SSC CGL Exam Pattern 2026 for Tier 1 and Tier 2 Exams
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- SSC CGL Exam Pattern
The SSC CGL Exam will be held in two stages: Tier-1 and Tier-2. SSC CGL Tier 1 Exam will be compulsory for all candidates. For the SSC CGL Tier 2 Exam, there will be Paper 1, 2, whereas Paper I is Compulsory for all posts, Paper II is for Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) post and Paper III for AAO posts. Let's have a look at the exam pattern for all these stages of the SSC CGL Recruitment process one by one.
The candidates must note that the SSC CGL Tier 1 is qualifying in nature and Tier 2 is scoring in nature. The marks scored in SSC CGL Tier 2 will be considered for final selection for the 12256 vacancies announced through the SSC CGL Exam.
What's New- SSC has introduced sectional timing in Tier 1 and 2
SSC CGL Tier 1 Exam Pattern 2026
SSC CGL Tier-1 Exam will be conducted online, comprising 4 sections with 100 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) in total and with a maximum of 200 marks. The entire exam needs to be completed in a time span of 60 minutes. SSC CGL Tier 1 Exam will be of a qualifying nature, and marks will not be counted in the final selection.
The questions asked in the SSC CGL Tier 1 Exam 2026 are from the following sections:
- General Intelligence & Reasoning
- General Awareness
- Quantitative Aptitude
- English Comprehension
| SSC CGL Tier 1 Exam Pattern 2026 | ||||
| S.No. | Sections | No. of Questions | Total Marks | Duration |
| 1 | General Intelligence and Reasoning | 25 | 50 | 15 minutes |
| 2 | General Awareness | 25 | 50 | 15 minutes |
| 3 | Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 | 15 minutes |
| 4 | English Comprehension | 25 | 50 | 15 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 200 | 1 hour | |
A Penalty for Wrong Answer: There is a negative marking of 0.50 marks for each wrong answer.
SSC CGL Notification 2026 Out for 12256 Vacancies- Click to Check
SSC CGL Tier 2 Exam Pattern 2026
The SSC CGL Tier 2 Exam 2026 will be conducted in 2 phases- Paper 1 and Paper 2. Paper I (Compulsory for all posts),
- Paper II for candidates who apply for the posts of Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) in the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
- Paper-III will be for only those candidates who are shortlisted in Tier-I for the posts of Assistant Audit Officer/ Assistant Accounts Officer.
| SSC CGL Tier 2 Exam Pattern 2026 | ||
| S.No. | Papers | Time Allotted |
| 1 | Paper I: (Compulsory for all posts) | 2 hours 30 minutes |
| 2 | Paper II: Statistics | 2 hours |
| 3 | Paper-III General Studies (Finance and Economics) | 2 hours |
The detailed SSC CGL Exam Pattern 2026 for Tier 2 Exam has been discussed below, along with the changes made by SSC this year.
| SSC CGL Tier 2 Exam Pattern 2026 [Paper 1] | |||||||
| Sessions | Sections | Modules | Subject | No. of Questions | Marks | Duration | Weightage |
| Session I | Section I | Module-I | Mathematical Abilities | 30 | 90 | 30 minutes | 23% |
| Module-II | Reasoning and General Intelligence | 30 | 90 | 30 minutes | 23% | ||
| Section II | Module-I | English Language and Comprehension | 45 | 135 | 40 minutes | 35% | |
| Module-II | General Awareness | 25 | 75 | 20 minutes | 19% | ||
| Section III | Module-I | Computer Knowledge Test | 20 | 60 | 15 minute | Qualifying | |
| Session II | Module-II | Data Entry Speed Test | One Data Entry Task | 15 minute | Qualifying | ||
| SSC CGL Tier 2 Exam Pattern 2026 [Paper 2] | ||||
| Papers | Sections | No. of question | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| Paper II | Statistics | 100 | 200 | 2 hours |
| SSC CGL Tier 2 Exam Pattern 2026 [Paper 3] | ||||
| Papers | Sections | No. of question | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| Paper III | General Studies (Finance and Economics) | 100 | 200 | 2 hours |
Penalty for Wrong Answer: There is a negative marking of 1 mark for each wrong answer in Section I, Section II, and Module I of Section III of Paper I and 0.50 marks for each wrong answer in Paper II.