- Paper I — Part A, Tamil
- A hundred questions at the SSLC standard of the state board, in Tamil: grammar, vocabulary, comprehension, literature. The gate at 60 and 150 marks towards the rank.
- Paper I — Parts B and C
- General studies — science, current events, the geography of India and Tamil Nadu, Indian history and the national movement, Tamil Nadu’s history and culture, the polity, the economy and the state’s development administration — for 75 questions; aptitude and mental ability for 25. At SSLC standard.
- Paper II — engineering, degree level
- The core of the discipline at the level of a bachelor’s degree — for civil, structural analysis and design, geotechnical, hydraulics and irrigation, water supply and sanitation, transportation and construction management; for electrical and agricultural engineering, the equivalent core. The syllabus is the annexure of the notification, and the subject code identifies the paper.
- Paper II — town planning
- Urban and regional planning, planning law and the state’s planning framework, transport and housing, at post-graduate level for the Assistant Director post.
- Paper II — diploma and ITI level
- Civil engineering at the standard of the state technical board’s diploma for Junior Draughting Officer, Overseer and Road Inspector; the trade at certificate level for the surveyor, draughtsman and trade posts.