The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) conducts the SSC CGL exam to recruit candidates for Group B and C posts in various central government departments. Candidates who are planning to appear in the SSC CGL 2025 exam must be familiar with the SSC CGL exam pattern 2025. Knowing the exam pattern is very important for them to start their exam preparation. The SSC releases the exam pattern for the SSC CGL exam in its official notification on its official website. This blog has provided the detailed SSC CGL 2025 exam pattern for Tier 1 and Tier 2 exams.
SSC CGL Exam Pattern 2025
The SSC CGL exam consists of two tiers: Tier 1 and Tier 2. The major subjects or sections included in the SSC CGL exam pattern 2025 are Quantitative Aptitude, English, Reasoning, and General Awareness. Read this blog to know the number of questions asked from a particular section, sections included in the exam, total marks divided among the sections, etc.
There are two tiers in the exam:
- Tier I is mandatory for all aspirants.
- Tier II Paper 1 is designed for all the posts other than Junior Statistical Officer (JSO).
- Tier II Paper 2 is designed for candidates who compete for the Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) role within the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
SSC CGL Exam Paper Pattern 2025 Latest
Below, we have provided the SSC CGL 2025 exam pattern overview for Tier 1 and Tier 2 in a table format.
| SSC CGL Exam Paper Pattern 2025: Overview | |
| Tier | Details |
| Tier 1 | Exam Mode: Online Number of papers/sections: 4 Sections Exam duration: 60 Minutes Number of questions: 100 Type of questions: MCQs SSC CGL Tier 1 Total marks: 200 Languages of paper: English and Hindi |
| Tier 2 Paper 1 | Exam Mode: Online Number of papers/sections: 3 Sections & 5 Subjects Exam duration: 150 Minutes Number of questions: 150 Type of questions: MCQs Languages of paper: English and Hindi |
| Tier 2 Paper 2 | Exam Mode: Online Number of papers/sections: 1 Section (Statistics) Exam duration: 120 Minutes Number of questions: 100 Type of questions: MCQs Languages of paper: English and Hindi |
SSC CGL Exam Pattern 2025 for Tier 1
The SSC presents a total of 100 questions for 200 marks from four different sections. Sections include General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, and English Comprehension. Candidates will be provided a total of 60 minutes to attempt the whole exam. Take a look at the table given below to know the SSC CGL exam pattern 2025 for tier 1 exams, such as mark distribution and question distribution among the sections.
| SSC CGL Exam Pattern 2025 for Tier 1 | ||||
| Sl. No | Sections | No. of Questions | Marks | Time |
| 1 | General Intelligence and Reasoning | 25 | 50 | 60 Minutes (1 hour and 20 minutes for the candidates eligible for scribe) |
| 2 | General Awareness | 25 | 50 | |
| 3 | Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 | |
| 4 | English Comprehension | 25 | 50 | |
| Total | 100 | 200 | ||
SSC CGL Exam Pattern 2025 for Tier 2
The SSC CGL tier 2 exam is conducted after the tier 1 exam. The SSC CGL Tier 2 exam is conducted in two phases: Paper 1 and Paper 2. Paper 1 is compulsory for all posts, and Paper 2 will be conducted for Junior Statistical Officers (JSO) and Statistical Investigators Group. II posts.
NOTE:
- The candidates must clear all sections of Paper I.
- Tier II will include multiple-choice questions across Paper I and Paper II, except Paper I’s Section III, Module II.
- Questions will be set in both English and Hindi, except for the English Language and Comprehension module in Paper I’s Section II.
| SSC CGL Tier 2 Exam Pattern 2025 | |||
| Sl. No. | Papers | Posts | Time Allotted |
| 1 | Paper I | Compulsory for all Posts | 2 Hours 30 Minutes |
| 2 | Paper II | Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) and Statistical Investigator Gr. II | 2 Hours |
Below, we have provided the detailed SSC CGL exam pattern 2025 for Tier 2.
SSC CGL Exam Pattern 2025 for Tier 2 Paper 1
The SSC CGL Paper 1 of Tier 2 exam consists of two sessions: Sessions I and II. Session I consists of sections: Section 1, Section 2, and Section 3 Module I. Candidates will get a total of 2 hours and 15 minutes to attempt Session I, which is conducted to test candidates’ mathematical abilities, reasoning abilities, English abilities, general knowledge, and computer knowledge. Session II consists of Section III Module II, which is conducted to test the candidate’s typing speed ability. Check out the complete SSC CGL exam question paper pattern of tier 2 for the paper 1 exam.
| SSC CGL Tier 2 Exam Pattern 2025 Paper 1 | |||||||
| Sessions | Sections | Modules | Subject | No. of Questions | Marks | Weightage | Duration |
| Session I | Section I | Module-I | Mathematical Abilities | 30 | 90 | 23% | 1 hour |
| Module-II | Reasoning and General Intelligence | 30 | 90 | 23% | |||
| Section II | Module-I | English Language and Comprehension | 45 | 135 | 35% | 1 hour | |
| Module-II | General Awareness | 25 | 75 | 19% | |||
| Section III | Module-I | Computer Knowledge Test | 20 | 60 | Qualifying | 15 minutes | |
| Session II | Module-II | Data Entry Speed Test | One Data Entry Task | Qualifying | 15 minutes | ||
SSC CGL Tier 2 Exam Pattern 2025 Paper 2
Paper 2 of the tier 2 exam is conducted for candidates who have applied for Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) and Statistical Investigator Grade. II posts. Paper 2 of the Tier 2 exam consists of 100 questions for 200 marks. Know the section, duration, etc, in the table given below for the Paper 2 exam.
| SSC CGL Tier 2 Paper 2 (For JSO and Statistical Investigator Gr. II Posts) | ||||
| Paper | Section | Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| Paper II | Statistics | 100 | 200 | 2 hours |
SSC CGL Tier 2 Total Marks
The SSC CGL mains exam consists of two papers: Paper 1 and Paper 2. Paper 1 is compulsory for all posts, while Paper 2 will be conducted only for candidates who will opt for the JSO and Statistical Investigator Grade. II posts. The SSC CGL tier 2 total mark is 390 (except for JSO and Statistical Investigators II posts).
SSC CGL Total Marks
The SSC CGL (Staff Selection Commission – Combined Graduate Level) exam is conducted in multiple tiers. The total marks vary by tier:
- Tier-I: This is an objective-type test with four sections — General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, and English Comprehension — each carrying 50 marks, totaling 200 marks.
- Tier-II: This includes multiple papers. Session I and II carry 390 marks. Other papers like Statistics (Paper-II) are for specific posts, carrying 200 marks.
So, the maximum SSC CGL total marks depend on the number of papers taken, but for most candidates, it is 790 marks (Tier-I + Tier-II Paper-I & II). Descriptive and skill tests follow for certain posts.
SSC CGL Negative Marking 2025
There will be a negative marking in SSC CGL Tier 1 and 2 Exams. Know the SSC CGL negative marking for both tiers carefully, provided below in the form of a table.
| Exam Stage | CGL Negative Marking Marks |
| Negative marking in SSC CGL Tier 1 | Negative marking of 0.5 marks for every wrong answer. |
| Negative Marking in SSC CGL tier 2 | – Negative marking of 1 mark for each wrong answer in Section 1, Section 2, and Module 1 of Section 3 of Paper 1 – 0.50 marks for each wrong answer in Paper 2. |
SSC CGL DEST Exam Pattern 2025
The SSC conducts the SSC CGL Data Entry Speed Test (DEST), which is mandatory for all posts. It is included under Module II of Section III of Paper I. Candidates will get a total of 15 minutes to attempt this test. Below, we have provided the details related to the DEST in table format.
| Particulars of DEST | Details |
|---|---|
| Duration | 15 minutes |
| Passage Length | About 2000 key depressions |
| Passage Description | Detailed instructions provided by Regional Offices of the Commission |
| Evaluation Details | Available on SSC’s website: Candidate’s Corner (www.ssc.gov.in) |
SSC CGL Exam Pattern 2025: Marking Scheme
Candidates who want to clear the SSC CGL exam must keep in mind the marking scheme of the exam, which is an important part of the SSC CGL exam pattern 2025. An understanding of the marking scheme will help candidates avoid unnecessary deductions in the upcoming SSC CGL 2025 exam. As per the SSC CGL Marking Scheme, marks are awarded for every right answer and deducted for every wrong answer. In the SSC CGL Tier 1 exam, there is a negative marking of 0.50 marks for each wrong answer given, whereas, in Tier 2, 1 mark is deducted in Sections I, II, and Module I of Section III in Paper I for each wrong answer. Similarly, 0.50 marks are deducted in Paper II for each wrong answer.
SSC CGL Tier 1 Marking Scheme
| Questions | Marks Allotted |
|---|---|
| Marks allotted for Correct Question | 2 marks |
| Marks allotted for Incorrect Question | 0.50 marks |
SSC CGL Tier 2 Marking Scheme
| SSC CGL Tier-II | Marks Awarded per Question | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | 3 Marks | 1 marks |
| Paper 2 | 2 Marks | 0.50 marks |
Complete SSC CGL Exam Pattern 2025 in Detail – Watch Now
The SSC CGL 2025 Exam Pattern is provided below in a video format containing a detailed explanation of the exam pattern for tier 1 and tier 2 exams. If you are an SSC CGL 2025 aspirant, you must watch this video. This will help you to kickstart your preparation.
SSC CGL Exam Syllabus 2025
After knowing the SSC CGL Paper Pattern 2025, now it’s time to explore the SSC CGL Syllabus 2025. Understanding the SSC CGL Exam Syllabus will help you to make your study plan. You will be able to categorize the topics into weak and strong areas. Click on the button given below to explore the detailed SSC CGL 2025 Syllabus for Tier 1 and Tier 2.
Advantages of Knowing the SSC CGL Exam Pattern 2025
- Better Exam Preparation – Understanding the pattern helps in strategizing subject-wise preparation.
- Time Management – Knowing the number of questions and time limits allows efficient time allocation.
- Clarity on Marking Scheme – Awareness of negative marking helps avoid unnecessary guesswork.
- Section-wise Weightage – Identifying important sections helps in prioritizing high-scoring topics.
- Familiarity with Question Types – Reduces surprises in the exam by knowing the types of questions asked.
- Enhanced Confidence – A clear understanding of the pattern reduces exam anxiety and boosts confidence.
- Effective Practice – Helps in practicing mock tests in an exam-like manner for better performance.
- Smart Strategy Development – Enables candidates to plan their attempts strategically for maximum scoring.
- Avoiding Common Mistakes – Awareness of the structure helps in minimizing errors and improving accuracy.
- Adapting to Exam Trends – Helps in aligning preparation with the latest exam trends and changes.
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| Other Blogs of SSC CGL 2025 | |
| SSC CGL Previous Year Question Papers | SSC CGL Syllabus |
| SSC CGL Study Plan | SSC CGL Selection Process |
| SSC CGL Cut Off | SSC CGL Preparation Strategy |
SSC CGL Question Paper Pattern 2025: FAQs
The SSC CGL Exam Pattern 2025 consists of two tiers: Tier 1 and Tier 2.
Tier 1 includes 4 sections: English, General Awareness, Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude.
There are 100 questions in the SSC CGL Tier 1 exam.
The total duration of the SSC CGL Tier 1 exam is 60 minutes.
The SSC CGL Tier 1 exam includes Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs).
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[…] its own difficulty level and it is mandatory to clear all the tiers one by one. You can check the SSC CGL exam pattern in detail on PracticeMock’s official […]