Combined Graduate Level Examination
The Combined Graduate Level examination fills Group B and C posts across central government ministries and departments. Tier-I is a screening stage only: merit is prepared on Tier-II performance alone, so a strong Tier-I score earns a place in Tier-II and nothing more.
100 questions · 60 minutes · 200 marks · 0.5 negative marking
SSC CGL Exam Pattern
| Section | Questions | Marks | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence and Reasoning | 25 | 50 | 0.5 |
| General Awareness | 25 | 50 | 0.5 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 | 0.5 |
| English Comprehension | 25 | 50 | 0.5 |
Eligibility
A bachelor's degree in any discipline, with final-year students eligible provided they qualify by the cut-off date. Two posts carry additional requirements: Junior Statistical Officer needs either at least 60 per cent in Mathematics at class 12 or Statistics as a subject at degree level, and Statistical Investigator Grade II needs Statistics in all three years or all six semesters of the degree.
Varies by post: bands of 18 to 27, 20 to 30, 18 to 30 and 18 to 32 years apply to different posts within the same examination.
Selection Process
- Tier-I — 100 questions for 200 marks in one hour, with 0.50 deducted per wrong answer. Screening only - it decides who sits Tier-II and does not enter the merit list.
- Tier-II Paper-I — Two sessions on the same day. Section-I runs Mathematics and Reasoning for one hour. Section-II is separately timed at 40 minutes for English and 15 for General Awareness, 55 in total. Section-III adds a Computer Knowledge module. One mark is deducted per wrong answer and every section must be qualified.
- Tier-II Computer Knowledge and DEST — Qualifying only. The typing test is a passage of about 2000 key depressions in 15 minutes, with higher standards for posts that prescribe computer proficiency.
- Tier-II Paper-II Statistics — 100 questions for 200 marks in two hours, sat only by Junior Statistical Officer and Statistical Investigator Grade-II applicants shortlisted in Tier-I.
- Tier-II Paper-III General Studies, Finance and Economics — Sat only by Assistant Audit Officer and Assistant Accounts Officer applicants shortlisted in Tier-I. Part A covers finance and accounts for 80 marks and Part B economics and governance for 120.
- Post preference and document verification — Preferences are submitted online. A candidate who does not submit them is considered for no post at all.
SSC CGL Syllabus
General Intelligence and Reasoning
- Semantic analogy
- Symbolic and number analogy
- Figural analogy
- Semantic classification
- Symbolic and number classification
- Figural classification
- Semantic series
- Number series
- Figural series
- Problem solving
- Word building
- Coding and decoding
- Numerical operations
- Symbolic operations
- Trends
- Space orientation
- Space visualization
- Venn diagrams
- Drawing inferences
- Punched hole and pattern folding and unfolding
- Figural pattern folding and completion
- Indexing
- Address matching
- Date and city matching
- Classification of centre codes and roll numbers
- Small and capital letters and numbers coding, decoding and classification
- Embedded figures
- Critical thinking
- Emotional intelligence
- Social intelligence
General Awareness
- History of India and its neighbouring countries
- Indian culture
- Geography
- Economic scene
- General policy
- Scientific research
- Current events
- Everyday observation and experience in its scientific aspect
Quantitative Aptitude
- Computation of whole numbers, decimals and fractions
- Relationships between numbers
- Percentage
- Ratio and proportion
- Square roots
- Averages
- Interest
- Profit and loss
- Discount
- Partnership business
- Mixture and alligation
- Time and distance
- Time and work
- Basic algebraic identities of school algebra and elementary surds
- Graphs of linear equations
- Triangle and its various kinds of centres
- Congruence and similarity of triangles
- Circle and its chords, tangents and angles subtended by chords
- Common tangents to two or more circles
- Triangle, quadrilaterals and regular polygons
- Circle
- Right prism, right circular cone and right circular cylinder
- Sphere and hemispheres
- Rectangular parallelepiped
- Regular right pyramid with triangular or square base
- Trigonometric ratio
- Degree and radian measures
- Standard identities
- Complementary angles
- Heights and distances
- Histogram
- Frequency polygon
- Bar diagram and pie chart
English Comprehension
- Understanding of correct English
- Basic comprehension
- Writing ability
- Vocabulary and correct usage
- Grammar and sentence structure
- Synonyms and antonyms
SSC CGL Previous Year Cut-Off Marks
| Year | Stage | Category | Marks | Merit List |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Tier-I | ESM | 69.92674 | List 3 - posts other than JSO and SI Gr-II |
| 2024 | Tier-I | EWS | 141.82144 | List 3 - posts other than JSO and SI Gr-II |
| 2024 | Tier-I | EWS | 161.73406 | List 1 - Junior Statistical Officer |
| 2024 | Tier-I | EWS | 163.50858 | List 2 - Statistical Investigator Gr-II |
| 2024 | Tier-I | HH | 64.79156 | List 3 - posts other than JSO and SI Gr-II |
| 2024 | Tier-I | HH | 95.45162 | List 1 - Junior Statistical Officer |
| 2024 | Tier-I | HH | 60.66162 | List 2 - Statistical Investigator Gr-II |
| 2024 | Tier-I | OBC | 146.23244 | List 3 - posts other than JSO and SI Gr-II |
| 2024 | Tier-I | OBC | 160.65216 | List 1 - Junior Statistical Officer |
| 2024 | Tier-I | OBC | 161.13462 | List 2 - Statistical Investigator Gr-II |
| 2024 | Tier-I | OH | 113.10008 | List 3 - posts other than JSO and SI Gr-II |
| 2024 | Tier-I | OH | 133.35717 | List 1 - Junior Statistical Officer |
| 2024 | Tier-I | PwBD-Others | 45.74 | List 3 - posts other than JSO and SI Gr-II |
| 2024 | Tier-I | PwBD-Others | 40.30795 | List 2 - Statistical Investigator Gr-II |
| 2024 | Tier-I | SC | 126.42235 | List 3 - posts other than JSO and SI Gr-II |
| 2024 | Tier-I | SC | 143.53855 | List 1 - Junior Statistical Officer |
| 2024 | Tier-I | ST | 111.8552 | List 3 - posts other than JSO and SI Gr-II |
| 2024 | Tier-I | ST | 135.23007 | List 1 - Junior Statistical Officer |
| 2024 | Tier-I | ST | 134.49545 | List 2 - Statistical Investigator Gr-II |
| 2024 | Tier-I | UR | 152.97275 | List 3 - posts other than JSO and SI Gr-II |
| 2024 | Tier-I | UR | 167.02061 | List 1 - Junior Statistical Officer |
| 2024 | Tier-I | UR | 170.65672 | List 2 - Statistical Investigator Gr-II |
| 2024 | Tier-I | VH | 102.97465 | List 3 - posts other than JSO and SI Gr-II |
| 2024 | Tier-I | VH | 122.51903 | List 1 - Junior Statistical Officer |
| 2024 | Tier-I | VH | 92.05218 | List 2 - Statistical Investigator Gr-II |
Qualifying Marks
Minimum qualifying marks in Tier-I, in Sections I and II and the Computer Knowledge module of Tier-II Paper-I, and in Paper-II: 30 per cent for unreserved, 25 per cent for OBC and EWS, and 20 per cent for all other categories. The Data Entry Speed Test is judged on errors rather than marks, and the maximum permitted is 20 per cent for unreserved, 25 per cent for OBC and EWS, and 30 per cent for all other categories.
Exam Calendar
From recent cycles rather than any announcement: notice around June, Tier-I around September, Tier-I result around December, and Tier-II between January and March. The 2025 cycle followed this shape.
SSC CGL FAQs
Does Tier-I count toward the final merit?
No. The merit list is prepared on Tier-II performance alone, so Tier-I only determines who is shortlisted for it.
How much is deducted for a wrong answer?
0.50 marks in Tier-I, 1 mark in Tier-II Sections I and II and the Computer Knowledge module, and 0.50 in Paper-II Statistics. Unattempted questions carry no penalty.
Is there an interview?
No. Interviews were abolished for these posts; selection rests on the computer based examinations, the qualifying skill tests and document verification.
How many attempts am I allowed?
There is no limit on attempts. Only the age limit for the post applies.
What is normalisation?
Where an examination runs across several shifts, raw marks are converted to a common scale so that sitting a harder shift is not a disadvantage. The normalised marks are what determine merit and cut-offs, which is why published cut-offs carry five decimal places. The governing methodology was superseded in June 2025 by a new one, so older material may cite the 2019 notice.
What happens if I fail the typing or computer test?
Both are qualifying rather than scoring, so failing removes you from consideration for the posts that prescribe them without subtracting marks from your total.
What is the DEST requirement?
A passage of about 2000 key depressions in 15 minutes. Scribe-eligible candidates are allowed five extra minutes.
Can I get my answer sheet re-evaluated?
No. SSC does not provide re-evaluation or re-checking for any tier. Answer keys can be challenged during a stated window at a fee of 100 rupees per question, which is not refundable.
Do I have to submit post preferences?
Yes, and it matters: a candidate who does not submit them is considered for no post at all.
Which posts need Paper-II or Paper-III?
Paper-II in Statistics is sat only by Junior Statistical Officer and Statistical Investigator Grade-II applicants, and Paper-III in Finance and Economics only by Assistant Audit Officer and Assistant Accounts Officer applicants. Merit therefore differs by post: those two groups add their extra paper to Paper-I Sections I and II, while every other post is ranked on Paper-I Sections I and II alone.
Is Tier-II Section-II separately timed?
Yes. English is allowed 40 minutes and General Awareness 15, making 55 in total, rather than one composite hour.