Kerala PSC Civil Excise Officer (Trainee) 2025 Cut Off & 2026 Expected Marks (Category 743/2024)

Preparing for the Kerala Public Service Commission Civil Excise Officer (Trainee) recruitment?
Understanding the previous recruitment cycle is the best way to predict the next cut-off and set a safe target score.This article analyses the 2025 exam (Category No. 743/2024) and helps you prepare smartly for the upcoming Category No. 564/2025 recruitment.

Exam Snapshot -Civil Excise Officer 2025

The Civil Excise Officer (Trainee) OMR examination was conducted on May 17, 2025 across multiple districts in Kerala.

Exam Pattern

• Mode: OMR Written Test

• Marks: 100

• Duration: 1 Hour 30 Minutes

• Standard Level: 12th Level PSC

Subjects Covered

• General Knowledge & Current Affairs

• Kerala History & Geography

• Indian Constitution & Governance

• Mental Ability & Reasoning

• Malayalam / English Language

👉 Before analysing the cut-off, review the full CEO syllabus here:
Civil Excise Officer Syllabus

Selection Structure

Candidates had to go through the following stages:

1. OMR Written Test (primary screening on 17/05/2025)

2. Endurance / Physical Efficiency Test (shortlisted candidates)

3. Physical Measurement & Medical Examination

4. Final Provisional Allotment for those qualifying all stages

📅 Check next recruitment timeline here:
Civil Excise Officer Exam Date

District-Wise Recruitment

Each district (e.g., Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Kasaragod, Kozhikode, Idukki, Wayanad, etc.) had its own shortlist and timeline for endurance tests based on the written exam performance. Shortlist notifications were formally published by district offices of Kerala PSC in mid-2025.

Cut Off Insights (Category 743/2024)

Kerala PSC does not officially publish cut-off marks for most recruitments, but shortlists and result analysis from the various district lists — and unofficial sources — offer a reasonable benchmark:

Reported / Estimated Cut-Off

District	Approx Cut-Off
Thiruvananthapuram	~59.67
Palakkad	~58.67
Idukki	~52.67

These examples show that cut-off marks varied by district, influenced by the number of candidates, difficulty level, and available vacancies in each region. A range of roughly 50–60+ marks appears typical for the main written test to make the shortlist for endurance/physical efficiency stages for this recruitment cycle.

Upcoming Recruitment — Category No. 564/2025

📢 Read full official details:
Civil Excise Officer Notification

Key Dates

• Notification: 15 December 2025

• Last Date: 14 January 2026

• Expected Exam: May – July 2026

Selection Stages

• Written Exam

• Physical Efficiency Test

• Medical Examination

Factors Affecting CEO Cut Off

1. Number of Vacancies notified under Category 564/2025

2. Difficulty level of the written examination

3. Number of candidates appearing

4. Reservation norms and category-wise competition

5. Performance in PET & Medical Test (qualifying but crucial for final rank)

Target Score Strategy (2026 Aspirants)

Based on 2025 analysis:

Score	Meaning
50–60	Borderline shortlist
60–70	Safe zone
80+	Strong rank list chance

👉 Practice the latest paper here:
Civil Excise Officer Previous Year Questions →

Preparation Strategy

1. Focus High-Weight Areas

• Kerala GK

• Constitution

• Current Affairs

• PSC Malayalam

2. Start PET Training Early

Many candidates fail in endurance tests despite passing written exam.

3. Use Cut-Off Based Preparation

Instead of just passing → aim rank list level score.

Conclusion

The May 17, 2025 Civil Excise Officer exam gives a realistic benchmark for predicting the upcoming recruitment cut-off. With rising competition, candidates should prepare beyond the minimum qualifying range.

👉 Aim above the expected cut-off, balance written + physical preparation, and practice PYQs regularly to secure a rank in the Kerala Excise Department.