SSC Stenographer 2026 · Syllabus & exam pattern
SSC Stenographer Syllabus 2026 and Exam Pattern: Subject-wise Topics
SSC Stenographer selection: Computer-based exam (2 hours); Skill test in stenography (One 10-minute dictation in English or Hindi), as per the official notice published 24 April 2026.
Subjects, number of questions, marks, duration and negative marking for every stage, as printed in the official notice.
SSC Stenographer exam pattern 2026
Stages of selection
- 1Computer-based examination
- 2Skill test in stenography (mandatory, qualifying)
- 3Online option form and allocation on merit-cum-preference
- 4Document verification by the user departments after the final result
Computer-based exam
2 hours (sectional timer: 30 + 30 + 60 minutes)
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Part I: General Intelligence & Reasoning | 50 | 50 |
| Part II: General Awareness | 50 | 50 |
| Part III: English Language and Comprehension | 100 | 100 |
Negative marking: 0.25 per wrong answer. Questions are set in English and Hindi.
Skill test in stenography
One 10-minute dictation in English or Hindi
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Grade 'C': dictation at 100 w.p.m. | 1 dictation | Qualifying |
| Grade 'D': dictation at 80 w.p.m. | 1 dictation | Qualifying |
Transcription time: Grade 'C' 40 min (English) / 55 min (Hindi); Grade 'D' 50 min (English) / 65 min (Hindi).
Source: Stenographer Grade 'C' & 'D' Examination, 2026 — Notice (published 24 April 2026). Confirm in the official notice before applying.
Exam pattern, qualifying marks and final merit
The computer-based examination has 200 objective multiple-choice questions for 200 marks in 2 hours, with sectional timers of 30 minutes each for Parts I and II and 60 minutes for Part III. Questions are set in English and Hindi, and each wrong answer costs 0.25 marks. Candidates eligible for a scribe get 2 hours 40 minutes (40 + 40 + 80 minutes).
Where the exam runs in several shifts, marks are normalised using the procedure SSC published in its notice of 2 June 2025, and the normalised scores decide merit and cut-offs.
To be considered, you must reach the minimum qualifying marks in the computer-based exam: 30% for UR, 25% for OBC and EWS, and 20% for all other categories. Candidates are then shortlisted category-wise for the skill test on the basis of their marks.
The skill test carries no marks. Candidates who qualify it are considered for allocation and final selection on the basis of their computer-based exam merit, and posts and departments are allotted on merit-cum-preference from the online option form.
Computer-based exam
| Part | Subject | Questions | Marks | Sectional time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | General Intelligence & Reasoning | 50 | 50 | 30 minutes |
| II | General Awareness | 50 | 50 | 30 minutes |
| III | English Language and Comprehension | 100 | 100 | 60 minutes |
Total 200 questions, 200 marks, 2 hours. Negative marking 0.25 per wrong answer.
Tie-break order (equal aggregate marks)
| Order | Criterion |
|---|---|
| 1 | Marks in Part-III (English Language and Comprehension) |
| 2 | Marks in Part-II (General Awareness) |
| 3 | Date of birth — older candidate placed higher |
| 4 | Alphabetical order of names |
SSC Stenographer syllabus, part by part
The notice describes the syllabus in short paragraphs rather than long topic lists. English Language and Comprehension carries half of the total marks, so it deserves the most time.
Topics listed in the notice
| Part | Topics |
|---|---|
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | Verbal and non-verbal questions: analogies, similarities and differences, space visualisation, problem solving, analysis, judgement, decision making, visual memory, discriminating observation, relationship concepts, arithmetical reasoning, verbal and figure classification, arithmetical number series, non-verbal series; dealing with abstract ideas and symbols, arithmetical computation and other analytical functions |
| General Awareness | Awareness of the environment and its application to society, current events, everyday observation and experience in their scientific aspects; India and its neighbouring countries, especially sports, history, culture, geography, economic scene, general polity including the Indian Constitution, and scientific research. No special study of any discipline is needed. |
| English Language and Comprehension | Understanding of the English language, vocabulary, grammar, sentence structure, synonyms, antonyms and correct usage; writing ability |
Stenography skill test: speed and transcription time
Shortlisted candidates take one 10-minute dictation in English or Hindi, in the language they opted for in the application form. The speed is 100 words per minute for Grade 'C' and 80 words per minute for Grade 'D'. You then transcribe the matter on a computer within the time shown below.
Candidates who take the skill test in one language must learn stenography in the other language after appointment; the notice warns that otherwise probation may not be cleared.
The skill test is mandatory but qualifying. The Commission fixes category-wise qualifying standards for each post; the notice does not print the permitted errors and points to the standard evaluation instructions in the 'For Candidates' section of the SSC website.
Transcription time (minutes)
| Post | Language | Time | Time for scribe-eligible candidates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stenographer Grade 'D' | English | 50 | 70 |
| Stenographer Grade 'D' | Hindi | 65 | 90 |
| Stenographer Grade 'C' | English | 40 | 55 |
| Stenographer Grade 'C' | Hindi | 55 | 75 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the SSC Stenographer exam pattern?
Computer-based exam: Part I: General Intelligence & Reasoning, Part II: General Awareness, Part III: English Language and Comprehension (2 hours (sectional timer: 30 + 30 + 60 minutes)). Negative marking: 0.25 per wrong answer. Questions are set in English and Hindi. Skill test in stenography: Grade 'C': dictation at 100 w.p.m., Grade 'D': dictation at 80 w.p.m. (One 10-minute dictation in English or Hindi). Transcription time: Grade 'C' 40 min (English) / 55 min (Hindi); Grade 'D' 50 min (English) / 65 min (Hindi).
What is the dictation speed in the SSC Stenographer skill test?
100 words per minute for Grade 'C' and 80 words per minute for Grade 'D', in one 10-minute dictation in English or Hindi.
Is there negative marking in SSC Stenographer?
Yes, 0.25 marks for each wrong answer in the computer-based examination.
What are the minimum qualifying marks?
30% for UR, 25% for OBC and EWS and 20% for all other categories in the computer-based examination.
Do skill test marks count in the final merit?
No. The skill test is mandatory but qualifying; final selection is on computer-based exam merit among candidates who qualify the skill test.