Before taking the SSC Combined Graduate Level Exam 2025, candidates should clearly understand the exam pattern. It helps them know the subjects, the number of questions in each section, and the total time given in the exam. This knowledge is important for smart preparation and better time management during the test. To help you with this, we have explained the SSC CGL Exam Pattern 2025 and syllabus in detail in this article. We have also added useful preparation tips. Make sure to read and bookmark this article for effective exam preparation.
SSC CGL Exam Pattern 2025
The SSC CGL 2025 Tier-1 exam consists of 4 sections with equal distribution of marks in each section. Each section carries 25 questions. The SSC CGL Tier-2 exam is conducted in 2 phases – Paper 1 & Paper 2. Paper 2 is for candidates who have opted for the post of Junior Statistical Officer. Candidates must see the detailed exam pattern for each tier in the article below.
SSC CGL Exam Pattern 2025 (Tier 1)
SSC will hold a computer-based examination with 100 multiple-choice questions. 4 sections in The Tier 1 exam of SSC CGL accounts for 200 marks. The subject-wise SSC CGL Exam Pattern 2025 details are given below:
The sections asked in the SSC CGL Tier-I Exam are:
- General Intelligence & Reasoning
- General Awareness
- Quantitative Aptitude
- English Comprehension
There is a negative marking of 0.50 Marks for each wrong answer. There is no sectional cut-off. No mark will be deducted if the question is left blank or unattempted by a candidate.
Subjects | Total Questions | Total Marks | Duration |
---|---|---|---|
General Intelligence and Reasoning | 25 | 50 | 60 minutes (80 minutes for VH & Cerebral Palsy candidates) |
General Awareness | 25 | 50 | |
Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 | |
English Comprehension | 25 | 50 | |
Total | 100 | 200 |
SSC CGL Exam Pattern 2025 (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 Exam Pattern for Tier 2 | ||
---|---|---|
S. No. | Papers | Duration |
1 | Paper-I: (Compulsory for all posts) | 2 hours 30 minutes |
2 | Paper-II: Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) | 2 hours |
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:
SSC CGL Tier 2 Exam Pattern for Paper 1 | |||||
Sections | Module | Subject | No. of Questions | Marks | Duration |
Section I | Module-I | Mathematical Abilities | 30 | 90 | 1 hour |
Module-II | Reasoning and General Intelligence | 30 | 90 | ||
Section II | Module-I | English Language and Comprehension | 45 | 135 | 1 hour |
Module-II | General Awareness | 25 | 75 | ||
Section III | Module-I | Computer Knowledge Test | 20 | 60 | 15 minutes |
Module-II | Data Entry Speed Test | One Data Entry Task | 15 minutes |
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 Tier 2 Paper 2 Exam Pattern | ||||
Paper | Section | No. of question | Maximum Marks | Duration |
Paper II | Statistics | 100 | 200 | 2 hours |
SSC CGL 2025 Syllabus
For the candidate’s convenience, the detailed Tier-wise SSC CGL Syllabus 2025 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 2025
In addition to the detailed examination pattern for both the Tier 1 and Tier 2 Examinations, the candidates preparing for SSC CGL 2025 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 2025 through a single application.
How to Prepare for the SSC CGL 2025?
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 2025, 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.