The UPSC EPFO exam is one of the most sought-after recruitment tests among the government job aspirants for posts like EO/AO and UPSC EPFO APFC, and after the completion of the 2025 written exam on 30.11.2025 , candidates are eagerly looking for the UPSC EPFO expected cut off to assess their chances for the next stage. This estimation mainly, based on exam difficulty, vacancies, applicant trends, previous-year data and some other factors, it helps aspirants plan their preparation more effectively.
EPFO APFC & EO written exam expected Cut off
| Category | Cut Off (Expected) |
|---|---|
| General/UR | 160-171 |
| EWS | 155-164 |
| OBC | 158-168 |
| SC | 140-150 |
| ST | 136-144 |
How we derived these expected cutoff?
To calculate the UPSC EPFO Expected Cut Off 2025, we analysed multiple real-time factors such as exam attendance, difficulty level, vacancies, and the average number of safe attempts. Below is a detailed and practical explanation of how each factor shaped our final expected cut-off range.
Number of Candidates Appearing in the Exam
Although nearly 5 lakh candidates applied for APFC and around 4.5 lakh for EO/AO, the actual exam-day attendance was significantly lower.
Aspirants from several centres confirmed that only 30%–40% candidates were present in many locations. Additionally, some candidates were rejected by UPSC during scrutiny due to incorrect form details and therefore did not receive admit cards.
This drop in attendance directly reduces the competition pressure and plays a major role in lowering the cut-off.
Question Paper Difficulty Level
Candidate feedback and our detailed post-exam analysis indicate that UPSC EPFO 2025 paper was moderate to tough:
- Many questions were lengthy and time-consuming, reducing overall attempts.
- Computer and General Science questions were tricky, similar to typical UPSC style—advantageous mainly for candidates with a science background.
- Overall difficulty was higher than average, which usually results in a slightly lower cut-off.
This factor strongly contributes to pushing the expected cut-off lower than UPSC EPFO 2023.
Total Vacancies (230 Seats) & Interview Ratio
For the 2025 cycle, UPSC released only 230 total vacancies (EO/AO + APFC combined), which is much lower compared to 2023 and 2021.
UPSC typically calls three times the number of posts for the Personality Test.
This means 700+ candidates may be called for the interview phase.
Even though the vacancies are less, the lower attendance and tougher paper balance the competition, preventing a very high cut-off.
Average Attempt Analysis Based on Subject-Wise Trends
The EPFO 2025 paper consisted of 120 questions (300 marks) with 2.5 marks per question, to be completed in 2 hours.
Based on candidate feedback and subject-wise analysis, here is a realistic breakdown of good attempts:
| Subject | Good Attempt Estimate |
|---|---|
| Polity | 7/12 |
| Accounts | 6/10 |
| Auditing | 1/2 |
| Insurance | 2/3 |
| Industrial Relations, Labour Laws & Social Security | 10/15 |
| History | 5/10 (tough, except topics like Home Rule, Deccan Revolt) |
| Computer | 3/10 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 10/15 (lengthy, tricky) |
| Science (e.g., Abacus full form, GPS, jamming) | 5/10 |
| English (20 questions, lengthy with pattern changes) | 13/20 |
| Economy | 1/2 |
A strong candidate with good preparation could attempt around:
63 questions (approx.) × 2.5 marks = 157.5 marks on the higher side.
Considering accuracy, negative marking effect, and lower attendance, an overall score around 160–171 appears to be a safe expected cut-off range.
Expected Cut-Off Conclusion
Based on all these combined factors — lower attendance, moderate-to-tough paper, fewer vacancies, and realistic attempt patterns — the UPSC EPFO Expected Cut Off 2025 is likely to be lower than 2023.
A safe range for EO/AO is projected at:
➡️ 160 to 171 marks (out of 300)
This is a practical and research-backed estimate, though the final cut-off may slightly vary when UPSC officially releases the results.
Conclusion
The UPSC EPFO Expected Cut Off 2025 shared here is only an analytical prediction based on exam difficulty, previous-year trends, vacancy patterns, and feedback from aspirants. These cut-off figures are not official and should not be considered final. Candidates are advised to treat this as a general reference-only discussion. Always wait for the official UPSC EPFO cut-off and most importantly, keep faith in your efforts, stay consistent, and continue your preparation with confidence.