UPSSSC Prelims 2026 Free Guess Paper
UPSSSC Prelims 2026 PYQ analysis: section marks, difficulty trends, fees, and a score plan for the PET exam on October 23-25, 2026.
The UPSSSC Prelims 2026 starts on October 23, and applications closed on September 7. The Prelims is the Preliminary Eligibility Test (PET), and a PET score opens recruitment for Group B and C posts in Uttar Pradesh. This UPSSSC Prelims 2026 PYQ analysis shows where the 100 marks sit and how to plan your attempts.
TL;DR
- The PET has 100 questions for 100 marks in 120 minutes. Each wrong answer costs 0.25 mark.
- Five sections of 10 marks each carry 50 marks. Graph and table interpretation alone carry 20 marks.
- Candidates rated the 2025 paper easy to moderate. The good attempt range was 70 to 80 questions.
- 19,43,171 candidates appeared in 2025. About 23.3% of registered candidates did not attend.
- A PET score stays valid for 3 years. The ₹185 fee equals about ₹62 per year for General and OBC candidates.
- The 2026 exam runs on 3 days in 6 shifts. The 2022, 2023, and 2025 exams ran on 2 days each.
UPSSSC PET 2026 Exam Pattern and Dates
The commission will hold the PET on October 23, 24, and 25, 2026. It announced the dates on September 9. Applications closed on September 7 after the commission moved the first deadline of September 1.
Each day has two shifts. Shift 1 runs from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Shift 2 runs from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
The paper has 100 questions for 100 marks on an OMR sheet. Candidates get 120 minutes, which is 72 seconds per question. Each wrong answer costs 0.25 mark, so four wrong answers erase one correct answer.
Six Shifts Mean Six Papers
The 2022, 2023, and 2025 exams ran on two days each. The 2026 exam adds a third day. That makes six shifts, against four in 2025.
Each shift uses its own paper. Six shifts therefore mean six different papers. Practice on many PYQ papers, not on one.
UPSSSC Prelims 2026 PYQ Analysis: Where the 100 Marks Sit
PYQ means previous year questions. The papers from 2021 to 2025 use 15 sections. Ten sections carry 5 marks each. Five sections carry 10 marks each, and these five carry 50 marks, half of the paper.
| Subject group | Sections included | Marks in the 100-mark paper |
|---|---|---|
| Static General Studies | Indian History, Indian National Movement, Geography, Indian Economy, Indian Constitution and Public Administration, General Science (5 each) | 30 |
| Numbers | Elementary Arithmetic (5), Graph Interpretation (10), Table Interpretation (10) | 25 |
| Language | General Hindi (5), General English (5), Hindi Unseen Passages (10) | 20 |
| Current Affairs and General Awareness | Current Affairs (10), General Awareness (10) | 20 |
| Reasoning | Logic and Reasoning (5) | 5 |
Static General Studies is the largest block. The numbers-based sections rank second at 25 marks. They also draw the hardest ratings, as the next section shows.
Graph and Table Interpretation: 20 Marks From Four Items
The paper shows 2 graphs and 2 tables. Each item carries 5 questions. One careful read of one graph can earn 5 marks.
Candidates rated Data Interpretation and arithmetic as the harder sections in 2023. In the 2025 Shift 1 paper, Data Interpretation and Reasoning took extra effort. Practice graph and table sets under a timer.
Language and Passage Sections: 20 Marks
General Hindi and General English carry 5 marks each. Two Hindi unseen passages carry 10 marks, which is 5 questions per passage.
Candidates rated Hindi easy in 2025. They rated the passage questions easy to moderate. A candidate who reads Hindi fast can collect most of these 20 marks.
Current Affairs and General Awareness: 20 Marks
Current Affairs and General Awareness carry 10 marks each. The 2025 good attempt range was 6 to 7 questions in each section.
In the 2021 Shift 2 paper, candidates found economy and current affairs questions tough and slow. Set a time limit per question so these sections do not drain the 120 minutes.
UPSSSC PET Previous Year Papers: The Difficulty Trend
Candidates rated the 2021 paper moderate. They rated the 2023 paper moderate, with harder Data Interpretation and arithmetic. They rated the 2025 paper easy to moderate.
| Exam cycle | Overall rating | Sections that took more effort | Good attempts out of 100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Moderate | Data Interpretation, arithmetic | 68 to 70 (Shift 1) |
| 2025 | Easy to moderate | Data Interpretation, reasoning | 70 to 80 |
The good attempt range rose as the paper became easier. An easier paper lifts the score of every candidate. Accuracy then separates candidates more than speed.
Cutoffs: How Recruitments Use the PET Score
The commission sets no fixed pass mark for the PET score. Each recruitment applies its own cutoff to that score.
The 2022 UP Lekhpal cutoff was 62.96 for General, OBC, and EWS candidates. It was 61.80 for SC candidates and 44.71 for ST candidates. The gap between General and ST was 18.25 marks, so category rules change the target. Check the cutoff of your target post before you set a personal score goal.
PET Turnout: Real Competition Is Smaller Than Registration
| Item | PET 2025 count |
|---|---|
| Registered candidates | 25,31,996 |
| Candidates who appeared | 19,43,171 |
| Candidates who did not attend | 5,88,825 |
| Districts covered | 48 |
| Exam centers | 1,479 |
About 23.3% of registered candidates did not attend. Your real competition is 19,43,171 candidates, not 25,31,996.
Selection Strategy for the PET
Set an Attempt Target of 70 to 80 Questions
The 2025 good attempt range was 70 to 80 questions. Negative marking sets the cost of a guess. A candidate with 70 correct answers and 5 wrong answers scores 68.75 marks, which is 70 minus 1.25. Skip a question when you cannot narrow the options.
Practice With 12 Shift Papers
The 2022, 2023, and 2025 exams give 12 shift papers, which equal 1,200 questions. Solve one full paper every three days. Twelve papers need 34 days.
Start with the four 2025 papers because they show the current level. Review each wrong answer by section.
Guard the OMR Sheet
In the first 2025 result, the commission cancelled 41 candidates for a blank or wrong question booklet number on the OMR sheet. It also marked 44 candidates for unfair means. Mark the booklet number first, then check it again before you submit.
UPSSSC PET 2026 Fee and Cost per Year
| Category | Application fee (₹) | Cost per year over 3 years of score validity (₹) |
|---|---|---|
| General and OBC | 185 | about 62 |
| SC and ST | 95 | about 32 |
| PwD | 25 | about 8 |
The PET score stays valid for 3 years. The 2022 score carried one year of validity, so the period has tripled. One score serves many recruitments, such as Lekhpal, Junior Assistant, Clerk, and Forest Guard.
A candidate with a 2025 score holds a valid score until about December 2028. Compare that score with the cutoffs of your target posts before you pay a second fee.
Common Questions
What is the UPSSSC Prelims?
It is the Preliminary Eligibility Test (PET). A valid PET score is mandatory to apply for the main exams of Group B and C posts.
Who can take the PET in 2026?
Candidates need a Class 10 pass and an age of 18 to 40 years on July 1, 2026. Reserved categories get age relaxation under commission rules.
Does the PET have negative marking?
Yes. Each wrong answer costs 0.25 mark.
How long does a PET score stay valid?
A PET score stays valid for three years from the date the commission uploads it.
What is the PET 2026 fee?
The fee is ₹185 for General and OBC candidates, ₹95 for SC and ST candidates, and ₹25 for PwD candidates.
When is the PET 2026 exam?
The exam runs on October 23, 24, and 25, 2026, in two shifts each day.
What the Trend Means Next
The PYQ trend points to a paper that rewards accuracy. The 2025 paper was easier than the 2023 paper, and the good attempt range rose to 70 to 80 questions. Recruitment cutoffs use these scores, so a small loss in accuracy can move a candidate below a cutoff.
The 2026 exam adds a third day and six shifts. The format of the graph, table, and passage items stayed the same in 2023 and 2025. Spend your last weeks on the 25 marks in numbers-based sections and the 20 marks in language sections. Then protect every mark with a correct OMR sheet.
