AP Police SI Exam Pattern 2026 — Prelims & Final Written
The Andhra Pradesh Police Sub-Inspector exam has a qualifying Preliminary Written Test of two papers, the physical tests, and a four-paper Final Written Examination that decides the merit. This page sets out every paper — questions, marks, time and the qualifying rules — as in the SLPRB AP 2026 notification.
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Three stages
- Preliminary Written Test — Two objective papers of 100 marks each; qualifying only.
- PMT / PET — Physical measurements, then the 1600 m run plus the 100 m run or long jump. Qualifying for SI (Civil); 100 marks toward merit for RSI (AR) and SI (SPF).
- Final Written Examination — Four papers; the objective Papers III and IV decide the merit.
Prelims — Paper I and Paper II
The Preliminary Written Test has two objective (OMR) papers of three hours each. You must clear the qualifying mark in each paper separately — the two papers are not added together, and the Prelims marks are not carried into the final merit.
| Paper | Subjects | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|
| Paper I | Arithmetic (SSC standard) and Test of Reasoning / Mental Ability | 100 | 100 | 3 hours |
| Paper II | General Studies (Degree standard) | 100 | 100 | 3 hours |
- Marking — There is no negative marking: the SLPRB AP 2026 notifications award marks for a correct answer and prescribe no deduction for a wrong one, so attempt every question.
- Qualifying — Minimum to qualify: 40% for OC (including EWS), 35% for BC and 30% for SC / ST.
- Time per question — 100 questions in 3 hours leaves under two minutes per question — enough to read carefully, so accuracy matters more than raw speed.
Final Written Examination (Mains) — four papers
Papers I and II are descriptive, qualifying language papers. For SI (Civil) the merit list is the aggregate of the objective Papers III and IV — 200 + 200 = 400 marks. For RSI (AR) and SI (SPF), Papers III and IV count for 100 marks each and the PET adds 100 marks, 300 in all.
| Paper | Subjects | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|
| Paper I: English | Descriptive (Degree standard) — qualifying | Descriptive | 100 | 3 hours |
| Paper II: Telugu / Urdu | Descriptive (Degree standard) — qualifying | Descriptive | 100 | 3 hours |
| Paper III: Arithmetic & Reasoning | Arithmetic (SSC standard) and Test of Reasoning / Mental Ability — objective | 200 | 200 | 3 hours |
| Paper IV: General Studies | General Science, current events, History of India & the National Movement, Geography of India, Indian Polity & Economy — objective (Degree standard) | 200 | 200 | 3 hours |
You must reach the qualifying minimum in each of the four papers; if you fail Paper I or II, Papers III and IV are not considered. Papers III and IV are set in English, Telugu and Urdu and answered on OMR.
How to practise for this pattern
- Never neglect one paper — Each Prelims paper has its own qualifying mark, so a strong General Studies score cannot rescue a weak Arithmetic & Reasoning paper.
- Attempt everything — With no negative marking, an unanswered question is a mark thrown away.
- Start the language papers early — The descriptive English and Telugu / Urdu papers are only qualifying, but failing either ends your candidacy — practise essays, précis and translation alongside the objective papers.
- Write full papers under time — Take timed full-length mocks of each paper on a CBT-style screen and review every wrong answer.
Keep going
Everything else you need for the AP Police SI exam, in English and Telugu:
Official sources
Always confirm dates, vacancies, eligibility and the exam scheme in the official SLPRB AP notification and any corrigendum on slprb.ap.gov.in, the portal of the State Level Police Recruitment Board, Andhra Pradesh. AP Police Hub is an independent preparation platform and is not connected with SLPRB AP.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What is the AP SI Prelims exam pattern?
Two objective (OMR) papers of 100 questions and 100 marks each, 3 hours each. Paper I is Arithmetic and Reasoning / Mental Ability; Paper II is General Studies at Degree standard.
Is there negative marking in the AP SI exam?
No. The SLPRB AP 2026 SI notification prescribes no deduction for a wrong answer, so attempt every question.
Are AP SI Prelims marks counted in the final merit?
No. The Prelims is qualifying only: clear the minimum in each of the two papers to reach the physical tests. The merit comes from the Final Written Examination.
What are the qualifying marks for AP SI Prelims?
40% for OC (including EWS), 35% for BC and 30% for SC / ST, in each of the two papers separately. Special categories such as ex-servicemen qualify by their community category.
How many papers are in the AP SI Mains (Final Written Examination)?
Four papers of 3 hours each: English and Telugu / Urdu (descriptive, qualifying, 100 marks each), and Arithmetic & Reasoning and General Studies (objective, 200 marks each).
In which languages is the AP SI exam conducted?
The objective papers are set in English, Telugu and Urdu and answered on an OMR sheet. In the Final Written Examination, Paper I is English and Paper II is Telugu or Urdu.
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