UNIVERSITY ASSISTANT SYLLABUS 2025
The Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) conducts the University Assistant examination to recruit assistants for various universities under the Government of Kerala.
This is one of the most sought-after PSC exams, offering a prestigious role, a good pay scale, and job security.
1. Exam Pattern at a Glance
For the Kerala PSC University Assistant exam, the pattern is as follows:
-
Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes.
-
Total Marks: 100 (varies slightly depending on notification)
-
Sections with marks:
-
General Knowledge & Current Affairs – 50 marks
-
General English – 20 marks
-
Simple Arithmetic & Mental Ability – 20 marks
-
General Knowledge in Regional Language – 10 marks
-
Understanding this gives you insight into how to distribute your efforts across sections.
2. Detailed Syllabus Breakdown
Here’s a deeper dive into each section and the topics you should cover.
a) General Knowledge & Current Affairs (50 marks)
This is the largest section, so allocate a lot of time here. Topics include:
-
History (Indian and world)
-
Geography of India & world
-
Economics & socio-economic issues
-
Civics & Indian Constitution
-
Arts, Literature, Culture, Sports
-
Basics of Computer & Information Technology
-
Science & Technology developments
b) Simple Arithmetic, Mental Ability & Reasoning (20 marks)
This section tests your quantitative aptitude and reasoning skills. Topics:
-
Numbers, HCF & LCM, Simplification, Ratio & Proportion, Percentage, Interest, Time & Work, Time & Distance, Area & Volume, Calendars & Clocks, Trains, Age problems.
-
Reasoning: Coding & Decoding, Classification, Synonym/Antonym, Letter & Number Series, Odd Man Out, Analogy, Common Sense, Alphabetical Arrangement, Date/Calendar, Sense of Direction.
c) General English (20 marks)
Topics typically include:
-
Reading Comprehension
-
Vocabulary (Synonyms/Antonyms)
-
Grammar & usage
-
Sentence correction, paragraph completion
Although the official list may not detail every subtopic, practicing standard English language topics will help.
d) General Knowledge in Regional Language (10 marks)
Depending on the state you’re applying in (for Kerala PSC, regional language options like Malayalam, etc.). This section usually tests:
-
General knowledge about the state/region
-
Language usage, comprehension in regional language
-
Local culture, literature, heritage
3. Why Each Section Matters
-
The General Knowledge & Current Affairs section holds half the marks (50 out of 100)—hence doing well here can make or break your exam.
-
The Arithmetic/Reasoning section tests your numerical and logical ability—important for any administrative assistant role.
-
English ensures you can handle official communications, correspondences, and reports.
-
The regional language ensures you’re aligned with regional duties and local context and functioning in the local language if required.
4. Preparation Strategy & Study Plan
Here are some actionable steps:
-
Gather materials—Get a current affairs book, a standard GK book, state-specific GK, an arithmetic & reasoning practice book, an English grammar workbook, and regional language practice material.
-
Divide your time—since there are 50 marks for GK, devote ~50% of your prep time to GK & Current Affairs. Then split the rest roughly in half for Quant/Reasoning + English + Regional Language.
-
Daily schedule suggestion:
-
Morning (1 hour): Current affairs + GK
-
Mid-day (1 hour): Arithmetic/reasoning practice
-
Evening (45 mins): English grammar/vocab + practice questions
-
Weekend (1 hour): Regional language practice + mock/mock-questions in all sections
-
-
Mock tests—Take full-length timed tests (1 hour 15 minutes) every week. Analyze mistakes and revisit weak topics.
-
Revision—Make short notes for quick revision (especially GK facts, formulas in arithmetic, and grammar rules). Revise these every weekend.
-
Current affairs habit—Make it a habit: read a 10-15 minute daily current affairs summary (national + state level) and write down important points.
-
Time management—In the actual exam, you may get around 1 hour and 15 minutes, so practice finishing within the time.
-
Previous year papers—Solve previous year exams of university assistant or similar posts to understand question patterns and difficulty.
5. Key Tips Specific to 2025
-
Since the syllabus for 2025 for this post is largely unchanged from earlier years, you can lean on prior-year papers.
-
Make sure you check the official notification for the exact syllabus, as there may be slight changes.
-
Focus on state-specific GK, such as state history, state economy, local government rules, and culture. Many questions in the ‘General Knowledge’ section draw from local/regional content.
-
For quant/reasoning, ensure you build speed and accuracy. Many aspirants lose marks due to time pressure.
-
For regional language, practice reading comprehension and writing short answers if required—sometimes the test may include language usage questions beyond pure GK.
-
Stay updated: current affairs, especially in the last 6 months before the exam, get higher weightage.
-
Use digital resources: mobile apps, online mock tests, and YouTube tutorials for tricky reasoning topics.
6. Sample Study Plan (12-Week Countdown)
Weeks 1-4
-
Cover GK basics: History, Geography, Economics, Civics
-
Arithmetic basics: Number systems, HCF/LCM, simplification, percentage
-
English: Grammar fundamentals & vocabulary
-
Regional language: Basics of language usage + state GK overview
Weeks 5-8
-
Cover GK: Culture, Literature, Sports, Science & Technology, Computers
-
Arithmetic/Reasoning: Ratio & Proportion, Time & Work, Time & Distance, Series & Patterns
-
English: Reading comprehension + practice MCQs
-
Regional language: Practice reading passages + state focus
Weeks 9-11
-
Revise GK topics and daily current affairs
-
Arithmetic/Reasoning: Advanced problems + mock tests
-
English + Regional Language: Full section mocks
-
Start full-length mock tests each week
Week 12 (Final Week)
-
Take 2-3 full-length timed mocks
-
Revise short notes / formula sheets / key GK facts
-
Light study day before the exam; rest well
7. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1. Are negative marks applicable?
The official syllabus page doesn’t always declare detailed negative marking; check the specific notification of the university/PSC you are applying for. For some similar exams, negative marking is applied.
Q2. What is the medium of the exam?
Usually English plus the regional language as applicable. Ensure you choose the correct regional language option if offered.
Q3. How much weight does arithmetic or reasoning carry?
In the Kerala PSC model, arithmetic/mental ability & reasoning carry 20 marks out of 100.
Q4. Where can I download the official syllabus PDF?
For the Kerala PSC University Assistant post, the syllabus is available via portals like MySarkariNaukri and other job-notification websites.
.png)
.png)

