The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) officially released the SSC CGL 2025 notification on June 9, 2025, announcing 14,582 tentative vacancies for various Group B and Group C posts across top central government departments like the Income Tax Department, CBI, CBIC, and others. As one of the most prestigious and competitive government exams in India, the SSC Combined Graduate Level (CGL) Examination 2025 demands a well-planned preparation strategy. And the first step toward that is understanding the latest SSC CGL exam pattern 2025 in detail.
Whether you're targeting the Assistant Section Officer, Inspector of Income Tax, or Sub-Inspector in CBI, having a clear understanding of the tier-wise exam structure, marking scheme, subject-wise weightage, and time duration is crucial to crack this exam efficiently.
In this article, we bring you the most accurate and updated SSC CGL 2025 exam pattern based on the official SSC notification, broken down tier-wise for easy understanding. Stay informed with Preptive's in-depth exam guidance and boost your preparation with clarity and confidence.
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Download SSC CGL 2025 Syllabus
Overview of SSC CGL 2025 Exam Structure
The SSC CGL 2025 exam structure has been officially streamlined into two stages – Tier-I and Tier-II, both of which are conducted in online computer-based mode. This exam pattern ensures a transparent and fast evaluation process, making it crucial for aspirants to understand each stage thoroughly.
Tier-I: Preliminary Exam (Qualifying Stage)
Tier-I of the SSC CGL 2025 serves as a screening round for all registered candidates. This stage is a computer-based objective exam, designed to assess basic aptitude across four sections — General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, and English Comprehension. Although marks from Tier-I aren’t counted in the final merit, qualifying it is mandatory to move to the next stage.
Tier-II: Mains Examination
Tier-II is the core scoring stage of the SSC CGL selection process. It includes:
- Paper-I: Compulsory for all candidates, assessing Mathematical Abilities, Reasoning, English Language, General Awareness, and Computer Knowledge.
- Paper-II: Only for candidates applying to the post of Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) and focuses on Statistics.
Both Tier-I and Tier-II exams are bilingual (available in English and Hindi) except for the English Language & Comprehension section, which is exclusively in English.
The SSC CGL 2025 exam pattern is designed to evaluate a candidate’s overall aptitude, critical thinking, data handling, language proficiency, and domain-specific knowledge (for roles like JSO).
SSC CGL Tier-I Exam Pattern 2025
The Tier-I examination of SSC CGL 2025 acts as the preliminary qualifying stage and is mandatory for all candidates. It is conducted in online computer-based mode, and is designed to evaluate a candidate’s basic aptitude across four key subjects. Understanding the SSC CGL Tier-I exam pattern 2025 is crucial for building an effective preparation strategy from the beginning.
This stage consists of 100 multiple-choice questions (MCQs), divided equally among four sections. Each section carries 25 questions worth 50 marks, making the total weightage 200 marks.
General Intelligence and Reasoning
- 25 questions, 50 marks
- Level: Graduation
General Awareness
- 25 questions, 50 marks
- Level: Graduation
Quantitative Aptitude
- 25 questions, 50 marks
- Level: 10th standard
English Comprehension
- 25 questions, 50 marks
- Level: Graduation
The total duration of the Tier-I exam is 60 minutes, However, candidates who are eligible for a scribe are given 80 minutes to complete the exam. The question paper is bilingual which available in both English and Hindi, except for the English Comprehension section, which is in English only.
It's important to keep in mind that there's a negative marking system, where 0.5 marks are deducted for each wrong answer. So, while speed matters, accuracy plays an equally crucial role in scoring well.
Although the Tier-I exam is qualifying in nature and its marks are not counted in the final merit list, candidates must secure the minimum qualifying marks prescribed by SSC:
- UR (General) – 30%
- OBC/EWS – 25%
- Other Categories – 20%
The SSC CGL Tier-I syllabus is designed to assess fundamental skills like logical reasoning, awareness of current events, numerical ability, and English comprehension. Mastering this stage opens the door to Tier-II, the merit-deciding round of the recruitment process.
SSC CGL Tier-II Exam Pattern 2025
The SSC CGL Tier-II exam 2025 is the main scoring stage of the selection process and plays a decisive role in preparing the final merit list. Unlike Tier-I, the marks obtained in Tier-II are counted in the final selection, making it a highly competitive and crucial stage for all aspirants.
Tier-II consists of two main papers:
- Paper-I: Compulsory for all posts
- Paper-II: Applicable only for candidates who have applied for the post of Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) or Statistical Investigator Grade-II
Let’s take a detailed look at the SSC CGL Tier-II Paper-I exam pattern, which itself is conducted in two sessions on the same day.
Paper-I: Compulsory for All Candidates
Session-I (Duration: 2 hours 15 minutes)
This session is divided into two sections, each designed to test candidates on essential job-related skills.
Section-I includes:
Mathematical Abilities
- 30 Questions | 90 Marks
- Duration: Shared 1 hour
Reasoning and General Intelligence
- 30 Questions | 90 Marks
- Duration: Same 1 hour as above
Total for Section-I: 60 Questions | 180 Marks
Section-II includes:
English Language and Comprehension
- 45 Questions | 135 Marks
- Duration: Shared 1 hour
General Awareness
- 25 Questions | 75 Marks
- Duration: Same 1 hour as above
Total for Section-II: 70 Questions | 210 Marks
Grand Total for Session-I:
130 Questions | 390 Marks
- Negative Marking: 1 mark will be deducted for each wrong answer in both Section-I and Section-II.
- Mode of Exam: Computer-Based Test (CBT)
- Medium: English & Hindi (except English Language section)
Session-II (Duration: 15 minutes)
Session-II of Paper-I includes a Computer Knowledge Test, which is mandatory and tests basic digital proficiency required for central government roles.
Section-III includes:
Computer Knowledge Test
- 20 Questions | 60 Marks
- Duration: 15 minutes
- Negative Marking: 1 mark deducted for each incorrect answer
Although the Computer Knowledge Test is a short module, it carries significant weightage, especially for roles where computer handling is critical.
Key Highlights of Tier-II:
- Paper-I is mandatory for all SSC CGL posts
- Session-I covers Maths, Reasoning, English, and General Awareness
- Session-II covers Computer Knowledge only
- Paper-II (Statistics) is held separately for JSO/Statistical Investigator applicants only
- Tier-II marks are included in final merit
- Strict negative marking of 1 mark per wrong answer makes accuracy extremely important
The SSC CGL Tier-II exam pattern 2025 has been carefully structured to evaluate a candidate’s advanced cognitive skills, numerical accuracy, language command, and digital literacy. With a total of 450 marks at stake in Paper-I alone, candidates must focus on each section strategically to maximize their scores.
Data Entry Speed Test (DEST) – SSC CGL 2025
The Data Entry Speed Test (DEST) is a qualifying skill test conducted for specific posts under SSC CGL 2025, most notably for the position of Tax Assistant in CBDT and other similar roles that require basic computer proficiency. DEST is not scored but remains mandatory for final selection in these particular posts.
Key Details of DEST:
Test Duration:
- 15 minutes (General candidates)
- 20 minutes for scribe-eligible candidates
- Additional compensatory time for candidates with PwBD/PwD certification
- Test Nature: Candidates are required to type a given passage to test their data entry speed and accuracy.
Qualifying Criteria (Max Errors Allowed):
- UR (General) – 20%
- OBC/EWS – 25%
- Other Categories (SC/ST/PwD) – 30%
Exemptions:
- Candidates with orthopedic disability (OH) are exempted from DEST if they provide a valid medical certificate from a Civil Surgeon.
- However, no exemption is provided for posts like Tax Assistant in CBDT, where computer proficiency is essential.
The DEST for SSC CGL 2025 is crucial even though it is qualifying in nature. Failure to clear DEST can lead to disqualification from the specific post, even after clearing Tier-I and Tier-II.
SSC CGL 2025 Paper-II (Statistics) – For JSO/Statistical Investigator Posts
The Paper-II of SSC CGL Tier-II exam 2025 is conducted only for candidates who have applied for the post of Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) or Statistical Investigator Grade-II. This paper tests a candidate’s proficiency in Statistics at the graduation level and carries significant weight in the final merit for these posts.
Key Features of Paper-II (Statistics):
- Subject: Statistics
- Total Questions: 100
- Total Marks: 200
- Exam Duration: 2 hours
- Negative Marking: 0.50 marks deducted for each wrong answer
- Difficulty Level: Graduation level (as per Bachelor's degree syllabus in Statistics/Mathematics)
This paper requires a solid conceptual understanding of statistical theories, probability, data interpretation, and applied statistical methods. It is conducted in online mode and is a mandatory part of the SSC CGL selection process for JSO and Statistical Investigator posts.
Candidates targeting statistical roles must give special attention to this paper, as the marks scored in SSC CGL Paper-II are counted in the final merit list.
Minimum Qualifying Marks
Minimum Qualifying Marks – SSC CGL 2025:
- General (UR) Category: 30% in each paper
- OBC/EWS Categories: 25% in each paper
- Other Categories (SC/ST/PwD, etc.): 20% in each paper
Failing to secure these minimum cutoffs in any applicable paper results in disqualification from the selection process, irrespective of overall scores or rank.
Language of Examination – Bilingual Support
All questions in SSC CGL Tier-I and Tier-II exams, except the English Language and Comprehension sections, are available in both English and Hindi. This bilingual format ensures accessibility for a wider range of candidates across the country.
However, the English Language sections are strictly in English only, including grammar, vocabulary, comprehension, and usage-based questions.
Normalization of Marks
Since the SSC CGL 2025 exams are conducted in multiple shifts, there are inevitable variations in difficulty levels across sessions. To ensure fairness, normalization of marks is applied using a scientifically developed statistical formula.
SSC has officially published the normalization procedure in its notice dated June 2, 2025, which is available on the official website ssc.gov.in. This ensures that no candidate is at a disadvantage due to shift-level differences.
Answer Keys, Objections & Final Evaluation
After the conclusion of each exam, tentative answer keys are uploaded on the SSC website. Candidates are given an opportunity to review these and submit objections online if they find any discrepancy.
- Objection Fee: ₹100 per question (non-refundable)
- Mode of Submission: Online, within a specific time window mentioned in the notification
- Final Answer Keys: Released after all representations are reviewed, and form the basis for final result calculation
It’s important for candidates to review the tentative key carefully, as final results are entirely based on the revised answer key.
Re-evaluation Policy – No Rechecking Allowed
As per SSC rules, there is no provision for re-evaluation or re-checking of answer sheets or scores. Once the final result is declared, the decision of the Commission is final and binding on all candidates. Therefore, aspirants are advised to prepare thoroughly and approach the exam with confidence and accuracy.
Download SSC CGL Syllabus