SSC CGL is conducted in two stages. Both are computer based, and marks from both count towards the final selection — Tier 1 is not merely a screening round.
Tier 1 structure
Tier 1 has four sections of 25 questions and 50 marks each. You get 60 minutes for the whole paper — there is no section-wise timer, so you are free to divide the time as you wish.
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 25 | 50 |
| General Awareness | 25 | 50 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 |
| English Comprehension | 25 | 50 |
| Total | 100 | 200 |
Negative marking: 0.50 marks are deducted for every wrong answer — two wrong answers cancel out one correct answer. Guess only when you can confidently rule out two options.
Duration: 60 minutes (80 minutes for candidates eligible for scribe/compensatory time).
Tier 2 structure
In Tier 2, Paper 1 is compulsory for every candidate. Paper 2 (Statistics) and Paper 3 (General Studies — Finance & Economics) apply only to candidates who have applied for those specific posts.
Paper 1
Paper 1 is divided into three sessions:
- Session 1 — Module 1: Mathematical Abilities, Module 2: Reasoning & General Intelligence
- Session 2 — Module 1: English Language & Comprehension, Module 2: General Awareness
- Session 3 — Module 1: Computer Knowledge Test, Module 2: Data Entry Speed Test
Sessions 1 and 2 carry a penalty of 1 mark per wrong answer; the Computer Knowledge module carries 0.50 marks.
Subsequent stages
Tier 2 is followed by Document Verification. Where a post requires it, a skill test or computer proficiency test is also conducted — this is usually qualifying in nature and its marks do not count towards the merit list.
