Madras High Court Office Assistant Syllabus 2026: Latest Exam Pattern, Basic Knowledge Topics & Skill Test Details

The Madras High Court Office Assistant Syllabus 2026 is divided into a qualifying Tamil Eligibility Test (Part-A) and a scoring Basic Knowledge section (Part-B), with a common written exam followed by a 40-mark skill test and certificate verification for posts like Office Assistant, Chobdar, Residential Assistant, Room Boy, Sweeper, Gardener, Waterman, Sanitary Worker, and Watchman under Madras High Court (MHC).

The written exam usually carries around 65 marks with approximately 90 minutes duration in recent notifications, and there is no negative marking, while Part-A is qualifying in nature and only Part-B marks are considered for shortlisting in the merit list. (Exact marks and duration for 2026 will be updated from the official notification once released on mhc.tn.gov.in.)

Madras High Court Office Assistant Syllabus 2026 – Overview

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Madras High Court Office Assistant Exam Pattern 2026

The Madras High Court Office Assistant exam follows a common written exam structure for Office Assistant and similar posts, divided into Part-A (Tamil Eligibility Test / General English for eligible PH candidates) and Part-B (Basic Knowledge – bi-lingual). Part-A is qualifying only, while Part-B determines shortlisting and contributes to the final merit. Each question typically carries 1 mark, with no negative marking in recent patterns.

Written Exam Structure

• Type of questions: Objective multiple-choice.

• Total questions: Generally around 65–100 questions split between Part-A and Part-B (e.g., earlier patterns showed a combined total aligning to 65 marks).

• Total marks: Around 65 marks for the written exam (Part-A and Part-B combined).

• Duration: Around 90 minutes for the entire paper.

• Language: Part-A in Tamil (or General English option for eligible PH candidates), Part-B bi-lingual (Tamil and English).

Subject-wise Madras High Court Office Assistant Syllabus 2026

The syllabus is designed at a basic level (approximately 8th standard) to assess essential language proficiency and practical job-related knowledge.

Part-A – Tamil Eligibility Test / General English (8th Standard Level)

This part checks basic language ability at approximately the 8th standard level and is qualifying only. PH candidates can opt for General English instead of Tamil, as permitted in notifications.

Topics include:

• Reading Comprehension (short passages, inference, vocabulary).

• Cloze Test (fill-in-the-blanks in passages).

• Tenses (simple, continuous, and perfect usages).

• Adjectives and degree of comparison.

• Prepositions and basic sentence structures.

• Error-based questions (spotting grammatical errors).

• Sentence completion and rearrangement.

• Single/double fillers (appropriate word choice).

• Paragraph completion and logical flow.

• Antonyms and Synonyms based on 8th standard vocabulary.

• Adverbs, conjunctions, basic parts of speech and common usage.

This section is qualifying only; however, failing to secure the minimum marks will prevent evaluation of Part-B and consideration for the next stages.

Part-B – Basic Knowledge (Bi-lingual)

Part-B is the scoring component that decides shortlisting, with questions in Tamil and English covering practical, general, and job-related knowledge.

Topics include:

• Current Affairs (national, state-level, especially Tamil Nadu-related).

• Basic Arithmetic Abilities (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, simple percentages, ratios, time & work, simple interest at the 8th standard level).

• Housekeeping Knowledge (cleaning methods, maintenance of rooms and offices, basic tools used).

• Hygiene (personal hygiene, workplace cleanliness, sanitation basics).

• Food Production (basic cooking methods, handling of kitchen items, simple recipes/processes).

• Beverage Service (serving water, tea, coffee; basic etiquette).

• Office Maintenance (cleaning of office rooms, furniture, files, and surroundings).

• Office Well Keeping (arranging documents, articles, and maintaining a neat environment).

• Office Articles & Equipment Maintenance (handling furniture, fans, lights, and basic office equipment safely).

• Gardening Skills (watering plants, weeding, basic planting, and lawn care).

• Guarding Principles (basic principles of guarding house/office, simple security awareness).

 Only Part-B marks are counted for final shortlisting and merit, after qualifying in Part-A and clearing subsequent stages as per rules.

Madras High Court Office Assistant Skill Test 2026 (Post-wise)

Candidates shortlisted from the written exam are called for a practical/skill test of around 40 marks, focused on job-related tasks for each post.

Chobdar & Room Boy – Skill Test (40 Marks)

• Skill test focuses on office/chamber maintenance, office well-keeping, and hygiene.

• Tasks may include: sweeping, sanitation, household duties, maintaining office articles and equipment, arranging chambers, and basic cleaning.

• Total skill test marks: 40 (for the combined practical tasks).

Office Assistant – Skill Test (Cooking + Housekeeping)

1. Practical exam to assess cooking and housekeeping ability.

2. Marks distribution (as per prior notifications):

   1. Cooking – 20 marks.

   2. Housekeeping – 20 marks.

Residential Assistant – Skill Test (Cooking + Sweeping + Gardening)

1. Skill test to check multiple practical skills relevant to residential and office support.

2. Marks distribution:

   1. Cooking – 20 marks.

   2. Sweeping and sanitation – 10 marks.

   3. Cleaning and gardening – 10 marks.

Selection Process of Madras High Court Office Assistant 2026

Madras High Court (MHC) generally follows a three-stage selection process for Office Assistant and allied posts: a common written examination, a post-wise practical/skill test, and certificate verification or viva voce.

Written Examination

• Objective test with Part-A (Tamil Eligibility / General English) and Part-B (Basic Knowledge).

• Candidates must qualify for Part A and score well in Part-B to get shortlisted for the skill test.

Skill / Practical Test

• Tests hands-on skills such as cooking, housekeeping, chamber maintenance, sweeping, and gardening as per the post.

• Usually carries 40 marks, and performance is crucial for final merit.

Certificate Verification / Viva Voce

• Verification of original certificates regarding age, qualification, community, etc., and sometimes a short interaction/oral test.

• Final selection list prepared based on the written exam (Part-B), skill test, and applicable reservation rules.

Important Preparation Tips for MHC Office Assistant Exam

Focus on the qualifying Part-A while prioritizing Part-B and practical skills for better chances.

Strategy for Written Examination

• Focus more on Part-B Basic Knowledge as its marks directly influence shortlisting and final merit, while still ensuring you comfortably qualify Part-A.

• Practice basic arithmetic (8th standard level) daily, including operations, fractions, percentages, and word problems, to secure easy marks.

• Revise 8th standard level grammar in Tamil/English, focusing on tenses, sentence structure, vocabulary, and comprehension passages.

• Regularly follow newspapers and simple news portals for current affairs, especially Tamil Nadu government schemes and judiciary-related news.

Strategy for Skill Test

• For Office Assistant and Residential Assistant, practice basic cooking of common South Indian dishes, safe use of the stove, and handling utensils.

• Improve housekeeping skills: sweeping, mopping, dusting, arranging rooms, and maintaining hygiene standards.

• For posts involving gardening, get hands-on familiarity with watering schedules, simple plant care, and tool handling.

• Simulate practical tasks at home or the workplace to build confidence before the test.