OverviewSSC CGL at a glance
Conducting body
Staff Selection Commission (SSC).
Purpose
Recruitment of graduates to Group B and Group C posts in ministries, departments and organisations of the Government of India.
Question type
Objective multiple-choice questions in a Computer-Based Test (CBT). Negative marking applies.
Tiers
Two computer-based tiers — Tier 1 and Tier 2.
Medium
English and Hindi (except the English Comprehension section).
StagesSelection stages
Tier 1 — CBT
A common qualifying-cum-screening test for all candidates and all posts.
Tier 2 — CBT
Paper 1 is taken by everyone; Paper 2 (Statistics) is for Junior Statistical Officer and Paper 3 (General Studies — Finance & Economics) is for Assistant Audit/Accounts Officer. Tier 2 also includes a Data Entry Speed Test and a computer-knowledge module.
Document Verification & final posting
Final selection and post allocation are based on the Tier 2 marks and document verification, as per the year's notice.
Tier 1Tier 1 Exam Pattern
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 25 | 50 |
| General Awareness | 25 | 50 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 |
| English Comprehension | 25 | 50 |
| Total | 100 | 200 |
Duration & negative marking
60 minutes (80 minutes for eligible scribe users). Negative marking of 0.50 marks for every wrong answer. Practice SSC CGL questions →
Tier 2Tier 2 Exam Pattern (Paper 1)
Module structure
Paper 1 is taken by all candidates and is organised into modules: Mathematical Abilities and Reasoning & General Intelligence (Session 1), then English Language & Comprehension and General Awareness, plus a Computer Knowledge module and a Data Entry Speed Test.
Marks & negative marking
Each MCQ generally carries 3 marks, with negative marking that differs by module (commonly 1 mark per wrong answer in the MCQ sections). The Computer module is qualifying and the Data Entry Speed Test is a skill check. Confirm the exact marks and timing in the current official notice.
Specialised papers
Paper 2 — Statistics (for Junior Statistical Officer). Paper 3 — General Studies (Finance & Economics) for Assistant Audit/Accounts Officer.
SyllabusSection-wise syllabus
General Intelligence & Reasoning
Analogies, classification, series, coding-decoding, blood relations, direction sense, syllogism, non-verbal reasoning, Venn diagrams and problem-solving.
General Awareness
Current affairs, history, geography, Indian polity, economy, general science, static GK, important schemes, awards and sports.
Quantitative Aptitude
Number system, percentage, ratio & proportion, average, profit & loss, time-speed-distance, time & work, algebra, geometry, mensuration, trigonometry and data interpretation.
English Language & Comprehension
Reading comprehension, fill in the blanks, synonyms/antonyms, spelling, idioms & phrases, one-word substitution, sentence improvement, error spotting and cloze test.
PostsPosts & eligibility
Popular posts
Assistant Section Officer, Inspector (Income Tax / CGST & Central Excise), Assistant Audit/Accounts Officer, Sub-Inspector (CBI/NIA), Junior Statistical Officer, Auditor, Accountant and Tax Assistant.
Educational qualification
A bachelor's degree from a recognised university (some posts, like JSO and Statistical Investigator, have specific maths/statistics requirements).
Age limit
Generally between 18 and 32 years depending on the post, with relaxations for reserved categories as per government norms.
StrategyHow to prepare for SSC CGL
1. Strengthen Quantitative Aptitude & Reasoning
These two sections decide most selections — practise daily for speed and accuracy. Start free practice →
2. Build General Awareness with current affairs
Maintain a daily current-affairs note plus static GK (history, geography, polity, economy, science) and revise weekly.
3. Read English daily
Grow vocabulary, master grammar rules and practise reading comprehension and cloze tests.
4. Take timed mock tests
Simulate the 60-minute Tier 1; because of negative marking, attempt only what you are confident about and learn to skip traps.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the SSC CGL Tier 1 exam pattern?
- 100 questions for 200 marks in 60 minutes — four sections of 25 questions each (Reasoning, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, English), with 0.50 negative marking per wrong answer.
- How many tiers does SSC CGL have now?
- Two — Tier 1 and Tier 2, both computer-based. Confirm the current scheme in the official notice.
- Is there negative marking in SSC CGL?
- Yes — 0.50 marks per wrong answer in Tier 1, and module-wise negative marking in Tier 2.
- What is the eligibility for SSC CGL?
- A bachelor's degree, with an age limit (generally 18–32) that depends on the post.
This page summarises the SSC CGL syllabus and exam pattern for quick revision. The tier scheme, marks, negative marking and post list follow the SSC framework but change between notices — always confirm the latest details and dates from the official SSC notification (ssc.gov.in) before applying.