SSC CGL 2026 · Syllabus & exam pattern
SSC CGL Syllabus 2026 and Exam Pattern: Subject-wise Topics
Subjects, number of questions, marks, duration and negative marking for every stage, as printed in the official notice.
SSC CGL exam pattern 2026
Stages of selection
- 1Tier-I: computer-based test (qualifying/shortlisting)
- 2Tier-II: computer-based test (Paper-I for all posts; Paper-II for JSO; Paper-III for specified posts)
- 3Document verification and post preference
Tier-I
1 hour (15-minute sectional timer)
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence and Reasoning | 25 | 50 |
| General Awareness | 25 | 50 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 |
| English Comprehension | 25 | 50 |
Negative marking: 0.50 per wrong answer.
Tier-II, Paper-I (compulsory)
Session-I 2 h 15 min; Session-II 15 min
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Section I: Mathematical Abilities + Reasoning | 30 + 30 | 180 |
| Section II: English Language + General Awareness | 45 + 25 | 210 |
| Section III: Computer Knowledge Test | 20 | 60 |
| Section IV: Data Entry Speed Test | 1 task | Qualifying |
Negative marking: 1 mark per wrong answer in Sections I–III.
Tier-II, Paper-II and Paper-III
2 hours each
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper-II: Statistics (JSO shortlisted only) | 100 | 200 |
| Paper-III: General Studies (Finance and Economics) | 100 | 200 |
Source: Combined Graduate Level Examination, 2026 — Notice (published 21 May 2026). Confirm in the official notice before applying.
Negative marking, qualifying marks and final merit
Tier-I has 100 questions for 200 marks in one hour, with negative marking of 0.50 per wrong answer. In Tier-II Paper-I, each wrong answer costs 1 mark in Sections I, II and III; Paper-II (Statistics) and Paper-III (General Studies — Finance and Economics) deduct 0.50 per wrong answer. Questions are in English and Hindi, except the English sections. Where a paper runs in several shifts, scores are normalised using the procedure SSC notified on 2 June 2025.
Minimum qualifying marks apply in Tier-I and in Sections I, II and III of Tier-II Paper-I: 30% for UR, 25% for OBC and EWS, and 20% for all other categories. From Tier-I, candidates are shortlisted category-wise for Tier-II, with separate cut-offs for JSO/Statistical Investigator Grade-II, for AAO/AAO-State and for all other posts.
Tier-I marks do not count in the final merit; the merit list is built on Tier-II alone, and which parts count depends on the post.
Exam pattern
| Paper / section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier-I (Reasoning, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, English — 25 each) | 100 | 200 | 1 hour |
| Tier-II Paper-I, Section-I: Mathematical Abilities + Reasoning | 30 + 30 | 180 | 1 hour |
| Tier-II Paper-I, Section-II: English + General Awareness | 45 + 25 | 210 | 1 hour |
| Tier-II Paper-I, Section-III: Computer Knowledge Test | 20 | 60 | 15 minutes |
| Tier-II Paper-I, Section-IV: Data Entry Speed Test | 1 task | Qualifying | 15 minutes |
| Tier-II Paper-II: Statistics | 100 | 200 | 2 hours |
| Tier-II Paper-III: General Studies (Finance and Economics) | 100 | 200 | 2 hours |
Tier-I allows 15 minutes per subject; scribe candidates get 1 hour 20 minutes.
What decides final merit
| Posts | Marks counted | Must also qualify |
|---|---|---|
| JSO and Statistical Investigator Grade-II | Sections I & II of Paper-I + Paper-II | Sections III & IV of Paper-I |
| AAO and AAO-State | Sections I & II of Paper-I + Paper-III | Section-III of Paper-I |
| Posts where DEST is prescribed | Sections I & II of Paper-I | Section-III at normal standard, Section-IV at higher standard |
| Posts where computer proficiency is prescribed | Sections I & II of Paper-I | Sections III & IV at higher standard |
| All other posts | Sections I & II of Paper-I only | Sections III & IV of Paper-I |
SSC CGL syllabus, topic by topic
Tier-I's Reasoning, General Awareness and English parts are set at graduation level, while Quantitative Aptitude is pitched at 10th standard. Tier-II Paper-I covers broadly the same subjects in more depth, plus a computer section.
Topics listed in the notice
| Paper / subject | Topics |
|---|---|
| Tier-I: General Intelligence and Reasoning | Verbal and non-verbal questions — analogies, classification, series, coding-decoding, Venn diagrams, critical thinking, emotional intelligence, social intelligence |
| Tier-I: General Awareness | Current events, everyday observation in a scientific sense, India and its neighbouring countries — history, culture, geography, economic scene, scientific research |
| Tier-I: Quantitative Aptitude | Whole numbers, decimals, fractions, percentage, ratio, averages, profit and loss, time and work, algebra, geometry, mensuration, trigonometry, histograms and pie charts |
| Tier-I: English Comprehension | Understanding correct English, basic comprehension and writing ability |
| Tier-II: Mathematical Abilities | Number systems, fundamental arithmetical operations, algebra, geometry, mensuration, trigonometry, statistics and probability, including use of tables and graphs |
| Tier-II: Reasoning and General Intelligence | Same verbal and non-verbal topic families as Tier-I |
| Tier-II: English Language and Comprehension | Grammar, vocabulary, error spotting, cloze passages; comprehension with one story-based and two current-affairs passages |
| Tier-II: General Awareness | Same scope as Tier-I |
| Tier-II: Computer Knowledge | Computer basics, Windows and MS Office, internet and e-mail, basics of networking and cyber security |
| Paper-II: Statistics | Collection and presentation of data, central tendency, dispersion, moments, correlation and regression, probability, distributions, sampling, statistical inference, analysis of variance, time series, index numbers |
| Paper-III Part A: Finance and Accounts (80 marks) | Accounting principles, journal and ledger, trial balance, final accounts, depreciation, accounts of non-profit organisations |
| Paper-III Part B: Economics and Governance (120 marks) | Comptroller & Auditor General of India, Finance Commission, microeconomics, Indian economy, money and banking, role of IT in governance |
Computer Knowledge Test and Data Entry Speed Test
Section-III (Computer Knowledge Test) and Section-IV (Data Entry Speed Test) of Tier-II Paper-I are compulsory for all posts but only qualifying. They do not add to your merit score, yet failing them blocks selection.
In the DEST you type a passage of about 2,000 key depressions in 15 minutes. Errors allowed are up to 20% for UR, 25% for OBC and EWS and 30% for other categories. Higher standards apply for posts where computer proficiency is prescribed, such as Assistant Section Officer in CSS, MEA and AFHQ, CBIC Inspectors and Executive Assistant, and Postal/Sorting Assistant.
PwBD-OH candidates can be exempted from attempting the DEST with a certificate from the competent medical authority, but not for posts where computer proficiency or DEST is prescribed — except Tax Assistant in CBDT, where the exemption is available.
Frequently asked questions
What is the SSC CGL exam pattern?
Tier-I: General Intelligence and Reasoning, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, English Comprehension (1 hour (15-minute sectional timer)). Negative marking: 0.50 per wrong answer. Tier-II, Paper-I (compulsory): Section I: Mathematical Abilities + Reasoning, Section II: English Language + General Awareness, Section III: Computer Knowledge Test, Section IV: Data Entry Speed Test (Session-I 2 h 15 min; Session-II 15 min). Negative marking: 1 mark per wrong answer in Sections I–III. Tier-II, Paper-II and Paper-III: Paper-II: Statistics (JSO shortlisted only), Paper-III: General Studies (Finance and Economics) (2 hours each)
Is there negative marking in SSC CGL?
Yes: 0.50 per wrong answer in Tier-I; 1 mark per wrong answer in Sections I–III of Tier-II Paper-I; and 0.50 in Paper-II and Paper-III.
What are the minimum qualifying marks in SSC CGL?
30% for UR, 25% for OBC and EWS and 20% for other categories, in Tier-I and in Sections I, II and III of Tier-II Paper-I.
Do Tier-I marks count in the final merit?
No. Final merit is based on Tier-II; Tier-I is used to shortlist candidates for Tier-II.
Who must take Paper-II and Paper-III?
Paper-II (Statistics) counts for JSO and Statistical Investigator Grade-II; Paper-III (Finance and Economics) counts for Assistant Audit Officer and Assistant Accounts Officer.