APSC CCE Provisional Answer Key 2026 has been released by the Assam Public Service Commission on 05/07/2026 for both General Studies Paper I and Paper II (CSAT). Candidates who appeared in the Combined Competitive Examination (Preliminary) held on 05/07/2026 can now download the official answer key, verify their responses, and raise objections until 10/07/2026. The objection fee is non-refundable. This article is based on the official answer key notice released by the Assam Public Service Commission.
You can download the provisional answer key directly from apsc.nic.in and cross-check your marked responses against the official answers. The objection window remains open for five calendar days, allowing candidates to challenge any answer they believe is incorrect, provided they have supporting documentation from standard textbooks or authoritative sources.
Answer Key – Key Details
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Organization | Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) |
| Exam Name | Combined Competitive Examination (Preliminary) |
| Exam Date | 05/07/2026 |
| Answer Key Type | Provisional |
| Release Date | 05/07/2026 |
| Objection Window | 06/07/2026 to 10/07/2026 |
| Objection Fee | As per the official notification |
| Official Website | https://apsc.nic.in |
APSC CCE Prelims 2026 Exam Shift Timings
The exam was conducted in two separate sessions on the same day. Verify which session and paper you appeared in before matching your responses.
| 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 |
How to Download the APSC CCE Provisional Answer Key 2026
Access the answer key through the official APSC portal using these numbered steps:
- Visit apsc.nic.in on your browser.
- Navigate to the “Answer Keys” or “Latest News” section on the homepage.
- Locate the link for “APSC Combined Competitive Examination (Preliminary) 2026 Answer Key.”
- Select your paper: General Studies Paper I or General Studies Paper II (CSAT).
- Download the PDF to your device and save for offline reference.
- Open your response sheet or OMR copy issued at the exam centre.
- Match each of your marked answers against the official key, question by question.
If the direct links above fail due to server load, retry after a few minutes or use the manual portal steps above.
Calculate Your Probable Score
Once you have matched your responses against the official key, calculate your estimated score using the APSC marking scheme below.
The APSC CCE Prelims uses the following marking formula:
- Correct answer: +2 marks
- Wrong answer: −0.25 marks
- Unattempted question: 0 marks
Example: If you attempted 170 total questions with 140 correct answers and 30 incorrect answers:
Score = (140 × 2) − (30 × 0.25) = 280 − 7.5 = 272.5 marks
This estimate helps you gauge whether you are likely to clear the qualifying cut-off for your category.
Should You Challenge This Answer Key?
Raising an objection costs money and effort. Do so strategically.
Raise an objection if:
- The official answer in the key appears to contradict the question paper text you received.
- You have a specific reference from an NCERT textbook, a published government source, or a recognised academic publication that supports a different answer.
- The question itself contains a printing error, ambiguous wording, or two defensible correct options.
- Multiple authoritative sources (not coaching centre apps or social media) agree that the key answer is wrong.
Do NOT raise an objection if:
- You simply guessed and got it wrong.
- A coaching institute or online forum disagrees with the key but provides no textbook citation.
- You have a hunch, but no published reference to back it up.
- The objection fee is non-refundable regardless of the outcome.
Practical reminder: APSC reviews objections with subject experts. Only those supported by credible published references are accepted and reflected in the final answer key. Raising an objection is your right, but validate it thoroughly before submitting.
How to Challenge the Answer Key
If you decide to raise an objection, follow the process outlined by APSC during the open window.
- Note the specific question number(s) you want to challenge from the official answer key.
- Gather documentary proof: scanned pages from standard textbooks, official publications, or authoritative sources that justify your claim.
- Visit the APSC portal during the objection window (06/07/2026 to 10/07/2026).
- Submit your objection through the prescribed format with clear justification and supporting documentation.
- Retain proof of submission (screenshot or reference number) for your records.
Critical Warning: The objection fee is non-refundable, even if your objection is rejected. Raise objections only when you have a clear reference from the official question paper or a standard textbook.
What Happens Next
Once the objection window closes, APSC moves into the review phase. Here is the timeline:
- Objection window closes on 10/07/2026.
- APSC evaluates all submitted objections with subject matter experts.
- Final Answer Key released – expected as per official schedule (typically within 2-3 weeks).
- Preliminary examination result declared – expected date to be announced by APSC.
- Candidates who qualify in the Prelims are invited for the Main examination.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| APSC CCE Prelims Exam | 05/07/2026 |
| Provisional Answer Key Release | 05/07/2026 |
| Objection Window Opens | 06/07/2026 |
| Objection Window Closes | 10/07/2026 |
| Final Answer Key Release | As per the official schedule |
| Prelims Result Declaration | To be announced |
APSC CCE Prelims 2026 Exam Pattern
Understanding the exam structure ensures you validate your response count against the actual question total before estimating your score.
| Paper | Subject | Number of Questions | Total Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General Studies | 100 | 200 | 2 Hours |
| Paper II | General Studies (CSAT) | 80 | 200 | 2 Hours |
| Total | – | 180 | 400 | – |
APSC CCE Prelims 2026 Difficulty Analysis
The overall difficulty level of this year’s exam provides context for evaluating your own performance.
| Component | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|
| General Studies Paper I | Moderate |
| General Studies Paper II (CSAT) | Moderate |
| Overall Assessment | Moderate |
APSC CCE Expected Cut-off 2026
These are estimates based on this year’s difficulty, the number of qualifying candidates, vacancy count, and historical cut-off trends. The official qualifying score will be announced by APSC 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 |
These figures are estimates for guidance only. The actual qualifying score will be confirmed once APSC declares the official Prelims result.
Important Links
| Particulars | Link |
|---|---|
| Official Website | Visit Website |
| Download Paper I Answer Key | Download Answer Key |
| Download Paper II Answer Key | Download Answer Key |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Where can I download the APSC CCE Provisional Answer Key 2026?
Ans. The provisional answer key is available on the official APSC website at apsc.nic.in. You can access it directly from the links provided above or navigate through the “Answer Keys” section on the homepage. Download the PDF for the paper you appeared in.
Q2. What is the difference between the provisional and final answer key?
Ans. The provisional answer key is released immediately after the exam and allows candidates to raise objections if they believe any answer is incorrect. The final answer key is published after APSC reviews all objections with subject experts. The final key reflects any changes resulting from accepted objections.
Q3. Until when can I raise an objection against the APSC CCE Answer Key 2026?
Ans. The objection window is open from 06/07/2026 to 10/07/2026. No objections will be accepted after 10/07/2026. Ensure you submit your objection with proper supporting documentation well before the deadline.
Q4. What is the fee for raising an objection, and is it refundable?
Ans. As per official notification, candidates must pay a non-refundable objection fee for each question they challenge. The exact amount and payment method are specified on the APSC portal during the objection submission window. Once paid, the fee is not returned even if your objection is rejected.
Q5. What documents or references should I submit along with my objection?
Ans. Objections must be backed by credible published sources such as NCERT textbooks, official government publications, or recognized academic references. Screenshots from coaching centre apps or unverified online sources are typically not accepted. Include scanned or photocopied pages from authoritative sources that justify your claim.
Q6. What happens if my objection is accepted?
Ans. If APSC’s subject experts agree with your objection, the final answer key will reflect the correction. Your marks will be recalculated using the revised answer key, and your final score and rank will be adjusted accordingly. This can change your overall result and eligibility status.
Q7. How can I calculate my expected score using the APSC marking scheme?
Ans. Use this formula: (Number of Correct Answers × 2) − (Number of Incorrect Answers × 0.25). For example, if you got 140 correct and 30 incorrect out of 170 attempts, your score = (140 × 2) − (30 × 0.25) = 272.5 marks. Unattempted questions carry zero marks.
Q8. Are these expected cut-offs official?
Ans. No. The cut-offs shown above are estimates based on difficulty level, candidate strength, and historical trends. The official qualifying cut-off will be announced by APSC along with the Prelims result. Your category-specific cut-off depends on the final number of vacancies and candidate performance in this cycle.
Your Next Step
Download the APSC CCE Provisional Answer Key 2026 from the links above and cross-check every answer against your response sheet before the objection window closes on 10/07/2026. Raise objections only for answers you can defend with a reference from the official question paper or a standard textbook – each objection fee is non-refundable. Stay updated on the APSC website for the final answer key and Prelims result announcement.
