The Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) recently released the official notification for the 2024 Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) to fill 235 vacancies across various government cadres in Assam. This crucial recruitment exam draws lakhs of aspiring candidates every year. Therefore, having a thorough understanding of the latest APSC CCE syllabus and exam pattern is essential to crack this highly competitive exam.
| 2-Stage Exam | Preliminary and Mains + Interview |
| Assam Focus | Minimum 30% MCQs Assam related |
| Negative Marking | 25% deduction for wrong answers |
| 6 Mains Papers | Essay, GS, Assam Subjects |
| Interview | 180 marks Personality Test |
| Merit Ranking | Mains + Interview marks considered |
Table of Contents
The New APSC CCE Syllabus and Exam Pattern
The APSC has introduced some major changes to the CCE syllabus and structure in alignment with the Assam Public Services Combined Competitive Examination (Amendment) Rules, 2019. The revised exam now consists of two successive stages
| Preliminary Exam (Objective MCQs) |
| Mains Exam (Descriptive Papers + Interview) |
Let’s look at the detailed syllabus breakup and latest pattern of both Prelims and Mains.
APSC CCE Prelims Syllabus 2024
The Preliminary Examination is the first hurdle aspiring candidates must clear to proceed to the next stage. It consists of two objective type multiple choice question papers, namely General Studies-I and General Studies-II.
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | APSC CCE Preliminary Examination 2023 |
| Date of Exam | 18th March 2024 |
| Type of Questions | Objective Type |
| No of Question Papers | 2 (General Studies-I & General Studies-II) |
| Total Marks | 400 (200 marks each paper) |
| Duration of Exam | 2 hours for each paper |
| Negative Marking | (1/4th) One-fourth deduction for wrong answers |
| Exam Centres | Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Biswanath Chariali, Dhemaji, Dhubri, Dibrugarh, Diphu, Goalpara, Golaghat, Guwahati, Haflong, Hamren, Hatsingimari, Hojai, Jorhat, Kajalgaon, Karimganj, Kokrajhar, Majuli, Mangaldoi, Morigaon, Mushalpur, Nagaon, Nalbari, North Lakhimpur, Silchar, Sivasagar, Sonari, Tezpur, Tinsukia and Udalguri. |
| Syllabus |
|---|
| Paper I : General Studies I shall be set in such a way that 30% to 35% of questions shall compulsorily relate to Assam. |
| Paper II : General Studies II shall have minimum qualifying marks of 33%. |
The Prelims exam will be conducted on 17th March 2024 across 25 centres in Assam. The number of candidates shortlisted for Mains will be 11-12 times the total vacancies.
APSC CCE Mains Syllabus 2024
The Main Exam tests in-depth subject knowledge through a blend of essay-type and objective papers. Here’s an overview.
1.Written Examination
Candidates who successfully clear the Preliminary Examination move on to the Written Examination. This stage comprises six papers of conventional essay type/objective type with limited words.
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | CCE Main Examination 2023 |
| Date of Exam | June/July 2024 |
| Type of Questions | Descriptive and Objective type |
| Medium of Exam | English or Assamese language |
| Total Papers | 6 Papers |
| Total Marks | 1500 Marks (250 marks each paper) |
| Duration of Exam | 3 hours for Each Paper |
| Exam Centres | Guwahati |
The six papers cover diverse topics like Essay Writing, General Studies, and Assam Related Subjects. Finally, shortlisted candidates undergo a Personality Test carrying 180 marks. The Mains exam result determines the final merit ranking for recruitment.
| Paper | Details |
|---|---|
| Paper 01 | Type of Paper: Essay Marks: 250 Duration in hours: 3 |
| Paper 02 | Type of Paper: General Studies Marks: 250 for each paper Duration in hours: 3 for each paper |
| Paper 03 | Type of Paper: General Subject Paper on Assam Marks: 250 for each paper Duration in hours: 3 for each paper |
| Name | Syllabus |
|---|---|
| Paper-1 | Click Here |
| Paper-2 | Click Here |
| Paper-3 | Click Here |
| Paper-4 | Click Here |
| Paper-5 | Click Here |
| Paper-6 | Click Here |
2. Interview Test/Personality Test
After successfully qualifying in the written test, candidates proceed to the Interview Test or Personality Test.
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | CCE Main Examination 2023 |
| Type of Exam | Interview |
| Total Marks | 180 Marks |
| Exam Centre | Guwahati |
On the basis of the result of the written part of the Main Examination, candidates will be called for an interview in a ratio of 1:3 against the number of vacancies advertised.
Final Ranking
Marks obtained by candidates in both the Main Examination (Written Part and Interview) collectively determine their final ranking. This ranking is crucial in the selection process, and candidates must perform well in both stages to secure a higher position.
Recommended Books for APSC CCE Preparation
Considering the expansive syllabus, choosing the right books and resources for APSC CCE preparation can seem challenging initially. Here are some well-researched book recommendations subject-wise to simplify your study planning.
| Subject | Best Reference Book |
|---|---|
| Numerical Ability | Fast Track Objective Arithmetic |
| English Grammar | Objective General English by S P Bakshi |
| Logical Reasoning | Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning by R S Aggarwal |
| GK and Current Affairs | Lucent’s General Knowledge, Manorama Yearbook 2024 |
| Modern Indian History | Modern India by Rajiv Ahir |
| Indian Economy | Indian Economy by Pratiyogita Darpan |
| Indian Polity | Indian Polity by M Laxmikanth |
| Geography | Geography of India by Majid Husain |
| Computers | Objective Computer Awareness by Arihant |
| Previous Year Papers | APSC CCE 1997-2017 Solved Papers |
| Additional Practice | UPSC 1995-2022 Solved Papers by Mrunal |
| Assam History | History of Assam by Priyam Goswami |
| Assam Topics | Assam Year Book by Santanu Kaushik Baruah |
Besides these prep books, reading newspapers, magazines and taking mock tests will further bolster your exam readiness. Consistent hard work along with a strategic preparation plan as per the latest syllabus guidelines is key to APSC success.
We hope this detailed analysis of the revised APSC CCE 2024 syllabus and exam pattern helps channelize your preparations positively. Feel free to reach out for any queries. Best of luck!