SSC CGL exam pattern | A handy guide to learning about it!

An overview of the SSC CGL exam

The Staff selection commission of India conducts the SSC CGL exam to recruit candidates for group B and group C posts across various departments under the central government. The exam is conducted once every year and is considered one of the most competitive exams in the country.

The SSC CGL exam pattern usually consists of three phases; however, as per the latest notification, the exam has four stages –

1. Preliminary exam (Tier 1).
2. Mains exam (Tier 2).
3. Descriptive Paper (Tier 3).
4. Computer Proficiency exam/Skill Test (Tier 4).

Keep reading to learn about them in detail!

All you need to know about the SSC CGL exam pattern

To ace the exam, you need to learn the SSC CGL pattern, procedure, marking scheme, and so on. . Knowing about the SSC CGL exam pattern will help you create a preparation strategy. Here are the details for you –

SSC CGL exam pattern Tier 1

SSC CGL exam pattern Tier-1 tests candidates with 100 multiple-choice questions with a maximum mark of 200. The SSC CGL Tier 1 exam is to qualify, but the final selection depends on the remaining tiers. It has four sections with 25 questions each and a maximum mark of 50, the test last for 60 minutes. In total, Tier 1 exam has 100 questions with 200 marks.

The SSC CGL exam pattern sections for the Tier-I Exam are General Knowledge, Quantitative Aptitude, General Reasoning, and English Comprehension. In addition, SSC CGL Tier 1 has a negative marking of 0.50 for each incorrect answer.

SSC CGL exam pattern Tier 2

The SSC CGL exam Tier-2 has 4 phases- Paper I, Paper II, Paper III, and Paper IV. Paper I and Paper II of the Tier -2 exam are mandatory to attend for all posts. However, Paper III of Tier-2 is ideal for candidates willing to apply for the Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) posts in the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation and lasts for 120 minutes.

Similarly, Paper IV of Tier-2 is ideal for candidates willing to apply for Assistant Audit Officer/Accounts Officer posts. The test duration of Paper-IV Tier-2 is 120 minutes. Tier II has a negative marking of 1 mark for papers I and II while 0.50 for papers III and IV.

SSC CGL exam pattern Tier 3

The Tier 3 phase of the SSC CGL exam is a descriptive paper, where candidates have to write an essay, a letter, and a precis. It is an offline exam (pen-paper mode) for 60 minutes. However, candidates eligible for scribe will be allotted 20 extra minutes. The SSC CGL exam pattern for Tier 3 is straightforward. The topics for your descriptive paper are usually based on current affairs and/or social, economic, and financial topics.

The paper is for 100 marks with no negative marking. To qualify, candidates must score a minimum of 33%. An important thing to consider is that the descriptive paper can be written in English or Hindi at your convenience; however, using the languages together is not applicable.

SSC CGL exam pattern Tier 4

The last stage of the SSC CGL exam, Tier 4, tests the candidate’s computer knowledge and typing speed. It is mandatory for those applying to the posts of assistants and inspectors; however, the test is optional for the remaining posts. Here, you will be given to type around 2000 characters in 15-20 minutes; your skills in Microsoft Excel and PPT will also be tested. All the sections have 15 minutes each with no negative marking.

SSC CGL exam pattern | Pro tips to ace the exam

• Always start by scrutinizing the syllabus thoroughly. You must understand each section before you begin preparing.
• Knowing the syllabus will help you prepare an accurate strategy. It enables you to know which areas you are good at and which areas you need to improve. 
• Secondly, download the previous question papers (around five years) and go through the SSC CGL exam pattern. 
• Practice those papers, covering each topic from the syllabus defined by the Staff Selection Commission.
• Additionally, enroll for mock tests and ensure to solve at least one mock test per day, starting from 2 months before the exam.
• Balance the time effectively and maintain accuracy and seed throughout the exam.
• Brush up on the fundamental concepts of the SSC CGL syllabus and revise before your exam date.

Key takeaways

• Staff Selection Commission – Combined Graduate Level (SSC – CGL) is a critical exam for those aspiring to land a government job. 
• SSC CGL exam Tier-1 is an objective exam with four sections, and Tier-2 has four phases. In addition, this year, the board conducted a descriptive paper as Tier 3 and a computer-proficiency test as Tier 4.
• SSC CGL Tier 1 has a negative marking of 0.50 for each incorrect answer, and Tier II has a negative marking of 1 (Paper 1 except Module II of Section 3) with 0.50 for papers 2 and 3.
• To ace the exam, prepare a study plan, set a timetable, solve previous year questions and revise.

For complete details about the SSC CGL exam pattern, preparation, syllabus, and criteria, visit our website.

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FAQs

Question 1: How many tiers does the SSC CGL exam have?

Answer: SSC CGL has four tiers per the latest notification, where Tier 1 and 2 are objective, Tier 3 is descriptive, and Tier 4 tests your computer skills.

Question 2: Is the prelims SSC CGL exam subjective or objective?

Answer: The SSC CGL Tier I exam is Objective, with 100 MCQ-type questions.

Question 3: Do visually handicapped candidates have any liberty in CGL Tier 1 exam timings?

Answer: The exam duration is 80 minutes for the CGL Tier-1 exam for visually handicapped candidates.