SSC CGL 2026 Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme

From the official Staff Selection Commission (SSC), Government of India documents · last checked 1 October 2026

Tier-I (all posts)

Computer Based Examination (online, objective multiple-choice questions) · 1 hour. Each of the 4 sections has its own 15-minute timer. Candidates eligible for a scribe get 1 hour 20 minutes (20 minutes per section).

SectionQuestionsMarks
General Intelligence and Reasoning2550
General Awareness2550
Quantitative Aptitude2550
English Comprehension2550
Total100200

Marking: 2 marks for each correct answer (50 marks for 25 questions). 0.50 mark is cut for each wrong answer.

  • Questions come in English and Hindi, except the English Comprehension section.
  • Minimum qualifying marks: UR 30%, OBC/EWS 25%, all other categories 20%.
  • Tier-I is for shortlisting only. Its marks are not added to the final merit list.
  • SSC fixes separate Tier-I cut-offs for (a) JSO and Statistical Investigator Grade-II, (b) Assistant Audit Officer and Assistant Accounts Officer, and (c) all other posts.
  • If the exam runs in many shifts, marks are normalized using SSC's published method.
  • Reasoning, General Awareness and English questions are at graduation level. Quantitative Aptitude questions are at Class 10 level.

Tier-II Paper-I (compulsory for all posts)

Computer Based Examination (objective MCQs, plus one typing task) · Session-I: 2 hours 15 minutes (Section-I 1 hour, Section-II 1 hour, Section-III 15 minutes). Session-II: 15 minutes for the Data Entry Speed Test, on the same day. Scribe-eligible candidates get extra time.

SectionQuestionsMarks
Section-I A: Mathematical Abilities3090
Section-I B: Reasoning and General Intelligence3090
Section-II A: English Language and Comprehension45135
Section-II B: General Awareness2575
Section-III: Computer Knowledge Test (qualifying only)2060
Section-IV: Data Entry Speed Test (qualifying only)——
Total150450

Marking: 3 marks for each correct answer. 1 mark is cut for each wrong answer in Sections I, II and III.

  • Section-I has a 30-minute timer for each subject. Section-II gives 40 minutes for English and 20 minutes for General Awareness.
  • You must qualify every section of Paper-I separately.
  • Only Sections I and II (390 marks) count for merit. Sections III and IV are qualifying only.
  • Data Entry Speed Test: type a passage of about 2,000 key presses in 15 minutes. Maximum errors allowed: UR 20%, OBC/EWS 25%, others 30%.
  • Some posts (for example ASO in CSS/MEA/AFHQ, CBIC Inspectors and Executive Assistant, Postal/Sorting Assistant, Tax Assistant) need higher qualifying standards in the computer test and/or typing test.
  • Mathematics is at Class 10 level and English at Class 12 level.
  • The final merit list is made from Tier-II marks only.

Tier-II Paper-II: Statistics (only for JSO and Statistical Investigator Grade-II)

Computer Based Examination (objective MCQs) · 2 hours (2 hours 40 minutes for scribe-eligible candidates)

SectionQuestionsMarks
Statistics100200
Total100200

Marking: 2 marks for each correct answer. 0.50 mark is cut for each wrong answer.

  • Only candidates who applied for these posts and are shortlisted for them in Tier-I take this paper.
  • Merit for these posts uses Paper-I Sections I and II plus Paper-II.
  • Questions are at graduation level.

Tier-II Paper-III: General Studies (Finance and Economics) (only for Assistant Audit Officer and Assistant Accounts Officer)

Computer Based Examination (objective MCQs) · 2 hours (2 hours 40 minutes for scribe-eligible candidates)

SectionQuestionsMarks
Part A: Finance and Accounts—80
Part B: Economics and Governance—120
Total100200

Marking: 2 marks for each correct answer. 0.50 mark is cut for each wrong answer.

  • Only candidates shortlisted in Tier-I for these posts take this paper.
  • Merit for these posts uses Paper-I Sections I and II plus Paper-III.
  • Questions are at graduation level.

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