Selection Posts Examination (Phase XIII)
A consolidated advertisement filling Group B and C posts across many ministries, departments and offices. It runs as separate examinations at matriculation, higher secondary and graduation level, and the syllabus escalates sharply between them even though the paper structure is identical.
100 questions · 60 minutes · 200 marks · 0.5 negative marking
SSC Selection Posts Exam Pattern
| Section | Questions | Marks | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence | 25 | 50 | 0.5 |
| General Awareness | 25 | 50 | 0.5 |
| Quantitative Aptitude (Basic Arithmetic Skill) | 25 | 50 | 0.5 |
| English Language (Basic Knowledge) | 25 | 50 | 0.5 |
Eligibility
Matriculation, higher secondary or graduation as prescribed by each individual post. A candidate applying for posts at more than one level must sit one examination per level.
Varies by post. Because the advertisement aggregates many distinct vacancies, no single age limit applies and each post states its own band.
Selection Process
- Computer Based Examination — 100 questions for 200 marks in 60 minutes, with 0.50 deducted per wrong answer. A separate paper is held for each of the three levels.
- Skill tests and physical standards — Only where an individual post prescribes them, since the advertisement aggregates many different posts. Qualifying only.
- Document verification — Certificates are verified per post category.
SSC Selection Posts Syllabus
General Intelligence
- Semantic, symbolic, number and figural analogy
- Semantic, symbolic, number and figural classification
- Semantic, number and figural series
- Problem solving
- Word building
- Coding and decoding
- Numerical and symbolic operations
- Trends
- Space orientation and 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
- Embedded figures
- Critical thinking
- Emotional and social intelligence
- Statement conclusion
- Syllogistic reasoning
- At matriculation level this section is non-verbal only, omitting syllogistic reasoning, statement conclusion, indexing, address matching, date and city matching and centre-code classification
- At higher secondary level both verbal and non-verbal types appear, including critical thinking; graduation level uniquely adds syllogistic reasoning, statement conclusion, indexing, address matching, date and city matching and centre-code classification
General Awareness
- History
- Culture
- Geography
- Economic scene
- General polity
- Scientific research
- Current events
- India and its neighbouring countries
Quantitative Aptitude (Basic Arithmetic Skill)
- Computation of whole numbers, decimals and fractions
- Percentage
- Ratio and proportion
- Square roots
- Averages
- Interest
- Discount
- Partnership business
- Profit and loss
- Mixture and alligation
- Time and distance
- Time and work
- Basic algebraic identities and elementary surds
- Graphs of linear equations
- Triangle and its centres
- Congruence and similarity of triangles
- Circle, chords and tangents
- Mensuration of plane figures and solids
- Trigonometric ratio
- Degree and radian measures
- Complementary angles
- Heights and distances
- Histogram, frequency polygon, bar diagram and pie chart
- At matriculation level this stops at basic arithmetic and mensuration, with no algebra, geometry, trigonometry or statistical charts
- Higher secondary level adds algebra, geometry, mensuration of solids, trigonometry and statistical charts, along with square roots, compound interest, partnership business and mixture and alligation
English Language (Basic Knowledge)
- Ability to understand correct English
- Basic comprehension
- Writing ability
- Spot the error
- Fill in the blanks
- Synonyms and antonyms
- Spellings and detecting mis-spelt words
- Idioms and phrases
- One word substitution
- Improvement of sentences
- Active and passive voice
- Direct and indirect narration
- Shuffling of sentence parts
- Cloze passage
- Comprehension passage
Qualifying Marks
UR 30 per cent, OBC and EWS 25 per cent, and all other reserved categories 20 per cent - that is 60, 50 and 40 marks out of 200. This is a floor for reaching the scrutiny stage, not a competitive cut-off: the mark that actually secures a post is set per post code and is far higher for most posts.
Exam Calendar
From recent phases: notice around February to April, the examination around mid-year, and results from September onward. Phase XII sat 20-26 June 2024; Phase XIII sat 24 July to 2 August 2025 with a further sitting on 29 August 2025.
SSC Selection Posts FAQs
How much is deducted for a wrong answer?
0.50 marks.
Do I sit one examination or several?
One per level. A candidate applying for posts at both matriculation and graduation level sits two examinations.
Is the paper structure the same at every level?
Yes, 100 questions for 200 marks in 60 minutes at all three levels. What differs is the syllabus depth, which escalates sharply.
How does the syllabus differ by level?
At matriculation level General Intelligence is non-verbal only and Quantitative Aptitude stops at basic arithmetic and mensuration. Higher secondary adds verbal reasoning plus algebra, geometry, trigonometry and statistical charts. Graduation adds syllogistic reasoning, statement conclusion, indexing, address matching, date and city matching and centre-code classification.
Is there a single cut-off for Selection Posts?
No, and this is the most common misunderstanding. Results are published per individual post code, and there are hundreds across a phase, so no consolidated category-wise cut-off exists to compare against.
Are there skill or physical tests?
Only where an individual post prescribes them, since the advertisement aggregates many different posts.
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.
Is there an interview?
No.
How do the levels relate to the posts?
The three levels are education tiers. Within each, every individual post is a separate category with its own code, applied for separately, with its own result and cut-off.