AP POLYCET 2027 Eligibility Criteria: Age Limit, Qualifying Marks and Attempts

To apply for AP POLYCET 2027, you must have passed Class 10 (SSC) or an equivalent examination with at least 35% aggregate marks if you belong to the General or OBC category; SC and ST students need only passing marks.

AP POLYCET (Andhra Pradesh Polytechnic Common Entrance Test) is conducted by the State Board of Technical Education and Training (SBTET), Andhra Pradesh. It is the gateway to Diploma programmes in Engineering, Technology, and Non-Engineering streams at polytechnic colleges across the state. Eligibility conditions cover your educational qualification, age, qualifying marks in SSC, domicile status, and the number of attempts you can make.

• Educational Qualification: Passed SSC (Class 10) or equivalent; students appearing in SSC in the same year may apply provisionally.
• Minimum Marks — General/OBC: 35% aggregate in SSC; SC/ST students need only pass marks with no minimum percentage.
• Age Limit: Minimum 14 years as of the course commencement date; there is no upper age limit.
• Number of Attempts: No restriction — you can appear as many times as you wish.
• Domicile: You must be an Andhra Pradesh resident or have studied in AP for at least 4 consecutive years.

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AP POLYCET 2027 Eligibility — Quick Overview

The table below summarises all key eligibility parameters at a glance so you can check your status before filling the application form.

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Educational Qualification for AP POLYCET 2027

You must have passed — or be appearing in — the SSC (Class 10) examination or any equivalent examination recognised by the Board of Secondary Education, Andhra Pradesh. The following qualifications are accepted:

• SSC (10th Class) from the Andhra Pradesh Board of Secondary Education (BSEAP)
• Class 10 from any state board recognised as equivalent to AP SSC
• CBSE or ICSE Class 10, treated as equivalent by SBTET AP
• Any other qualification declared equivalent by the competent authority

Students appearing in SSC final examinations in the 2026–27 academic year may apply on a provisional basis. Their admission is confirmed only after they submit the original passing certificate during document verification at the counselling stage. If you fail to produce proof of passing SSC at that point, your provisional admission will be cancelled.

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AP POLYCET 2027 Age Limit

There is no upper age limit for AP POLYCET 2027. The only age requirement is a minimum age of 14 years, calculated as of the first date of commencement of the Diploma programme — that is, the date the academic session begins, not the date of the entrance exam.

This means students who completed Class 10 several years ago, working professionals, and those re-appearing for the exam are all eligible as long as they meet the educational and domicile criteria. Age is verified through your SSC certificate or birth certificate at the time of counselling document submission.

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AP POLYCET 2027 Qualifying Marks — Category-wise

The minimum aggregate percentage required in your SSC board examination varies by reservation category. Check the table below to confirm your eligibility:

The qualifying marks are based on the overall aggregate of all subjects in SSC, not individual subject scores. There is no subject-wise minimum mark threshold specifically for AP POLYCET eligibility — provided you have passed all subjects as per your board’s passing norms and hold a valid SSC certificate.

Meeting the eligibility mark criteria does not guarantee a seat. Final admission depends on your rank in AP POLYCET 2027 and the number of seats available in the branch and college of your choice during the counselling process.

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Number of Attempts for AP POLYCET 2027

AP POLYCET places no restriction on the number of times you can attempt the exam. You may appear every year as long as you satisfy all other eligibility conditions — educational qualification, minimum age, and domicile — at the time of each application.

This open-attempt policy benefits students who wish to improve their rank after a previous attempt. Each year’s score is independently valid. However, note that your score from a previous year’s exam is not carried forward — you must appear in AP POLYCET 2027 to obtain a 2027 rank for admission to the 2027–28 academic session.

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Domicile and Nationality for AP POLYCET 2027

AP POLYCET seats are broadly classified into local and non-local categories based on domicile. The criteria are as follows:

• Local Candidate: You must have studied in Andhra Pradesh for at least 4 consecutive years immediately preceding your qualifying examination (SSC).
• Resident: Alternatively, you or your parents must be bona fide residents of Andhra Pradesh as established by a valid residence certificate.
• Non-Local Candidates: A limited percentage of seats are earmarked for non-local students as per AP government reservation norms. Most seats remain reserved for AP local students.
• Nationality: You must be an Indian citizen. NRI and OCI students may apply under specific categories defined in the official AP POLYCET 2027 information brochure.

If you are from outside Andhra Pradesh, verify non-local seat availability for your preferred college and branch before applying. The exact percentage of non-local seats is published in the AP POLYCET 2027 prospectus released by SBTET AP.