SSC Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2026: Tier 1 & 2 Marking Scheme, Sectional Topics PDF

Candidates aspiring to clear national recruitments conducted by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) must master the modernized examination schemes and topic-wise syllabi. With the rollout of the upgraded Computer Based Examination (CBE) architecture on ssc.gov.in, SSC examinations—most notably SSC CGL (Combined Graduate Level), SSC CHSL (10+2), SSC CPO, and SSC MTS—demand targeted preparation across quantitative aptitude, reasoning, English language comprehension, general awareness, and computer literacy. For active recruitment announcements and notification PDFs, visit our comprehensive SSC Recruitment 2026 Hub.

SSC CGL Exam Pattern Overview (Tier-I & Tier-II)

The SSC CGL examination is structured into two sequential stages: Tier-I (qualifying screening test) and Tier-II (merit formulation test). Both tiers are administered exclusively as Computer Based Tests (CBT).

1. Tier-I Computer Based Examination Pattern

2. Tier-II Computer Based Examination Pattern (Merit-Determining)

Tier-II is the decisive phase for final merit rankings across Assistant Section Officer, GST Inspector, Income Tax Inspector, and Auditor cadres:

• Paper-I (Compulsory for all posts): Divided into two sessions conducted on the same day:
  • Session-I (2 Hours 15 Minutes):
    • Section-I (1 Hour): Module-I Mathematical Abilities (30 Questions, 90 Marks) + Module-II Reasoning & General Intelligence (30 Questions, 90 Marks). Total 60 Questions, 180 Marks.
    • Section-II (1 Hour): Module-I English Language & Comprehension (45 Questions, 135 Marks) + Module-II General Awareness (25 Questions, 75 Marks). Total 70 Questions, 210 Marks.
    • Section-III (15 Minutes): Module-I Computer Knowledge Test (20 Questions, 60 Marks, Qualifying in nature with higher cutoffs for specific posts).
  • Session-II (15 Minutes): Data Entry Speed Test (DEST) requiring 2,000 key depressions on computer (Qualifying).
• Paper-II (Statistics): For Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) posts (100 Questions, 200 Marks, 2 Hours).

Negative Marking in Tier-II: Each question in Sections I, II, and Module-I of Section-III carries 3 marks. Each incorrect answer incurs a penalty of 1 mark (33.33% penalty).

Section-Wise Syllabus Breakdown

1. Mathematical Abilities & Quantitative Aptitude

• Arithmetic: Number Systems, LCM & HCF, Percentages, Ratio & Proportion, Square roots, Averages, Simple & Compound Interest, Profit & Loss, Discount, Partnership Business, Mixture & Alligation, Time and Distance, Time & Work.
• Algebra: Basic algebraic identities of School Algebra, Elementary surds, Graphs of Linear Equations.
• Geometry: Familiarity with elementary geometric figures and facts: Triangle and its centers, Congruence and similarity of triangles, Circle and its chords, tangents, angles subtended by chords.
• Mensuration: Triangle, Quadrilaterals, Regular Polygons, Right Prism, Right Circular Cone, Right Circular Cylinder, Sphere, Hemispheres, Rectangular Parallelepiped, Regular Right Pyramid.
• Trigonometry: Trigonometric ratios, Degree and Radian Measures, Standard Identities, Heights and Distances.
• Statistics & Probability: Mean, Median, Mode, Standard Deviation, Calculation of simple probabilities.

2. Reasoning & General Intelligence

• Verbal Reasoning: Analogies, Similarities and differences, Space visualization, Spatial orientation, Problem solving, Analysis, Judgment, Decision making, Visual memory, Discrimination, Observation, Relationship concepts, Arithmetical reasoning, Figural classification, Arithmetic number series, Non-verbal series, Coding and decoding, Statement conclusion, Syllogistic reasoning.
• Non-Verbal Reasoning: Paper folding, Paper cutting, Cube and Dice, Embedded figures, Figure completion, Mirror & Water images.

3. English Language & Comprehension

• Vocabulary, Grammar, Sentence structure, Spot the Error, Fill in the Blanks, Synonyms/Homonyms, Antonyms, Spellings/Detecting mis-spelt words, Idioms & Phrases, One word substitution, Improvement of Sentences, Active/Passive Voice of Verbs, Conversion into Direct/Indirect narration, Shuffling of Sentence parts, Shuffling of Sentences in a passage, Cloze Passage, Reading Comprehension passages.

4. General Awareness & Computer Knowledge

• General Awareness: History, Culture, Geography, Economic Scene, General Policy & Scientific Research, Current National and International Affairs, Environmental ecology.
• Computer Knowledge Module: Computer Basics (CPU, memory, input/output devices, Windows OS basics), Software (MS Word, MS Excel, PowerPoint), Working with Internet and e-mails, Networking and cyber security (Viruses, Worms, Trojans, Firewalls).