CTSE · Nagaland · Exam Pattern
CTSE Exam Pattern 2026
The Combined Technical Services Examination (CTSE) is conducted by the Nagaland Public Service Commission to recruit engineers and technical officers. The written examination has two halves. Every candidate sits the same Common Paper on General English and General Knowledge. Alongside it, each candidate sits an Elective Paper in their own technical discipline, and that Elective is itself three papers: an MCQ Paper and two descriptive papers. Together they come to 700 marks.
Source: NPSC/EXAM-1/2025 dt. 03.02.2025, Corrigendum dt. 26.03.2025 and Notification dt. 13.05.2025.
CTSE Written Exam Pattern — 700 Marks
| Paper | Part | Details | Marks | Duration | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common Paper | General English & General Knowledge | Mixed descriptive and objective. General English (Essay, Precis, Amplification) plus General Knowledge — Indian history, polity, economy, general science, Nagaland GK and current affairs. | 100 | 3 hrs | None |
| Elective Paper | MCQ Paper | 100 questions drawn from Elective Paper I & II in the candidate's own technical subject. 2 marks per question, 0 for unattempted. | 200 | 2 hrs | 1/3 of question marks (−0.67 per wrong) |
| Elective Paper | Descriptive Paper-I | Written response in the candidate's own technical subject. | 200 | 3 hrs | Not applicable (written) |
| Elective Paper | Descriptive Paper-II | Written response in the candidate's own technical subject. | 200 | 3 hrs | Not applicable (written) |
| Total | 700 | ||||
The sourced notification gives no marks split inside the Common Paper and no negative-marking figure for the two descriptive papers, so neither is stated here.
The Common Paper — taken by every candidate
The Common Paper is General English and General Knowledge, worth 100 marks over 3 hours, and it is identical for all CTSE candidates regardless of technical discipline. It mixes descriptive and objective questions: the English side covers Essay, Precis and Amplification, while the General Knowledge side covers Indian history, polity, economy, general science, Nagaland general knowledge and current affairs. It carries no negative marking.
The Elective Paper — three parts in your own subject
The Elective Paper is set on the technical discipline the candidate applied under, and it is not a single paper. It has three parts, 600 marks in total:
- MCQ Paper — 100 questions drawn from Elective Paper I & II, 200 marks over 2 hours, at 2 marks per question. This is the only paper with negative marking.
- Descriptive Paper-I — written response, 200 marks over 3 hours.
- Descriptive Paper-II — written response, 200 marks over 3 hours.
Marking and Negative Marking
Negative marking applies to the Elective MCQ Paper only
The Common Paper carries no negative marking, and the two descriptive papers are written-response so it does not apply. NagaLearn scores each CTSE practice paper on its own scheme — the Common Paper at one mark per correct answer with no deduction, the Elective MCQ Paper at 2 marks with the one-third deduction — so a practice percentage reflects the paper it came from.
How NagaLearn helps
Free sample test
A 20-question CTSE sample drawn from the Common Paper General Knowledge section — the paper every candidate sits. One attempt per free account.
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Browse CTSE past papers to see how the Common and Elective papers have been set.
CTSE past papersCTSE Exam Pattern — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CTSE exam pattern?
Under NPSC/EXAM-1/2025 the CTSE written exam is a Common Paper plus an Elective Paper in the candidate's own technical subject. The Common Paper (General English & General Knowledge) is 100 marks over 3 hours and mixes descriptive and objective questions. The Elective Paper has three parts: an MCQ Paper of 100 questions drawn from Elective Paper I & II worth 200 marks over 2 hours at 2 marks per question, and Descriptive Paper-I and Descriptive Paper-II, each 200 marks over 3 hours.
Who takes the CTSE Common Paper?
Every CTSE candidate sits the Common Paper, whatever technical discipline they applied under. It is General English and General Knowledge, worth 100 marks over 3 hours, and carries no negative marking. Only the Elective Paper changes from candidate to candidate.
Is there negative marking in CTSE?
Yes, but only on the Elective MCQ Paper: one third of the question's marks is deducted for each wrong answer, which is −0.67 on a 2-mark question. Unattempted questions score 0. The Common Paper carries no negative marking, and the two descriptive papers are written-response so negative marking does not apply.
How many papers does the CTSE Elective have?
Three. An MCQ Paper of 100 questions worth 200 marks over 2 hours, plus Descriptive Paper-I and Descriptive Paper-II, each worth 200 marks over 3 hours. All three are set on the candidate's own technical subject.
How should I practise for CTSE?
The Common Paper's General Knowledge section is shared by every CTSE candidate, so it is the most useful part to drill. NagaLearn offers a free 20-question CTSE sample test drawn from it, with daily Common Paper and Elective MCQ Paper mock tests on the Premium plan, plus CTSE previous year papers and official answer keys.