TNPSC Group 4 Exam: Syllabus, Pattern & Preparation
TNPSC Group 4 (Combined Civil Services Examination IV) is Tamil Nadu's largest government recruitment exam. It fills posts such as Junior Assistant, Typist, Steno-Typist, Bill Collector and Village Administrative Officer (VAO) through a single written exam. This page covers the 2026 notification, the exam pattern, the full syllabus, sample questions with answers and a preparation plan.
Last updated: October 2026
Group 4 2026 at a glance
| Detail | Group 4 2026 |
|---|---|
| Notification | 6 October 2026 |
| Total vacancies | 6,574 (tentative) |
| Online application | 6 October to 5 November 2026 |
| Application correction window | 9 to 11 November 2026 |
| Exam date | 10 January 2027, 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM |
| Exam mode | Offline, OMR answer sheet |
| Selection | Written exam, then document verification and counselling. No interview. |
| Official website | tnpsc.gov.in |
Always check the official notification for the final details. See all upcoming dates on the TNPSC exam calendar and the latest updates on TNPSC notifications.
Vacancies by post
The 2026 notification lists 6,574 tentative vacancies across 46 post entries. Grouped by post type:
| Post | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Junior Assistant (all departments, including Accounts and Security) | 3,737 |
| Typist | 1,572 |
| Steno-Typist | 376 |
| Village Administrative Officer (VAO) | 291 |
| Tax Collector | 107 |
| Bill Collector | 97 |
| Revenue Assistant | 96 |
| Personal Clerk | 60 |
| Junior Administrative Assistant | 55 |
| Executive Officer (Grade IV) | 46 |
| Forest Watcher | 40 |
| Other posts | 97 |
| Total | 6,574 |
Vacancy numbers are tentative and may change before counselling. Preparing for VAO? See our VAO exam page.
Eligibility
- Education: a pass in SSLC (10th standard) is the minimum qualification for most posts.
- Typist and Steno-Typist posts: also need the Government Technical Examination certificates in typewriting and, for Steno-Typist, shorthand.
- Age limits and relaxations: these differ by post and community. Check the official notification for your post.
- Tamil: candidates need adequate knowledge of Tamil. The Part A Tamil test is compulsory.
Exam pattern
Group 4 is one objective-type paper of 200 questions, worth 300 marks, in 3 hours.
| Part | Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | General Tamil (eligibility cum scoring test) | 100 | 150 |
| B | General Studies | 75 | 150 (Part B total) |
| B | Aptitude and Mental Ability | 25 | |
| Total | 200 | 300 |
- Each question carries 1.5 marks.
- You must score at least 60 out of 150 in Part A. Part B is evaluated only if you clear this.
- The minimum qualifying mark overall is 90 out of 300. Selection depends on your rank, which needs a much higher score.
- No marks are deducted for wrong answers. Follow the OMR shading rules in the notification carefully, because mistakes there can cost marks.
- General Studies and Aptitude questions are set in both Tamil and English.
Syllabus
The syllabus is at SSLC (10th standard) level. Most questions are based on Tamil Nadu State Board (Samacheer Kalvi) textbooks. See the full TNPSC syllabus for every topic.
Part A: General Tamil (பொதுத் தமிழ்)
- இலக்கணம் (Grammar): பிரித்தெழுதுதல், சேர்த்தெழுதுதல், சந்திப் பிழை, மரபுப் பிழை, வாக்கியப் பிழை, காலம் அறிதல், எதிர்ச்சொல், பொருத்துதல்
- சொல்லகராதி (Vocabulary): மரபுத் தொடர்கள், உவமைத் தொடர்கள், பழமொழிகள், ஆங்கிலச் சொற்களுக்கான தமிழாக்கம்
- மொழிபெயர்ப்பு (Translation): ஆங்கில வாக்கியங்களுக்குச் சரியான தமிழாக்கம்
- இலக்கியம் (Literature): திருக்குறள், சங்க இலக்கியம், அற இலக்கியம், காப்பியங்கள், புதுக்கவிதை
- தமிழ் அறிஞர்களும் தமிழ்த் தொண்டும்: தமிழ் அறிஞர்கள், நூல்கள், ஆசிரியர்கள், அவர்களின் பங்களிப்பு
Part B: General Studies
- General Science: physics, chemistry, biology and their everyday applications
- Current Events: national and Tamil Nadu news, government schemes, appointments, awards, sports and science
- Geography of India: location, physical features, climate, rivers, resources and agriculture
- History and Culture of India: ancient, medieval and modern India
- Indian Polity: the Constitution, Parliament, the executive, judiciary, citizenship, fundamental rights and local government
- Indian Economy: planning, agriculture, industry, banking and development schemes
- Indian National Movement: the freedom struggle and its leaders, including leaders from Tamil Nadu
- History, Culture, Heritage and Socio-Political Movements of Tamil Nadu: Sangam age, Pallavas, Cholas, Pandyas, Nayaks, temple architecture and social reform movements
- Development Administration in Tamil Nadu: welfare schemes, industrial and economic development, social justice and e-governance
Part B: Aptitude and Mental Ability
Simplification, percentages, HCF and LCM, ratio and proportion, simple and compound interest, area and volume, time and work, number series, direction sense, blood relations, coding and decoding, and logical reasoning.
Sample questions with answers
These questions come from ExamSixer's Group 4 weekly quiz. Try them before reading the answers. For more, see our question banks and study packages or take the free TNPSC mini test.
General Tamil
1. 'Corporate Governance' என்ற சொல்லுக்கான தமிழாக்கம் எது?
(a) பெருநிறுவன நிர்வாகம் (b) அரசு நிர்வாகம் (c) நிதி மேலாண்மை (d) மனித வள மேலாண்மை
விடை: (a) பெருநிறுவன நிர்வாகம். Corporate என்பது பெருநிறுவனத்தையும், Governance என்பது நிர்வாகத்தையும் குறிக்கும்.
2. "அம்பு போல் பாய்ந்தான்" எனும் உவமைத் தொடர் எதைக் குறிக்கிறது?
(a) மெதுவாக ஊர்ந்தான் (b) வளைந்து சென்றான் (c) பின்வாங்கினான் (d) நேரடியாக, வேகமாக முன்னேறினான்
விடை: (d) நேரடியாக, வேகமாக முன்னேறினான். அம்பு நேராகவும் வேகமாகவும் செல்வதால், இந்த உவமை விரைந்த, நேரடியான செயலைக் குறிக்கிறது.
3. 'Summons' என்ற சொல்லுக்கான தமிழாக்கம் எது?
(a) ஆஜர் ஆணை (b) தண்டனை ஆணை (c) விடுதலை ஆணை (d) தேடுதல் ஆணை
விடை: (a) ஆஜர் ஆணை. நீதிமன்றத்தில் நேரில் ஆஜராகுமாறு அனுப்பப்படும் ஆணை இது.
4. "மனம் கல்லாதல்" என்ற மரபுத்தொடரின் பொருள் என்ன?
(a) மிகுந்த தாழ்மையுடன் வேண்டுதல் (b) உணர்ச்சியற்றுப் போதல் (c) கடும் கோபம் அடைதல் (d) ஒரு நிகழ்ச்சிக்குத் தலைமை வகித்தல்
விடை: (b) உணர்ச்சியற்றுப் போதல். கல்லைப் போல இரக்கமும் உணர்ச்சியும் இல்லாத நிலையைக் குறிக்கிறது.
5. 'நாளை நான் சென்னை செல்வேன்' என்ற வாக்கியத்தின் காலம்?
(a) இறந்தகாலம் (b) நிகழ்காலம் (c) எதிர்காலம் (d) பொதுக்காலம்
விடை: (c) எதிர்காலம். 'நாளை', 'செல்வேன்' ஆகியவை இனி நடக்கவிருக்கும் செயலைக் குறிக்கின்றன.
6. மரபுப் பிழையை நீக்கி எழுதுக. 'அவர் தலைமை செய்தார்.'
(a) அவர் தலைமை தாங்கினார் (b) அவர் தலைமை போட்டார் (c) அவர் தலைமை காட்டினார் (d) பிழை இல்லை
விடை: (a) அவர் தலைமை தாங்கினார். 'தலைமை தாங்குதல்' என்பதே மரபுப்படி சரியான வழக்கு.
General Studies
7. Which statement about the southernmost point of India is correct? / இந்தியாவின் தென்கோடிப் புள்ளி குறித்துச் சரியான கூற்று எது?
(a) Indira Point, in Great Nicobar, is the southernmost point of the country (b) Kanniyakumari is the southernmost point of the country (c) Indira Point is situated in Lakshadweep (d) Indira Point disappeared completely in the tsunami of 2004
Answer: (a). Indira Point at the southern tip of Great Nicobar is India's southernmost point. Kanniyakumari is only the southern tip of the mainland.
8. Even when the Lok Sabha is dissolved, the Speaker continues in office until: / மக்களவை கலைக்கப்பட்டாலும் சபாநாயகர் பதவியில் தொடர்வது எதுவரை?
(a) the date of dissolution only (b) six months thereafter (c) the President so declares (d) immediately before the first meeting of the newly constituted House
Answer: (d). The Speaker continues in office until immediately before the first sitting of the new Lok Sabha.
9. In which Part of the Constitution are the provisions on citizenship contained? / இந்தியக் குடியுரிமை தொடர்பான விதிகள் அரசியலமைப்பின் எந்தப் பகுதியில் உள்ளன?
(a) Part III (b) Part II (c) Part IV (d) Part I
Answer: (b) Part II. Citizenship is covered in Part II of the Constitution, Articles 5 to 11.
10. Who built the great temple at Thanjavur, and what is its distinction? / தஞ்சாவூர்ப் பெரிய கோயிலைக் கட்டியவர் யார், அதன் தனிச்சிறப்பு என்ன?
(a) Rajendra Chola I; its bronze images (b) Rajaraja Chola I; its towering granite vimana (c) Narasimhavarman I; its rock-cut shrines (d) Thirumalai Nayak; its long halls
Answer: (b) Rajaraja Chola I. Built around 1010 CE, its granite vimana is the high point of Chola architecture, and its inscriptions are a key source on the administration of the time.
11. With which sector is the 'Blue Revolution' associated? / 'நீலப் புரட்சி' எத்துறையுடன் தொடர்புடையது?
(a) Oilseeds (b) Milk production (c) Fisheries (d) Poultry
Answer: (c) Fisheries. The Blue Revolution refers to the growth of the fisheries sector.
12. Assertion (A): The Preamble is regarded as a part of the Constitution. Reason (R): In the Kesavananda Bharati case, the Supreme Court clarified that the Preamble is part of the Constitution.
(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 but R is false (d) A is false but R is true
Answer: (a). In the Kesavananda Bharati case (1973), the Supreme Court held that the Preamble is part of the Constitution.
Aptitude and Mental Ability
13. Bhuvan walks 4 km towards North and then 3 km towards East. How far is he from the starting point? / புவன் 4 கிமீ வடக்கு நோக்கியும், பின் 3 கிமீ கிழக்கு நோக்கியும் நடக்கிறார். தொடக்க இடத்திலிருந்து எவ்வளவு தூரத்தில் உள்ளார்?
(a) 5 km (b) 3 km (c) 19 km (d) 4 km
Answer: (a) 5 km. The two legs are at right angles, so the distance is √(4² + 3²) = √25 = 5 km.
14. Find the compound ratio of 3:9 and 4:3 (in simplest form). / 3:9 மற்றும் 4:3 ஆகியவற்றின் கூட்டு விகிதத்தைக் கண்டறிக.
(a) 4:9 (b) 8:11 (c) 5:12 (d) 5:10
Answer: (a) 4:9. Compound ratio = (3 × 4):(9 × 3) = 12:27 = 4:9.
15. Statements: All lamps are rings. All rings are bottles. Conclusion: All lamps are bottles. Does the conclusion follow?
(a) Cannot be determined (b) Follows only partially (c) Valid (d) Invalid
Answer: (c) Valid. All lamps are inside rings, and all rings are inside bottles, so all lamps are bottles.
How to prepare for Group 4
- Map the syllabus. List every topic and mark it strong, average or weak.
- Start with Samacheer Kalvi books. Use the 6th to 10th standard Tamil, social science and science books.
- Give General Tamil the most time. It's half the marks, and you must clear 60 out of 150 for the rest of your paper to count.
- Practise aptitude daily. 30 to 60 minutes a day builds speed.
- Follow current affairs daily. Focus on Tamil Nadu government schemes and national events.
- Take a full-length mock every week. Analyse each one and fix your weak topics before the next.
For a week-by-week schedule, read How to prepare for TNPSC Group 4 in 3 months. To see what score you need, read TNPSC Group 4 cut-off marks.
Mock tests and study material
ExamSixer's Group 4 and VAO preparation is built around the actual exam pattern, in Tamil and English:
- Question Bank: 4,300+ questions with detailed explanations
- Complete Study Package: full study material, topic quizzes, a question bank and full-length mock tests
- Mock Exam Series: 12 full-length mocks released weekly, with instant AI score analysis and a personalised study plan
- Success Bundle: the study package and mock series together
See the weekly mock exam schedule and all packages and prices, starting from ₹249. Not sure where to start? Take the free TNPSC mini test.
Frequently asked questions
What is TNPSC Group 4?
TNPSC Group 4, officially the Combined Civil Services Examination IV, is a state-level exam that recruits for posts such as Junior Assistant, Typist, Steno-Typist, Bill Collector and VAO in Tamil Nadu government departments.
When is the TNPSC Group 4 2026 exam?
The exam is on 10 January 2027, from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM, in offline OMR mode.
How many vacancies are there in Group 4 2026?
The notification lists 6,574 tentative vacancies, including about 3,737 Junior Assistant posts, 1,572 Typist posts and 291 VAO posts.
What is the qualification for TNPSC Group 4?
A pass in SSLC (10th standard) is the minimum for most posts. Typist and Steno-Typist posts also need typewriting and shorthand certificates. Age limits differ by post and community.
What is the TNPSC Group 4 exam pattern?
One objective paper of 200 questions and 300 marks in 3 hours: 100 General Tamil questions (150 marks) and 100 questions on General Studies and Aptitude (150 marks).
Is there an interview for Group 4?
No. Selection is based on the written exam, followed by document verification and counselling.
Is there negative marking in TNPSC Group 4?
No marks are deducted for wrong answers, but follow the OMR shading instructions carefully.
What score is safe for TNPSC Group 4?
Cut-offs vary by post and category. Aiming for 180 or more out of 300 gives a safe margin for most categories. See our cut-off marks guide.
Start your Group 4 preparation today
With the exam on 10 January 2027, every week of practice counts. Take the free TNPSC mini test to find your starting level, then follow the weekly mock exam series to the exam.