UPESSC TGT Exam Pattern 2026: 360 Marks, Negative Marking
Government Job Desk Team
5 min read
The Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission (UPESSC) has opened applications for 17,735 Assistant Teacher (TGT) posts under Advertisement No. 07/2026. Selection depends on a single written exam, so knowing its pattern well is the first step. This article explains the number of questions, marks, negative marking, the tie-break rule and the exam-day rules, all based on the official advertisement.
UPESSC TGT 2026 exam pattern at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Advertisement | No. 07/2026, Assistant Teacher (Trained Graduate Grade) |
| Total posts | 17,735 (16,193 in boys' schools and 1,542 in girls' schools) |
| Exam type | Written exam, objective (multiple choice), OMR answer sheet |
| Number of questions | 120 |
| Total marks | 360 |
| Duration | 2 hours |
| Marks per correct answer | 3 |
| Negative marking | 1 mark deducted for a wrong answer or for marking more than one answer |
| Language | Hindi and English (except language subjects) |
| Exam dates | 23 and 24 December 2026 |
| Interview | None – merit list from the written exam |
Question split: general knowledge and subject
The written exam has 120 questions in total. The advertisement divides them into two parts:
| Part | Questions | Marks (at 3 per question) |
|---|---|---|
| General knowledge | 30 | 90 |
| Related subject (the subject you apply for) | 90 | 270 |
| Total | 120 | 360 |
So three-quarters of the paper is from your own teaching subject. The marks column is simple arithmetic from the 3-marks-per-question rule; the advertisement itself gives the totals as 120 questions and 360 marks.
Subjects covered
The advertisement lists educational qualifications for 17 TGT subjects: Hindi, English, Mathematics, Commerce, Music (Vocal), Sanskrit, Urdu, Home Science, Physical Education, Social Science, Art (Drawing), Agriculture, Sewing, Ranjan Kala, Science, Biology and Music (Instrumental). You take the subject paper of the subject you applied for.
Marking scheme and negative marking
- Every question is multiple choice with four options. You must pick the single most suitable option.
- A correct answer gets 3 marks.
- 1 mark is deducted for a wrong answer, and also if you darken more than one option for a question.
- The advertisement mentions the deduction only for wrong or multiple answers, not for questions left blank.
Example: if a candidate answers 100 questions, with 80 correct and 20 wrong, the score is (80 × 3) − (20 × 1) = 240 − 20 = 220 out of 360.
How the merit list is made
Selection is made from the merit list of the 360-mark written exam. There is no interview for the TGT post. Shortlisted candidates are then called for document verification, with at least 10 days' notice by SMS, e-mail, newspaper and the UPESSC website.
Tie-break rule
If two or more candidates get the same written exam marks, the advertisement sets this order:
- The candidate with the higher graduation percentage is placed higher.
- If graduation percentage is also equal, the higher percentage in the training qualification (B.Ed. etc.) is checked.
- If all three are equal, the older candidate is placed higher.
The cut-off and candidates' marks will be shown on the website only after the whole selection process is complete.
Syllabus
Section 9(B) of the advertisement says the syllabus for the written exam is available on the official website upessc.up.gov.in, where it can be viewed and downloaded. Download the syllabus for your own subject from there rather than relying on unofficial lists.
Exam-day rules you should know
- Exam centre: Centres will be at district headquarters, and any centre may be allotted. The district is shown about 10 days before the exam and the exact centre about 3 days before, through the admit card on the website.
- Pen: Bring a black ball point pen. Only black ball pen may be used to fill the OMR sheet. Gel pens, fountain pens, pencils, sketch pens and whitener are not allowed.
- No changes: Once a circle is darkened it cannot be changed. Using an eraser, blade, nail or whitener on the OMR sheet makes it invalid.
- Right centre only: If a candidate writes the exam at a centre or in a subject other than the one on the admit card, the answer sheet will not be checked and the candidature will be cancelled.
- Scribe: Candidates with disabilities can get a scribe (brought by the candidate) and 20 minutes extra per hour, after registering at the Commission's office at least one week before the exam.
- No travel allowance is paid for attending the exam.
Key dates and eligibility in brief
- Online registration and application started: 24 October 2026
- Last date to pay the fee: 23 November 2026
- Last date for corrections: 26 November 2026
- Minimum age: 21 years on 1 July 2026; the advertisement sets the post's superannuation age at 62 years
- Pay: Level-7, ₹44,900 – ₹1,42,400
- Qualification: graduation (with the subject) with at least 50% marks or post-graduation with at least 45%, B.Ed. (B.P.Ed./B.P.E. for Physical Education), and a pass in the UP or Central Government TET for upper primary level (Class 6–8). A valid TET certificate is required by 30 June 2027.
- Male candidates are not eligible for posts in girls' institutions (except visually impaired candidates for Music). Women can apply for either boys' or girls' schools but must choose one group per subject.
Preparation tips
These are general suggestions, not official rules.
- With 120 questions in 2 hours, you have about one minute per question. Practise full mock papers within this time.
- Since 90 of the 120 questions come from your subject, give most of your study time to your subject syllabus.
- Because a wrong answer costs 1 mark, avoid wild guesses. A guess usually makes sense only when you can rule out some options.
- Download the OMR sheet format from the UPESSC website and practise filling it, as the advertisement itself suggests.
Frequently asked questions
How many marks is the UPESSC TGT 2026 written exam?
The written exam is of 360 marks, with 120 objective questions of 3 marks each.
Is there negative marking in UPESSC TGT 2026?
Yes. 1 mark is deducted for every wrong answer and for marking more than one option for a question.
Is there an interview for UPESSC TGT?
No. For the Assistant Teacher (TGT) post, selection is made from the written exam merit list, followed by document verification.
Will the question paper be in Hindi?
The paper will be in both Hindi and English, except for language subjects.
What happens if two candidates get the same marks?
The candidate with the higher graduation percentage ranks higher, then the one with the higher training qualification percentage, and finally the older candidate.
For the full recruitment details and apply links, see UPESSC TGT Recruitment 2026 – 17,735 Posts on govjobdesk.com. Always confirm the details in the official Advertisement No. 07/2026 on upessc.up.gov.in before applying.