SSC CGL Exam Pattern 2026 for Tier 1 and Tier 2

Staff Selection Commission (SSC) conducts the CGL exam in two distinct phases: Paper 1 and Paper 2. Paper I is mandatory for all candidates. Paper II, on the other hand, is for candidates applying for Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) positions in the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.

• Tier 2 consists of two papers, Paper I and Paper II , conducted in separate shifts on different days. The Data Entry Speed Test is included in Section III of Paper I as Module II and is conducted as a Data Entry Task for 15 minutes.

Candidates must recognize the tailored nature of these papers based on their applied positions. Additionally, candidates should be mindful of the negative marking system, with a deduction of 1 mark for each incorrect answer in Paper I and 0.50 marks for each incorrect response in Paper II.

SSC CGL Tier 2 Exam Pattern for Paper 1 & Paper 2

The candidates who clear the Tier 1 Cutoff will be eligible to appear for the Tier 2 Exam. Paper 1 of this stage of the selection process will consist of three sections, each containing two modules. Section I is scoring, and Section II is qualifying in nature. The detailed SSC CGL Tier 2 Exam pattern with the total no. of questions, maximum marks, and exam duration is explained in the table given below:

The candidates who clear the Tier 1 cutoff for the post of Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) will be eligible to attempt the second paper in the Tier 2 Exam. The detailed SSC CGL Tier 2 Paper 2 Exam pattern with the total number of questions, maximum marks, and exam duration is explained in the table given below:

SSC CGL 2026 Syllabus

For the candidate’s convenience, the detailed Tier-wise SSC CGL Syllabus 2026 is provided in this article. Candidates are advised to go through the detailed SSC CGL Syllabus for the various phases of the online exam and plan their preparation accordingly.

Points to Remember for the SSC CGL Exam 2026

In addition to the detailed examination pattern for both the Tier 1 and Tier 2 Examinations, the candidates preparing for SSC CGL 2026 should keep some points as guidelines for the strategy they decide to follow.

• There are negative markings in Tier 1 as well as Tier 2 exams for 0.50 Marks and 1 mark for every wrong answer, respectively.
• The Tier 1 Exam is qualifying in nature.
• No electronic device or calculator is allowed in Tier-1 and Tier-2 exams.
• Candidates can apply for multiple posts under the SSC CGL Recruitment 2026 through a single application.

How to Prepare for the SSC CGL 2026?

One of the most important aspects of the SSC CGL Exam is the pattern of the Tier 1 and Tier 2 papers. The candidates preparing for the exam must be aware of the detailed exam pattern as well as the syllabus to make themselves ready for the examination. To prepare for the SSC CGL Exam 2026, candidates can follow the points provided below according to their strengths and weaknesses.

• Analyze the latest exam pattern as provided in the official notification for all the details regarding the structure of the paper.
• Solve the Previous Year’s Question Papers of the exam held according to the updated pattern, i.e., in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
• Also, solve previous years’ questions of other exams of SSC, like SSC CHSL, SSC CPO, and other examinations, because SSC has a common syllabus for each examination.
• Attempt sectional as well as full-length mock tests to get into the proper mindset for managing the time provided in the exam and minimizing mistakes.