SSC CGL Exam Pattern 2025: Marking Scheme, Negative Marking, Number of Papers & Questions

SSC CGL Exam Pattern 2025: The Staff Selection Commission will conduct the SSC CGL exam tentatively in September-October 2025. The commission has released the official notification including the SSC CGL exam pattern. As per the pattern, the SSC CGL 2025 exam will be conducted in Tier 1 and Tier 2. Earlier, the exam was held in four Tiers. 

SSC CGL Notification (Download)

According to the revised pattern, the SSC CGL Tier 2 exam will be conducted for three papers only, along with the Data Entry Speed Test (DEST). Now, candidates will have to appear for DEST in the Tier 2 stage. Earlier, there were four papers in SSC CGL Tier 2 exam with a separate Data Entry Speed Test (DEST). The Document Verification (DV) stage has also been removed from the selection process. Now the DV will be conducted at the time of the candidate's appointment in the respective department. 

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According to the SSC CGL 2025 exam pattern, the Tier 1 exam will have a total of 100 multiple-choice questions from four sections – General Intelligence and Reasoning, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, and English Comprehension. Each section will consist of 25 questions of 1 mark each. The exam will be conducted online in computer-based mode for 1 hour. The question will be in English & Hindi except for English Comprehension.  Candidates can check the SSC CGL syllabus here.

SSC CGL Tier 1 Exam will be compulsory for all candidates who applied for the exam. SSC CGL Tier 2 exam will have Papers 1, 2, and 3. Candidates must note that the Tier 2 exam, Paper I is compulsory for all of them to appear, whereas Paper II is for those candidates who apply for the posts of Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) in the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. On the other hand, candidates who apply for the posts of Assistant Audit Officer/ Assistant Accounts Officer can appear for Paper III

SSC CGL 2025 Exam Highlights

Below you will find the highlights of both Tier 1 and Tier 2 of the examination.  

SSC CGL 2025 Tier 1:  Exam Pattern 

SSC CGL 2025 Tier 2:  Exam Pattern 

SSC CGL Tier 1 Exam 2025: Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme

The SSC CGL Tier I exam consists of 100 MCQ questions. Candidates will have 60 minutes (one hour) to answer the question of Tier 1 . Take a look at the table below for better reference 

SSC CGL Tier 2 Exam 2025: Revised Exam Pattern

The SSC CGL Tier 2 Examination will have 3 papers– Paper 1, Paper 2 and Paper 3. Paper 1 will be compulsory for all the candidates who have qualified for the SSC CGL Tier 1 exam. Paper II is for candidates applying for Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) posts in the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, while Paper III is for candidates applying for Assistant Audit Officer/Assistant Accounts Officer positions. The revised SSC CGL 2025 examination pattern is mentioned below:

• Additional 15 minutes will be given to PwD candidates who are eligible for scribe.

SSC CGL Exam Pattern 2025: Negative Marking

The SSC CGL 2025 will have negative markings as per the revised exam pattern. SSC CGL negative marking scheme for different papers is mentioned below:

SSC CGL 2025 Exam Pattern: Data Entry Skill Test (DEST) 

Candidates shortlisted for the SSC CGL 2025 Tier 2 exams will have to take the Data entry Speed test (DEST) while appearing for Paper 1. As per the revised SSC CGL 2025 exam pattern, DEST will be conducted as Paper II of Module 3. During DEST, the candidates will be given a passage of nearly 2,000 key depressions for which they will have 15 minutes to demonstrate their skills in data entry.

The SSC CGL DEST will be mandatory for all the posts. However, the exam will be qualifying in nature. Detailed instructions regarding the Skill Test will be provided by the Regional Offices of the Commission.

Candidates participating in the SSC CGL 2025 with OH category will be exempted from attempting DEST. PwBD candidates who are eligible for scribes will be given an additional 5 minutes for the skill test.

SSC CGL 2025: Document Verification (DV)

The SSC CGL Tier 3 will be the Documents verification round. Candidates shortlisted for the DV round will have to present (original as well as photocopy) for verification. The list of documents required during the SSC CGL Document Verification round is listed below:

• If the candidate is unable to submit their preferences on the Commission's website within the allotted time, then their candidature will not be taken into consideration. 
• Candidates unable to provide the documents in the required format will be disqualified for the examination.