Welcome to Sarkari Naukri. The official notification for APSC CCE Answer Key 2026 has been announced. Below you will find comprehensive coverage of the eligibility criteria, important dates, vacancy details, and direct official application channels.
This article provides direct download links to the official Paper I and Paper II PDFs, a step-by-step guide to raise objections against the provisional key, the marking scheme for accurate score calculation, and the expected cut off marks category-wise everything you need in one place before the official result is declared.
APSC CCE Answer Key 2026 – Quick Overview
Candidates who appeared for the APSC Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) Prelims on 5 July 2026 can now check and download the provisional answer key for both papers. This section gives you the fastest possible answer to what’s happening right now: the Assam Public Service Commission released the answer key on 5 July 2026, and candidates have until 10 July 2026 to raise objections.
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) |
| Exam Name | Combined Competitive (Preliminary) Examination |
| Exam Date | 5 July 2026 (Sunday) |
| Answer Key Release Date | 5 July 2026 |
| Objection Window | 6 July 2026 to 10 July 2026 |
| Official Website | apsc.nic.in |
APSC CCE Prelims 2026 Exam Shift Timings
Before checking your answers against the key, it helps to confirm which shift and paper you’re matching, since the CCE Prelims is conducted in two separate sessions on the same day. Here’s how the exam day was structured.
| Paper | Timing |
|---|---|
| General Studies Paper I | 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon |
| General Studies Paper II (CSAT) | 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM |
APSC CCE Answer Key 2026 PDF Download Links
The official provisional answer key is released paper-wise on the APSC website. Below are the direct download links for both General Studies Paper I and Paper II so you don’t have to search the commission’s portal yourself.
- Download APSC CCE Answer Key 2026 – Paper I (General Studies)
- Download APSC CCE Answer Key 2026 – Paper II
Make sure the answer key you check corresponds to the same set/series as the question paper you were given at the exam centre, since APSC prelims papers are typically printed in multiple sets.
How to Download the APSC CCE Answer Key 2026
If the direct links above don’t open due to server load, candidates can also access the answer key manually through the official APSC portal. This section walks through the exact steps.
- Visit the official APSC website: apsc.nic.in
- Go to the “Answer Keys” section on the homepage.
- Look for the link related to CCE (Preliminary) Examination 2025/2026.
- Select the paper you want General Studies Paper I or Paper II (CSAT).
- The PDF will open; download and save it for future reference.
- Match your response sheet/OMR with the official key to estimate your score.
How to Raise an Objection Against the APSC Answer Key 2026
If you believe any question in the provisional key has been answered incorrectly, APSC allows a formal objection process rather than treating the key as final. This is your window to challenge specific answers before the final key is prepared.
- Objections can be raised only between 6 July 2026 and 10 July 2026.
- Objections must be submitted through the format prescribed by APSC, along with valid supporting documents or references (such as standard textbooks or authoritative sources).
- Objections submitted without proper justification or after the deadline are typically not considered.
- Once the objection window closes, APSC reviews valid claims before releasing the final answer key.
How to Calculate Your Score Using the APSC CCE Answer Key
Once you’ve matched your responses with the official key, you can estimate your probable score using APSC’s marking scheme. This is the exact formula the commission uses to award and deduct marks.
| Response Type | Marks |
|---|---|
| Correct Answer | +2 marks |
| Incorrect Answer | −0.25 marks |
| Unattempted Question | 0 marks |
Formula: Estimated Score = (Number of Correct Answers × 2) − (Number of Incorrect Answers × 0.25)
APSC CCE Prelims 2026 Exam Pattern
Knowing the exam pattern helps you cross-check whether your response sheet count matches the actual number of questions in each paper before you start calculating your score.
| Paper | Subject | No. of Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General Studies | 100 | 200 | 2 Hours |
| Paper II | General Studies (CSAT) | 80 | 200 | 2 Hours |
APSC CCE Prelims 2026 Exam Analysis
The overall difficulty level gives candidates a benchmark to judge their own performance against the general trend of this year’s paper.
| Section | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|
| General Studies Paper I | Moderate |
| General Studies Paper II (CSAT) | Moderate |
| Overall Difficulty | Moderate |
APSC CCE Expected Cut Off 2026
The expected cut off is an estimate based on this year’s difficulty level, the number of candidates, available vacancies, and previous cycles’ cut-off trends. It is not the official qualifying mark that will be announced by APSC along with the Prelims result.
| Category | Expected Cut Off (Marks) |
|---|---|
| General | 75-79 |
| OBC/MOBC | 57-63 |
| SC | 53-55 |
| ST (Plains) | 51-53 |
| ST (Hills) | 42-46 |
| EWS | 77-79 |
Note: These figures are estimates for guidance only. The actual cut off will be confirmed once APSC declares the official Prelims result.
