Topics Covered: UPSC EPFO EO/AO and APFC 2023 exam analysis, UPSC EPFO EO/AO and APFC Phase 1/Recruitment Test Analysis, UPSC EPFO EO/AO and APFC Topic Wise Weightage, Difficulty Level of UPSC EPFO EO/AO and APFC exams and UPSC EPFO EO/AO and APFC Cut Off Analysis

A comprehensive UPSC EPFO exam analysis for the EO/AO and APFC exams is crucial for understanding the difficulty levels and weightage of different subjects and topics. Neglecting the UPSC EPFO exam analysis can lead you to:

  • Misjudge the exam’s difficulty
  • Failure to prioritize high-scoring topics
  • Wastage of time studying less relevant topics

Therefore, analyzing the UPSC EPFO EO/AO and APFC exams empowers you to tailor your preparation strategy according to the actual demand of these exams. This, in turn, significantly increases your chances of cracking these exams.

UPSC EPFO EO Exam Analysis 2023

  • The difficulty level of the UPSC EPFO EO/AO 2023 exam was moderate to difficult, with a majority of the questions leaning towards the harder side. 
  • The questions were primarily based on static concepts
  • The exam also saw an increase in the number of lengthy, multiple statement-based questions compared to previous years, with fewer one-liner questions being asked.

UPSC EPFO EO Subject-Wise Questions Distribution 2023

Here is the subject-wise question distribution of the UPSC EPFO EO/AO 2023 exam:

UPSC EPFO EO/AO 2023
Subject-Wise Questions Distribution
TopicsQuestions
Quant & Reasoning15
English20
Accountancy10
Industrial Relations & Labour Laws15
Computer Application11
Social Security 8
Indian Polity5
General Science10
History and Culture10
Current Affairs8
Economy8

Key Takeaways:

  • 35/120 questions in the UPSC EPFO EO/AO 2023 exam were asked from quant, reasoning, and English subjects. 
  • 44/120 questions were asked from industrial relations and labour laws, computer applications, and social security. This number was higher as compared to the UPSC EPFO previous years question.
  • 41/120 questions were asked from Indian polity, general science, history and culture, current affairs, and economy.

UPSC EPFO EO 2023 Difficulty Level

UPSC EPFO EO/AO 2023 
Difficulty Level of Questions
Difficulty LevelNumber of Questions 
Easy30
Moderate51
Difficult39
Total Questions120
*Each question in the UPSC EPFO EO/AO exam carries 2.5 marks

Key Takeaways for UPSC EPFO EO Aspirants

  1. The overall difficulty level of the UPSC EPFO EO/AO 2023 exam was moderate to difficult
  2. Compared to previous years, there was an increase in the number of difficult questions.
  3. More number of accountancy, social security, and labour laws based questions were asked, than in the previous years’ papers.
  4. A solid understanding of the basic concepts was a key factor in achieving a high score in the UPSC EPFO EO/AO 2023 exam.

Now that you have understood the overall difficulty level of the UPSC EPFO EO/AO 2023 exam, let’s understand the subject-wise difficulty level.

UPSC EPFO EO/AO
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UPSC EPFO EO Quant & Reasoning Difficulty Level 2023

UPSC EPFO EO/AO 2023 
Quant & Reasoning Difficulty Level
Difficulty LevelNumber of Questions 
Easy3
Moderate9
Difficult3
Total Questions15
*Each question in quantitative aptitude and reasoning ability carries 2.5 marks

Key Takeaways for UPSC EPFO EO Aspirants

  1. The overall difficulty level of quant and reasoning was moderate.
  2. Some questions required a deep understanding of the concepts to answer. 
  3. You needed both speed and accuracy to solve questions in the given time.

UPSC EPFO EO English Difficulty Level 2023

UPSC EPFO EO/AO 2023 
English Difficulty Level
Difficulty LevelNumber of Questions 
Easy6
Moderate10
Difficult4
Total Questions20
*Each question in general English carries 2.5 marks

Key Takeaways for UPSC EPFO EO Aspirants

  1. The overall difficulty level of English was moderate.
  2. The UPSC EPFO EO/AO 2023 exam had questions on reading comprehension, which were not asked in the previous years’ exams.
  3. English was one of the highest-scoring subjects for aspirants.

UPSC EPFO EO Current Events Difficulty Level 2023

UPSC EPFO EO/AO 2023 
Current Events Difficulty Level
Difficulty LevelNumber of Questions 
Easy2
Moderate2
Difficult4
Total Questions8
*Each question in current events carries 2.5 marks

Key Takeaways for UPSC EPFO EO Aspirants

  1. The current events’ difficulty level was tough.
  2. Multiple revisions and wide coverage was needed to answer the current event questions.
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UPSC EPFO EO Accountancy Difficulty Level 2023

UPSC EPFO EO/AO 2023 
Accountancy Difficulty Level
Difficulty LevelNumber of Questions 
Easy2
Moderate6
Difficult2
Total Questions10
*Each question in accountancy carries 2.5 marks

Key Takeaways for UPSC EPFO EO Aspirants

  1. The overall difficulty level of accountancy was moderate.
  2. Aspirants with clear account fundamentals were able to solve easy and moderate level questions. 

UPSC EPFO EO Indian Polity Difficulty Level 2023

UPSC EPFO EO/AO 2023 
Indian Polity Difficulty Level
Difficulty LevelNumber of Questions 
Easy1
Moderate1
Difficult3
Total Questions5
*Each question in Indian polity carries 2.5 marks

Key Takeaways for UPSC EPFO EO Aspirants

  1. The overall difficulty level of Indian polity was tough.
  2. There was just 1 easy question. (Which of these is not a Constitutional body)
  3. 3 questions were quite tough as they were asked in a very twisted form and confusing options were given. Such questions were:
    1. Question on Dinesh Goswami committee recommendation 
    2. Question on Article 128 

UPSC EPFO EO Computer Applications Difficulty Level 2023 

UPSC EPFO EO/AO 2023 
Computer Applications Difficulty Level
Difficulty LevelNumber of Questions 
Easy2
Moderate3
Difficult6
Total Questions11
*Each question in computer applications carries 2.5 marks

Key Takeaways for UPSC EPFO EO Aspirants

  1. The overall difficulty level of computer applications was tough.
  2. A deep understanding of the concepts was required to answer the questions.
UPSC EPFO APFC
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UPSC EPFO EO Modern History Difficulty Level 2023

UPSC EPFO EO/AO 2023 
Modern History Difficulty Level
Difficulty LevelNumber of Questions 
Easy1
Moderate3
Difficult6
Total Questions10
*Each question in modern history carries 2.5 marks

Key Takeaways for UPSC EPFO EO Aspirants

  1. The overall difficulty level of modern history was moderate.
  2. Aspirants with a good understanding of the basics of modern history were able to answer the questions.

UPSC EPFO EO General Science Difficulty Level 2023

UPSC EPFO EO/AO 2023  
General Science Difficulty Level
Difficulty LevelNumber of Questions 
Easy6
Moderate3
Difficult1
Total Questions10
*Each question in general science carries 2.5 marks

Key Takeaways for UPSC EPFO EO Aspirants

  1. The overall difficulty level of general science was easy.
  2. Majority of the aspirants were able to answer 8 to 9 questions.

UPSC EPFO EO Industrial Relations and Labour Laws Difficulty Level 2023

UPSC EPFO EO/AO 2023  
Industrial Relations and Labour Laws Difficulty Level
Difficulty LevelNumber of Questions 
Easy2
Moderate7
Difficult6
Total Questions15
*Each question in industrial relations and labour laws carries 2.5 marks

Key Takeaways for UPSC EPFO EO Aspirants

  1. The overall difficulty level of industrial relations and labour laws was moderate to difficult.
  2. No questions were from industrial relations.
  3. The exam included all 15 questions from labor laws
  4. There were questions from new labour laws, such as:
    1. Building and construction
    2. Interstate migration 

UPSC EPFO EO Social Security Difficulty Level 2023

UPSC EPFO EO/AO 2023 
Social Security Difficulty Level
Difficulty LevelNumber of Questions 
Easy2
Moderate4
Difficult2
Total Questions8
*Each question in social security carries 2.5 marks

Key Takeaways for UPSC EPFO EO Aspirants

  1. The overall difficulty level of social security was moderate to difficult
  2. Out of 8 questions
    1. 2 questions were asked from Social Security Acts
    2. 6 questions were asked from Social Security Schemes.

UPSC EPFO EO Economy Difficulty Level 2023

UPSC EPFO EO/AO 2023 
Economy Difficulty Level
Difficulty LevelNumber of Questions 
Easy3
Moderate2
Difficult3
Total Questions8
*Each question in economy carries 2.5 marks

Key Takeaways for UPSC EPFO EO Aspirants

  1. The overall difficulty level of the economy subject was moderate.
  2. There were no straightforward questions
  3. Questions were based on the current news.
  4. You need to have in depth current affairs knowledge and a strong understanding of the concepts to answer the questions. 

Here is a video for in-depth analysis of the UPSC EPFO EO/AO 2023 exam.

After understanding the UPSC EPFO EO/AO exam analysis, let me walk you through the analysis of the UPSC EPFO APFC exam.

UPSC EPFO APFC
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UPSC EPFO APFC Exam Analysis 2023

  • The difficulty level of the UPSC EPFO APFC 2023 exam ranged from moderate to difficult, with a majority of the questions leaning towards the harder side. 
  • Like any other UPSC exam, the UPSC EPFO APFC 2023 exam tested a mix of factual knowledge, conceptual understanding, and analytical skills
  • Most questions were concept-based, requiring the application of knowledge to solve them.
  • The exam format included one-liners, multiple statements, chronology-based questions, and matching questions, which contributed to a time-consuming experience.

UPSC EPFO APFC Subject-Wise Questions Distribution 2023

Here is the subject-wise question distribution of the UPSC EPFO APFC 2023 exam:

UPSC EPFO APFC 2023
Subject-Wise Questions Distribution
TopicsQuestions
Quant & Reasoning15
English20
Accountancy15
Industrial Relations & Labour Laws14
Indian Polity9
General Science10
History and Culture10
Indian Economy1
Computer Applications10
Current Affairs8
Social Security 5
PDG3

Key Takeaways:

  • 35/120 questions of the UPSC EPFO APFC 2023 exam were asked from quant, reasoning, and English subjects. 
  • 47/120 questions were asked from industrial relation and labour laws, accountancy, computer awareness, social security, and PDG. 
  • 38/120 questions were asked from Indian polity, general science, history and culture, current affairs, and economy.

UPSC EPFO APFC Difficulty Level 2023

Here is the UPSC EPFO APFC 2023 overall difficulty level:

UPSC EPFO APFC 2023 
Overall Difficulty Level
Difficulty LevelNumber of Questions 
Easy30
Moderate51
Difficult39
Total Questions120
*Each question carries 2.5 marks

Key Takeaways for UPSC EPFO APFC Aspirants

  1. The overall difficulty level of the UPSC EPFO APFC 2023 exam was difficult as compared to the previous years’ papers.
  2. New question patterns were introduced, such as match-the-following questions and statement-based questions. 
  3. There were no straightforward questions. Conceptual understanding was required to answer the questions.
  4. More number of questions were asked from accountancy, computer awareness, and labour laws as compared to previous years.
  5. Less than expected questions were asked from Economy, PDG, and security acts.

UPSC EPFO APFC Quant & Reasoning Difficulty Level 2023

Here is the UPSC EPFO APFC 2023 quantitative aptitude and reasoning ability difficulty level:

UPSC EPFO APFC 2023 
Quant & Reasoning Difficulty Level
Difficulty LevelNumber of Questions 
Easy3
Moderate9
Difficult3
Total Questions15
*Each question in quantitative aptitude and reasoning ability carries 2.5 marks

Key Takeaways for UPSC EPFO APFC Aspirants

  1. The overall difficulty level of quant and reasoning was moderate.
  2. Some questions required a deep understanding of the concepts to answer them correctly. 
  3. You needed both speed and accuracy to solve questions in a given time.
  4. Future aspirants should have a solid grasp of basic concepts of all the topics in both quant and reasoning.

UPSC EPFO APFC General English Difficulty Level 2023

UPSC EPFO APFC 2023 
General English Difficulty Level
Difficulty LevelNumber of Questions 
Easy6
Moderate10
Difficult4
Total Questions20
*Each question in general English carries 2.5 marks

Key Takeaways for UPSC EPFO APFC Aspirants

  1. The overall difficulty level of English was moderate.
  2. Aspirants with good vocabulary and grammar were easily able to solve 15 to 16 questions. 
  3. 5 questions were asked from reading comprehension, which the majority of the aspirants were able to answer easily.
  4. Questions from antonyms and converting a part of a sentence into phrases were difficult.

UPSC EPFO APFC Current Events Difficulty Level 2023

UPSC EPFO APFC 2023 
Current Events Difficulty Level
Difficulty LevelNumber of Questions 
Easy2
Moderate2
Difficult4
Total Questions8
*Each question in current events carries 2.5 marks

Key Takeaways for UPSC EPFO APFC Aspirants

  1. The current events overall difficulty level was tough.
  2. One question was asked on the Santosh trophy tournament, which was surprising as UPSC usually does not set questions on sports. 
  3. Questions based on the G20 and Nobel prize were easy to answer.  

UPSC EPFO APFC Accountancy Difficulty Level 2023

UPSC EPFO APFC 2023 
Accountancy Difficulty Level
Difficulty LevelNumber of Questions 
Easy6
Moderate6
Difficult3
Total Questions15
*Each question in accountancy carries 2.5 marks

Key Takeaways for UPSC EPFO APFC Aspirants

  1. The overall difficulty level of accountancy was moderate.
  2. More questions were asked from accountancy as compared to the previous UPSC EPFO APFC exams. 
  3. A combination of conceptual, numerical based, one-liner, and case study based questions were asked in the exam.
  4. A strong understanding of trial balance, income statement, core accounting standards, and core accounting principles was required to solve the accountancy questions. 

UPSC EPFO APFC Indian Polity Difficulty Level 2023

UPSC EPFO APFC 2023 
Indian Polity Difficulty Level
Difficulty LevelNumber of Questions 
Easy2
Moderate3
Difficult4
Total Questions9
*Each question in Indian polity carries 2.5 marks

Key Takeaways for UPSC EPFO APFC Aspirants

  1. The overall difficulty level of Indian polity was tough. It was similar to the typical UPSC Civil Services exam.
  2. A deep understanding of the concepts was required to answer the Indian polity questions.
  3. Lengthy, multiple statement-based questions were asked in the exam.
  4. Questions were asked on the following topics:
    1. Ordinance power of the governor
    2. Creative petition
    3. Thungon committee
    4. Consolidated fund charges
    5. District Planning Committee (DPC) and the Metropolitan Planning Committee (MPC)
  5. Future aspirants must read the Indian Polity book by M. Laxmikanth.
UPSC EPFO EO/AO
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UPSC EPFO APFC Computer Applications Difficulty Level 2023

UPSC EPFO APFC 2023 
Computer Applications Difficulty Level
Difficulty LevelNumber of Questions 
Easy2
Moderate6
Difficult2
Total Questions10
*Each question in computer applications carries 2.5 marks

Key Takeaways for UPSC EPFO APFC Aspirants

  1. The overall difficulty level of computer applications was moderate. It was a low-hanging fruit. 
  2. The majority of the questions could be answered with conceptual knowledge.
  3. Questions were asked on the following topics:
    1. Top-down language
    2. Attribute required for the internal linking in HTML
    3. Binary equivalent of the octal number 
    4. Mesh technology
    5. IP address

UPSC EPFO APFC Modern History Difficulty Level 2023

UPSC EPFO APFC 2023 
Modern History Difficulty Level
Difficulty LevelNumber of Questions 
Easy1
Moderate3
Difficult6
Total Questions10
*Each question in modern history carries 2.5 marks

Key Takeaways for UPSC EPFO APFC Aspirants

  1. The overall difficulty level of modern history was moderate
  2. More questions were asked from the culture than history.
  3. Questions were asked on the following topics:
    • Nineteenth-twentieth century archaeologists
    • Rise of Magadha
    • Kailasa temple, Ellora
    • Indian Pottery
    • Kautilya in Arthashastra describes the varieties of pearls
    • Pala Dynasty

UPSC EPFO APFC General Science Difficulty Level 2023

UPSC EPFO APFC 2023  
General Science Difficulty Level
Difficulty LevelNumber of Questions 
Easy6
Moderate3
Difficult1
Total Questions10
*Each question in general science carries 2.5 marks

Key Takeaways for UPSC EPFO APFC Aspirants

  1. The overall difficulty level of general science was easy.
  2. Basic knowledge of the concepts was sufficient for answering 6 to 7 questions.
  3. Questions were asked on the following topics:
    1. Convex mirror
    2. Direct formula-based question (s=ut+1/2at^2)
    3. Equation based question
    4. Lens power
    5. Inelastic collision
  4. Future aspirants should read the NCERT science books from 6th to 10th class.

UPSC EPFO APFC Industrial Relations and Labour Laws Difficulty Level 2023

UPSC EPFO APFC 2023  
Industrial Relations and Labour Laws Difficulty Level
Difficulty LevelNumber of Questions 
Easy2
Moderate7
Difficult5
Total Questions14
*Each question in industrial relations and labour laws carries 2.5 marks

Key Takeaways for UPSC EPFO APFC Aspirants

  1. The overall difficulty level of industrial relations and labour laws was moderate to difficult.
  2. Surprisingly, questions were asked on the new Acts such as the Building Construction Act, Mine Act, etc.
  3. Factual and case study-based questions were asked in the exam. 

UPSC EPFO APFC Social Security Difficulty Level 2023

UPSC EPFO APFC 2023 
Social Security Difficulty Level
Difficulty LevelNumber of Questions 
Easy2
Moderate2
Difficult1
Total Questions5
*Each question in social security carries 2.5 marks

Key Takeaways for UPSC EPFO APFC Aspirants

  1. The overall difficulty level of social security was moderate.
  2. Provision based questions were asked in the exam.
  3. Questions were asked on the following topics:
    1. Employee compensation Act
    2. Employee provident fund and miscellaneous provisions Act

UPSC EPFO APFC Economy Difficulty Level 2023

UPSC EPFO APFC 2023 
Economy Difficulty Level
Difficulty LevelNumber of Questions 
Easy0
Moderate1
Difficult0
Total Questions1
*Each question in economy carries 2.5 marks

Key Takeaways for UPSC EPFO APFC Aspirants

  1. The overall difficulty level of the economy subject was moderate.

UPSC EPFO APFC Population, Development, and Globalization Difficulty Level 2023

UPSC EPFO APFC 2023 
PDG Difficulty Level
Difficulty LevelNumber of Questions 
Easy1
Moderate2
Difficult0
Total Questions/Marks3
*Each question in PDG carries 2.5 marks

Key Takeaways for UPSC EPFO APFC Aspirants

  1. The overall difficulty level was moderate.
  2. Straightforward questions were asked.
  3. Basic knowledge was enough to answer the questions.

Here is a video of an in-depth analysis of the UPSC EPFO APFC 2023 exam.

After understanding UPSC EPFO EO/AO and APFC past years’ exam analysis, let’s look at the cut offs of the past years. 

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UPSC EPFO Exam Analysis: Cut Off Marks

Here is the analysis of UPSC EPFO cut off:

UPSC EPFO EO/AO Exam Cut Off Analysis

UPSC EPFO EO/AO 
2021 Cut-Off Marks
CategoryUROBCSCSTEWSPH(HI)PH(OH)
Recruitment Test187.39173.12160.51156.30171.43101.67154.61
Interview50454040504040
Final Selection259.33244.51234.39231.87246.08169.28242.99
UPSC EPFO EO/AO 
2017 Cut-Off Marks
CategoryUROBCSCEWSPH(HI)PH(OH)
Recruitment Test49.5044.5042.5043.503033
Interview50454040
Final Selection110.83103.78102.23103.0688.1193.61

Key Takeaways for Future Aspirants of the UPSC EPFO EO Exam

  1. The UPSC EPFO EO/AO recruitment test cut off was higher than expected, which indicates that the difficulty level of this exam is increasing.
  2. Minimum interview cut off marks are already mentioned in the UPSC EPFO notification:
    1. 50 marks for UR/General
    2. 45 marks for OBC
    3. 40 marks for SC/ST/PH
  3. The highest marks scored by a candidate was 296.85.
  4. Cut off reaching 259.33 out of 400 marks, more than 60%, in a UPSC exam indicates a high level of competition.
  5. Having a strong core knowledge is essential to score good marks in the exam. 

Remember: The cut offs can vary from year to year depending on factors like exam difficulty and the number of applicants. It’s essential to use this information as a reference and adjust your preparation accordingly. 

UPSC EPFO APFC Exam Cut Off Analysis

Below, I have mentioned the UPSC EPFO APFC 2023 and 2015 cut off marks:

UPSC EPFO APFC 
2023 Cut-Off Marks
CategoryGeneral /UROBCSCSTEWSPH (VI)PH (HI)PH (OH )PH (MI/MD)
Recruitment Test178.33178.33156.68151.68176.68140130.83147.50104.18
Final Selection257.50246.18224.33230.83241.83213.68202.83238.33171.33
UPSC EPFO APFC 
2015 Cut-Off Marks
CategoryGeneralOBCSCSTPH (OH)PH (HH)
Recruitment Test66.560.556.554.551.544.5
Interview50454040
Final 268.37249.86234.74229.30221.94201.54

Key Takeaways for Future Aspirants of the UPSC EPFO APFC Exam

  1. The UPSC EPFO APFC recruitment test cut off was higher than expected, which indicates that the difficulty level of this exam is increasing.
  2. Minimum interview cut off marks are already mentioned by UPSC in the EPFO APFC notification:
    1. 50 marks for UR/General
    2. 45 marks for OBC
    3. 40 marks for SC/ST/PH
  3. Cut off reaching 257.50 out of 400 marks, more than 60%, in a UPSC exam indicates a high level of competition.
  4. The cut off was lower in 2023 (257.5) compared to 2015 (268.37), which indicates a high difficulty level.
  5. Having a strong core knowledge is essential to score good marks in the exam. 

Remember: The cut offs can vary from year to year depending on factors like exam difficulty and the number of applicants. It’s essential to use this information as a reference and adjust your UPSC EPFO preparation accordingly. 

Conclusion

The UPSC EPFO EO/AO and APFC exam analysis serves as a compass for aspirants navigating the complexities of these exams. By understanding the difficulty level topic weightage and cut off marks of past UPSC EPFO EO/AO and APFC exams, you can tailor your preparation strategy to clear these exams.