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SupportUPPSC APO Exam Pattern 2026: Marking Scheme, Stages, Details
UP APO Exam Pattern 2026 comprises three stages: 150 objective-type questions in the prelims, six papers in the mains, and a 50-mark Personality Test. The preliminary exam is conducted for 150 marks in 2 hours, with 50 questions from General Knowledge and 100 questions from Law.
Last Updated on 14 Aug 2026
Candidates who clear the prelims exam are shortlisted for the 500-mark Main Written Examination. The prelims are conducted in offline (OMR) mode with one-third (0.33) negative marking for every incorrect answer.
Read ahead to know the latest UPPSC APO exam pattern, including distribution of marks, exam duration, strategy, and more.
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UP APO Exam Pattern 2026: Overview
Take a look at the key highlights of the UPPSC APO exam paper pattern below:
| Particulars | Preliminary Exam | Main Written Exam | Personality Test |
| Mode of Exam | Offline (OMR) | Written | Interview |
| Nature of Questions | Objective Type | Descriptive | Personality Assessment |
| Number of Papers | 2 (General Knowledge & Law) | 6 Papers | - |
| Total Questions | 150 | Descriptive Papers | - |
| Total Marks | 150 | 500 | 50 |
| Exam Duration | 2 Hours | 3 Hours (General Hindi, Criminal Law & Procedure, Shakshya Adhiniyam, Anya Adhiniyam); 1½ Hours (General English & General Knowledge) | As decided by the Commission |
| General Knowledge Weightage | 50 Questions (50 Marks) | 50 Marks | - |
| Law Weightage | 100 Questions (100 Marks) | 300 Marks across three law papers | - |
| Negative Marking | Yes, 0.33 mark deducted for each wrong answer | No information provided | Not Applicable |
| Marks for Correct Answer | 1 Mark | As per paper | - |
| Penalty for Multiple Answers | Treated as incorrect; 0.33 mark deducted | Not Applicable | - |
| Penalty for Unattempted Questions | No Penalty | Not Applicable | - |
| Minimum Qualifying Marks | 40% (Other Categories), 35% (SC/ST) | 40% (Other Categories), 35% (SC/ST) | As per final selection process |
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Stages in UP APO Exam Pattern 2026
The UP APO selection process is divided into three stages: Prelims Exam, Main Written Exam, and Personality Test.
- Preliminary Exam: It will be conducted on OMR answer sheets and comprise 150 objective-type questions. The exam duration will be 2 hours. It is a screening test conducted to shortlist candidates for the Main Written Exam.
- Mains Exam: There will be six papers in the main written exam, out of which the duration of the General English and General Knowledge papers will be 1 ½ hours each, while the duration of all the other papers will be three hours each.
- Personality Test: All the mains-qualified candidates will be called to appear in the Personality Test. It will be conducted for a total of 50 marks.
UP APO Prelims Exam Pattern 2026
The UPPSC APO Preliminary Exam is the first stage of the selection process. It will be conducted offline (OMR sheet) and will contain objective-type questions. It consists of two papers: General Knowledge and Law.
You will be required to solve 150 questions in 2 hours. The maximum marks will be 150. Check the latest UP APO exam pattern for the preliminary exam below:
| Subject | Topics | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks |
| General Knowledge | General Science | 08 | 08 |
| Current Events of National and International Importance | 10 | 10 | |
| History of India | 08 | 08 | |
| Indian National Movement | 08 | 08 | |
| Indian Polity & Economy | 08 | 08 | |
| World Geography and Population | 08 | 08 | |
| Total | 50 | 50 | |
| Subject | Topics | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks |
| Law | The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 | 30 | 30 |
| The Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 | 20 | 20 | |
| The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 | 25 | 25 | |
| U.P. Police Act And Regulations | 15 | 15 | |
| Indian Constitution | 10 | 10 | |
| Total | 100 | 100 | |
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UP APO Mains Exam Pattern 2026
If you qualify the preliminary exam, you will be called to appear for the Main Written Exam. The Mains examination consists of six papers, totalling 500 marks. Check the UPPSC APO exam pattern for the Mains exam.
| Paper | Maximum Marks | Exam Duration |
| General Hindi | 100 | 3 hours |
| General English | 50 | 1 ½ hours |
| General Knowledge | 50 | 1 ½ hours |
| Criminal Law & Procedure | 100 | 3 hours |
| Shakshya Adhiniyam | 100 | 3 hours |
| Anya Adhiniyam | 100 | 3 hours |
| Total | 500 marks | - |
UPPSC APO Personality Test
If you are declared successful in the main written exam, you will be shortlisted for the personality test. This stage is designed to evaluate your communication skills, efficiency, character, personality and physical fitness.
The UP APO personality test carries 50 marks. The merit list will be prepared based on the marks obtained in the written exam and interview.
Check our related blogs:
| UP APO Exam | UP APO Salary |
| UP APO Admit Card | UP APO Syllabus |
| UP APO Previous Year Papers | UP APO Result |
Uttar Pradesh APO Exam Pattern 2026 — Stage-wise Marks Distribution
Check the UPPSC APO total marks for the prelims and mains exams below:
| Stage | Marks | Nature |
| Preliminary Exam | 150 | Qualifying/Screening |
| Mains Written Exam | 500 | Merit Determining |
| Personality Test | 50 | Merit Determining |
Minimum Qualifying Marks in UP APO Exam Paper Pattern
The minimum qualifying standard will be available on the official notification. If you secure less than the prescribed qualifying cutoffs, you will not be featured in the merit list. Here are the category-wise minimum qualifying marks for UPPSC APO prelims and mains exam:
| Category | Minimum Qualifying Marks |
| Other Categories | 40% |
| SC/ST | 35% |
Read More Related Articles:
| UP APO Notification | UP APO Exam Date |
| UP APO Application Form | UP APO Eligbility Criteria |
UP APO Exam Marking Scheme
The UP APO exam marking scheme helps you understand the marks allotted for every correct answer and the deduction applicable for every wrong answer. In simple words, there will be negative marking of one-third (0.33) mark for every incorrect answer in the prelims exam.
Below is the detailed UP APO exam negative marking scheme in the prelims exam:
- Every question has 4 options.
- For every correct answer, add 1 mark
- For every incorrect answer, deduct one-third (0.33) marks.
- If you give more than one answer, it will be considered a wrong answer even if one of the given answers is correct, and there will be the same penalty as above for that question.
- If a question is left blank or unattempted, there will be no penalty for that question.
Preparation Tips Based on UPPSC APO Exam Pattern 2026
A well-planned preparation strategy can improve your performance in the UPPSC APO exam and help you cover the syllabus more effectively.
- Start by understanding the UPPSC APO exam pattern and syllabus. It helps you plan your study schedule more effectively.
- Check the weightage of every section and give more time to higher-scoring sections.
- Focus on developing a clear understanding of legal concepts before moving on to application-based topics.
- Solve previous years' papers and take regular mock tests to improve speed, accuracy, and exam temperament.
- If you need proper guidance, consider joining a coaching programme that offers a planned study schedule, expert support, and regular doubt-clearing sessions.
Go Through These Important Topics for APO Aspirants:
| Law as a Career | Hierarchy of Judiciary in India |
| Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala | Important Acts in India |
Important Topics of Indian Constitution:
FAQs on UP APO Exam Pattern 2026
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