SSC CGL Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2026 — Complete Tier 1 & Tier 2 Breakdown

Welcome to the official syllabus hub for the Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level (SSC CGL) 2026 examination. Understanding the exam structure is the first step toward clearing this highly competitive test. The Commission normalizes scores if the exam is conducted in multiple shifts, which dictates the final merit and cut-off.

To prepare effectively, you must understand the distinction between the two tiers. Tier-I is your entry gateway, testing speed and accuracy. Tier-II tests deep conceptual clarity and includes skill tests like DEST. Navigate to our dedicated Tier 1 and Tier 2 pages below for subject-wise deep dives.

Phase 1: Tier-I Exam Pattern (The Qualifier)

This is the first stage of the exam, and it tests your speed and accuracy across four standard subjects.

• The 4 Subjects: General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, and English Comprehension.
• Questions & Marks: You will face 25 questions per subject, making it 100 questions in total. Each correct answer gives you 2 marks, meaning the whole paper is out of 200 marks.
• Time Limit: You have exactly 1 hour to complete the exam. Important: There is a strict 15-minute sectional timer for each of the four subjects. Once 15 minutes are up, that section auto-submits!
• Negative Marking: Be careful with guessing; 0.50 marks will be deducted for every wrong answer.

Phase 2: Tier-II Exam Pattern (The Decider)

This is the main stage that decides your final merit. It is divided into different "Papers," but Paper-I is the only one that every single candidate must take.

1. Paper-I (Mandatory for ALL Posts)This paper happens in a single day, split into two consecutive sessions.

• Session-I (2 hours and 15 minutes total):
  • Section 1 (Math & Reasoning): 30 questions each (60 total) for 180 marks. You get exactly 1 hour for this section (30-minute sectional timer per subject).
  • Section 2 (English & General Awareness): 45 questions in English and 25 in GA (70 total) for 210 marks. You get exactly 1 hour for this section (40 minutes for English, 20 minutes for GA).
  • Section 3 (Computer Knowledge): 20 questions for 60 marks. You get 15 minutes to complete this qualifying test.
• Session-II (15 minutes total):
  • Section 4 (Typing/DEST): A Data Entry Speed Test (DEST) where you must type around 2000 key depressions in 15 minutes. This is also qualifying in nature.
• Negative Marking for Paper-I: A heavy penalty of 1 full mark is deducted for every wrong answer in Sections 1, 2, and 3.

2. Paper-II (Only for JSO / Statistical Investigator Posts)

• Subject: Statistics.
• Structure: 100 questions for 200 marks.
• Time: 2 hours.
• Negative Marking: 0.50 marks deducted per wrong answer.

3. Paper-III (Only for Assistant Audit/Accounts Officer Posts)

• Subject: General Studies (Finance and Economics).
• Structure: 100 questions for 200 marks.
• Time: 2 hours.
• Negative Marking: 0.50 marks deducted per wrong answer.

The SSC CGL syllabus is designed to test both your foundational knowledge and advanced conceptual clarity. Here is what you will need to prepare for:

Tier-I (The Foundation):

• General Intelligence & Reasoning: Includes both verbal and non-verbal reasoning questions to test your logical thinking.
• General Awareness: Focuses on your knowledge of current events, everyday observations, history, geography, and general policy.
• Quantitative Aptitude: Covers everything from basic arithmetic to advanced math, specifically set at the 10th-standard level.
• English Comprehension: Tests your basic reading comprehension, writing ability, and correct usage of English.

Tier-II (The Deep Dive):

• Advanced Core Subjects: Demands a deeper, more advanced understanding of Mathematics, Reasoning, English, and General Awareness.
• Specialized Post-Specific Topics: Introduces highly specialized subjects like Statistics and Probability (for the JSO post) and advanced Finance and Economics (for the AAO post).