The selection process comprises physical tests (endurance/standard) followed by the written examination. 

1. Physical Stage (Qualifying)

• Endurance Test & Physical Standard Test (PST) for direct candidates. 

• Example: For men (direct candidates) → 1600 m run in ~7 minutes. 

• Example: Height requirement: 168 cm for men in many cases. 

2. Written Examination

Written exam is typically in two papers:

Key details:

• Paper I: Essay (~20 marks), translation (English↔Kannada) (~10-20 marks), précis writing (~10 marks) in many cases. 

• Paper II: Multiple-choice questions; negative marking ~0.25 per wrong answer in some years. 

• Total for written: ~200 marks (50 + 150) in many cycles. 

3. Other Stages

After written exam you typically have:

• Document verification

• Medical fitness test

• Final merit list based on performance in all stages

What this means for you

• You must prepare not just for the MCQ part but also for the descriptive Paper I — essay and translation skills in Kannada and English matter.

• Time-management is key: both papers around 90 minutes each.

• Strong mental ability, current affairs/general knowledge are essential for Paper II.

• Don’t neglect physical fitness and fulfilling physical standards since those are qualifying.

• Since negative marking applies in objective portion (in many years), accuracy is important.