The SSC CGL 2016 question paper was not officially published, so this page does not host it. Instead it has a clearly labelled mock paper with original questions modelled on the reported 2016 pattern, plus a timed attempt plan and an error-log routine. The SSC CGL exam covers Quant, Reasoning, English and GA.
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No official paper released
The conducting body did not publish the SSC CGL 2016 question paper. Practise the SSC CGL 2016 mock paper: original questions modelled on candidate reports, clearly labelled as a mock.
Why this year matters
Older SSC CGL papers like 2016 are for mining, not nostalgia. Keep current marking rules, and skip topics the latest brochure dropped. Speed with accuracy is the game. Tag silly misses ruthlessly; they repeat on SSC papers.
Count attempts and accuracy by section. A high raw score with a failed sectional cut-off is still a fail in the real exam.
Paper analysis
Snapshot of SSC CGL 2016
Deep archive CGL.
2016 may feel differently paced than the newest cycle. Borrow stamina and theme lessons; do not copy obsolete section orders or marking quirks.
What this paper stresses
- GA current + static mix that coaching dumps mis-weight.
- Quant silly misses at high attempt rates.
- Shift normalisation anxiety that wrecks accuracy.
- English error patterns that repeat every year.
What to extract before you move on
- GA static lists that actually appeared (not the 200-page PDF).
- Quant chapters producing silly misses.
- English error rules worth a one-page sheet.
- Attempt-rate targets per section under current negatives.
How 2016 sits next to other years
Use 2016 only after SSC CGL 2025, SSC CGL 2024, SSC CGL 2023 are logged. Archive years are for frequency maps, not for predicting tomorrow’s cut-off.
Analyst note: The conducting body did not publish the SSC CGL 2016 paper. The mock below is original practice in the reported pattern; treat coaching “memory-based” papers as unofficial reconstructions.
SSC CGL 2016 Tier-I mock paper (modelled on candidate reports)
From 2016 SSC held CGL Tier-I online, and the question paper with its answer key was shown only inside each candidate's login for a few days, for personal use; SSC has never published the 2016 papers, and its Previous Year Question Paper page holds only a 2011 generic CHSL model paper. This is an original 20-question mini-paper modelled on the pattern of the 2016 computer-based Tier-I sat from late August to September 2016.
What candidates reported about 2016
- CGL 2016 Tier-I was the first CGL Tier-I held as a computer-based test: 100 questions in 75 minutes, 25 each from Reasoning, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude and English.
- Each correct answer earned 2 marks (200 in all) and each wrong answer cost 0.50.
- The exam was first notified for May 2016 but was actually held in many shifts from 27 August into September 2016.
- About 14.8 lakh candidates took Tier-I in 44 batches across 96 cities; 1,49,319 qualified for Tier-II.
- With 25 questions per section, the paper stayed close to the CGL syllabus mix: arithmetic plus algebra, geometry and trigonometry in Quant; grammar, vocabulary and idioms in English; and static GK with some current affairs in General Awareness.
Suggested time: 15 minutes. The real 2016 Tier-I was an online test of 100 questions in 75 minutes (25 per section). This 20-question mock keeps that pace: 15 minutes for all four sections, in any order. Each correct answer earns 2 marks; 0.50 is deducted for a wrong answer and nothing for an unattempted one.
General Intelligence and Reasoning
Select the letter group that completes the analogy. ACE : BDF :: GIK : ?
- HJL
- HIJ
- GHJ
- IKM
Answer and explanation
Answer: A (HJL)
Each letter moves one place forward: A→B, C→D, E→F. So G→H, I→J, K→L, giving HJL.
Find the next number in the series. 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ?
- 40
- 42
- 44
- 48
Answer and explanation
Answer: B (42)
The terms are 1×2, 2×3, 3×4, 4×5, 5×6, so the next is 6×7 = 42. (Differences 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 give the same result: 30 + 12 = 42.)
If CAT is coded as 24 by adding the alphabet positions of its letters, what is the code for DOG?
- 24
- 25
- 26
- 27
Answer and explanation
Answer: C (26)
CAT = 3 + 1 + 20 = 24. DOG = 4 + 15 + 7 = 26.
Ravi walks 6 km towards the north, then turns right and walks 8 km. How far is he from his starting point?
- 14 km
- 12 km
- 2 km
- 10 km
Answer and explanation
Answer: D (10 km)
Turning right from north means walking east. The two legs are at right angles, so distance = √(6² + 8²) = √(36 + 64) = √100 = 10 km.
Statements: All roses are flowers. Some flowers are red. Conclusions: I. Some flowers are roses. II. Some roses are red. Which conclusion(s) follow?
- Only I follows
- Only II follows
- Both I and II follow
- Neither I nor II follows
Answer and explanation
Answer: A (Only I follows)
All roses are flowers, so some flowers are roses: I follows. The red flowers need not include any rose, so II does not definitely follow.
General Awareness
Which medal did P. V. Sindhu win in women's singles badminton at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in August 2016?
- Bronze
- Gold
- Silver
- She finished fourth
Answer and explanation
Answer: C (Silver)
Sindhu reached the final at Rio 2016 and lost to Spain's Carolina Marín (21–19, 12–21, 15–21), winning the silver medal.
Who presided over the first session of the Indian National Congress, held in Bombay in December 1885?
- Dadabhai Naoroji
- Surendranath Banerjea
- A. O. Hume
- W. C. Bonnerjee
Answer and explanation
Answer: D (W. C. Bonnerjee)
The INC was founded on 28 December 1885 and held its first session in Bombay (28–31 December 1885) under the presidency of Womesh Chunder (W. C.) Bonnerjee. A. O. Hume was a founder and its General Secretary.
The Reserve Bank of India, set up in 1935 under the RBI Act, 1934, was nationalised in which year?
- 1949
- 1935
- 1969
- 1947
Answer and explanation
Answer: A (1949)
The RBI was nationalised on 1 January 1949. It began operating in 1935 with its central office in Calcutta and moved it to Bombay in 1937.
Scurvy is caused by a deficiency of which vitamin?
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin K
Answer and explanation
Answer: B (Vitamin C)
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is needed for stable collagen; its lack causes scurvy, with bleeding gums, bruising and fatigue.
The ozone layer, which absorbs most of the Sun's ultraviolet radiation, lies mainly in which layer of the atmosphere?
- Troposphere
- Mesosphere
- Thermosphere
- Stratosphere
Answer and explanation
Answer: D (Stratosphere)
The ozone layer is mainly in the lower stratosphere, roughly 15–35 km above the Earth, and absorbs about 97–99% of medium-frequency UV light.
Quantitative Aptitude
What is the simple interest on ₹8,000 at 6% per annum for 3 years?
- ₹1,440
- ₹1,240
- ₹1,500
- ₹1,600
Answer and explanation
Answer: A (₹1,440)
SI = P × R × T / 100 = 8000 × 6 × 3 / 100 = ₹1,440.
Two numbers are in the ratio 3 : 5 and their sum is 96. What is the larger number?
- 36
- 48
- 60
- 64
Answer and explanation
Answer: C (60)
Total parts = 3 + 5 = 8, so one part = 96 ÷ 8 = 12. Larger number = 5 × 12 = 60.
If tan θ = 3/4 and θ is acute, what is sin θ + cos θ?
- 1
- 7/5
- 5/4
- 12/25
Answer and explanation
Answer: B (7/5)
Take opposite side 3 and adjacent side 4; hypotenuse = √(9 + 16) = 5. sin θ = 3/5, cos θ = 4/5, so the sum is 7/5.
What is each interior angle of a regular hexagon?
- 108°
- 135°
- 144°
- 120°
Answer and explanation
Answer: D (120°)
Sum of interior angles = (6 − 2) × 180° = 720°. Each angle = 720° ÷ 6 = 120°.
A train 240 m long passes a pole in 12 seconds. What is its speed in km/h?
- 60 km/h
- 66 km/h
- 72 km/h
- 80 km/h
Answer and explanation
Answer: C (72 km/h)
Speed = 240 ÷ 12 = 20 m/s. In km/h: 20 × 18/5 = 72 km/h.
English Comprehension
Identify the part of the sentence that contains an error. Neither of the two brothers (A) / have completed (B) / the assignment on time. (C) / No error (D)
- A
- B
- C
- D
Answer and explanation
Answer: B (B)
"Neither of" takes a singular verb, so "have completed" should be "has completed".
Fill in the blank. She has been working in this office ______ 2012.
- since
- for
- from
- by
Answer and explanation
Answer: A (since)
With the present perfect continuous, "since" is used before a point in time (2012); "for" is used before a period (for four years).
Choose the word most similar in meaning to ABUNDANT.
- Scarce
- Plentiful
- Rare
- Meagre
Answer and explanation
Answer: B (Plentiful)
Abundant means existing in large quantities, i.e. plentiful. The other three mean the opposite.
Choose the correct passive form of: The committee approved the proposal.
- The proposal is approved by the committee.
- The proposal has been approved by the committee.
- The proposal was being approved by the committee.
- The proposal was approved by the committee.
Answer and explanation
Answer: D (The proposal was approved by the committee.)
The active sentence is in the simple past, so the passive is "was + past participle": The proposal was approved by the committee.
Choose the word opposite in meaning to RIGID.
- Stiff
- Firm
- Flexible
- Strict
Answer and explanation
Answer: C (Flexible)
Rigid means unable to bend or change; flexible is its opposite. Stiff, firm and strict are close to rigid.
Reports this mock is modelled on
How to sit SSC CGL 2016
- Work through the mock paper above under exam timing. It follows the reported pattern, but the questions are our own.
- Sit the paper under current brochure rules (timers, negatives, NAT/MSQ norms), even if 2016’s interface looked different.
- When the clock ends, stop. Review should take at least as long as the attempt.
- Fill the error log the same day: section, topic, and miss type (concept, silly, time, or misread).
- Next session, repair only logged items. Then pick another year from the decade list.
Other years in this decade
- SSC CGL 2025
- SSC CGL 2024
- SSC CGL 2023
- SSC CGL 2022
- SSC CGL 2021
- SSC CGL 2020
- SSC CGL 2019
- SSC CGL 2018
- SSC CGL 2017
- SSC CGL 2015
FAQ
Where can I download the official SSC CGL 2016 question paper?
The conducting body did not release it publicly. This page has a clearly labelled mock paper modelled on candidate reports instead.
What does the SSC CGL 2016 paper analysis include?
A year snapshot, what the paper stresses, what to extract into your error log, and how 2016 compares with neighbouring years on this hub.
How should I practise the SSC CGL 2016 previous year paper?
Open the official PDF, sit it timed under current brochure rules, fill an error log the same day, read the paper analysis, then move to another year in the decade list.
Is SSC CGL 2016 still useful if I finished newer papers?
Yes, for theme and weightage mining after your newest papers are logged. Skip deleted syllabus pockets.
Are memory-based SSC CGL 2016 papers reliable?
Treat memory-based sets as interim. Reconcile contested items with official keys or response sheets when the conducting body publishes them.
Where is the SSC CGL syllabus and pattern for this paper?
See the SSC CGL syllabus & pattern page on this hub, and always re-check the latest official brochure before exam day.