SSC CGL — Syllabus & Exam Pattern
Free preparation for SSC CGL — the official exam pattern and topic-wise syllabus are below. Start preparing from home, without books.
Exam Pattern
Conducting body: Staff Selection Commission (SSC). Eligibility: Bachelor's degree. Two tiers, both Computer-Based (online). CONFIRMED against the official SSC CGL 2025 notice (ssc.gov.in), clauses 13.8-13.9.
TIER 1 (screening/qualifying; marks NOT counted in final merit): 4 sections x 25 questions = 100 questions, 200 marks total. (A) General Intelligence & Reasoning 25 Q/50; (B) General Awareness 25 Q/50; (C) Quantitative Aptitude 25 Q/50; (D) English Comprehension 25 Q/50. Each question = 2 marks. Duration 1 hour (1 hr 20 min for scribe-eligible). Negative marking 0.50 per wrong answer. Objective MCQ, set in English & Hindi except English Comprehension.
TIER 2 (merit-deciding). Paper-I, Paper-II and Paper-III are held in separate shifts/days.
PAPER-I (compulsory for ALL posts), conducted in two sessions on the same day:
- Session-I (2 hours 15 minutes total):
- Section-I: Module-I Mathematical Abilities (30 Q) + Module-II Reasoning & General Intelligence (30 Q) = 60 Q x 3 = 180 marks, 1 hour.
- Section-II: Module-I English Language & Comprehension (45 Q) + Module-II General Awareness (25 Q) = 70 Q x 3 = 210 marks, 1 hour.
- Section-III: Computer Knowledge Module — 20 Q x 3 = 60 marks, 15 minutes.
- Session-II: Section-IV: Data Entry Speed Test (DEST) — one data-entry task, 15 minutes.
- Each MCQ = 3 marks. Negative marking = 1 mark for each wrong answer in Section-I, Section-II and Section-III of Paper-I (official clause 13.9.8). It is mandatory to qualify each section of Paper-I separately.
- Section-III (Computer Knowledge Test) is MANDATORY but QUALIFYING in nature — its marks are not added to the merit score (clause 13.9.9); higher qualifying standards apply for posts requiring Computer Proficiency (ASO in CSS/MEA/AFHQ, CBIC Inspectors, Postal/Sorting Assistants, etc.).
- Section-IV (DEST) is qualifying in nature (clause 13.9.10).
PAPER-II — Statistics: ONLY for candidates who applied and are shortlisted for Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) and Statistical Investigator Grade-II. 100 questions, 100 x 2 = 200 marks, 2 hours. Negative marking 0.50 per wrong answer.
PAPER-III — General Studies (Finance and Economics): ONLY for candidates who applied and are shortlisted for Assistant Audit Officer / Assistant Accounts Officer. 100 questions, 100 x 2 = 200 marks, 2 hours. Negative marking 0.50 per wrong answer.
Final merit is based on Tier-2 marks (Paper-I merit sections, plus Paper-II/III for those specific posts). Vacancy/post lists change each cycle — always confirm on the year-specific notice at ssc.gov.in.
Syllabus (topic-wise)
- TIER 1 — General Intelligence & Reasoning (verbal & non-verbal): analogies, similarities & differences, space visualization, spatial orientation, problem solving, analysis, judgement, decision making, visual memory, discrimination, observation, relationship concepts, arithmetical reasoning, figural classification, arithmetic number series, non-verbal series, coding & decoding, statement conclusion, syllogistic reasoning; semantic/symbolic/number/figural analogy & classification, venn diagrams, drawing inferences, punched-hole/pattern folding-unfolding, embedded figures, critical thinking, emotional & social intelligence, word building, numerical & address matching
- TIER 1 — General Awareness: current events of national & international importance; India and its neighbouring countries — History, Culture, Geography, Economic Scene, General Polity (Indian Constitution), Scientific Research; static GK; everyday science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology basics)
- TIER 1 — Quantitative Aptitude: whole numbers, decimals, fractions & relationships between numbers; percentage; ratio & proportion; square roots; averages; interest (simple & compound); profit & loss; discount; partnership business; mixture & alligation; time & distance; time & work; algebra (basic identities, elementary surds, linear equations); geometry (triangles, congruence, circles, tangents, angles); mensuration (triangle, quadrilaterals, regular polygons, circle, prism, cylinder, sphere, cone, hemisphere); trigonometry (ratios, identities, heights & distances); statistical charts (histogram, bar diagram, pie chart, frequency polygon)
- TIER 1 — English Comprehension: spot the error, fill in the blanks, synonyms & antonyms, spellings/detecting misspelt words, idioms & phrases, one-word substitution, improvement of sentences, active/passive voice, conversion into direct/indirect narration, shuffling of sentence parts, shuffling of sentences in a passage, cloze passage, comprehension passage
- TIER 2 PAPER-I, Section-I Module-I — Mathematical Abilities: number systems, fundamental arithmetic operations, percentage, ratio & proportion, average, interest, profit & loss, discount, partnership, mixture & alligation, time-speed-distance, time & work; algebra, elementary surds, graphs of linear equations; geometry, mensuration, trigonometry; statistics & probability (measures of central tendency, dispersion, basic probability)
- TIER 2 PAPER-I, Section-I Module-II — Reasoning & General Intelligence: verbal & non-verbal reasoning; semantic/symbolic/figural analogy, classification & series; coding-decoding; numerical/word operations; venn diagrams; problem solving; space orientation; drawing inferences; punched-hole/pattern folding; emotional & social intelligence; critical thinking
- TIER 2 PAPER-I, Section-II Module-I — English Language & Comprehension: vocabulary, grammar, sentence structure; synonyms/antonyms; error spotting; fill in the blanks; spellings; idioms & phrases; one-word substitution; sentence improvement; active/passive; direct/indirect narration; para jumbles; cloze test; comprehension passages
- TIER 2 PAPER-I, Section-II Module-II — General Awareness: History, Geography, Polity, Economics, Science, Current Affairs and Static GK (broadly as in Tier 1, at a higher standard)
- TIER 2 PAPER-I, Section-III — Computer Knowledge Module (qualifying): computer basics (organisation, CPU, input/output devices, memory); software (operating systems, MS Office basics); internet & networking basics (WWW, web browsers, email, internet services); cyber security basics (viruses, hacking, firewalls, safe browsing)
- TIER 2 PAPER-I, Section-IV — Data Entry Speed Test / DEST (qualifying): typing/data-entry speed test on computer, one data-entry task, 15 minutes; evaluated separately
- TIER 2 PAPER-II — Statistics (only for JSO / Statistical Investigator Gr-II posts): collection, classification & presentation of statistical data; measures of central tendency; measures of dispersion; moments, skewness & kurtosis; correlation & regression; probability theory; random variables & probability distributions; sampling theory; statistical inference; analysis of variance; time series analysis; index numbers
- TIER 2 PAPER-III — General Studies (Finance and Economics) (only for Assistant Audit Officer / Assistant Accounts Officer posts). PART A: Finance and Accounts — Fundamental principles & basic concepts of accounting: financial accounting (nature, scope, limitations, generally accepted accounting principles); basic concepts of accounting (single & double entry, books of original entry, bank reconciliation, journal, ledgers, trial balance, rectification of errors, manufacturing/trading/profit & loss/appropriation accounts, balance sheet, capital vs revenue expenditure, depreciation accounting, valuation of inventories, non-profit organisations' accounts, receipts & payments and income & expenditure accounts, bills of exchange, self-balancing ledgers). PART B: Economics and Governance — Comptroller & Auditor General of India (constitutional provisions, role & responsibility); Finance Commission (role & functions); basic concept of economics & introduction to micro-economics; theory of demand and supply; theory of production and cost; forms of market and price determination; Indian economy (national income, agriculture/industry/services, economic reforms since 1991); money and banking (monetary/fiscal policy, RBI functions); role of Information Technology in governance
Official source: https://ssc.gov.in/api/attachment/uploads/masterData/NoticeBoards/Notice_of_adv_cgl_2025.pdf
⚠️ Always confirm against that year's official notification — the exam pattern and syllabus can change. This page is free guidance only.