TPSC ATO exam pattern 2026
TPSC Assistant Technical Officer (ATO) has 2 stages: Written Exam, Interview. The Written Exam has 170 questions for 170 marks in 180 minutes. Negative marking: As per TPSC norms, amended from time to time.
TPSC Assistant Technical Officer (ATO) exam pattern
Questions, marks, time and negative marking for each stage.
Marks by section
170 marks in all
- Paper I — English 15
- Paper I — Mental Ability & Reasoning 15
- Paper I — GK & Current Affairs 20
- Paper II — Technical (CS & IT) 120
Time each section gets
At an even 64 seconds a question
180 minutes for 170 questions. A question you get stuck on takes time from the rest of the paper.
Written Exam at a glance
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper I — English | 15 | 15 |
| Paper I — Mental Ability & Reasoning | 15 | 15 |
| Paper I — GK & Current Affairs | 20 | 20 |
| Paper II — Technical (CS & IT) | 120 | 120 |
| Total | 170 | 170 |
Negative marking: As per TPSC norms, amended from time to time. Two compulsory papers in one 3-hour sitting. Answers in English only. Qualifying marks: 55% in each paper for UR, 45% for reserved categories.
Interview at a glance
Interview-cum-personality test. Final merit = Written (170) + Interview (30) = 200 marks.
How selection works
- Written exam, 170 marks (Paper I + Paper II)
- Interview / personality test, 30 marks
- Merit list on the 200-mark total
More on TPSC Assistant Technical Officer (ATO)
TPSC Assistant Technical Officer (ATO): questions people ask
What is the TPSC ATO exam pattern?
A 170-mark OMR-based written exam of 3 hours — Paper I General Ability (50 questions, 50 marks) and Paper II Job-Oriented Technical (120 questions, 120 marks) — followed by a 30-mark interview / personality test. Final merit is out of 200.
What are the qualifying marks?
At least 55% in each paper for unreserved candidates and 45% for reserved categories. Candidates are then called for interview in a ratio of 3 times the vacancies in each category (5 for one vacancy, 8 for two).
Is there negative marking in TPSC ATO?
The notification says negative marking will be as per TPSC norms, amended from time to time. Check the instructions on the admit card and the OMR sheet before you start.
How many times can I attempt TPSC ATO?
There is no fixed number of attempts. You can sit the exam as long as you meet the eligibility and the upper age limit for your category.
Sit a full TPSC Assistant Technical Officer (ATO) mock this week
The real pattern on the real clock. Your result shows the sections to fix before the exam.