SSC CGL — Exam Pattern, Syllabus & Free Mocks
SSC Combined Graduate Level
SSC CGL recruits graduates for Group B and Group C posts in ministries, departments and organisations of the Government of India — from Inspector and Assistant Audit Officer to Tax Assistant. Selection runs through a computer-based Tier I (qualifying) and a Tier II that decides the merit, with Tier II covering Mathematical Abilities, Reasoning, English, General Awareness, Computer Knowledge and a Data Entry/Statistics module for specific posts.
SSC CGL exam pattern
Tier I: 0.50 per wrong answer. Tier II: 1.00 per wrong answer (0.25 in the Computer module).
Tier I
100 questions · 200 marks · 60 minutes| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 25 | 50 | — |
| General Awareness | 25 | 50 | — |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 | — |
| English Comprehension | 25 | 50 | — |
Tier II (Paper I)
150 questions · 450 marks · 2 hr 30 min (per session)| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematical Abilities + Reasoning | 60 | 180 | 1 hr |
| English + General Awareness | 70 | 210 | 1 hr |
| Computer Knowledge Module | 20 | 60 | 15 min |
SSC CGL syllabus
Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Mensuration, Trigonometry, Data Interpretation
Analogy, Classification, Series, Coding-Decoding, Non-verbal reasoning
Reading Comprehension, Grammar, Vocabulary, Synonyms/Antonyms, Error Spotting
History, Geography, Polity, Economics, Science, Current affairs
SSC CGL mock tests
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Open the SSC form tool →SSC CGL — frequently asked questions
What is the SSC CGL exam pattern?+
Tier I is a 60-minute computer-based test of 100 questions for 200 marks across Reasoning, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude and English (25 questions each). Tier II is the merit-deciding stage with Mathematical Abilities, Reasoning, English, General Awareness, a Computer Knowledge module and, for some posts, a Data Entry/Statistics paper.
Is there negative marking in SSC CGL?+
Yes. Tier I deducts 0.50 mark per wrong answer. Tier II deducts 1 mark per wrong answer, except the Computer Knowledge module which deducts 0.25.
Is SSC CGL Tier I qualifying?+
Tier I is used to shortlist candidates for Tier II; the final merit is prepared from Tier II marks.
Exam patterns follow the latest official notification and can change each cycle — always confirm details on the official Staff Selection Commission website. Prep247 is not affiliated with or endorsed by Staff Selection Commission.