By the Faculty of Advait IAS, Guwahati | Updated: June 2026 | All download links verified from apsc.nic.in
🚨 APSC CCE 2026 Prelims is on 5th July 2026. Solving previous year papers under timed conditions is the single most effective thing you can do in the final 28 days. All download links on this page point directly to official APSC government PDFs — no third-party sites, no login required.
Previous year question papers (PYQs) are the closest thing to a guaranteed APSC preparation strategy. When you solve them systematically, three things happen: you understand exactly what APSC actually asks — not what coaching notes say it asks; you identify which topics repeat reliably across cycles and deserve deeper revision; and you calibrate your time management to the real exam pace rather than the pace of untimed self-study.
This page gives you direct download links for all available APSC CCE Prelims and Mains question papers — sourced directly from apsc.nic.in — alongside the subject-wise trend analysis and solving strategy that our faculty at Advait IAS has built from studying every paper in the available archive.
Table of Contents
- Understanding the APSC Exam Pattern Change (2020 Onwards)
- APSC CCE Prelims Previous Year Papers – Direct Download (2020–2024)
- Old Pattern Prelims Papers (Pre-2020) – Download Links
- Subject-wise PYQ Trend Analysis – What APSC Actually Asks
- Assam GK PYQ Deep Dive – The 30–35% You Cannot Ignore
- How to Use PYQs Strategically in the Final 28 Days
- APSC CCE Mains Previous Year Papers – Direct Download (2020–2024)
- Frequently Asked Questions
Understanding the APSC Exam Pattern Change (2020 Onwards)
⚠️ Critical note before downloading: APSC changed its Prelims exam pattern in 2020. Papers from 2019 and earlier had a different structure — they included optional subjects in the Preliminary stage, which no longer exists. The current pattern has two General Studies papers only (GS Paper I and GS Paper II / CSAT). Only papers from 2020 onwards reflect the actual exam you will be appearing for on 5th July 2026.
Pre-2020 papers are still useful for understanding Assam GK question style and history/geography question types, but do not use them to calibrate your time management or attempt strategy — the format is fundamentally different.
| Feature | Old Pattern (Pre-2020) | New Pattern (2020 Onwards) |
|---|---|---|
| Prelims Papers | GS Paper + Optional Subject Paper | GS Paper I + GS Paper II (CSAT) only |
| Paper I Marks | 200 marks | 200 marks (Merit based) |
| Paper II | Optional Subject (counted for merit) | CSAT – 200 marks (Qualifying only, min 33%) |
| No. of Questions (Paper I) | 100 questions | 100 questions |
| Negative Marking | 1/3 per wrong answer | 1/3 per wrong answer |
| Assam-specific content | 30–35% of Paper I | 30–35% of Paper I (same) |
For the complete subject-wise breakdown of what each paper covers in the current pattern, read the APSC CCE 2026 syllabus guide.
APSC CCE Prelims Previous Year Papers – Direct Download (2020–2024)
All links below point directly to PDF files hosted on apsc.nic.in — the official APSC government website. No third-party host, no registration, no login.
📥 2024 APSC CCE Prelims Question Papers
Most recent exam. Highest priority for understanding current question style and difficulty.
| Paper | Marks | Download |
|---|---|---|
| GS Paper I – General Studies | 200 (Merit) | 📥 Download PDF |
| GS Paper II – CSAT | 200 (Qualifying) | 📥 Download PDF |
📥 2023 APSC CCE Prelims Question Papers
Second most recent. Strong indicator of current difficulty level and Assam GK trends.
| Paper | Marks | Download |
|---|---|---|
| GS Paper I – General Studies | 200 (Merit) | 📥 Download PDF |
| GS Paper II – CSAT | 200 (Qualifying) | 📥 Download PDF |
📥 2022 APSC CCE Prelims Question Papers
Part of the three-paper block (2022–2024) that defines the current APSC question style most accurately.
| Paper | Marks | Download |
|---|---|---|
| GS Paper I – General Studies | 200 (Merit) | 📥 Download PDF |
| GS Paper II – CSAT | 200 (Qualifying) | 📥 Download PDF |
📥 2020 APSC CCE Prelims Question Papers
First exam under the new two-paper pattern. Essential for understanding how the pattern evolved from 2019 to present.
| Paper | Marks | Download |
|---|---|---|
| GS Paper I – General Studies | 200 (Merit) | 📥 Get from apsc.nic.in |
| GS Paper II – CSAT | 200 (Qualifying) | 📥 Get from apsc.nic.in |
💡 On the official APSC website: Go to apsc.nic.in → Examination → Previous Question Papers. All papers from 2020–2024 are freely available without any registration or fee.
Old Pattern Prelims Papers (Pre-2020)
These papers follow the older APSC pattern (GS + Optional Subject in Prelims). The GS paper component remains useful for Assam GK pattern study and understanding how APSC History and Geography questions have evolved. Do not use these to simulate exam conditions — the format and marks structure do not match the 2026 exam.
| Exam Year | Paper | Download |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | General Studies | 📥 apsc.nic.in |
| 2016 | General Studies | 📥 apsc.nic.in |
| 2015 | General Studies | 📥 Download PDF |
| 2014 | General Studies | 📥 apsc.nic.in |
| 2013 | General Studies | 📥 apsc.nic.in |
| 2011 | General Studies | 📥 apsc.nic.in |
Subject-wise PYQ Trend Analysis – What APSC Actually Asks
The following analysis is based on the APSC CCE Prelims papers from 2020 to 2024 — the four exams conducted under the current pattern. This is the data that matters for your 2026 preparation.
📈 History – Average 14–18 questions per paper
Modern Indian History (Freedom Struggle, 1857–1947) is the most tested period, accounting for 55–60% of History questions. Ancient and Medieval India together contribute the remaining 40–45%. Assam-specific history — Ahom Kingdom, Vaishnavite reform movement of Srimanta Sankardev, anti-colonial movements in Assam — appears as 3–5 dedicated questions in every cycle. Standard NCERT Class 12 Modern History + Bipin Chandra covers the national component. Assam history requires SCERT state board sources.
📈 Geography – Average 12–16 questions per paper
Physical Geography (landforms, climate, rivers, soils) accounts for roughly 60% of Geography questions. Indian Geography — particularly the river systems, major mountain ranges, and economic geography — appears consistently. Assam and Northeast India geography features in 4–6 dedicated questions: Brahmaputra valley, Barak basin, Assam’s districts and physical divisions, national parks, and the geography of neighboring states. G.C. Leong covers Physical Geography. Assam geography requires state-specific sources.
📈 Polity – Average 12–15 questions per paper
Constitutional provisions, fundamental rights, DPSPs, Parliament, and the executive dominate this section. State government structure — Governor’s role, State Legislature, High Court — appears in 2–4 questions every cycle, reflecting APSC’s specific focus on state-level governance. The Sixth Schedule (relevant to Assam’s autonomous district councils) has appeared in every paper since 2020. Laxmikanth covers 90% of this section. Read the State Government and Sixth Schedule chapters with particular care.
📈 Economy – Average 10–13 questions per paper
Basic economic concepts (GDP, inflation, fiscal policy, monetary policy) form the stable core. India’s economic development — Five Year Plans legacy, poverty, employment, agricultural policy — appears regularly. Assam-specific economy shows up in 3–4 questions: Assam’s tea industry (largest in India), Oil India and ONGC operations, Assam’s agricultural patterns, and NE India infrastructure. No standard economy book adequately covers the Assam economy component.
📈 Environment and Ecology – Average 8–12 questions per paper
This section has grown consistently from 2020 to 2024. Climate change, biodiversity, international conventions (Paris Agreement, CBD, CITES, Ramsar), and India’s protected area network are the standard components. Assam-specific environment questions appear in every paper: Kaziranga (one-horned rhinoceros, UNESCO status), Manas (biosphere reserve, tiger reserve), Deepor Beel (Ramsar wetland), and Dibru-Saikhowa (feral horses). Shankar IAS Environment covers the national component.
📈 Science and Technology – Average 8–10 questions per paper
General science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology at Class 10 level) and current science and technology developments (space missions, defence technology, health and medicine) constitute this section. NCERT Class 6–10 Science covers the basic science component. Current science and technology must come from current affairs sources.
📈 Current Affairs – Average 15–20 questions per paper
The largest single section and the most difficult to predict. National current affairs (government schemes, appointments, awards, international relations) accounts for roughly 60% of this section. Assam-specific current affairs — state government schemes, Assam cabinet decisions, NE India developments, state-level awards and cultural events — accounts for the remaining 40%. This is the section where most aspirants using only national newspapers lose the most marks.
Assam GK PYQ Deep Dive – The 30–35% You Cannot Ignore
Across the four papers from 2020 to 2024, Assam-specific content has contributed between 28 and 36 questions per paper in GS Paper I. This is not a minor section — it is the defining differentiator between candidates who clear APSC Prelims and those who miss by a narrow margin.
Based on PYQ pattern analysis, the Assam GK questions in APSC Prelims consistently draw from these specific areas:
| Assam GK Topic | Frequency in PYQs (2020–2024) | Primary Source |
|---|---|---|
| Ahom Kingdom – administration, battles, rulers | Every paper (2–3 questions) | SCERT Assam / Edward Gait |
| Srimanta Sankardev – Vaishnavite movement, Sattra tradition | Every paper (1–2 questions) | SCERT Assam / State Board |
| Assam’s national parks and wildlife sanctuaries | Every paper (2–3 questions) | Environment sources + State GK |
| Brahmaputra and Assam river system | Every paper (1–2 questions) | State Board Geography / NCERT |
| Bihu festival – types, significance, cultural context | 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024 | State Board / Cultural GK |
| Tea industry in Assam – economic significance | 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024 | Economy sources + State GK |
| Anti-colonial movements in Assam (Peasant uprisings, role of tribes) | Every paper (1–2 questions) | SCERT Assam / State Board |
| Sixth Schedule – autonomous councils in Assam | Every paper (1 question) | Laxmikanth / Official sources |
| Assam government schemes and current affairs | Every paper (3–5 questions) | Assam Tribune / State PIB |
| Physical geography of Assam – districts, hill ranges | Every paper (1–2 questions) | State Board Geography |
💡 Faculty note (Chiranjit Gam, Advait IAS): “When we analysed the 2024 APSC Prelims paper with our batch students after the exam, we counted 32 questions that drew from Assam-specific content — 32 out of 100. Candidates who had studied only from UPSC-oriented resources were seeing these questions for the first time in the examination hall. Candidates who had done dedicated Assam GK preparation through SCERT and state board sources answered 22–26 of them correctly. That is a 44–52 mark difference from a single preparation gap.”
How to Use PYQs Strategically in the Final 28 Days
Downloading the papers is step one. What you do with them determines whether they improve your score or become another PDF you opened once. Here is the framework our faculty recommends for the final 28-day window before APSC Prelims 2026:
Step 1 — Solve 2024 paper first, under strict time conditions. Set a timer for 2 hours. Attempt GS Paper I without any reference material. Score yourself immediately after. This is your baseline. Do not adjust it optimistically — wrong answers minus 0.67 marks each.
Step 2 — Categorise every question by subject and source. After scoring, go through each question and tag it: History / Geography / Polity / Economy / Environment / Science / Current Affairs / Assam GK. For questions you got wrong, identify whether the source was NCERT, SCERT Assam, or current affairs. This shows you where your preparation gap actually lies.
Step 3 — Solve 2023 and 2022 papers in sequence. Do the same categorisation and error analysis. After three papers, you will see a clear pattern of topics that APSC repeats — these are your highest-priority revision items in the remaining time.
Step 4 — Use 2020 paper for CSAT calibration. APSC CSAT (Paper II) has remained relatively consistent in difficulty across 2020–2024. Solve the 2020 and 2022 CSAT papers under timed conditions to confirm you are clearing the 33% qualifying threshold comfortably.
Step 5 — Build a “repeat topic” list. Any topic that appears in 3 or more of the four papers is a near-certainty for 2026. Revise these topics with the highest priority in your remaining study days.
For the complete 28-day preparation schedule including how to integrate PYQ solving with subject revision and full-length mock tests, read the APSC CCE Prelims Strategy 2026 guide.
👉 Want to practise PYQ-style questions in a timed, structured environment?
Take a free APSC mock test at Advait IAS | Enrol in the full APSC Prelims Test Series 2026
APSC CCE Mains Previous Year Papers – Direct Download (2020–2024)
All Mains question papers below link directly to PDF files on apsc.nic.in. APSC Mains has 6 papers totalling 1500 marks. Paper VI (Assam) is the most differentiated paper and the one that most distinguishes serious APSC-specific preparation from a UPSC adaptation strategy.
📥 Paper I – Essay (250 Marks)
| Year | Download |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 📥 Download PDF |
| 2023 | 📥 Download PDF |
| 2022 | 📥 Download PDF |
| 2020 | 📥 Download PDF |
📥 Paper II – General Studies I: History, Geography, Society (250 Marks)
| Year | Download |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 📥 Download PDF |
| 2023 | 📥 Download PDF |
| 2022 | 📥 Download PDF |
| 2020 | 📥 apsc.nic.in |
📥 Paper III – General Studies II: Polity, Governance (250 Marks)
| Year | Download |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 📥 Download PDF |
| 2023 | 📥 Download PDF |
| 2022 | 📥 apsc.nic.in |
| 2020 | 📥 apsc.nic.in |
📥 Paper IV – General Studies III: Economy, Technology, Environment (250 Marks)
| Year | Download |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 📥 Download PDF |
| 2023 | 📥 Download PDF |
| 2022 | 📥 apsc.nic.in |
| 2020 | 📥 apsc.nic.in |
📥 Paper V – General Studies IV: Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude (250 Marks)
| Year | Download |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 📥 Download PDF |
| 2023 | 📥 Download PDF |
| 2022 | 📥 apsc.nic.in |
| 2020 | 📥 apsc.nic.in |
📥 Paper VI – General Subject Paper on Assam (250 Marks) ⭐
The most APSC-specific paper. No UPSC equivalent. Highest return on preparation investment for candidates with Assam background.
| Year | Download |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 📥 Download PDF |
| 2023 | 📥 Download PDF |
| 2022 | 📥 apsc.nic.in |
| 2020 | 📥 apsc.nic.in |
Frequently Asked Questions – APSC CCE Previous Year Papers
Q1. Which years of APSC PYQs should I focus on for 2026 Prelims?
Focus on 2020–2024 in that priority order — most recent first. These four papers follow the current two-paper GS pattern. Solving all four gives you a near-complete picture of what APSC currently asks and at what difficulty level. Pre-2020 papers are useful only for supplementary Assam GK and History pattern study.
Q2. Are the APSC PYQs available in Assamese medium?
The official APSC question papers are published in English. However, Advait IAS provides APSC practice question sets in Assamese medium as part of its APSC Prelims Test Series 2026 — covering SCERT-based content, Assam-specific questions, and full-length mock tests natively in Assamese.
Q3. Are answer keys available for APSC previous year papers?
Official APSC answer keys are released after each examination on apsc.nic.in. For the 2024, 2023, and 2022 papers, official answer keys are available on the APSC website under the Examination section. Advait IAS will publish the APSC CCE 2026 answer key on this site within hours of the 5th July examination.
Q4. How many questions from PYQs repeat in the actual APSC exam?
Direct repetition of identical questions is rare. However, topic-level repetition is extremely consistent — the same 10–12 topic clusters from Assam GK, Polity, and Environment appear in every paper. The PYQ analysis section in this article identifies exactly which topics these are. Solving PYQs does not give you the same questions — it gives you the pattern that predicts where the next paper will come from.
Q5. Is solving PYQs alone enough to clear APSC Prelims?
No. PYQs are a diagnostic and calibration tool, not a complete preparation strategy. They tell you what to prioritise in revision and what accuracy level you currently operate at. For a complete preparation approach, read the APSC CCE 2026 Blueprint and the Prelims Strategy 2026 guide.
Conclusion
Every verified download link on this page points directly to official APSC government PDFs hosted on apsc.nic.in. Start with the 2024 paper, solve it under strict exam conditions, score yourself honestly, and build your final preparation priorities from what the paper reveals about your gaps — not from assumptions about what you know well.
The candidates who use PYQs correctly — solving under timed conditions, categorising every wrong answer, building a repeat-topic revision list — consistently outperform those who treat PYQ solving as passive reading. The paper is only as useful as the analysis that follows it.
📌 Preparing for APSC CCE 2026 from Guwahati? Advait IAS offers structured coaching in both English and Assamese medium.
Explore Advait IAS Courses | APSC Prelims Test Series 2026 | Free Mock Test
📌 Continue your APSC CCE 2026 preparation:
- APSC CCE Prelims Test Series 2026 – Complete Guide to Mock Tests and Strategy
- APSC CCE Prelims Strategy 2026 – Subject-wise Preparation Guide
- Best Books for APSC CCE 2026 – Faculty-recommended Reading List
- APSC CCE 2026 Admit Card – Download Date and Official Link
- APSC CCE Syllabus 2026 – Complete Subject-wise Guide