Single Paper in SSLC Standard consisting of General Studies – 75 Questions, Aptitude & Mental Ability – 25 Questions, and Tamil Eligibility-cum-Scoring Test – 100 Questions. Code: 496.
Total Questions
200
GS 75 + Aptitude 25 + Tamil 100
Tamil Weight
50%
100 / 200 (Eligibility-cum-Scoring)
GS Emphasis
37.5%
75 / 200
Aptitude Share
12.5%
25 / 200
Overall Distribution (Code 496)
Half the paper is the Tamil Eligibility-cum-Scoring test; GS contributes 37.5%, Aptitude 12.5%.
Quick Facts
SSLC Standard (All parts)
Tamil Eligibility-cum-Scoring (100Q)
Aptitude & Reasoning (25Q)
Code: 496
Sub-topics and counts mirror the official Group IV English PDF.
General Studies — Unit-wise Questions
Emphasis: Economy & TN Administration (20), TN History & Movements (20), Polity (15).
Part A — General Studies (SSLC Standard) — 75 Questions
| Unit | Questions | % of Total | Scope / Sub-Topics (verbatim highlights) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unit I: General Science | 5 | 2.5% | Nature of Universe; measurement; general laws; motion, force, pressure & energy; everyday applications of mechanics, electricity, magnetism, light, sound, heat, nuclear physics; chemistry—elements, compounds, acids, bases, salts, petroleum products, fertilizers, pesticides, metallurgy, food adulterants; life science basics; environment; latest inventions; current affairs. |
| Unit II: Geography | 5 | 2.5% | Earth location; physical features; monsoon/rainfall/climate; water resources; rivers; soil/minerals/natural resources; forests & wildlife; agriculture; transport/communication; population in TN & India; calamities & disaster management; environment & climate change; landmarks; current affairs. |
| Unit III: History, Culture & National Movement | 10 | 5% | Indus Valley; Guptas; Delhi Sultans; Mughals; Marathas; South Indian History; National Renaissance; early uprisings; INC; leaders—Ambedkar, Bharathiar, Periyar, Nehru, Tagore, Kamarajar, Gandhi, Maulana Azad, Rajaji, Subhash Bose, Muthulakshmi Ammaiyar, Muvalur Ramamirtham, etc.; TN modes of agitation/movements; Indian culture—unity in diversity; secularism. |
| Unit IV: Indian Polity | 15 | 7.5% | Constitution: Preamble; salient features; Union/State/UT; citizenship; Fundamental Rights/Duties; DPSP; Union/State Executive & Legislature; Local Governments & Panchayat Raj; federal spirit; election; judiciary; rule of law; corruption & anti-corruption (Lokpal/Lokayukta); RTI; empowerment of women; Consumer Forums; Human Rights Charter; political parties & system in TN & India; current affairs. |
| Unit V: Indian Economy & Development Administration (TN) | 20 | 10% | Indian economy; Five-year plan models; Planning Commission & NITI Aayog; revenue sources; RBI & Finance Commission; Union–State resource sharing; GST; economic trends; employment; land reforms; agriculture & S&T; industrial growth; rural welfare; social problems (population, education, health, employment, poverty); social justice & harmony; education/health systems (TN); TN geography & growth; welfare schemes; current socio-economic issues; current affairs. |
| Unit VI: History, Culture, Heritage & Movements (TN) | 20 | 10% | TN society history; archaeology; Tamil literature (Sangam→present); Thirukkural—secular significance, daily relevance, universal values, socio-politico-economic relevance, philosophical content; TN in freedom struggle—early agitations, women’s role; social reformers & movements; social transformation in TN. |
Within GS, Units V & VI together carry 40/75 questions (TN-centric focus).
Part B — Aptitude & Mental Ability (SSLC Standard) — 25 Questions
| Component | Questions | % of Total | Scope / Sub-Topics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aptitude | 15 | 7.5% | Simplification; Percentage; HCF; LCM; Ratio & Proportion; Simple & Compound Interest; Area; Volume; Time & Work. |
| Reasoning | 10 | 5% | Logical reasoning; Puzzles; Dice; Visual reasoning; Alpha-numeric reasoning; Number series. |
Part C — Tamil Eligibility-cum-Scoring Test (SSLC Standard) — 100 Questions
| Component | Questions | Coverage / Prescribed Areas (English synopsis) |
|---|---|---|
| Grammar / Usage | — | Core SSLC grammar & orthography topics as prescribed in notification (Tamil medium). |
| Vocabulary & Reading | — | Reading comprehension of news/government items; idioms/proverbs; inference & best response style MCQs (SSLC standard). |
| Translation Tasks | — | Word & sentence translation; tense/voice related tasks. |
| Literary Works (Selections) | — | Figures of Speech; poetry/prose appreciation; lines of significance; with an indicative list of poems & prose from SSLC texts (English list mirrored here for reference). |
Tamil Eligibility-cum-Scoring test is per SSLC textbooks/guidelines.
Trends & Preparation Signals
- Tamil section is decisive (100/200) — practice SSLC-level grammar, reading comprehension, translation, and literature selections.
- GS is TN-centric: Unit V (Economy & TN Admin) + Unit VI (TN History/Movements) together make 40/75; allocate proportionate time.
- Aptitude & Reasoning are compact but predictable—arithmetic + patterns/visuals.
Syllabus and unit counts reproduced from the official Group IV English PDF (Code 496).