TN Police SI 2025 Reactions: Moderate Paper, GK Scoring, Expected Cutoff 75-81

The verdict

"The TNUSRB SI exam was moderate overall—General Knowledge was scoring and straightforward, but Logical Analysis and Communication Skills sections demanded careful time management. Tamil Eligibility Test was easy for those with basic Tamil knowledge. A balanced paper that rewarded concept clarity over guesswork."

— Based on feedback from aspirants across multiple exam centres in Tamil Nadu

The Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board conducted the Sub-Inspector written examination on December 21, 2025, for 1,299 vacancies across Taluk and Armed Reserve posts. Over 3 lakh candidates appeared for this highly competitive offline OMR-based exam held across multiple centres throughout the state. The provisional answer key was released on December 26, 2025, with final results declared on January 27, 2026.

Section-wise difficulty

Section	Questions (Est.)	Difficulty	Top complaint
Tamil Eligibility Test	100	Easy	Qualifying only—no merit impact
General Knowledge	80	Easy to Moderate	Current affairs heavy, TN-specific GK tested
Logical Analysis	30 (approx)	Moderate	Time-consuming; required speed
Numerical Analysis	30 (approx)	Moderate	Standard aptitude level
Psychology Test	Included in 60	Moderate	Repetitive patterns from previous years
Communication Skills	Included in 60	Moderate	Careful reading needed
Overall	140 (Part II)	Easy to Moderate	Time management crucial

According to candidate feedback collected across exam centres, the Part I Tamil Language Eligibility Test (100 marks, 100 minutes) was largely accessible for those with 10th-standard Tamil proficiency. However, since it's only qualifying in nature (minimum 40 marks required), it doesn't affect final merit ranking.

The Part II Main Written Examination (70 marks from 140 questions, 2.5 hours) determined actual selection. Aspirants reported that General Knowledge was the most scoring section, covering topics like Science, History, Geography, Polity, Economics, Current Affairs, and Tamil Nadu-specific content. The Logical and Numerical Analysis sections were time-intensive but manageable with practice.

Expected cutoff (Main Written Exam - Part II)

These are aspirant-predicted ranges, not official cutoffs.

Category	Aspirant predicted (out of 70)	2024 official
General / EWS	75–81 marks	Data not available
OBC	70–76 marks	Data not available
SC	65–70 marks	Data not available
ST	60–65 marks	Data not available

Based on analysis from coaching institutes and candidate discussions, good attempts are estimated at 100–120+ questions with high accuracy in Part II. A score above 42 marks in Part II is considered safe for Open Quota candidates according to aspirant forums. The actual cutoff will depend on the number of applicants, difficulty level, and category-wise reservations. Official category-wise cutoffs were not separately published by TNUSRB in the result announcement.

Good attempts

Coaching experts and candidates estimate that attempting 75–80+ questions in Part II with good accuracy was a competitive score. Given the moderate difficulty and half-mark per question scheme (each question worth 0.5 marks), aspirants needed to balance speed with accuracy to maximize scores while minimizing negative marking impact.

Answer-key trackers

• Official TNUSRB Answer Key: Released on December 26, 2025, on the official website (tnusrb.tn.gov.in). Candidates could raise objections until January 2, 2026.
• Final Answer Key: Published on January 27, 2026, along with the final response sheet and provisional selection list.
• Coaching institute keys: Multiple education portals including Adda247, Career Power, Prepp, and Testbook provided unofficial answer keys and exam analysis within 24-48 hours of the exam.

The question paper was released in four sets (A, B, C, D) to maintain exam integrity, with corresponding answer keys for each set.

What the numbers say

The exam was conducted across Tamil Nadu for 1,299 vacancies in Sub-Inspector posts (Taluk and Armed Reserve). Over 3 lakh candidates appeared, making the competition ratio approximately 1:230. The merit list prepared by TNUSRB includes three times the number of vacancies, meaning around 3,900 candidates qualified for the next stages.

Questions were distributed as follows:

• Part I (Tamil Eligibility): 100 questions for 100 marks (qualifying)
• Part II (Main Exam): 140 questions for 70 marks (merit-based)
  • General Knowledge: 80 questions (40 marks)
  • Logical, Numerical, Psychology, Communication, Information Handling: 60 questions (30 marks)

What to do this week

For candidates who qualified:

1. Start physical preparation: The next stages include Physical Measurement Test (PMT), Endurance Test (ET), and Physical Efficiency Test (PET). Begin fitness training immediately—running, endurance drills, and strength training.

2. Review physical standards: Check official height, chest, and weight requirements. The physical tests are eliminatory in nature.

3. Document verification prep: Organize all original certificates—education, caste, residence, age proof. Keep multiple photocopies ready.

4. Viva-voce preparation: Start reading about Tamil Nadu Police structure, current affairs, law and order topics, and general awareness about police administration.

For all candidates:

1. Don't obsess over scores: The official result is out. Comparing answers now won't change outcomes—focus on what's next.

2. Analyze your performance: If you didn't qualify, identify weak areas. Was it General Knowledge gaps? Time management? Use this analysis for future attempts.

3. Stay updated: Follow the official TNUSRB website (tnusrb.tn.gov.in) for call letters and further instructions regarding PMT/PET schedules.

4. Explore other opportunities: TNUSRB conducts multiple recruitments annually. Check the TNUSRB Annual Planner 2026-27 for upcoming constable and other posts.

5. Maintain fitness regardless: Even if you're targeting the next cycle, physical fitness takes months to build. Start now.

Key takeaways

The TNUSRB SI 2025 exam maintained its traditional difficulty level—neither exceptionally tough nor extremely easy. Aspirants who had strong General Knowledge, particularly in Tamil Nadu-specific topics and current affairs, along with consistent practice in aptitude and reasoning, performed well. The exam rewarded balanced preparation across all sections rather than over-reliance on any single area.

With results already declared and the provisional selection list published, qualified candidates should immediately shift focus to physical tests and interview preparation. The real challenge now transitions from written competency to physical fitness and personality assessment—areas where consistency and discipline matter more than last-minute efforts.