Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, conducts the Andhra Pradesh State Eligibility Test (AP SET) for eligibility of Assistant Professor/Lecturer in state universities and colleges. AP SET syllabus is divided into two papers: Paper 1 (common General Paper on Teaching & Research Aptitude) and Paper 2 (subject‑specific, chosen from a list of 30 subjects). Understanding the syllabus helps in identifying all the important subjects and topic-wise coverage, while the exam pattern gives clarity about the number of questions, marks distribution, duration, and marking scheme.
AP SET Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2026
The exam consists of 150 objective questions for a total of 300 marks, to be completed in 3 hours in offline mode. Both papers are conducted on the same day, and many subjects are offered in bilingual mode (English and Telugu). Candidates must go through the syllabus and exam pattern to understand the subjects, important topics, marking scheme, and exam structure. This helps them plan their preparation effectively, focus on high-weightage areas, and avoid wasting time on irrelevant topics.
| AP SET Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2026- Overview | |
| Organization | Andhra University, Visakhapatnam |
| Exam Name | Andhra Pradesh State Eligibility Test (AP SET) |
| Exam Level | State Level |
| Exam Frequency | Once a Year |
| Language of Exam | English and Telgu |
| Number of Questions | Paper 1- 50 Paper 2- 100 |
| Total Marks | Paper 1- 100 Paper 2- 200 |
| Time Duration | Paper 1- 1 Hour Paper 2- 2 Hours |
| Marking Scheme | Each Question Carries 2 Marks |
AP SET 2025-26 Notification: Click to Check
AP SET Exam Pattern 2026
The AP SET examination is conducted in two papers. Paper I is compulsory and common for all candidates, irrespective of the subject chosen. Paper II is subject-specific and will be held for 30 different subjects. Having a clear understanding of the AP SET exam pattern helps candidates plan their preparation and develop effective exam strategies. For the convenience of aspirants, the detailed exam pattern for both Paper I and Paper II has been provided here.
AP SET Paper 1 Exam Pattern 2026
Paper I is mandatory and common for all candidates appearing in the AP SET examination. The paper consists of objective-type multiple-choice questions only. A total of 50 compulsory questions are asked in Paper I, carrying a maximum of 100 marks. Each question is awarded 2 marks, and there is no penalty for incorrect answers. The time duration for Paper I is 1 hour (60 minutes). Paper I is conducted in bilingual mode, with questions available in both English and Telugu.
| Sections | No. of Questions | Marks |
| Teaching Aptitude | 05 | 10 |
| Research Aptitude | 05 | 10 |
| Reading Comprehension | 05 | 10 |
| Communication | 05 | 10 |
| Reasoning (including Maths) | 05 | 10 |
| Logical Reasoning | 05 | 10 |
| Data Interpretation | 05 | 10 |
| Information & Communication Technology (ICT) | 05 | 10 |
| People & Environment | 05 | 10 |
| Higher Education System: Governance, Polity & Administration | 05 | 10 |
| Total | 50 | 100 |
AP SET Paper 2 Exam Pattern 2026
AP SET Paper II is conducted for a total of 30 different subjects. The paper consists of 100 compulsory objective-type questions. Paper II carries a maximum of 200 marks. All questions are based on the subject chosen by the candidate. The duration of Paper II is 2 hours.
| Sections | No. of Questions | Marks |
| Subject Specific | 100 | 200 |
AP SET Syllabus 2026
The AP SET Syllabus is designed to assess a candidate’s teaching and research aptitude along with in-depth knowledge of their chosen subject. It is divided into two papers—Paper I and Paper II.
AP SET Paper 1 Syllabus 2026
Paper I syllabus is common for all candidates and focuses on general topics such as teaching aptitude, research aptitude, comprehension, reasoning ability, communication, data interpretation, information and communication technology (ICT), people and environment, and higher education system. This paper tests a candidate’s general awareness, logical thinking, and teaching-related skills.
| Topics | Details |
| Teaching Aptitude | Nature, objectives, characteristics of teaching; learner characteristics; teaching methods; evaluation systems |
| Research aptitude | Meaning, types and characteristics of research; steps of research; thesis and article writing; research ethics. |
| Reading comprehension | One or more unseen passages with questions testing understanding, inference and interpretation. |
| Communication | Types, levels and barriers of communication; effective classroom communication |
| Reasoning (including mathematical) | Analogies, classification, series, coding–decoding, syllogism, number/letter series, basic arithmetic and analytical reasoning. |
| Logical reasoning | Understanding arguments, statements and assumptions, deductive and inductive reasoning. |
| Data interpretation | Interpretation of data in table, graph or chart form; percentages, ratios and trends. |
| Information & Communication Technology (ICT) | Basics of computers, internet, word processing, spreadsheets, email, digital initiatives in higher education. |
| People and environment | Environmental issues, natural resources, pollution, climate change, sustainable development, human interactions with environment. |
| Higher education system | Governance, polity & administration: Structure of higher education in India, regulatory bodies, policies, value and environmental education. |
AP SET Paper 2 Syllabus 2026
Paper II syllabus is subject-specific and covers detailed topics related to the subject selected by the candidate from the available 30 subjects. The syllabus for Paper II is based on postgraduate-level studies and aims to evaluate the candidate’s conceptual understanding, analytical ability, and subject knowledge.
| Subject Code | Subjects | Syllabus PDF |
| 00 | General Paper | Download PDF |
| 01 | Anthropology | Download PDF |
| 02 | History | Download PDF |
| 03 | Chemical Sciences | Download PDF |
| 04 | Commerce | Download PDF |
| 05 | Computer Science & Application | Download PDF |
| 06 | Economics | Download PDF |
| 07 | Education | Download PDF |
| 08 | English | Download PDF |
| 09 | Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean & Planetary Science | Download PDF |
| 10 | Environmental Science | Download PDF |
| 11 | Geography | Download PDF |
| 12 | Hindi | Download PDF |
| 13 | Journalism and Mass Communications | Download PDF |
| 14 | Law | Download PDF |
| 15 | Life Sciences | Download PDF |
| 16 | Library and Information Science | Download PDF |
| 17 | Management | Download PDF |
| 18 | Mathematical Sciences | Download PDF |
| 19 | Physical Sciences | Download PDF |
| 20 | Physical Education | Download PDF |
| 21 | Philosophy | Download PDF |
| 22 | Political Science | Download PDF |
| 23 | Psychology | Download PDF |
| 24 | Public Administration | Download PDF |
| 25 | Sanskrit | Download PDF |
| 26 | Sociology | Download PDF |
| 27 | Social Work | Download PDF |
| 28 | Telugu | Download PDF |
| 29 | Urdu | Download PDF |
| 30 | Visual Arts | Download PDF |
