SSC Combined Graduate Level Examination (CGL)

Conducted by: Staff Selection Commission (SSC)
Question paper languages: English, Hindi
Last checked against official sources: 2026-10-14

Notes and practice for SSC CGL are coming soon. Until then, this guide has the official pattern, marking, syllabus and links.

Exam pattern and marking

Tier-I (CBT)60 minutes200 marks

Sections, questions and marking for Tier-I (CBT)
Section	Questions	Marks per question	Negative marking	Question types
General Intelligence and Reasoning	25	2	2/4	MCQ
General Awareness	25	2	2/4	MCQ
Quantitative Aptitude	25	2	2/4	MCQ
English Comprehension	25	2	2/4	MCQ

Tier-II Paper-I (Session-I)135 minutes390 marks

Sections, questions and marking for Tier-II Paper-I (Session-I)
Section	Questions	Marks per question	Negative marking	Question types
Section-I A: Mathematical Abilities	30	3	1	MCQ
Section-I B: Reasoning and General Intelligence	30	3	1	MCQ
Section-II A: English Language and Comprehension	45	3	1	MCQ
Section-II B: General Awareness	25	3	1	MCQ
Section-III: Computer Knowledge Testqualifying	20	3	1	MCQ

Tier-II Paper-I Session-II: Data Entry Speed Test15 minutes

Tier-II Paper-II: Statistics (JSO / SI Gr-II only)120 minutes200 marks

Sections, questions and marking for Tier-II Paper-II: Statistics (JSO / SI Gr-II only)
Section	Questions	Marks per question	Negative marking	Question types
Statistics	100	2	2/4	MCQ

Tier-II Paper-III: General Studies (Finance and Economics) (AAO only)120 minutes200 marks

Sections, questions and marking for Tier-II Paper-III: General Studies (Finance and Economics) (AAO only)
Section	Questions	Marks per question	Negative marking	Question types
Part A: Finance and Accounts	40	2	2/4	MCQ
Part B: Economics and Governance	60	2	2/4	MCQ

Two CBT tiers (CGL 2026 notice, para 13). Tier-I is for shortlisting only (final merit is on Tier-II): 4 x 25 MCQs, 2 marks each, -0.50, 60 min with a 15-minute sectional timer. Tier-II Paper-I (all posts): Session-I = Section-I (Maths 30 + Reasoning 30, 1 h) + Section-II (English 45 + GA 25, 1 h) + Section-III Computer (20, 15 min, qualifying), 3 marks each, -1; Session-II = Data Entry Speed Test (15 min, qualifying). Paper-II Statistics (JSO / SI posts) and Paper-III General Studies Finance & Economics (AAO posts): 100 x 2 marks, -0.50, 2 h. Questions in English and Hindi except the English sections.

MCQ = single correct answer · MSQ = one or more correct answers · NAT / numeric = type a number. Negative marking is the number of marks deducted for a wrong answer.

Syllabus

157 subjects, topics and subtopics from the official syllabus. Tap a subject to expand it.

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General Intelligence and Reasoning37
- Analogy
  - Semantic analogy
  - Symbolic / number analogy
  - Figural analogy
- Classification (odd one out)
  - Semantic classification
  - Symbolic / number classification
  - Figural classification
- Series
  - Semantic series
  - Number series
  - Figural series
- Coding and decoding
  - Letter and number coding; small and capital letters/numbers coding
  - Word building
- Numerical and symbolic operations
  - Numerical operations, arithmetical reasoning
  - Symbolic operations
  - Trends
- Logical and verbal reasoning
  - Venn diagrams
  - Syllogistic reasoning
  - Statement and conclusion; drawing inferences
  - Critical thinking, problem solving, judgement, decision making
  - Relationship concepts (blood relations)
  - Space orientation (directions)
- Non-verbal reasoning
  - Space visualisation, embedded figures
  - Punched hole / pattern folding and unfolding
  - Figural pattern folding and completion
  - Visual memory, observation, discrimination (mirror/water images)
- Clerical aptitude
  - Indexing, address matching, date and city matching
  - Classification of centre codes / roll numbers
- Emotional and social intelligence
  - Emotional intelligence
  - Social intelligence
General Awareness29
- History
  - Ancient India
  - Medieval India
  - Modern India and the freedom struggle
- Art and culture
  - Monuments, dance, music, festivals
  - Literature, books and authors, awards
- Geography
  - Physical geography
  - Indian geography: rivers, climate, soils, resources
  - World geography; India's neighbouring countries
- Polity and governance (general policy)
  - Constitution of India
  - Parliament, executive, judiciary, constitutional bodies
  - Government schemes and policies
- Economic scene
  - Basic economics, national income, budget
  - Banking, RBI, money
- Everyday science and scientific research
  - Physics in everyday life
  - Chemistry in everyday life
  - Biology, health and nutrition
  - Space, defence and technology developments
  - Environment and ecology
- Current events
  - National events
  - International events
  - Sports
  - Appointments, awards, important days
Quantitative Aptitude29
- Number system
  - Whole numbers, decimals and fractions
  - Relationships between numbers (HCF, LCM, divisibility)
  - Square roots, elementary surds and indices
- Arithmetic
  - Percentage
  - Ratio and proportion
  - Averages
  - Simple and compound interest
  - Profit and loss, discount
  - Partnership business
  - Mixture and alligation
  - Time and distance
  - Time and work
- Algebra
  - Basic algebraic identities of school algebra
  - Graphs of linear equations
- Geometry
  - Triangle and its centres; congruence and similarity
  - Circle: chords, tangents, angles subtended, common tangents
- Mensuration
  - Triangle, quadrilaterals, regular polygons, circle
  - Prism, cone, cylinder, sphere, hemisphere, cuboid, pyramid
- Trigonometry
  - Trigonometric ratios, degree and radian, standard identities, complementary angles
  - Heights and distances
- Data interpretation and statistics
  - Histogram, frequency polygon, bar diagram, pie chart
  - Mean, median, mode, standard deviation; simple probability
English Language and Comprehension18
- Vocabulary
  - Synonyms, homonyms
  - Antonyms
  - Spellings / detecting mis-spelt words
  - Idioms and phrases
  - One word substitution
- Grammar and usage
  - Spot the error
  - Fill in the blanks
  - Sentence improvement
  - Active / passive voice
  - Direct / indirect narration
- Sentence structure and arrangement
  - Shuffling of sentence parts
  - Shuffling of sentences in a passage
- Comprehension
  - Cloze passage
  - Reading comprehension passages
Computer Knowledge13
- Computer basics
  - Organisation of a computer, CPU, input/output devices
  - Computer memory, memory organisation, backup devices, ports
  - Windows Explorer, keyboard shortcuts
- Software
  - Windows operating system
  - MS Word, MS Excel, PowerPoint
- Internet and e-mail
  - Web browsing and searching, downloading and uploading
  - Managing an e-mail account; e-banking
- Networking and cyber security
  - Networking devices and protocols
  - Threats (hacking, virus, worms, Trojans) and preventive measures
Statistics (Tier-II Paper-II)12
- Collection, classification and presentation of data
- Measures of central tendency; quartiles, deciles, percentiles
- Measures of dispersion
- Moments, skewness and kurtosis
- Correlation and regression
- Probability theory
- Random variables and probability distributions
- Sampling theory
- Statistical inference
- Analysis of variance
- Time series analysis
- Index numbers
General Studies: Finance and Economics (Tier-II Paper-III)12
- Part A: Finance and Accounts
  - Financial accounting: nature, scope, concepts, conventions, GAAP
  - Double entry, journal, ledger, trial balance, bank reconciliation, rectification of errors
  - Final accounts, capital vs revenue, depreciation, inventories
  - Non-profit organisation accounts, bills of exchange, self-balancing ledgers
- Part B: Economics and Governance
  - CAG and Finance Commission
  - Micro economics: demand and supply, production and cost, market forms
  - Indian economy: sectors, national income, population, poverty, infrastructure
  - Economic reforms since 1991
  - Money and banking, RBI, budget, fiscal deficit, FRBM Act
  - Role of IT in governance

Official sources

Always confirm details on the official website before applying.