SSC CGL Syllabus & Pattern

The Staff Selection Commission – Combined Graduate Level (SSC CGL) exam is one of the most competitive government exams in India, attracting 30-40 lakh aspirants every year for about 15-30 thousand Group B and C posts, across different ministries and departments of the Central Government. There is no other exam attracting such a high number of graduates across the country.

While most candidates start preparing with enthusiasm, a significant majority waste time, simply because they don’t understand the syllabus and exam pattern in depth. With SSC introducing key changes in recent years, from restructuring Tier 2 to introducing new paper modules, understanding the exact exam pattern and updated syllabus is not just helpful, it’s essential.

SSC CGL Exam Pattern 2025: Tier-Wise Breakdown

The SSC CGL 2025 exam is conducted in multiple tiers, each serving a specific evaluative purpose. The latest structure focuses heavily on Tier 1 and Tier 2, with Tier 3 (Descriptive Test) and Tier 4 (Skill Test) applicable only for specific posts. Here’s a detailed tier-wise format:

Tier 1: Preliminary Examination (Screening)

Subject	No. of Questions	Maximum Marks	Time
General Intelligence & Reasoning	25	50
General Awareness	25	50
Quantitative Aptitude	25	50
English Comprehension	25	50
Total	100	200	60 minutes

Note: No sectional timing. There is negative marking of 0.50 for each wrong answer.

Tier 2: Main Examination (Core Scoring Tier)

Tier 2 consists of three papers, but not all are mandatory for every post.

Paper I: Compulsory for all posts

Section	Module	Marks
Section I	Mathematical Abilities	90
	Reasoning and General Intelligence	90
Section II	English Language and Comprehension	135
	General Awareness	45
Section III	Computer Knowledge Test	60
	Data Entry Speed Test (DEST)	Qualifying

🕒 Time: 2 hours 30 minutes (combined).
Negative Marking: 1 mark for each wrong answer in Sections I & II, 0.25 in Section III.

Paper II: Only for Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) Post

Subject: Statistics
Marks: 200
Time: 2 hours
Negative Marking: 0.50 per incorrect answer

Paper III: Only for Assistant Audit Officer/Assistant Accounts Officer Posts

Subject: General Studies (Finance and Economics)
Marks: 200
Time: 2 hours
Negative Marking: 0.50 per incorrect answer

Tier 3: Descriptive Paper (If Revived in 2025)

SSC has phased this out post-2022, but keep an eye on official notifications. If reintroduced:

Mode: Pen and paper
Marks: 100
Time: 60 minutes
Format: Essay/Letter/Application/Precis

Tier 4: Skill Test (DEST/CPT)

Applicable for selected posts. Includes:

DEST: Typing 2000 key depressions in 15 minutes (for Tax Assistant posts)
CPT: Word Processing, Spreadsheet, and Slide Generation (for CSS, MEA, etc.)

Note:

Tier 1 is qualifying in nature; final selection is based on Tier 2 marks.
Paper II & III are only for specific posts.
DEST and CPT are qualifying, but mandatory for selection in related posts.
There is no interview stage in SSC CGL.

SSC CGL Tier 1 Syllabus 2025 – Subject-Wise Breakdown

Tier 1 is the first stage of the SSC CGL exam and acts as a screening round. Although its marks are not counted in the final merit list, qualifying this stage is essential to move forward.

Below is the complete subject-wise syllabus for Tier 1:

1. General Intelligence and Reasoning 🧠

This section tests logical thinking, pattern recognition, and problem-solving skills. Expect both verbal and non-verbal questions.

Topics Covered:

Classification
Analogy
Coding-Decoding
Matrix
Word Formation
Venn Diagrams
Blood Relations
Direction and Distance
Missing Numbers
Series (Number/Alphabetical)
Syllogism
Statement and Conclusion
Visual Reasoning (Paper Folding, Figure Completion, Mirror Images)

🔍 Focus Area: Series, Coding-Decoding, and Analogy frequently dominate this section.

2. General Awareness 🌍

This is often a make-or-break section — high scoring if prepared right, but unpredictable if ignored. Most questions come from static GK and current affairs.

Topics Covered:

History (Ancient, Medieval, Modern)
Geography (India & World – physical + political)
Polity (Constitution, Parliament, Fundamental Rights)
Economics (Basic concepts, Budget, Inflation, RBI)
General Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology – Class 6–10 level)
Current Affairs (Last 6–8 months)
Government Schemes & Committees
Sports, Awards & Honours
Books & Authors
Important Days

🔍 Focus Area: Science + Static GK dominates over dynamic current affairs.

3. Quantitative Aptitude ➕

This section tests mathematical accuracy, speed, and problem-solving. Most questions are calculation-based and conceptual.

Topics Covered:

Number System
Simplification
HCF & LCM
Ratio & Proportion
Percentage
Average
Simple & Compound Interest
Profit & Loss
Discount
Time, Work & Wages
Time, Speed & Distance
Algebra (Basic)
Geometry (Lines, Angles, Triangles, Circles)
Mensuration (2D & 3D)
Trigonometry (Basic identities, Height & Distance)
Data Interpretation (Tables, Bar Graphs, Pie Charts)

🔍 Focus Area: Mensuration, Profit-Loss, and Percentage are almost always present.

4. English Comprehension 📚

This section tests a candidate’s understanding of grammar, vocabulary, and reading ability.

Topics Covered:

Reading Comprehension
Cloze Test
Fill in the Blanks
Spellings
One Word Substitution
Synonyms & Antonyms
Sentence Correction
Idioms & Phrases
Active & Passive Voice
Direct & Indirect Speech
Error Spotting
Para Jumbles

🔍 Focus Area: Grammar-based error spotting and cloze test are scoring if practiced well.

Tips for Tier 1

Prioritize accuracy + speed over attempting all 100 questions.
Don’t ignore General Awareness — it offers max ROI per minute.
Practice with timers; manage time like in real exam.

SSC CGL Tier 2 Syllabus 2025: Complete Module wise Breakdown

SSC CGL Tier 2 is objective, computer-based, and is the core scoring stage in the entire selection process. It includes three papers:

Paper I: Compulsory for all posts
Paper II: Only for Junior Statistical Officer (JSO)
Paper III: Only for Assistant Audit Officer (AAO)/Assistant Accounts Officer

Paper I: Compulsory for All Posts

This paper consists of three sections, each with two modules, making a total of 6 modules. It is conducted in a single session, with sectional timing and qualifying components.

Section I

Module I: Mathematical Abilities

Tests advanced and applied mathematical skills.

Topics:

Number Systems
LCM and HCF
Simplification
Percentage
Ratio & Proportion
Average
Time & Work
Time, Speed & Distance
Simple and Compound Interest
Profit & Loss
Algebra (basic identities, linear equations)
Geometry (lines, angles, triangles, circles)
Mensuration (2D and 3D)
Trigonometry (ratios, identities, height & distance)
Statistics (mean, median, mode)
Data Interpretation (charts, graphs, tables)

Focus Tip: SSC repeats question types with slight variations. Prioritize mensuration, profit & loss, and DI.

Module II: Reasoning and General Intelligence

Assesses logical and analytical reasoning.

Topics:

Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning
Classification
Analogy
Series
Coding-Decoding
Blood Relations
Direction Sense
Venn Diagrams
Syllogisms
Matrix-Based Problems
Statement & Conclusion
Figure Completion
Visual Reasoning

Focus Tip: Expect medium to high difficulty logical reasoning — not as light as Tier 1.

Section II

Module I: English Language and Comprehension

Tests grammar, vocabulary, reading ability.

Topics:

Reading Comprehension (longer than Tier 1)
Cloze Test
Error Spotting
Sentence Improvement
Para Jumbles
Synonyms/Antonyms
Idioms & Phrases
Active/Passive Voice
Direct/Indirect Speech
One Word Substitution
Fill in the Blanks

Focus Tip: SSC prefers application over theory — expect trap options and subtle grammar challenges.

Module II: General Awareness

Tests static GK and current events.

Topics:

Indian History, Geography, Polity
Economics & Budget (basics)
Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology)
Static GK (Dances, Culture, Books)
Current Affairs (last 6–8 months)
Government Schemes
Awards & Personalities

Focus Tip: Prepare static + monthly revision. Don’t rely only on current events.

Section III

Module I: Computer Knowledge Test

Qualifying in nature (marks not counted in merit, but must be cleared).

Topics:

Basics of Computers
Input & Output Devices
Memory (RAM, ROM, HDD, SSD)
Internet, Web Browsers, Email
MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Operating Systems
Cyber Security Basics

Focus Tip: Treat it like an LIC AAO/Bank PO-level Computer section — simple but needs revision.

Module II: DEST (Data Entry Speed Test)

Typing test to evaluate speed and accuracy.

Task: Typing 2000 key depressions in 15 minutes in English
Qualifying in nature
Applicable for all posts

Focus Tip: Practice with exam-like text (finance/administration style) to get used to content tone.

Paper II: Only for Junior Statistical Officer (JSO)

Advanced-level Statistics questions, equivalent to graduation-level concepts.

Topics:

Collection and Presentation of Data
Measures of Central Tendency & Dispersion
Moments, Skewness, and Kurtosis
Correlation & Regression
Probability Theory
Random Variables and Probability Distributions
Sampling Theory
Statistical Inference
Analysis of Variance
Time Series Analysis
Index Numbers

Focus Tip: NCERT + IGNOU Stats PDFs + Practice MCQs.

Paper III: Only for Assistant Audit Officer (AAO) / Assistant Accounts Officer

This paper has two parts: Finance & Accounting and Economics & Governance.

Part A: Finance & Accounts (80 marks)

Fundamental Principles and Basic Concepts of Accounting
Financial Accounting
Basic Concepts of Accounting Standards

Part B: Economics & Governance (120 marks)

Basic Economics and Introduction to Microeconomics
Indian Economy (Post 1947 Planning, Liberalization)
Role of RBI, Fiscal Policy, Budgeting
Economic Reforms, Poverty, Growth, Employment
Balance of Payments
Role of Finance Commission, NITI Aayog, etc.

Focus Tip: Government economic reports + 12th class NCERT + Budget Summary = sufficient.

Key Notes:

Each incorrect answer in Mathematics and Reasoning attracts 1 mark negative.
English and GA sections have 0.25 mark negative.
DEST & Computer Knowledge modules are qualifying but cannot be ignored.

SSC CGL Tier 3 Syllabus (Descriptive Paper)

⚠️ Note: As of the 2022–2024 cycles, Tier 3 has been phased out from most SSC CGL notifications. However, if reintroduced or reserved for specific posts, this is how it’s structured:

Overview:

Mode: Pen and Paper (offline)
Type: Descriptive (writing skills test)
Total Marks: 100
Duration: 60 minutes
Medium: English or Hindi (choose one)

What You May Be Asked to Write:

Essay (e.g., “Digital India”, “Unemployment in India”)
Precis Writing
Letter Writing (formal/informal)
Application Writing

Evaluation Focus:

Coherence & structure
Grammar & vocabulary
Relevance to topic
Word limit adherence (usually 250 words for essays)

🎯 Tip: Practice writing under time constraints. Use editorials from The Hindu, Indian Express, etc., to enhance structure and content quality.

Important:

Marks of Tier 3 (if conducted) are included in the final merit.
Minimum qualifying marks (typically 33%) are mandatory.

SSC CGL Tier 4: Skill Tests (DEST & CPT)

Tier 4 is a qualifying stage, applicable only to specific posts. It tests a candidate’s practical skills relevant to office-based government jobs.

1. DEST – Data Entry Speed Test

Required For: All posts (especially Tax Assistant in CBDT/CBEC)

What It Tests:

Typing speed and accuracy
Transcription of a given passage in English (2000 key depressions in 15 minutes)

🎯 Note: “Key depressions” ≠ characters. One space = one depression.

Qualifying Criteria:

Must complete the task with high accuracy
Typing software is standardized by SSC

⚠️ Even a single unqualified error here can disqualify a candidate from final selection.

2. CPT – Computer Proficiency Test

Required For: Posts like Assistant Section Officer in CSS, MEA, AFHQ, etc.

Test Components:

Word Processing – Typing & formatting text
Spreadsheet (Excel) – Data entry, formulas, formatting
PowerPoint – Slide creation, basic design, content alignment

Qualifying Nature: Not scored, but mandatory to clear if the post demands it.

🎯 Tip: Use MS Office (not Google Docs) for practice. Pay attention to shortcut keys and formatting commands.

Post-Wise Applicability of Tier 3 & Tier 4

Post Name	Tier 3 Required?	Tier 4 (DEST/CPT) Required?
Assistant Section Officer (CSS/MEA)	No	CPT Required
Assistant Audit Officer / Accounts	No	No
Junior Statistical Officer	No	No
Tax Assistant (CBDT/CBEC)	No	DEST Required
Inspector (Income Tax, Examiner, etc.)	No	No
Assistant in Other Ministries	No	Depends on Post

⚠️ Always refer to the official SSC notification each year to confirm which Tier 4 component applies to your target post.

Post-wise SSC CGL Paper Relevance Matrix

Different posts under SSC CGL require different combinations of papers and skill tests. Below is a post-wise breakdown of exactly which Tier(s) and Paper(s) you need to clear for your target position.

Post Name	Paper I	Paper II (Stats)	Paper III (Finance)	DEST	CPT
Assistant Audit Officer (AAO)	✅	❌	✅	❌	❌
Assistant Accounts Officer	✅	❌	✅	❌	❌
Assistant Section Officer (CSS/MEA)	✅	❌	❌	❌	✅
Inspector (Income Tax / Central Excise)	✅	❌	❌	❌	❌
Inspector (Examiner / Preventive Officer)	✅	❌	❌	❌	❌
Assistant Enforcement Officer (ED)	✅	❌	❌	❌	❌
Sub-Inspector (CBI / NIA)	✅	❌	❌	❌	❌
Junior Statistical Officer (JSO)	✅	✅	❌	❌	❌
Auditor (CAG, CGDA, etc.)	✅	❌	❌	❌	❌
Accountant / Junior Accountant	✅	❌	❌	❌	❌
Tax Assistant (CBDT / CBIC)	✅	❌	❌	✅	❌
Upper Division Clerk (UDC)	✅	❌	❌	❌	❌
Assistant in Other Ministries	✅	❌	❌	❌	Varies

✅ = Mandatory
❌ = Not Required
Varies = Depends on department (check notification)

What This Means for You:

If you’re targeting JSO, you must prepare Statistics (Paper II).
If aiming for AAO, you’ll need Finance & Economics (Paper III) — not everyone does.
If you’re going for Tax Assistant, DEST is non-negotiable — practice typing daily.
For CSS or MEA, CPT is mandatory — learn basic MS Office operations.

Section: Topic-Wise Weightage & Prioritization (Based on Past 5 Years)

This gives serious aspirants a data-backed strategy, what to study first, more, and harder.

Tier 1 – Approximate Topic-Wise Weightage

Subject	Topic	Avg. No. of Questions	Priority Level
Reasoning	Analogy, Classification	4–5	High
	Coding-Decoding	2–3	High
	Series	2–3	High
	Syllogism / Statement-Logic	1–2	Medium
	Visual Reasoning	2–3	Medium
Quantitative Aptitude	Percentage, Profit & Loss	3–4	High
	Time-Speed-Distance	2–3	Medium
	Geometry, Mensuration (2D/3D)	4–5	Very High
	Algebra, Trigonometry	3–4	High
	DI (Bar/Pie/Table)	4–5	Very High
English Comprehension	Cloze Test	5	Very High
	Error Spotting / Sentence Corr.	3–4	High
	Fill in the Blanks / Vocab	3–4	Medium
	RC Passage	5	High
General Awareness	Science (Bio/Chem/Phy)	6–8	Very High
	Polity / History / Geo	6–7	High
	Current Affairs + Schemes	5–6	High
	Economy	2–3	Medium

Tip: Focus on high/very high topics early in prep. Many aspirants spend time on low-priority chapters (like matrix puzzles or deep polity) and fall behind.

❓ SSC CGL FAQs

Q1: Is there negative marking in SSC CGL exams?

Yes. Tier 1: 0.50 marks deducted per wrong answer.

Tier 2:

1 mark deduction in Maths and Reasoning modules.
0.25 mark deduction in English, GA, and Computer modules.

Q2: Is Tier 1 of SSC CGL qualifying only?

Yes. Tier 1 is qualifying in nature. Its marks do not contribute to final merit but must be cleared to appear in Tier 2.

Q3: Which Tier is the most important for final selection?

Tier 2, Paper I is the most crucial, as it is compulsory for all posts and carries the highest weightage in final merit.

Q4: Do I need to take Paper II or Paper III in Tier 2?

Only if you’re applying for specific posts:

Paper II → Junior Statistical Officer (JSO)
Paper III → Assistant Audit Officer / Assistant Accounts Officer (AAO)

Q5: Is the SSC CGL Tier 3 (Descriptive Paper) still conducted?

No, as of the latest SSC CGL patterns (2022 onwards), Tier 3 has been phased out. However, always check the latest official notification.

Q6: What is DEST in SSC CGL?

DEST (Data Entry Speed Test) checks your typing speed — you must type 2000 key depressions in 15 minutes. Required mainly for Tax Assistant roles.

Q7: Can I clear SSC CGL without coaching?

Absolutely. With the right strategy, mock test practice, and disciplined study of the official syllabus, many aspirants clear SSC CGL without coaching.