APPSC Technical Assistant 2026 — Computer Proficiency Test (CPT), Official Scheme & Syllabus

Notification 32/2026, Annexure-II pages 16–18 | Qualifying practical test after written shortlist | CPT date not yet announced.

The Computer Proficiency Test is a separate 60-minute, 100-mark practical-type assessment in office automation with computers and associated software. APPSC requires candidates provisionally shortlisted after the written recruitment test to qualify CPT before they can be considered for final selection. The Commission's current notice does not add CPT marks to the 300-mark written ranking calculation.

Passing standard

The official CPT table does not publish a separately labelled EWS threshold; avoid assuming an additional unlisted category-specific number. The precise CPT date, city allocation and individual reporting venue remain subject to later official notice.

Part-A — computer foundations, operating systems and online work

• Computer components: input, output and peripheral devices (keyboard, mouse, scanner, touchscreen, camera, barcode and biometric devices, printer, monitor, speaker, plotter), main memory (RAM/ROM), control and arithmetic units, secondary storage and computing concepts.
• Software classification: system, application, embedded, proprietary and open-source software—primarily purposes and characteristics.
• Operating systems: what an OS does, single-user and multi-user concepts; Windows GUI versus character interface, file and folder operations, application handling and peripheral setup.
• Linux and Mac OS basics: directory/file handling, permissions, user management, platform features and elementary commands. These are listed as basic concepts; the notice does not demand administering enterprise servers.
• Networking and internet: minimum hardware/software for connectivity, protocols, browsers, IP addresses, file downloads/uploads and connecting to a network.
• Email and web: composing, sending/receiving messages, mailing lists, web search and web navigation.

These are the syllabus areas printed under Part-A. Part-A may assess knowledge using MCQs; the notice specifies 20% of total CPT marks, but uses permissive wording for test design rather than a guaranteed fixed count of questions.

Part-B — hands-on office productivity

The detailed syllabus explicitly accepts MS Office or comparable open-source suites (such as LibreOffice/OpenOffice), across supported operating systems.

Word processing: create, open, save and print documents; page setup, headers/footers and page numbering; font/paragraph formatting, bullet lists, borders and shading, tables and sorting; images, shapes and WordArt; find/replace, bookmarks/hyperlinks, styles/templates, footnotes, cross-references and mail merge. The purpose is accurate, organised document creation rather than only keyboard shortcuts.

Spreadsheets: enter/edit data, reference cells, write formulas and use functions; copy/auto-fill, formatting, sorting and subtotals, rows/columns and merging/splitting; conditional formatting and graphs/charts. The syllabus also includes worksheet printing, document protection, CSV, simple macro and data-as-database concepts. Prepare to connect data, formulas and chart presentation within a usable file rather than memorise a list of menu names.

Presentation software: create slides using layouts/templates, work with text, shapes, pictures, tables and graphics, apply masters and themes, transitions/timings and animation, and set up/run a slide show. The practical expectation is a coherent presentation file using available tools.

Official component weighting — this is one 100-mark CPT, not five different exams

📊 Official CPT assessment component weights

The notice says typing speed may be made mandatory for qualifying under applicable norms. It does not publish a fixed words-per-minute passing speed in this notification, so no such number can be claimed as an official requirement.

What a realistic self-check can cover

A candidate can test whether they can type and format a brief official letter (headings, margins, table, footer), prepare a spreadsheet (formula, conditional formatting, chart), and build a small presentation with consistent layouts. Such exercises are practice suggestions, not announced APPSC tasks. The actual task prompts, keyboard layout, software version, pass criteria beyond published category scores and test venue must come from later official exam instructions.

Sequence after written examination

The written test determines the merit rank under the 300-mark written scheme. Only provisionally shortlisted candidates proceed to the qualifying CPT. A candidate who fails CPT cannot be appointed merely on a high written score. Conversely, a high CPT score does not constitute an additional merit award outside the rules. Original documents/local category and medical suitability remain relevant before appointment.

Government reference: APPSC official notification and examination updates.