SSC CPO 2026 Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme

From the official Staff Selection Commission (SSC), Government of India documents · last checked 8 October 2026

Paper-I (all posts)

Computer Based Examination (online, objective multiple-choice questions) · 1 hour. Each of the 4 parts has its own 15-minute timer.

SectionQuestionsMarks
Part I: General Intelligence and Reasoning2525
Part II: General Knowledge and General Awareness2525
Part III: Quantitative Aptitude2525
Part IV: English Comprehension2525
Total100100

Marking: 1 mark for each correct answer (25 marks for 25 questions). 0.25 mark is cut for each wrong answer.

  • New in 2026: Paper-I is now 100 questions for 100 marks in 1 hour. In CPO 2025 it was 200 questions for 200 marks in 2 hours. So old cut-offs (out of 200) cannot be compared directly.
  • Questions come in Hindi and English in Parts I, II and III. Part IV is in English.
  • Minimum qualifying marks (without NCC bonus): UR 30%, OBC/EWS 25%, all other categories 20%.
  • Paper-I marks (plus NCC bonus) are used to shortlist candidates for PST/PET. SSC may fix different cut-offs for each part of Paper-I.
  • If the exam runs in many shifts, marks are normalized using SSC's method notified on 2 June 2025.
  • NCC certificate holders get bonus marks added to their normalized score: 5% of maximum marks for a 'C' certificate, 3% for 'B' and 2% for 'A'.

Physical Standard Test (PST) and Physical Endurance Test (PET)

Physical tests conducted by the CAPFs (qualifying only) · Each event has a time limit or 3 chances, as listed below

SectionQuestionsMarks
Men: 100 metre race in 16 seconds——
Men: 1.6 km race in 6.5 minutes——
Men: Long jump 3.65 metres (3 chances)——
Men: High jump 1.2 metres (3 chances)——
Men: Shot put (16 lbs) 4.5 metres (3 chances)——
Women: 100 metre race in 18 seconds——
Women: 800 metre race in 4 minutes——
Women: Long jump 2.7 metres (3 chances)——
Women: High jump 0.9 metre (3 chances)——

Marking: No marks. PST and PET are pass/fail only. You must pass them to sit Paper-II.

  • Height for men (SI in Delhi Police and CAPFs): 170 cm. 165 cm for men from the hill areas of Garhwal, Kumaon and Himachal Pradesh, Dogras, Marathas, Kashmir Valley, Leh & Ladakh, the North-Eastern States and Sikkim (Gorkhas are also in this group for Delhi Police). 162.5 cm for Scheduled Tribe men. For CAPFs only: 157 cm for Gorkha men and for ST men of the North-Eastern States.
  • Chest for men: 80 cm unexpanded and 85 cm expanded (77 cm and 82 cm for ST men).
  • Height for women: 157 cm. 155 cm for women from the hill areas and regions listed above (including Gorkhas). 154 cm for ST women. There is no chest requirement for women.
  • SI (Fire) in CISF (men only): 170 cm with chest 81/86 cm; 165 cm with chest 81/86 cm for hill areas, Gorkhas, Dogras, Marathas, Sikkimese, Leh & Ladakh, Kashmir Valley and North-Eastern States; 162.5 cm with chest 77/82 cm for ST men (including Mizos and Nagas).
  • Weight must be in proportion to height.
  • To get a height or chest relaxation you must show the certificate in Annexure-VIII from your district's competent authority.
  • Ex-servicemen do not take the PET, but they must pass the PST.
  • If you fail on height or chest, you can appeal to the appellate authority at the PST/PET ground. Its decision is final.

Paper-II (only for candidates who pass PST/PET)

Computer Based Examination (objective multiple-choice questions) · 2 hours in total. Parts I–III together take 1 hour (20-minute timer for each part). Part IV (English) takes 1 hour.

SectionQuestionsMarks
Part I: General Intelligence and Reasoning2040
Part II: General Knowledge and General Awareness2040
Part III: Quantitative Aptitude2040
Part IV: English Comprehension100200
Total160320

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

  • New in 2026: Paper-II now has four parts. In CPO 2025 it was only English Language and Comprehension (200 questions, 200 marks, 2 hours).
  • Questions come in Hindi and English in Parts I, II and III. Part IV is in English.
  • The difficulty level of Paper-II is higher than Paper-I.
  • Minimum qualifying marks (without NCC bonus): UR 30%, OBC/EWS 25%, all other categories 20%.
  • Paper-II marks (plus NCC bonus) are used to call candidates for the medical exam (DME). Document verification is done by the CAPFs, usually with the medical exam.
  • Final selection and post allotment are made on Paper-II marks (plus NCC bonus) and the post preferences you give in the online option form after the Paper-II result.
  • If two or more candidates have equal total marks in Paper-I + Paper-II, SSC breaks the tie by Paper-II total, then English marks in Paper-II, then date of birth (older first), then alphabetical order of names.

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Official sources