a new state

8. Which Article describes the distribution of legislative powers between the Union and the States? a) Article 246 b) Article 254 c) Article 248 d) Article 245

9. What is the nature of GST? a) A tax on wealth b) A consumption-based, destination tax c) A tax on personal income d) A production-based, origin tax

10. What happens to the money supply when the RBI sells government securities in the open market? a) It rises through lending b) It falls c) It never changes d) It rises sharply

Answers

Question	Answer	Explanation	Syllabus section
1	a	The Gathasaptasati is an anthology of Prakrit love poems.	Paper I, Section A, Unit 1
2	b	In 1765 the Company obtained the Northern Circars through a farman from the Mughal emperor Shah Alam II.	Paper I, Section A, Unit 3
3	c	Royal women patronised Buddhism; but the Ikshvaku kings also performed Vedic sacrifices, so (ii) is wrong.	Paper I, Section A, Unit 1
4	c	Dowleswaram is on the Godavari; the Vijayawada anicut is on the Krishna.	Paper I, Section A, Unit 3
5	c	Lead coins are a Satavahana hallmark; but trade and the use of money were widespread in their period, so R is false.	Paper I, Section A, Unit 1
6	d	A federation with a strong Centre, with residuary powers vested in the Centre, is an idea taken from the Canadian constitution.	Paper I, Section B, Unit 9
7	a	Amendments that affect the federal character (such as the representation of the States in Parliament) need ratification by half the states.	Paper I, Section B, Unit 6
8	a	Article 246 distributes legislative powers through the three lists of the Seventh Schedule.	Paper I, Section B, Unit 8
9	b	GST is collected where consumption takes place (the destination).	Paper II, Section A, Unit 2
10	b	When the RBI sells securities, money moves from the banks to the RBI, so the money supply falls.	Paper II, Section A, Unit 2

Notice the last column. Make it a habit to tag every question to its unit in the syllabus. If you write the unit next to every question you practise, within a few weeks your weak units will be plainly visible.

Frequently asked questions

1. Is the weightage in this article based on a count of previous question papers? No. Our repository does not have question-by-question data for Group 2 papers. The section-level marks (for example 30 per section in the screening test and 75 in the Mains) come from the official APPSC scheme. The unit-level "planning marks" are only our equal-split estimate.

2. Has the APPSC Group 2 2026 notification been released? Not as on 8 October 2026. News sites say the third phase of the job calendar includes about 673 Group 2 posts; that is not an official confirmation. Keep watching psc.ap.gov.in.

3. How many papers are there in the Group 2 Mains? Under the latest official scheme (11/2023), two objective papers of 150 marks each, a total of 300. In 2018 there were three papers (450).

4. How much is the negative marking? In both the screening test and the Mains, one-third of the marks for the question is deducted for every wrong answer.

5. Which section matters most? In the Mains the four sections carry equal weight (75 each). That said, Unit 3 of AP social history, Centre-State relations in the Constitution (Units 8 and 9) and environment in S&T (Units 3, 4 and 5) take up more space in the syllabus.

6. Do CPT marks count towards merit? No. The CPT is a qualifying test only, but a candidate who does not qualify is not eligible for appointment.

7. How should I use old question papers? Tag every question to a unit in the current syllabus. Do not spend much time on questions from topics that are no longer in the syllabus.

Related reading

• APPSC Group 2 complete guide
• Group 2 Mains syllabus and strategy
• Group 2 prelims 90-day plan
• Difference between Group 1, 2, 3 and 4
• Negative marking, time management and mock strategy
• AP government jobs calendar 2026
• APPSC Group 2 previous papers analysis in Telugu
• Andhra Pradesh state guide: history, geography, government and every AP exam

Check your level now

Once you know the weightage, the next step is to find out your current strengths and weaknesses. Take the free AP mini-mock and see which section produces the most mistakes. Use that result to adjust the time shares in the 16-week plan above. For full-length mocks, see the online test series. For official dates, posts and eligibility, always rely on psc.ap.gov.in alone.