Check SSC CGL Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2020 as given below in detail. The SSC CGL (Combined Graduate Level) Exam conducted annually by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) consists of four phases, where each phase needs to be cleared depending upon the requirement of different posts. SSC CGL Exam will be conducted in four tiers, i.e., Tier – I, Tier – II, Tier – III, and Tier – IV as shown below in the table. Check SSC CGL Syllabus for all the Tiers as given below.
✅ SSC CGL Exam Pattern for Tier I, II, III, IV
Tier | Type of Exam | Mode of Exam |
Tier – I | Objective Multiple Choice | Computer-Based (Online) |
Tier – II | Objective Multiple Choice | Computer-Based (Online) |
Tier – III | Descriptive Paper in English or Hindi | Pen and Paper mode (Offline) |
Tier – IV | Skill Test: Data Entry Speed Test (DEST)/ Computer Proficiency Test (CPT) | Wherever Applicable (Not necessary for all the post) |
Document Verification | Applicable for all |
Click Here to Check SSC CGL 2019 Updates like Admit Card, Exam Date, Result, etc
In the past few years, SSC has made some changes in the exam pattern. Students must make note of changes in exam pattern and syllabus before beginning the SSC CGL exam preparation. Below are some important points to take note of:
- Tier –I objective exam will be of 60 minutes duration in online mode.
- Tier –II objective exam will consist of 4 papers, each paper will be of 60 minutes duration in online mode.
- Tier – III descriptive exam will be of 60 minutes duration in pen and paper mode.
- There will be no sectional cut-off.
✅ SSC CGL Syllabus (Tier-I) and Exam Pattern
SSC CGL Tier-I exam is an objective exam which will be conducted online. The exam comprises of four sections having 100 questions (25 questions in each section) which will account for a total of 200 marks (maximum 50 marks in each section). The time duration of the Tier-1 exam will be 60 minutes.
Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 | 60 minutes (Total) |
English Language and Comprehension | 25 | 50 | |
General Intelligence & Reasoning | 25 | 50 | |
General Awareness | 25 | 50 | |
TOTAL | 100 | 200 |
Points to remember:
- There is negative marking in SSC CGL Tier 1 Exam. 0.5 marks will be deducted from every question that is attempted wrong by a candidate in all the sections.
- The exam duration is 80 minutes for candidates who are visually handicapped and suffering from Cerebral Palsy.
After going through the above-mentioned exam pattern of SSC CGL Exam, the next step is to analyze the topic-wise syllabus of all the four sections of SSC CGL Tier-I Exam:
| SSC CGL Syllabus for Tier I Online/ CBT Exam |
| General Intelligence and Reasoning |
| Classification, Analogy, Coding-Decoding, Puzzle, Matrix, Word Formation, Venn Diagram, Direction and Distance, Blood Relations, Series, Verbal Reasoning, Critical Thinking, Emotional & Social Intelligence |
| General Awareness |
| Static General Knowledge (Indian History, Culture, etc.), Science, Current Affairs, Sports, Books, and Authors, Important Schemes, Portfolios, People in News, Computers, Awards, and Their Importance, Geography, Economy, Polity, Population Census. |
| Quantitative Aptitude (Maths) |
| Simplification, Interest, Averages, Percentages, Ratio and Proportion, Problem on Ages, Speed, Distance and Time, Number System, Mensuration, Data Interpretation, Time and Work, Algebra, Trigonometry, Geometry, |
| English Language & Comprehension |
| Reading Comprehension, Fill in the Blanks, Spellings, Idioms & Phrases, One Word Substitution, Sentence Correction, Error Spotting, Synonyms, Antonyms |
Click Here to Check SSC CGL Previous Year Papers
✅ SSC CGL Syllabus (Tier-II) and Exam Pattern
SSC CGL Tier-II exam is an objective exam which will be conducted online. The exam comprises of four Papers – Quantitative Abilities, English Language and Comprehension, Statistics and General Studies (Finance & Economics). The time duration for each Paper is 2 Hours. The section-wise details of the exam are shown in the table given below:
Paper | Subject | No of Questions | Max Marks | Exam Duration |
I | Quantitative Abilities | 100 | 200 | 2 Hours |
II | English Language and Comprehension | 200 | 200 | 2 Hours |
III | Statistics | 100 | 200 | 2 Hours |
IV | General Studies (Finance & Economics) | 100 | 200 | 2 Hours |
Points to remember:
- Paper-I and Paper-II are compulsory for all posts.
- Paper-III will be for only those candidates who apply for the post of Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) and who are shortlisted in Tier-I for this Post/Paper.
- Paper-IV will be for only those candidates who are shortlisted in Tier-I for Paper-IV, i.e., for the posts of Assistant Audit Officer/ Assistant Accounts Officer.
- There will be negative marking of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer in Paper-II (English Language and Comprehension) and of 0.50 marks for each wrong answer in Paper-I, Paper-III and Paper-IV.
- Questions in Paper-I will be of Matriculation Level, Paper-II of 10+2 Level and in Paper-III and Paper-IV of Graduation Level.
- The exam duration is 2 hours and 40 minutes for candidates who are visually handicapped.
After going through the above-mentioned exam pattern of SSC CGL Exam, the next step is to analyze the topic-wise syllabus of all the four papers of SSC CGL Tier-II Exam:
| SSC CGL Syllabus for Tier II Online/ CBT Exam |
| Quantitative Aptitude (Maths) |
| Simplification, Interest, Averages, Percentages, Ratio and Proportion, Speed, Distance and Time, Number System, Mensuration, Data Interpretation, Time and Work, Algebra, Trigonometry, Geometry, Data Sufficiency. |
| English Language & Comprehension |
| Reading Comprehension, Fill in the Blanks, Spellings, Idioms & Phrases, One Word Substitution, Sentence Correction, Error Spotting, Synonyms, Antonyms, Cloze Test, Para Jumbles, Active- Passive Voice, Direct- Indirect Speech. |
| Statistics |
| Collection and Representation of Data, Measure of Dispersion, Measure of Central Tendency, Moments, Skewness and Kurtosis, Correlation and Regression, Random Variables, Sampling Theory, Analysis, and Variance, Time Series Analysis, Index Number. |
| Finance and Economics |
| Finance and Accounting, Fundamental Principles, Financial Accounting, Basic Concepts of Accounting, Self Balancing Ledger, Forms of Market and Price determination in different markets, Theory of Production and cost, Economics and governance, Comptroller and Auditor General of India, Finance Commission, Theory of Demand and Supply. |
✅ SSC CGL Syllabus (Tier – III) and Exam Pattern
SSC CGL Tier – III Exam is a descriptive paper that will be taken offline via pen and paper mode. In this exam, candidates’ language proficiency, grammar knowledge, vocabulary usage, and writing skills will be tested in English/Hindi. Candidates are required to write essays, précis, applications, letters, etc. in 60 minutes.
Mode of Examination | Subject | Maximum Marks | Time |
Pen and Paper Mode | Descriptive Type Paper in English or Hindi (Writing of Essay/ Précis/ Letter/ Application etc.) | 100 | 60 Minutes |
The best way to prepare for this tier is to read lots of articles from various newspapers. Apart from this, you need to be well aware of the pattern of Letter and Application.
✅ SSC CGL Syllabus (Tier–IV) Exam Pattern and
The SSC CGL Tier – IV Exam comprises of a couple of skill tests which are required for certain government posts and document verification procedure:
- DEST (Data Entry Speed Test) for the post of Tax Assistants (Central Excise & Income Tax).
- CPT (Computer Proficiency Test) for the post of Assistant Section Officer of Central Secretariat Service (CSS), Assistant Section Officer (MEA), Assistant in Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and Assistant (GSI) in the Ministry of Mines.
- Document Verification: The last step to the final selection would be Document Verification.