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The LIC AAO cutoff structure differs meaningfully from SBI PO, IBPS PO, or IBPS Clerk cutoffs. LIC organises its recruitment zone-wise rather than state-wise, meaning candidates compete within their applied zone (North, South, East, West, Central, or similar zonal divisions) rather than against a state-specific pool. The zone-wise cutoff approach means a candidate in a high-competition zone like South (which covers Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh) faces a materially different cutoff than one in a lower-competition zone. Additionally, the no-negative-marking structure means raw scores in LIC AAO are systematically higher than in negative-marking examinations, making the absolute cutoff numbers appear larger than comparable banking exams.
This page covers the complete LIC AAO cutoff framework with authenticated data from the 2025 and 2023 cycles, zone-wise and category-wise breakdowns, factors driving cutoff variation, and realistic preparation targets for 2026.
For the complete examination guide, visit the LIC AAO main page. For the exam pattern that shapes these scores, see the LIC AAO Exam Pattern page.
Prelims Cutoff: Applied to the 70-mark Prelims merit score (Reasoning 35 + QA 35). English qualifying mark is separate. Zone-wise and category-wise cutoffs apply. The Prelims cutoff shortlists candidates for Mains.
Mains Cutoff: Applied to the 300-mark Mains Objective score. Both section-wise minimum marks and an overall zone-wise cutoff apply. Candidates who also clear the Descriptive Test qualifying mark are shortlisted for Interview.
Final Cutoff: Based on the combined Mains + Interview score. The exact weighting is specified in the notification. The final merit list determines appointment.
LIC divides India into zones for recruitment purposes. The primary zones are:
| Zone States Covered | |
| East Zone | West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, Northeast states |
| West Zone | Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat |
| North Zone | Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, J&K, Rajasthan, UP, Uttarakhand |
| South Zone | Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Puducherry |
| Central Zone | Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh |
The exact zonal groupings may vary slightly by recruitment cycle. The 2025 notification specified the zones applicable to that cycle. Always verify from the official notification.
Because LIC AAO has no negative marking, candidates can and do score higher raw marks than in equivalent-difficulty negative-marking exams. This means LIC AAO cutoffs appear numerically higher than, for example, IBPS PO cutoffs - but they represent a comparable performance level. A score of 50 out of 70 in LIC AAO Prelims (where all questions are attempted) is not directly comparable to 50 out of 70 in a negative-marking examination where many questions are left blank.
The Prelims was conducted on 3rd and 7th October 2025. The Prelims result was released on 29th October 2025.
Based on available scorecard data and authoritative expert analysis from the 2025 cycle:
| Zone General/UR (Approx.) OBC (Approx.) SC (Approx.) ST (Approx.) | ||||
| South Zone | 54 to 58 (highest) | 50 to 54 | 44 to 48 | 38 to 43 |
| North Zone | 50 to 54 | 46 to 50 | 40 to 44 | 35 to 40 |
| East Zone | 48 to 52 | 44 to 48 | 38 to 43 | 33 to 38 |
| West Zone | 50 to 54 | 46 to 50 | 40 to 44 | 34 to 39 |
| Central Zone | 46 to 51 | 42 to 47 | 36 to 41 | 31 to 36 |
Note: These are approximate ranges based on compiled scorecard analysis. The South Zone consistently records the highest Prelims cutoff due to the high density of competitive candidates in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka. Official cutoffs are released with the Prelims scorecard on licindia.in.
The Prelims merit is based on only 70 marks (Reasoning + QA), meaning the English Language section's 30-mark contribution is irrelevant to the cutoff figure. A candidate who scores perfectly in Reasoning and QA (70/70) but minimally in English still achieves the maximum cutoff-relevant score.
The Mains was conducted on 8th November 2025. The Mains result for AAO Generalist was released on 4th February 2026.
Mains cutoffs are applied after normalisation across shifts (if applicable) and include both section-wise minimums and an overall zone-wise threshold.
Based on available data from the 2025 cycle:
| Zone General/UR (Approx. Overall) OBC SC ST | ||||
| South Zone | 210 to 230 (highest) | 195 to 215 | 175 to 195 | 160 to 180 |
| North Zone | 195 to 215 | 180 to 200 | 160 to 180 | 145 to 165 |
| East Zone | 185 to 205 | 170 to 190 | 150 to 170 | 135 to 155 |
| West Zone | 190 to 210 | 175 to 195 | 155 to 175 | 140 to 160 |
| Central Zone | 180 to 200 | 165 to 185 | 145 to 165 | 130 to 150 |
These are indicative ranges. Because LIC AAO has no negative marking, the Mains cutoff figures are higher in absolute terms than comparable negative-marking exams. A score of 190 to 200 in LIC AAO Mains reflects genuine subject mastery across four sections.
The Insurance and Financial Market Awareness section is consistently the most differentiating in Mains - candidates who have specifically prepared insurance concepts score 45 to 55 marks in this section (out of 60), while underprepared candidates score 20 to 30. This 20 to 25-mark difference directly affects Mains total position relative to the cutoff.
The 2023 cycle (300 AAO Generalist vacancies) recorded Mains cutoffs in the following approximate ranges for General category:
Final cutoff (Mains + Interview combined): Based on 2023 data, the final combined cutoff for General category across zones ranged from approximately 255 to 275 out of 300 (before normalisation adjustments).
The 2020 cycle had 218 AAO Generalist vacancies. Fewer vacancies relative to a large candidate pool meant higher effective cutoffs in competitive zones. The 2020 General category Mains cutoff in the South Zone reached approximately 220 to 240 marks.
The 2019 cycle with 590+ vacancies saw more accessible cutoffs. General category Mains cutoffs ranged approximately 195 to 225 across zones. The higher vacancy count moderated competition per seat.
| Year Vacancies South Zone General Mains (Approx.) North Zone General Mains (Approx.) Notable Feature | ||||
| 2025 | 841 total | 210 to 230 | 195 to 215 | Largest recent cycle; Insurance Awareness section most differentiating |
| 2023 | ~300 Generalist | 215 to 235 | 200 to 220 | Lower vacancies; higher cutoffs in competitive zones |
| 2020 | 218 Generalist | 220 to 240 | 200 to 220 | Lowest vacancy count; most competitive cycle |
| 2019 | 590+ | 195 to 225 | 180 to 210 | High vacancy count; more accessible cutoffs |
Key trend: The relationship between vacancy count and cutoff is clearly inverse. The 2020 cycle with only 218 vacancies produced the highest cutoffs in competitive zones, while the 2019 cycle with 590+ vacancies had more accessible cutoffs. The 2025 cycle with 841 total vacancies (350 Generalist) saw moderate cutoffs relative to the 2020 and 2023 lows.
For 2026, the cutoff will depend on the vacancy count announced in the notification. If LIC announces 800+ vacancies again, 2026 cutoffs would likely be in the same range as 2025. If vacancies contract to the 300 to 400 range (as in 2023), cutoffs would rise in competitive zones.
Within the Mains, each section has its own minimum qualifying mark. Failing any single section's minimum eliminates the candidate regardless of overall total. The approximate section-wise minimums for General category across recent cycles:
| Section Marks Available Approximate Minimum (General) | ||
| Reasoning Ability | 90 | 25 to 30 marks |
| General Knowledge and Current Affairs | 60 | 12 to 16 marks |
| Data Analysis and Interpretation | 90 | 22 to 28 marks |
| Insurance and Financial Market Awareness | 60 | 12 to 16 marks |
For SC/ST/PwBD candidates, sectional minimums are typically 5 marks lower than the General category threshold.
The Insurance and Financial Market Awareness sectional minimum is relatively low (12 to 16 marks), but since the section carries only 60 marks and candidates should be attempting all 30 questions (no negative marking), even candidates with modest insurance knowledge should exceed the sectional minimum. The competitive advantage in Insurance Awareness comes from scoring 40+ rather than just clearing the 12 to 16 minimum.
The South Zone (Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana) consistently produces the highest LIC AAO cutoffs. This reflects:
LIC allocates vacancies zone-wise based on its branch network requirements in each region. Zones with more vacancies relative to their applicant pool have lower effective cutoffs. The zone-wise vacancy breakdown is available in the official notification.
Because all candidates attempt all questions, score distributions are compressed toward the higher end compared to negative-marking exams. This means even small score differences (5 to 10 marks) can represent significant rank differences at the cutoff boundary.
The Insurance and Financial Market Awareness section is unique to LIC AAO. In cycles where more candidates prepare this section specifically (following expert guidance), the section becomes more competitive and the overall cutoff rises. In the 2025 cycle, this section was widely identified as the key differentiator.
| Zone Safe Preparation Target | |
| South Zone | 58 to 64 marks |
| North Zone | 54 to 60 marks |
| East Zone | 52 to 58 marks |
| West Zone | 54 to 60 marks |
| Central Zone | 51 to 57 marks |
These targets provide a 4 to 8-mark buffer above historical cutoffs in each zone.
| Zone Safe Preparation Target | |
| South Zone | 228 to 245 marks |
| North Zone | 212 to 228 marks |
| East Zone | 202 to 218 marks |
| West Zone | 207 to 223 marks |
| Central Zone | 197 to 213 marks |
| Section Available Marks Target Score | ||
| Reasoning Ability | 90 | 55 to 70 |
| General Knowledge | 60 | 36 to 46 |
| Data Analysis | 90 | 52 to 66 |
| Insurance Awareness | 60 | 38 to 50 |
The Insurance Awareness target of 38 to 50 requires deliberate preparation of insurance concepts, LIC products, IRDAI regulations, and government insurance schemes. Without specific insurance preparation, even strong GK candidates score only 20 to 28 in this section.
The LIC AAO Prelims Test Series on Aspirant Mitraa is calibrated to LIC AAO's no-negative-marking environment. Consistent scores on these mocks provide meaningful readiness signals:
| Consistent Prelims Mock Score (out of 70) Readiness Assessment | |
| Below 40 | Significant preparation gap; focus on Puzzles and DI fundamentals |
| 40 to 48 | Below safe zone; need 4 to 6 more weeks of targeted practice |
| 48 to 54 | Within competitive range for most zones except South |
| 54 to 60 | Safe zone for North, East, West, Central; approaching safe for South |
| Above 60 | Well-positioned for all zones including South Zone |
Use the LIC AAO Syllabus Tracker to ensure all Prelims and Mains topics are covered before benchmarking scores.
Why is the LIC AAO cutoff so high compared to IBPS PO? LIC AAO has no negative marking, so candidates attempt all questions rather than leaving uncertain ones blank. This pushes raw scores higher for the entire candidate pool, resulting in higher absolute cutoff numbers. A score of 55 out of 70 in LIC AAO Prelims reflects comparable performance to a 42 to 45 in a 70-mark negative-marking exam.
Which zone has the highest LIC AAO cutoff? The South Zone consistently records the highest cutoffs due to the highly competitive candidate pool from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Karnataka.
Is the cutoff different for Generalist and Specialist posts? Yes. Specialist post cutoffs are set separately from Generalist cutoffs and are applied only among candidates who applied for that specific specialist stream. Generalist and Specialist are not in competition with each other.
When is the LIC AAO cutoff released? The Prelims cutoff is released alongside the Prelims scorecard (typically within 2 to 3 weeks of the Prelims result). The Mains cutoff is released with or shortly after the Mains result. Official cutoffs are available on licindia.in.
Does the Descriptive Test mark count toward the final cutoff? No. The Descriptive Test is qualifying only. Its marks are not added to the final merit score. The final cutoff is based on the combined Mains Objective score and Interview score.