Exam GuideFree Solved 2020 Paper

WBPSC AE Civil Syllabus & Exam Pattern

A complete, subject-wise syllabus and exam pattern for the WBPSC Assistant Engineer (Civil) examination — with the marking scheme, eligibility, a preparation strategy, and a free, fully-solved previous-year paper to practise on.

WBPSC AE Civil exam pattern

Conducting bodyWest Bengal Public Service Commission (WBPSC)
PostAssistant Engineer (Civil)
Selection stagesWritten Examination + Personality Test (Interview)
Technical paperCivil Engineering — 100 objective questions
Total marks200 (each question 2 marks)
Duration2 hours
Negative marking−2/3 mark for each wrong answer
Question typeMultiple choice (A/B/C/D)

Pattern based on the WBPSC AE Civil 2020 paper. Always confirm the current pattern in the official WBPSC notification.

Subject-wise

WBPSC AE Civil syllabus — all topics

The technical paper covers these 16 core Civil Engineering subjects. Click any subject for important topics, formulas and practice MCQs.

1
Strength of Materials
Stress-strain, SFD/BMD, bending & shear stress, torsion, deflection, columns, principal stresses
2
Structural Analysis
Determinacy, slope-deflection, moment distribution, influence lines, arches, plastic analysis
3
RCC Design
Limit state & working stress, beams, slabs, columns, footings, IS 456:2000 detailing
4
Steel Structures
IS 800 LSM, bolted/welded connections, tension & compression members, beams, plastic analysis
5
Soil Mechanics
Index properties, permeability, effective stress, shear strength, consolidation, earth pressure
6
Foundation Engineering
Bearing capacity, shallow & pile foundations, settlement, soil exploration
7
Fluid Mechanics & Hydraulics
Hydrostatics, Bernoulli, pipe & open-channel flow, flow measurement, hydraulic machines
8
Hydrology
Precipitation, runoff, hydrographs, flood routing, return period, groundwater
9
Irrigation Engineering
Duty & delta, canal design (Kennedy/Lacey), headworks, dams, cross-drainage
10
Environmental Engineering
Water treatment, hardness, sewage, BOD/COD, treatment processes, air pollution
11
Transportation Engineering
Geometric design, super-elevation, pavement design, bitumen/Marshall, traffic, railways
12
Surveying
Chain, compass, levelling, theodolite, tacheometry, curves, total station, GPS
13
Building Materials
Cement, concrete, aggregates, bricks, timber, admixtures, steel, testing
14
Construction Management
CPM/PERT, scheduling, network crashing, equipment, quality & safety
15
Estimation & Costing
Quantity surveying, rate analysis, specifications, valuation, earthwork
16
Engineering Mechanics
Force systems, equilibrium, trusses, friction, centroid & MOI, projectiles
How to prepare

WBPSC AE Civil preparation strategy

1

Master the high-weight subjects first

Strength of Materials, Structural Analysis, Soil Mechanics, Transportation and RCC together make up the bulk of the paper. Secure these before the lower-weight topics.

2

Lock in IS code values

IS 456 (RCC), IS 800 (Steel) and IRC highway standards are tested as direct fact/formula recall. Maintain a one-page code-constants sheet.

3

Solve previous-year papers

Attempt the actual WBPSC AE papers under timed conditions with negative marking — it's the fastest way to learn the question style and pacing.

4

Practise with negative marking

−2/3 per wrong answer punishes blind guessing. Train your attempt strategy so you only guess when you can eliminate options.

FAQ

WBPSC AE Civil — frequently asked questions

What is the exam pattern for WBPSC AE Civil?

The WBPSC Assistant Engineer (Civil) written examination includes a Civil Engineering objective paper of 100 questions for 200 marks in 2 hours, with +2 for each correct answer and −2/3 for each wrong answer, followed by a Personality Test (interview). Always confirm the latest pattern in the official WBPSC notification.

What is the negative marking in WBPSC AE Civil?

As per the 2020 paper, 2/3 mark is deducted for every wrong answer. Unattempted questions carry no penalty.

What subjects are in the WBPSC AE Civil syllabus?

The technical syllabus covers core Civil Engineering: Strength of Materials, Structural Analysis, RCC, Steel, Soil Mechanics, Foundation Engineering, Fluid Mechanics, Hydrology, Irrigation, Environmental, Transportation, Surveying, Building Materials, Construction Management, Estimation and Engineering Mechanics.

Who is eligible for WBPSC AE Civil?

Candidates generally need a degree in Civil Engineering (B.E./B.Tech or equivalent such as AMIE) and must meet the age limits specified in the official notification. Verify the exact eligibility in the current WBPSC advertisement.

How should I prepare for WBPSC AE Civil?

Prioritise the high-weight subjects, memorise IS-code constants, and practise full-length previous-year papers with negative marking. ScoreCardAI offers a free 10-question demo and a solved WBPSC AE 2020 paper to start.

Start preparing

Put the syllabus into practice.

Attempt the solved WBPSC AE 2020 paper and full-length mock tests with instant scorecards, rank and subject-wise analysis.