SSC CGL Exam Pattern 2026
SSC CGL is the 2 tier examination. Tier 1 and Tier 2: Both exams are the CBT (Computer-Based Tests).
SSC CGL Tier 1 Exam Pattern 2026
SSC CGL Tier 1 is a qualifying exam conducted to shortlist students for Tier 2. If a student passes Tier 1, then they become eligible to appear in Tier 2, and their marks will not be counted in the final merit.
It is an online computer-based exam and contains 100 multiple-choice questions carrying a total of 200 marks. Tier 1 includes four subjects and each subject contains 25 questions for 50 marks. Total exam duration is 1 hour, with a sectional timer of 15 minutes for each section. For PwBD candidates, exam duration is 1 hour 20 minutes. There is also a negative marking of 0.50 marks for every wrong answer.
| Subject | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| A. General Intelligence & Reasoning | 25 | 50 | 15 Minutes |
| B. General Awareness | 25 | 50 | 15 Minutes |
| C. Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 | 15 Minutes |
| D. English Comprehension | 25 | 50 | 15 Minutes |
| Total | 100 | 200 | 60 Minutes |
Exam Duration:
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SSC CGL Tier 2 Exam Pattern 2026
SSC CGL Tier 2 Exam is the most important phase in the selection process because the final merit list is based only on Tier 2 marks, and rank and post allocation are based.
SSC CGL Tier 2 consists of different papers depending on the post applied for. Paper 1 is compulsory for all, & Paper 2 and Paper 3 are only for certain posts.
SSC CGL Tier 2 Papers
| Paper | Applicable For | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | Compulsory for all posts | 2 Hours 30 Minutes |
| Paper 2 (Statistics) | Junior Statistical Officer (JSO), Statistical Investigator Grade-II | 2 Hours |
| Paper 3 (Finance & Economics) | Assistant Audit Officer (AAO), Assistant Accounts Officer (AAO) | 2 Hours |
Paper-I (Compulsory for all Posts)
| Section | Subject | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section I(Session-I) | Mathematical Abilities | 30 | 90 (3 marks each) | 1 hour (20 minutes extra for PwBD) |
| Reasoning and General Intelligence | 30 | 90 (3 marks each) | ||
| Section II (Session-I) | English Language & Comprehension (Part A) | 45 | 135 (3 marks each) | 1 hour (20 minutes extra for PwBD) |
| General Awareness (Part B) | 25 | 75 (3 marks each) | ||
| Section III (Session-I) | Computer Knowledge Test (CKT) — Qualifying | 20 | 60 (3 marks each) | 15 mins (5 minutes extra for PwBD) |
| Section-IV (Session-II) | Data Entry Speed Test (DEST) — Qualifying (~2000 key depressions) | — | — | 15 mins (5 minutes extra for PwBD) |
- Session I includes Section I, Section II, and Section III with a total duration of 2 hours 15 minutes.
- Section-I (Maths + Reasoning) → 1 hour
- Section-II (English + General Awareness) → 1 hour
- Section-III (Computer Knowledge Test) → 15 minutes
- Each section closes automatically after its allotted time ends.
- After Session I, candidates get a break for re-registration.
- Session-II contains only Section-IV (Data Entry Speed Test) and lasts 15 minutes. After this, Paper-I is completed.
Paper-II (For JSO/SI Grade-II)
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statistics | 100 | 200 (2 marks each) | 2 hours (40 minutes extra for PwBD) |
Paper-III (For AAO/AAO)
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Studies (Finance & Economics) | 100 | 200 (2 marks each) | 2 hours (40 minutes extra for PwBD) |
- Paper-I (Sections I, II, III): -1 mark per wrong answer.
- Paper-II and Paper-III: -0.50 marks per wrong answer.
Important Points About Tier 2
- Final selection is based only on Tier 2 marks.
- Tier 1 is only a qualifying/screening stage.
- Paper 1 is compulsory for all candidates.
- Paper 2 is only for JSO and Statistical Investigator posts.
- Paper 3 is only for AAO/AAO posts.
- Computer Knowledge Test (CKT) and DEST are qualifying in nature.
Minimum Qualifying Marks (All Tiers)
Candidates must score the minimum qualifying marks decided by SSC.
| Category | Minimum Marks |
|---|---|
| UR (General) | 30% |
| OBC / EWS | 25% |
| SC / ST / PwBD / ESM | 20% |
DEST Error Percentage Allowed
| Category | Maximum Permissible Error |
|---|---|
| UR | 20% |
| OBC / EWS | 25% |
| Other Categories | 30% |
SSC CGL Tie-Breaking Rule
If two candidates score equal marks in Tier 2, SSC uses the following tie-breaking method:
- Higher marks in Paper 3/Paper 2 (for AAO/JSO posts)
- Higher marks in Section I of Paper 1
- Older candidate gets higher rank
- Alphabetical order of candidate names
Final Merit in SSC CGL
The final SSC CGL merit list is prepared completely on the basis of Tier 2 performance. Candidates scoring higher marks in Tier 2 generally get better posts and departments according to their preferences and cutoff ranks.