SSC CGL Exam pattern 2025
The SSC CGL Exam Pattern for 2025 has been structured to assess candidates across multiple stages, each designed to test various skill sets. As per the revised exam pattern, the SSC CGL exam will now be conducted in two tiers i:e Tier 1, and Tier 2. The SSC CGL Tier 1 exam is mandatory for all aspirants and has not changed from the previous pattern, there has been a large-scale change in the SSC CGL Tier II Exam Pattern. The revised SSC CGL Tier 2 Exam is split into three papers which are called Paper-I, Paper-II, and Paper-III.
The detailed SSC CGL Exam Pattern is discussed in the successive paragraphs given below:
SSC CGL Tier-I Exam Pattern
SSC CGL Tier 1 has no changes; it is similar to the one that used to be in the previous years. CGL Tier 1 Exam will be conducted online comprising four sections with a total 100 MCQs for 200 marks. The entire exam has to be completed in 60 minutes or 1 hour. SSC CGL Tier 1 will be qualifying in nature and the marks obtained in this exam will not be counted in the final score.
The sections covered in the SSC CGL Tier I Exam are:
- General Intelligence & Reasoning
- General Awareness
- Quantitative Aptitude
- English Comprehension
Further details, regarding the individual number of questions and maximum marks allotted per section is given below:
Tier-I Examination pattern
Subject | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks | Time allowed |
General Intelligence and Reasoning | 25 | 50 | 1 hour (1hour and 20 minutes for the candidates eligible for scribe) |
General Awareness | 25 | 50 | |
Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 | |
English Comprehension | 25 | 50 |
Important points to note for Tier 1:
- Aspirants have to answer multiple choice questions, and the questions will be in Hindi and English (except for English Comprehension).
- There will be negative marking for each wrong answer. For each incorrect answer, 0.50 marks will be deducted.
- You should get the minimum qualifying SSC CGL Cut-off marks to appear for the Tier II exam.
SSC CGL Tier-2 Exam Pattern
The Tier 2 exam is also an objective (MCQ-based) test conducted online and divided into multiple papers based on the specific posts applied for. SSC CGL exam Tier II exam consists of Paper I, Paper II, and Paper III,
Paper I contains 150 MCQs (multiple-choice questions) for 450 marks whereas Paper II and Paper III has 100 questions for 200 marks (each paper). Out of these three papers, Paper-1 is compulsory for all the posts, while Paper-2 is on Statistics which is mandatory for the post of Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) and Paper-3 is on General Studies (Finance and Economics) which is for those people who have applied for the post of Assistant Auditor Officer / Assistant Accounts Officer.
SSC CGL Tier-2 Exam Pattern
The questions asked in the SSC CGL Tier-II Exam are from the following areas:
- Mathematical Abilities
- Reasoning and General Intelligence
- English Language and Comprehension
- General Awareness
- Statistics for JSO
- General Studies (Finance & Economics) for Accounts and Auditor posts
Tier-II Examination pattern
SSC CGL Tier-II Exam | No. of Questions | Total Marks | |
1 | Paper-I: Compulsory for all aspirants | 150 | 450 |
2 | Paper-II: Statistics | 100 | 200 |
3 | Paper-III: General Studies (Finance & Economics) | 100 | 200 |
SSC CGL Tier-II Examination Breakup
Detailed exam pattern for the SSC CGL Tier II exam of Paper I, Paper II, and Paper III is given below
SSC CGL Tier 2 Paper 1 Exam Pattern
Session | Section | Paper 1 SSC CGL Tier II Exam | No. of Questions | Total Marks |
Session I (2 hours and 15 minutes) | Section I (1 hour) | Module-I: Mathematical Abilities | 30 | 90 |
Module-II: Reasoning and General Intelligence. | 30 | 90 | ||
Section II (1 hour) | Module-I: English Language and Comprehension | 45 | 135 | |
Module-II: General Awareness | 25 | 75 | ||
Section-III (15 minutes) 20 mins for those eligible for scribe | Module-I: Computer Knowledge Module | 20 | 60 | |
Session II (15 minutes) | Section-III (15 minutes) 20 mins for those eligible for scribe | Module-II: | One Data Entry Task |
|
SSC CGL Tier 2 Paper 2 Exam Pattern
Paper | Paper 1 SSC CGL Tier II Exam | No. of Questions | Total Marks | Time |
Paper 2 | Statistics | 100 | 200 | 2 hours and for all those who are eligible for scribe the time is 2 hrs and 40 mins |
SSC CGL Tier 2 Paper 3 Exam Pattern
Paper | Paper 1 SSC CGL Tier II Exam | No. of Questions | Total Marks | Time |
Paper 3 | General Studies (Finance & Economics) | 100 | 200 | 2 hours and for all those who are eligible for scribe the time is 2 hrs and 40 mins |
Important Point regarding Tier 2:
- Tier II will include conducting Paper-I, Paper-II, and Paper-III in separate shift(s)/ day(s).
- Paper I of SSC CGL tier-II is compulsory for all posts.
- Paper II is given by candidates who applied for the posts of Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) in the Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation and Statistical Investigator who will be a Grade-II officer in the office of Registrar General, India.
- Also, Paper III needs to be given by candidates who are shortlisted in tier-I for the posts of Assistant Audit Officer/ Assistant Accounts Officer.
- Paper I will be conducted in two sessions – Session I & Session II, on the same day. Session I will include conducting Section I, Section II, and Module I of Section III. Session II will include conducting Module II of Section III. Therefore, the duration of Session I will be 2 hours and 15 minutes, and the duration of Session II will be 15 minutes only.
- It will be mandatory for the candidates to qualify all the sections of Paper-I.
- There will be a negative marking of 1 mark for each wrong answer in Section-I, Section-II, and Module-I of Section-III of Paper-I and of 0.50 marks for each wrong answer in Paper-II and Paper-III.
SSC CGL Tier-2 Module-I of Section-III of Paper-I
Computer Knowledge Test is mandatory but qualifying in nature. However, while shortlisting the candidates for the posts where Computer Proficiency is prescribed for under mentioned posts higher qualifying standards will be set in comparison to other posts.
- Assistant Section Officer in CSS
- MEA & AFHQ
- Assistant in Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs
- Assistant (GSI) in the Ministry of Mines
- Assistant in Indian Meteorological Department (Ministry of Earth Sciences)
- Inspector (CGST &Central Excise)
- Inspector (Preventive Officer) & Inspector (Examiner) in CBIC
- Postal Assistant/ Sorting Assistant in Department of Post
SSC CGL Tier-2 Exam Pattern Module-II of Section-III of Paper-I
SSC CGL Tier-II exam Data Entry Skill Test (DEST) will be conducted on the same day in Session II for a duration of 15 minutes. OH candidates are eligible for exemption from attempting DEST.
DEST (Data Entry Skill Test) test is conducted for a passage of 2000 words in 15 minutes on a computer in English. DEST will be mandatory for all the posts; however, it will be qualifying in nature.
SSC CGL Exams Related Links
Read More Articles:
- SSC CGL Tier 1 preparation Tips
- SSC CGL Tier 2 Preparation strategy
- Quantitative Aptitude Preparation tips for the SBI / IBPS PO and Clerk Exams
- Reasoning Tips and Tricks for Bank Exams (SBI/IBPS/RBI)
Frequently Asked Question about SSC CGL Exam Pattern
Ans1. There is a specific exam-conducting body in the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) which is responsible for making decisions regarding the SSC CGL exam pattern.
Ans2. Wef from 2022, only two tiers of exams will be conducted. SSC CGL tier-I exam holds a weightage of 200 marks. While the tier-II and III exams hold a weightage of 800
Ans3. SSC CGL tier-I and tier-II are both objective questions. Whereas, skill test which is conducted to test the data entry speed or computer proficiency skills of candidates.
Ans4. Time duration varies from exam to exam in SSC CGL exams. Firstly, SSC CGL tier-I is of one hour duration. Secondly, SSC CGL tier-II contains four papers, where each paper is of two hours duration. Lastly, DEST is for 15 min duration.
Ans5.
As per latest ssc cgl notification. There are total four areas that needs to be studied in SSC CGL tier-II exam. Syllabus for exam is given below:
- Quantitative Ability
- General Studies
- Computers
- Statistics
- General Studies (Finance & Economics)
English Language & Comprehension
Ans6. SSC CGL exam is conducted in phase manner, Candidates write each exam one by one and go to the next exams. It may be noted that the Paper-I and II of SSC CGL tier-II exam are mandatory for all candidates. While Paper-III and IV completely depends on the post that is applied by a candidate.
Ans7. Yes, there is negative marking of 0.50 marks in SSC CGL tier-I. At the same time there is negative marking of 0.50 marks you have negative marking in tier-II paper-I.
Ans8. Both the SSC CGL Tier-I and Tier-II are conducted in online mode.
