SSC CGL is conducted by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) and covers Quant, Reasoning, English and GA. This page summarises the SSC CGL exam pattern, marking scheme and syllabus as a study snapshot for previous year question practice. Confirm eligibility, dates and marking in the latest official notification on ssc.gov.in.
Official brochure wins
Pattern and syllabus notes below are a study snapshot for PYQ practice. Always cross-check the latest notification and information bulletin on ssc.gov.in before you finalise eligibility, fees, or marking assumptions.
Pattern snapshot
Tier structure evolves. Use the table as a Tier-I style snapshot and verify your notification.
| Section | Duration | Questions (typical) | Marking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Aptitude | Sectional (as notified) | As notified | +2 / −0.50 typical in some cycles - verify |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | Sectional (as notified) | As notified | Confirm brochure |
| English Comprehension | Sectional (as notified) | As notified | Confirm brochure |
| General Awareness | Sectional (as notified) | As notified | Confirm brochure |
Later tiers may add descriptive or higher maths - read the notice before ignoring advanced arithmetic.
Marking scheme (study snapshot)
| Question type | Correct | Wrong | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CBT MCQ (typical) | +2 | −0.50 | Common in recent Tier-I - verify |
| Unattempted | 0 | 0 | Accuracy > blind speed |
Numbers above are typical of recent cycles. Confirm exact marks, negatives, and sectional rules in the current brochure.
Detailed syllabus bullets (for mapping PYQ misses)
Quantitative Aptitude
- Arithmetic: percentages, ratio, averages, SI-CI, time-work, TSD
- Algebra and geometry/mensuration
- Trigonometry basics as tested
- Data interpretation
Reasoning
- Analogies, classification, series
- Coding-decoding, blood relations
- Directions, ranking, syllogism as tested
- Non-verbal reasoning themes
English
- Grammar: error spotting, sentence improvement
- Vocabulary: synonyms/antonyms, one-word
- Reading comprehension and cloze tests
- Para jumbles / sentence arrangement
General Awareness
- History, geography, polity, economy basics
- General science
- Current affairs (national focus)
- Miscellaneous SSC-style facts
Eligibility snapshot
- Bachelor’s degree as per SSC CGL notice for most posts
- Age limits post-wise as notified
- Nationality and other conditions per official notice
Eligibility can change by year (age, attempts, degree, category rules). Treat this as orientation only.
Who runs it and how often
- Exam: Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level (SSC CGL)
- Conducted by: Staff Selection Commission
- Typical frequency: Annual (tiers as per notification)
- Category: Government
- Official site: ssc.gov.in
Link PYQs to syllabus
- Take one recent full paper under realistic timing.
- Map every miss to a syllabus bullet above.
- Study that bullet from your primary resource (notes/textbook).
- Re-solve only those PYQs before the next full paper.
- Update your error log with the syllabus tag so weak areas compound correctly.
Brochure caution
Do not rely on undated coaching PDFs for duration, number of questions, or negative marking. Screenshot or bookmark the current information bulletin. If a PYQ set disagrees with the latest pattern, still use it for skill practice, but do not treat its structure as the live exam.