UPSC EPFO - Cut Off in Previous exams
The information presented on this page pertains to the cut-off scores of previous UPSC EPFO exams. The Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner (APFC) exams for EPFO were held in 2016, 2012, 2004, and 2002, and the Enforcement Officer/Accounts Officer (EO/AO) exams for EPFO were conducted in 2021 and 2017.
Also, on this page, you will find everything about EPFO APFC and EO/AO exams like syllabus, expected exam dates, previous years’ question papers, weightage of topics, topic wise analysis of syllabus.
Cut off in EPFO EO/AO 2021
The UPSC released the notification for the Enforcement Officer/Accounts Officer (EO/AO) exam of EPFO (Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation) on 11 January 2020, and the written exam was conducted on September 5, 2021. The notification can be downloaded given here.
According to the data released by the UPSC (click here), approximately 9.85 lakh students applied for the 2021 exam of EPFO EO/AO, out of which 2.30 lakh students appeared for the written exam.
The written exam was out of a total of 300 marks, with 120 questions in total, each carrying 2.5 marks. However, there was negative marking of one-third, which means that for each incorrect answer, one mark was deducted.
The weightage of the written exam and the interview was in the ratio of 75:25, with a total of 100 marks assigned for the interview. This meant that the written exam was given more importance (300 marks) while calculating the final result.
The paper was considered to be easy to moderate in terms of difficulty level. The cut off for the written exam of EPFO EO/AO 2021 was quite high.
For the Unreserved category, the cut off for the written exam was 187.39 marks out of 300, which meant that approximately 75 questions had to be answered correctly, taking into account negative marking for incorrect answers.
The cut off for OBC students was 173.15 (69 correct out of 120), for SC students was 160.51 (64 correct out of 120), and for ST students was 156.30 (62 correct out of 120).
| Category | Cut off marks out of 300 | No. of correct answers out of 120 Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Unreserved | 187.39 | 75 |
| OBC | 173.15 | 69 |
| SC | 160.51 | 64 |
| ST | 156.3 | 62 |
The high cut off marks for the written exam also indicate the competition level for this exam.
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Cut off in EPFO EO/AO 2017
The UPSC released a notification on 04 June 2016 for the Enforcement Officer/Accounts Officer (EO/AO) exam of EPFO. The written exam was subsequently conducted on 26 February 2017. The UPSC notification for the exam date is given here.
In this exam, approximately 4.5 lakh students applied to the UPSC, out of which 1.46 lakh candidates appeared for the exam.
The written exam carried a total of 100 marks, and the interview carried an equal weightage of 100 marks, making the weightage of written and interview equal at 50:50.
The written exam comprised of 120 questions, with each question carrying a weightage of 0.833 marks, which summed up to 100 marks in total. Negative marking of one-third was implemented in this exam.
The cut-off for the written exam in EPFO 2017 paper was set at 49.50 marks out of 100 for Unreserved Category students. This meant that anyone who answered approximately 59 questions correctly out of 120 was eligible for a call for the interview. However, this cut-off of 59 questions correct should be considered after deducting marks because of negative marking for incorrect answers.
| Category | Cut off marks out of 100 | No. of correct answers out of 120 Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Unreserved | 49.50 | 59 |
| OBC | 44.50 | 53 |
| SC | 42.50 | 51 |
| ST | 43.50 | 52 |
The cut-off for OBC students in 2017 EPFO EO/AO was 44.50 (53 correct out of 120), for SC students was 42.50 (51 correct out of 120), and for ST students was 43.50 (52 correct out of 120).
You can check out these details on UPSC website by Click Here.
Overall, the difficulty level of the 2017 EPFO EO/AO exam was considered to be average to tough. This was reflected in the relatively low cut-off scores as compared to the 2021 EPFO EO/AO exam. The 2017 exam was tougher than the 2021 exam. Candidates preparing for the EPFO EO/AO exam should keep these details in mind while planning their preparation strategies.
Cut off in EPFO APFC 2016
The UPSC conducted the EPFO APFC (Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner) written exam on 10 January 2016, after releasing the notification for the same on 20 June 2015. The exam saw a significant number of candidates, with approximately 1.63 lakh candidates appearing for the test.
The written exam was of 100 marks, and the interview also carried 100 marks. The final selection was based on a weightage of 75:25 for the written exam and the interview, respectively.
The written exam consisted of 120 questions, each carrying 0.833 marks, with a total of 100 marks.
As per the exam pattern, there was negative marking of one-third, which means for every incorrect answer, one-third of the marks assigned to the question were deducted.
The cut off for the written exam was 66.50 marks out of 100 for Unreserved (UR) Category students. In other words, candidates who answered approximately 80 questions correctly out of 120 made it to the interview round, after considering the negative marking for incorrect answers.
For OBC students, the cut off in 2016 exam of EPFO APFC was 60.50 (73 correct out of 120), for SC students, it was 56.50 (68 correct out of 120), and for ST students, it was 54.50 (65 correct out of 120).
| Category | Cut off marks out of 100 | No. of correct answers out of 120 |
|---|---|---|
| Unreserved | 66.50 | 80 |
| OBC | 60.50 | 73 |
| SC | 56.50 | 68 |
| ST | 54.50 | 65 |
You can check out these details on UPSC website by Click Here.
Overall, the difficulty level of the UPSC APFC 2016 exam was considered to be easy to average, which led to a high cut-off score in the EPFO APFC exam. This is an important aspect for candidates to consider while preparing for the exam, as the difficulty level of the exam can significantly impact the cut-off scores.
Overall Analysis of Cut Off in UPSC EPFO exams
The cut off for the UPSC EPFO exams has seen significant variations over the years. For instance, the cut off for the written exam in the EPFO 2017 paper was 59 questions correct out of 120, whereas in the 2021 paper for the Unreserved category, the cut off for the written exam was 75 questions correct. This demonstrates the unpredictability of the cut off and emphasizes the need to focus on maximizing one’s score instead of fixating on the cut off score.
Having a preconceived notion about the cut off score can be counterproductive. For instance, if one enters the exam with the mindset of scoring 75 questions correctly out of 120, but the paper turns out to be tough (and cut off might be at 60 only), they may end up making random guesses and flukes to reach their predetermined target. This could result in incorrect answers and a lower score, especially considering the negative marking of one-third. It is essential to enter the exam with an open mind and attempt to maximize one’s score based on their knowledge without any fixation on the cut off score.
Therefore, it is crucial to approach the 2023 UPSC EPFO exam with a free mind and not get bogged down by the cut off score. By focusing on maximizing one’s score and attempting to answer as many questions correctly as possible, candidates can increase their chances of clearing the exam.
Everything about UPSC EPFO exams 2023
Check out the following videos, where we have analyzed each keyword of the Syllabus of both EPFO APFC and EPFO EO/AO exams for 2023. This will give you good understanding of what is to be included in the syllabus and what is excluded. We have also discussed the expected exam date, expected cut-off, and weightage of topics. You will also find detailed solutions to previous papers of both APFC and EO/AO exams.
General Science- Syllabus Analysis
General Mental Ability – Syllabus Analysis
2021 Paper Solved- EO/AO exam
General English- Syllabus Analysis
Industrial Relations – Syllabus Analysis
Labour Laws- Syllabus Analysis
Orientation Class- our plan of 4 months
Ask anything on every Thursday at 9 PM
Online Question Bank
New Labour Codes or Old Labour Acts ?
What Next after Notification ?
Expected Exam Date- APFC and EO/AO 2023
Making Time Table for APFC
How we created this Course
Targeting both ALC and APFC
Study Material & Coaching Classes
Expected Cut off in 2023
Weightage of Topics
Mew Labour Codes or Old Labour Acts?
What Next after Notification ?
Expected Exam Date- APFC and EO/AO 2023
Study Material & Coaching Classes
Expected Cut off in 2023
Weightage of Topics
EPFO 2021 exam- 10 topics, 10 things
EPFO 2021- How many questions from Human Peritus course
EPFO 2021- Study Material & Coaching Classes
Contact Us
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Address: Human Peritus, Floor 5, Building C, Unitech Cyber Park, Gurgaon, 122002
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Sakshi Chugh- UPSC ALC 2017
Sanjeet Kumar- UPSC ALC 2017 exam
Bhupender Yadav- EPFO exam 2021
FAQs- UPSC EPFO APFC exam 2023
The syllabus of EO/AO is nothing but a subset of the syllabus of the APFC.
The syllabus of EO/AO exam can be broadly divided into 12 sub-topics: (i) General English (ii) Freedom Struggle (iii) Current Events (iv) Developmental Issues (v) Indian Polity (vi) Indian Economy (vii) Accounting Principles (viii) Industrial Relations & Social Security (ix) Labour Laws (x) General Science (xi) Computer (xii) Quantitative Aptitude. Check out sample of some of these printed booklets (it might 40-50 seconds to download booklets, please wait….).
There are 5 additional topics in APFC (i) Heritage and Culture (ii) Population & Globalization (iii) Auditing (iv) Insurance (v) Statistics.
If are planning to enroll in both exams, you are advised to enroll for only APFC. It will automatically cover 100% syllabus of EO/AO.
Conceptual Learning
Our Live Classes are not just 30,000 feet overview, but with detailed conceptual understanding spanning over 200 hours. Check out some of recorded classes to understand how we teach. (videos are given in the middle of this page).
Coverage of Syllabus
We ensure 100% coverage of Syllabus. With Human Peritus course, you need not touch any other book, not even previous years’ papers. Not even required current affairs. Nothing else. You can depend completely on us.
Smart Preparation
While on the one hand, we ensure 100% coverage and confidence of having more than 85-90% questions in the exam, on the other hand, we also ensure that you study only what is required for the exam. For instance, although you will study the Factories Act in only 14 pages in our booklet, still will have the confidence of facing any question in the exam, as if you have studied 74 pages of the published act.
Success Stories
Thousands of students have realized their dream with Human Peritus. Check out video experiences of hundreds of such students by Clicking Here.
Regular Updates
After every exam, we analyze, how many questions came from our course. Then we update our course accordingly (and this cycle continues with each exam). By doing it over the years, we have reached a stage, where consistently more than 85-90% of questions are from our course. In 2021 exam of EPFO, out of 120 questions, more than 105 questions were from the course of Human Peritus. Check out 2021 Paper Analysis.
Online Question Bank
One of the key enablers to get you success is our Online Question Bank. Each of these 12000 questions is with not only answer but with a detailed explanation. It is Super Important to go through detailed explanation of every question (objective is not to assess you but to make you learn concept). This is the reason, why we repeatedly keep emphasizing that only reading our printed booklets is not sufficient. You MUST go through these 12000 questions.
These 12000 questions are further divided into around 150 subtopics. This gives you the flexibility to focus on only those areas, where you feel the need.
Since the inception of Human Peritus in 2011, our preparation approach has been quite traditional. First, we do a lot of research in analyzing the “boundary” of the syllabus by looking at PYQ’s. Then within that boundary, we provide “maximum possible coverage” of the concepts. What we do not do, is to try to find out what is more important or less important within that boundary. We study everything like a dedicated student. We make things “concise” but we don’t “leave out” things.
Firstly
We believe that nobody can guess important questions in objective exams (yes, we can identify some of the most repeating ones; but is that sufficient for cracking UPSC exam?….NO). The only way to secure prestigious job of UPSC is to cover the full syllabus within the boundary >> Then practice a lot of questions from that topic >> and you are ready for that topic. So, if you are enrolling with Human Peritus with the hope that we know important questions, which will come in the exam, DO NOT JOIN US.
Secondly
Like all the good things in the world, preparation takes time. We do not have any magical formula to cover everything in 1 month. We make a plan >> we follow the plan >> we expect you to do what we advise you >> and you are ready for the exam. If you do not have the time and patience of at least 3-4 months, DO NOT JOIN US.
Thirdly
Our Faculty members will only “teach” in class. Very less time is spent on “Gyan” or “motivation” or “making you like videos”. We understand that you are grown-up Post-Graduate students and we treat you like that. Our only objective is to give you the confidence of 100% coverage of the syllabus and teachers spend time on that only. If you are expecting classes to be full of “stand-up comedy”, DO NOT JOIN US.
Finally
Our approach has worked well in previous RT exams of UPSC like ALC, LEO, ESIC DD, EPFO, Admin Officer etc. And we are pretty confident that this “4 Step preparation plan” will work in coming UPSC EPFO 2023 exam as well.
We have designed this course after a detailed analysis of not only previous UPSC EPFO exams but also of other Recruitment exams (RTs) of UPSC. For example, the syllabus has the keyword “General Mental Ability”. We identified all other exams of UPSC, which have this keyword in their syllabus. Then we looked at every question of that paper. Only then, we decided what should be the boundary of the syllabus of the “General Mental Ability”.
We strongly advise you to check out this topic wise analysis at this link
You should be looking for these 5 points, while evaluating any institute:
1. Teaching or Gyan
Check if you are getting just 30,000 feet overview or detailed conceptual learning. If you have attended a 2-hour class on “Motivation Theories”, do you have the confidence to tackle every possible question on this topic? Also, check how much time is spent on actual teaching and how much on “motivating you to like videos” or “promoting their courses”.
2. Mentorship
Are you joining a team, which can guide you throughout your preparation journey? Give a call and ask for a discussion with a faculty member. Ask that faculty some real questions, like:
- Is XYZ Act part of the syllabus?
- Do I have to study new labour codes?
- What has been the trend of cut-offs?
- Which topics can I ignore or focus on more?
- Which topics in the syllabus have relevance to current affairs?
Assess the quality of telephonic discussion. See if you are getting connected to a “sales guy” or an “academic mentor and guide”.
3. Interaction in Class
Check if students are able to ask doubts in the class by speaking/discussing or you have been given just a chat option. Attend a few demo classes to understand this.
4. Study Material
No exam can be cleared by just listening to what the teacher says. After every class, it is mandatory to read that topic from the books. Check whether you are getting study material covering all the keywords of the syllabus. Most of the time, you will be getting random PDF files or pdf of class notes. Check if you are getting this confidence that you don’t have to look at any other book.
5. Previous Results
Check previous results of the institute.
From a coverage point of view, the Study Material will give you 100% coverage, but the probability of selection is much higher (4 times) in video classes program, because of the following reasons:
(i) a Large number of topics require conceptual clarity, which will need a teacher to make it easier, like Accounting, Labour Laws, Numerical Aptitude.
(iii) If it takes x hours to prepare without a teacher, then it will take only 0.4x hours with a teacher. Since time for UPSC EPFO exam is limited, you need someone to make it quicker for you.
(iv) You get into discipline because now someone else is pushing you towards completion of the syllabus (this is the biggest contributor)
(v) While teaching, the teacher explains how questions are framed from a given topic.
Our analysis says that the Current Affairs for Recruitment exams of UPSC EPFO is quite static and theoretical. There is no need to teach it, as there is nothing conceptual. We expect that you should be able to understand and memorize by reading our printed booklets. Since the current affairs are factual in nature, the teacher does not add any value by reading that out in a class. You can read it yourself. In fact if you can cover 10 issues by self reading in X time, the teacher will be able to cover just 2-3 issues in X time.
Please note that, there is no need to refer newspapers or any other source for current affairs. You can completely depend upon us. Our booklets are sufficient. However, it is advisable to keep reading at least 1 newspaper, as it helps you in interview as well.
Although, our team, carefully packs the content, before despatch, sometimes, we may also commit mistakes.
If you find that, any booklet is missing or there are two booklets with same topic, there is no need to worry. Please write an email to us. Immediately, we will send you another courier with missing booklets.
Please note that, there is no need to panic. Our relationship with you does not end with despatch of courier. Our team will continuously assist you till exam time by (a) updating new content on online platform (b) handling your queries on any syllabus topic (c) we also do few free preparation tips classes in last 2 months of exam.
Indian Culture, Heritage and Freedom Movements
Current Events
Population, Development, and Globalization
Governance and Constitution of India
Accounting and Auditing
Industrial Relations
Labor Laws
Insurance
Basic knowledge of Computer applications
General Science
Elementary Mathematics, General Mental Ability
Statistics
Social Security in India
Present trends in the Indian Economy
General English- To evaluate candidate’s understanding of English language & workman– like use of words.
Indian Freedom Struggle.
Current Events and Developmental Issues.
Indian Polity & Economy.
General Accounting Principles.
Industrial Relations & Labour Laws.
General Science & knowledge of Computer applications.
General Mental Ability & Quantitative Aptitude.
Social Security in India.
The syllabus of EO/AO is nothing but a subset of the syllabus of the APFC.
The syllabus of EO/AO exam can be broadly divided into 12 sub-topics: (i) General English (ii) Freedom Struggle (iii) Current Events (iv) Developmental Issues (v) Indian Polity (vi) Indian Economy (vii) Accounting Principles (viii) Industrial Relations & Social Security (ix) Labour Laws (x) General Science (xi) Computer (xii) Quantitative Aptitude. Check out sample of some of these printed booklets (it might 40-50 seconds to download booklets, please wait….).
There are 5 additional topics in APFC (i) Heritage and Culture (ii) Population & Globalization (iii) Auditing (iv) Insurance (v) Statistics.
If are planning to enroll in both exams, you are advised to enroll for only APFC. It will automatically cover 100% syllabus of EO/AO.
If you prepare for APFC, the syllabus of ALC is automatically covered except topics of HR, OB and Natural Justice. If you want to enroll for both of these exams, we will need to create a customized package for you (so that you do not have to pay twice for the same content).
Get in touch with our team and share your email ID. We will send you a customized package with payment details. Contact our team via whats app chat or email (contact@humanperitus.com).
