APSSB Personal Assistant Syllabus, Exam Pattern, Eligibility

Stage 1, stenography test (qualifying). A trial passage, then a 400-word test passage dictated at 80 words a minute for 5 minutes, transcribed in English on a computer within 45 minutes. You may make mistakes up to 8% of the passage (10% for APST). Omissions, substitutions, extra words, wrong capitals, wrong plurals and spacing errors each count; missing commas and full stops do not.

Stage 2, written test. Only those who pass stage 1 sit it. It's the CGLE paper: 200 marks in 2 hours across General Awareness, Reasoning, Arithmetic and English, 25 questions of 2 marks each, no negative marking, 33% aggregate to qualify.

The steno test has no syllabus beyond speed and accuracy. The written paper uses the common syllabus for all APSSB combined exams: current affairs and Arunachal general knowledge, verbal and non-verbal reasoning, arithmetic up to data interpretation, and English grammar and comprehension.

• A bachelor's degree from a recognised university.
• A diploma in stenography from a recognised institution. Applicants without it can't apply for this post.
• Age 18 to 35, with up to 5 years' relaxation for APST candidates.

From advertisements issued after 26 August 2026, APSSB also requires a PRC, an APST certificate and a tribal language of Arunachal Pradesh.

Pass the shorthand test, sit the written paper, then attend document verification. The final list is drawn up on written marks only, with offices allotted by merit and preference.

Level 5: ₹29,200 to ₹92,300 basic per month.

Apply for CGLE on the APSSB portal and choose Personal Assistant among your posts. The 2026 fee was ₹150 (APST) or ₹200 (unreserved). The steno test admit card and batch schedule come out separately, before the written exam.

The last stand-alone PA exam was advertised on 31 October 2023 with 90 posts, a steno test from 21 January 2024 and a written paper on 25 February 2024.

The steno test result is a separate notice listing who qualified. The CGLE final result shows each recommended PA's marks and office. Both are on the notices page.

• Practise at 80 wpm with British English spelling and transcribe on a computer, since that's how the test is run.
• Read the steno test norms for how mistakes are counted: two words run together count as two mistakes.
• The previous papers page has a 2022 Personal Assistant paper and the CGLE papers.

• APSSB advertisements (watch for CGLE 2027)
• CGLE 2026 advertisement and addendum
• Stenography test norms and 2026 steno test result
• CGLE 2026 final result
• PA (Stenographer Gr III) Examination 2023 advertisement

Is there a separate APSSB PA exam?

Not since 2023. The post is filled through the CGLE.

What speed is the shorthand test?

80 words per minute for 5 minutes, 45 minutes to transcribe.

Do steno test marks count in the merit list?

No. It is qualifying only.

How many PA posts were in 2026?

31.