CESE · Nagaland · Exam Pattern
CESE Exam Pattern 2026
The Common Educational Services Examination (CESE) is conducted by the Nagaland Public Service Commission to recruit Assistant Professors, Lecturers, Post Graduate Teachers, Graduate Teachers and Librarians. The written examination is two papers worth 400 marks in total: a common Paper I covering General English and General Knowledge, and a Paper II set on the candidate’s own optional subject. Neither paper carries negative marking.
CESE Written Exam Pattern — 2 Papers, 400 Marks
| Paper | Section | Marks Split | Marks | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General English | Essay 40 · Precis writing 20 · Amplification 20 · Grammar 20 | 100 | None |
| Paper I | General Knowledge & Current Affairs | Indian History 20 · Indian Polity 20 · General Science & Technology 20 · Indian Economy & Commerce 20 · Geography & Current Affairs 20 | 100 | None |
| Paper II | One Optional Subject | Descriptive 100 · Objective / MCQ 100 | 200 | None |
| Total | 400 | |||
Paper durations are not stated in the sources this page is built from, so they are not listed here.
Paper I — General English & General Knowledge (200 marks)
Paper I is the same for every CESE candidate, whatever optional subject they apply under. It splits evenly into a 100-mark English half and a 100-mark General Knowledge half.
| General English | Marks |
|---|---|
| Essay | 40 |
| Precis writing | 20 |
| Amplification | 20 |
| Grammar | 20 |
| Total | 100 |
| General Knowledge & Current Affairs | Marks |
|---|---|
| Indian History | 20 |
| Indian Polity | 20 |
| General Science & Technology | 20 |
| Indian Economy & Commerce | 20 |
| Geography & Current Affairs | 20 |
| Total | 100 |
Paper II — One Optional Subject (200 marks)
Paper II is set on the candidate’s own optional subject, chosen at application. It carries 200 marks split evenly: 100 marks descriptive and 100 marks objective. The subject content differs from candidate to candidate, but the mark structure is the same for everyone.
Marking and Negative Marking
CESE has no negative marking
Because no penalty applies, NagaLearn scores CESE practice the same way the real paper does — one mark per correct answer with no deduction — so a practice percentage is directly comparable to the paper.
How NagaLearn helps
Free sample test
A 20-question CESE sample drawn from the Paper I General Knowledge section — the half every candidate sits. One attempt per free account.
Start the free samplePrevious year papers
Browse CESE past papers to see how Paper I has actually been set.
CESE past papersCESE Exam Pattern — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CESE exam pattern?
CESE has two written papers totalling 400 marks. Paper I is General English & General Knowledge, worth 200 marks: General English carries 100 marks and General Knowledge & Current Affairs carries 100 marks. Paper II is one optional subject worth 200 marks, made up of a 100-mark descriptive half and a 100-mark objective half.
How many marks is each CESE paper?
Paper I is 200 marks and Paper II is 200 marks, for a written total of 400 marks. Within Paper I, General English is 100 marks — Essay 40, Precis writing 20, Amplification 20 and Grammar 20 — and General Knowledge & Current Affairs is 100 marks, split equally at 20 marks each across Indian History, Indian Polity, General Science & Technology, Indian Economy & Commerce, and Geography & Current Affairs.
Is there negative marking in CESE?
No. There is no negative marking on either CESE paper, so nothing is deducted for a wrong answer and there is no penalty for attempting every question.
What is the CESE Paper II optional subject?
Paper II is tied to the candidate's own optional subject, chosen when applying. It carries 200 marks split evenly between a descriptive half and an objective half, so the subject content differs from candidate to candidate while the mark structure stays the same.
How should I practise for CESE Paper I?
The General Knowledge & Current Affairs half of Paper I is the same for every CESE candidate regardless of optional subject, so it is the part worth drilling with mock tests. NagaLearn offers a free 20-question CESE sample test covering that section, with daily CESE mock tests on the Premium plan, plus CESE previous year papers and official answer keys.