The TNPSC VAO cut off is the minimum aggregate mark needed to be shortlisted for the next stage or the final merit list of Village Administrative Officer (VAO). It is not fixed in advance — the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission derives it every cycle from the number of vacancies, the number of candidates, the difficulty of the paper and your reservation category. This page explains the indicative category-wise trend and, more importantly, how to score comfortably above it.

Indicative TNPSC VAO cut-off (category-wise)

Note: Cut-off marks, dates and post lists change every recruitment cycle. The figures on this page are indicative, based on previous cycles. Always confirm the exact numbers in the official notification and result at tnpsc.gov.in.

How the TNPSC cut-off is calculated

• Vacancies — more posts generally means a lower cut-off.
• Number of applicants — heavy competition pushes the cut-off up.
• Paper difficulty — an easier paper raises the cut-off for everyone.
• Category — OC usually has the highest cut-off; BC/MBC/SC/ST are progressively lower.
• Normalisation — where multiple sessions are held, scores are normalised before the cut-off is fixed.

Exam pattern behind the marks

VAO uses the same single 300-mark objective paper as Group 4 (200 questions in 3 hours), with VAO ranked on the same combined merit list. Knowing the section weights tells you where the cut-off marks are easiest to earn.

How to score above the cut-off

1. Lock the scoring blocks first — General Tamil and static General Studies are the most predictable marks.
2. Solve previous year papers to calibrate your current score against the trend above.
3. Take full-length timed mock tests and review every mistake.
4. Keep current affairs current — it is the swing factor near the cut-off.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Updated: September 2026