SSC CGL
Staff Selection Commission — Combined Graduate Level
Important dates
Eligibility criteria
Bachelor's degree from a recognised university. Final-year students can apply for Tier 1. Age is usually 18–32 depending on the post, with category relaxations. Some posts have extra subject or age rules.
Exam pattern
Two computer-based tiers. Tier 1 has 100 questions, 200 marks, and 60 minutes. Tier 2 has objective modules, negative marking, and a qualifying typing/data-entry test for some posts. Final merit is based mainly on Tier 2.
Syllabus overview
Tier 1 (common): General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, English Comprehension — 25 questions each (200 marks)
Quantitative Aptitude: arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, mensuration, data interpretation
General Awareness: current affairs, history, geography, polity, economics, general science
English: grammar, vocabulary, comprehension, error spotting, sentence improvement
Tier 2: Maths, Reasoning, English, General Awareness, Computer Knowledge, and post-specific papers where required
Posts & departments
Cutoff trends
Roughly 25–30 lakh applicants compete for about 15,000–20,000 posts across categories. Assistant Audit Officer and Income Tax Inspector carry the highest cut-offs (often the top ~1–2% of scorers). Cut-offs vary by post preference, category, and year; AAO/Inspector grades typically need a strong Tier 2 score.
Preparation tip
8–18 months of focused preparation; speed and accuracy in Tier 1 are decisive of dedicated preparation is recommended. Start with the official syllabus and previous year papers.
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