SSC CGL Syllabus & Exam Pattern

SSC CGL Syllabus & Exam Pattern (Tier 1 & Tier 2)

The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) conducts the Combined Graduate Level (CGL) examination to recruit candidates for various Group ‘B’ and Group ‘C’ posts across central government ministries and departments.

The recruitment process consists of two stages: Tier 1 (Qualifying) and Tier 2 (Merit-determining), followed by document verification.

1. SSC CGL Exam Pattern

Tier 1 Exam Pattern (CBT)

• Mode: Computer-Based Examination (Objective Type MCQs)

• Nature: Qualifying in nature (marks not added to final merit list)

• Negative Marking: 0.50 marks deducted for each wrong answer

• Duration: 60 minutes (1 Hour) total

Tier 2 Exam Pattern (CBT)

The final merit list is prepared strictly based on performance in Tier 2.

• Negative Marking: 1 mark for each wrong answer in Paper I (Sections I, II, & III). For Paper II & III, 0.50 marks are deducted per incorrect response.

• Computer Knowledge & DEST: Mandatory for all posts, qualifying in nature.

Paper I: Compulsory for All Posts

Paper II & Paper III: Post-Specific Papers

2. Detailed SSC CGL Tier 1 Syllabus

Quantitative Aptitude

• Arithmetic: Number Systems, Computation of Whole Numbers, Decimals & Fractions, Percentages, Ratio & Proportion, Square Roots, Averages, Interest (Simple & Compound), Profit & Loss, Discount, Partnership Business, Mixture & Alligation, Time & Distance, Time & Work.

• Algebra: Basic algebraic identities of School Algebra, Elementary Surds, Graphs of Linear Equations.

• Geometry: Familiarity with elementary geometric figures and facts; Triangles and its kinds of centres, Congruence and similarity of triangles; Circle and its chords, Tangents, Angles subtended by chords, Common tangents to two or more circles.

• Mensuration: Triangle, Quadrilaterals, Regular Polygons, Circle, Right Prism, Right Circular Cone, Right Circular Cylinder, Sphere, Hemispheres, Rectangular Parallelepiped, Regular Right Pyramid with triangular or square base.

   

• Trigonometry: Trigonometric ratios, Degree and Radian Measures, Standard Identities, Complementary angles, Heights and Distances.

   

• Data Interpretation: Histograms, Frequency polygons, Bar diagrams, Pie charts.

General Intelligence & Reasoning

• Verbal Reasoning: Analogies, Similarities and Differences, Space Visualisation, Spatial Orientation, Problem Solving, Analysis, Judgment, Decision Making, Visual Memory, Discrimination, Observation, Relationship Concepts, Arithmetical Reasoning, Figural Classification, Arithmetic Number Series, Non-verbal Series, Coding & Decoding, Statement Conclusion, Syllogistic Reasoning.

• Non-Verbal & Analytical: Semantic Analogy, Symbolic/Number Analogy, Figural Analogy, Semantic Classification, Symbolic/Number Classification, Figural Classification, Semantic Series, Number Series, Figural Series, Problem Solving, Word Building, Coding & de-coding, Numerical Operations, Symbolic Operations, Trends, Space Orientation, Space Visualisation, Venn Diagrams, Drawing Inferences, Punched hole/pattern-folding & unfolding, Figural Pattern-folding and completion, Indexing, Address matching, Date & city matching, Classification of centre codes/roll numbers, Small & Capital letters/numbers coding, Embedded Figures, Critical thinking, Emotional Intelligence, Social Intelligence.

   

English Comprehension

• Grammar & Usage: Spot the Error, Fill in the Blanks, Active/Passive Voice of Verbs, Conversion into Direct/Indirect narration, Sentence Correction / Improvement.

• Vocabulary: Synonyms, Antonyms, Homonyms, Spelling/detecting mis-spelt words, Idioms & Phrases, One Word Substitution.

• Reading & Structure: Sentence Rearrangement, Cloze Passage, Comprehension Passage.

General Awareness

• Static GK & Culture: Indian History, Culture, Geography, Indian Polity & Constitution, Indian Economy.

• Science: Everyday Science, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Environmental Studies.

• Current Affairs: National & International Events, Sports & Personalities, Books & Authors, Government Schemes, Important Days & Dates, Portfolios, India and its neighbouring countries.

3. Detailed SSC CGL Tier 2 Syllabus

Paper I — Compulsory Modules

Module-I of Section-I: Mathematical Abilities

• Number Systems: Computation of Whole Number, Decimal and Fractions, Relationship between numbers.

   

• Fundamental Arithmetical Operations: Percentages, Ratio and Proportion, Square roots, Averages, Interest (Simple and Compound), Profit and Loss, Discount, Partnership Business, Mixture and Alligation, Time and distance, Time & Work.

   

• Algebra: Basic algebraic identities of School Algebra & Elementary surds, Graphs of Linear Equations.

• Geometry: Triangles and their various kinds of centres, Congruence and similarity of triangles, Circle and its chords, tangents, angles subtended by chords of a circle, common tangents to two or more circles.

   

• Mensuration: Triangle, Quadrilaterals, Regular Polygons, Circle, Right Prism, Right Circular Cone, Right Circular Cylinder, Sphere, Hemispheres, Rectangular Parallelepiped, Regular Right Pyramid with triangular or square base.

   

• Trigonometry: Trigonometry, Trigonometric ratios, Complementary angles, Height and Distances (simple problems only), Standard Identities.

• Statistics and Probability: Use of Tables and Graphs: Histogram, Frequency polygon, Bar-diagram, Pie-chart; Measures of central tendency: Mean, Median, Mode; Standard deviation; Calculation of simple probabilities.

Module-II of Section-I: Reasoning & General Intelligence

• Verbal and non-verbal reasoning topics testing higher-order thinking, logical deduction, figural manipulation, critical thinking, emotional and social intelligence, and situational judgment.

Module-I of Section-II: English Language & Comprehension

• Vocabulary & Grammar: Vocabulary, English Grammar, Sentence structure, Spot the Error, Fill in the Blanks, Synonyms, Antonyms, Spellings/detecting mis-spelt words, Idioms & Phrases, One word substitution, Improvement of Sentences.

• Voice & Speech: Active/Passive Voice, Direct/Indirect narration.

• Comprehension & Ordering: Shuffling of Sentence parts, Shuffling of Sentences in a passage, Cloze Passage, Reading Comprehension Passages (minimum of three passages, with at least one based on an editorial, book excerpt, or current affairs report).

Module-II of Section-II: General Awareness

• In-depth questions covering History, Culture, Geography, Economic Scene, General Policy, and Scientific Research, alongside contemporary national and global developments.

Module-I of Section-III: Computer Knowledge Test (Qualifying)

• Computer Basics: CPU, Organization of a computer, Input/Output devices, Memory, Memory organization, Back-up devices, Ports, Windows Explorer, Keyboard shortcuts.

• Software: Windows Operating System basics, MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

• Internet & Web: Browsing, Searching, Uploading/Downloading, Email management, e-Banking.

• Networking & Cyber Security: Networking devices and protocols, Network and information security threats (Viruses, Worms, Trojans), and preventive measures.

Module-II of Section-III: Data Entry Speed Test (DEST)

• Typing a given passage of approximately 2,000 key depressions within 15 minutes on a computer.

Paper II — Statistics (For Junior Statistical Officer – JSO)

• Collection, Classification and Presentation of Statistical Data: Primary and Secondary data, Methods of data collection, Tabulation of data, Graphs and charts, Frequency distributions, Diagrammatic presentation.

• Measures of Central Tendency: Mean, Median, Mode, Partition values: Quartiles, Deciles, Percentiles.

• Measures of Dispersion: Range, Quartile deviations, Mean deviation, Standard deviation, Measures of relative dispersion.

• Moments, Skewness, and Kurtosis: Moments, Karl Pearson’s and Bowley’s coefficients of Skewness, Kurtosis.

• Correlation and Regression: Scatter diagram, Simple correlation coefficient, Rank correlation, Regression lines, Multiple and partial correlation.

• Probability Theory: Classical, Empirical and Axiomatic definitions of Probability, Addition and Multiplication theorems, Conditional probability, Bayes’ theorem.

• Random Variables & Probability Distributions: Expectation, Variance, Binomial, Poisson, Normal, and Exponential distributions.

• Sampling Theory: Census vs Sample surveys, Types of sampling (SRS, Stratified, Systematic, Cluster), Sampling distribution, Standard error, Sample size determination.

• Statistical Inference: Point and interval estimation, Properties of estimators, Testing of hypothesis (Z-test, t-test, Chi-square test, F-test).

• Analysis of Variance (ANOVA): One-way and two-way classified data.

• Time Series Analysis: Components of time series, Determination of trend and seasonal variations.

• Index Numbers: Uses, Methods of construction (Laspeyres, Paasche, Fisher), Tests of index numbers, Consumer price index numbers.

Paper III — General Studies: Finance & Economics (For AAO)

Part A: Finance and Accounts (80 Marks)

• Financial Accounting: Nature and scope, Limitations of financial accounting, Basic concepts and conventions, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).

• Basic Concepts of Accounting: Single and double entry, Books of original entry, Bank Reconciliation Statement, Ledgers, Trial balance, Rectification of errors, Manufacturing/Trading/Profit & Loss account, Balance Sheet, Distinction between capital and revenue expenditure, Depreciation accounting, Inventory valuation, Non-profit organisations’ accounts, Bills of Exchange.

Part B: Economics and Governance (120 Marks)

• Comptroller & Auditor General of India: Constitutional provisions, Role and functions.

• Finance Commission: Role and functions.

• Basic Economic Concepts: Micro and Macroeconomics, Central problems of an economy, Production Possibility Curve (PPC), Law of Demand, Elasticity of Demand, Consumer Behaviour, Supply, Elasticity of Supply.

• Theory of Production and Cost: Factors of Production, Laws of Returns, Returns to Scale, Cost Curves.

• Forms of Market: Perfect Competition, Monopoly, Monopolistic Competition, Oligopoly (price determination).

• Indian Economy: Nature of the Indian Economy, Role of Agriculture, Industry, and Services sectors, National Income (concepts and aggregates), Population, Poverty, Unemployment, Infrastructure.

• Economic Reforms & Monetary Policy: LPG Reforms (1991), Disinvestment, Role of Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Commercial Banks, Monetary policy, Fiscal policy, Union Budget, Deficits, Balance of Payments.

• Governance: FRBM Act 2003, Role of Information Technology in governance (E-Governance).

4. Official Syllabus PDF Download

Download the complete official notification and syllabus PDF directly from the Staff Selection Commission portal:

• Official Website: ssc.gov.in

• Navigate to: Candidate's Corner > Syllabus to access the Combined Graduate Level Examination document.

5. Strategic Preparation Tips

1. Prioritize Tier 2 Weightage: Since Tier 1 is qualifying, orient preparation toward Tier 2 depth—specifically Mathematical Abilities and English Language, which carry the highest weightage.

2. Master Previous Year Questions (PYQs): SSC repeats question types across quantitative aptitude and reasoning; solving the last 5 years’ papers builds speed and accuracy.

3. Daily Revision of Formulas & Vocabulary: Maintain separate formula sheets and vocabulary logbooks for root words, idioms, and one-word substitutions.

4. Do Not Ignore Qualifying Modules: Practice computer fundamentals and regular typing drills weekly to avoid disqualification in the Computer Knowledge and DEST modules.