The SSC CGL syllabus for 2026 has four subjects in Tier I: General Intelligence and Reasoning, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude and English Comprehension. Each has 25 questions worth 50 marks. The official notice gives one hour overall, with a separate 15 minute timer for each subject, and deducts 0.50 marks for every wrong answer. Tier II has a compulsory Paper I plus specialist papers for specified posts.
| Tier I subject | Questions | Marks | Standard time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning | 25 | 50 | 15 minutes |
| General Awareness | 25 | 50 | 15 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 | 15 minutes |
| English Comprehension | 25 | 50 | 15 minutes |
This guide follows sections 13.8 to 13.11 of the SSC Combined Graduate Level Examination 2026 notice, checked on 28 October 2026, IST. It explains the scheme and syllabus rather than announcing a fresh application or examination date. Candidates should use their own cycle's notice, because a familiar examination name does not guarantee that an older pattern still applies.
What is in the SSC CGL Tier I syllabus?
Reasoning covers verbal and nonverbal questions, including analogies, similarities and differences, spatial visualisation, classification, number series, coding and decoding, relationships and problem solving. The practical task is to recognise a relationship or rule quickly enough to use it within the subject's allotted time.
General Awareness includes the surrounding environment and its application to society, current events and matters of everyday observation. The notice names India and neighbouring countries, with particular attention to history, culture, geography, economic matters, general policy and scientific research. These are syllabus areas, not a prediction of how many questions each topic will receive.
Quantitative Aptitude includes whole numbers, decimals, fractions, percentages, ratio and proportion, averages, interest, profit and loss, discount, partnership, mixture and alligation, time and distance, and time and work. Algebra, geometry, mensuration, trigonometry and statistical charts also appear. English Comprehension tests understanding, basic comprehension and writing ability. Preparing only arithmetic would leave several expressly listed mathematics areas uncovered.
Tier I questions are objective multiple choice. They are set in English and Hindi except for English Comprehension. The notice provides extra time for candidates eligible under its scribe provisions: the Tier I allowance becomes 80 minutes, with 20 minutes per subject. Eligibility for that allowance must be checked against the relevant provisions, rather than assumed from a general description of disability.
What is the SSC CGL Tier II pattern for 2026?
Paper I is compulsory for all posts. Section I contains 30 Mathematical Abilities questions and 30 Reasoning and General Intelligence questions, carrying 180 marks together. The standard hour is divided into 30 minutes for each subject. Section II has 45 English Language and Comprehension questions and 25 General Awareness questions, worth 210 marks together. Its standard hour is split into 40 minutes for English and 20 for awareness.
Section III is the Computer Knowledge Test, with 20 questions carrying 60 marks and a standard duration of 15 minutes. Section IV is the Data Entry Speed Test, held in the second session for 15 minutes. The notice describes a passage of about 2,000 key depressions. The knowledge test and the speed test are mandatory but qualifying in nature, with higher qualifying standards specified for certain posts.
Session I of Paper I lasts two hours and 15 minutes under the standard scheme. After a break for re-registration, Session II covers the speed test. All sections of Paper I must be qualified separately. The SSC notice also sets compensatory time and particular exemption conditions, so candidates using those provisions should read the full text before drawing conclusions from the standard timings.
Who takes Statistics and Finance papers, and what is negative marking?
Paper II, Statistics, applies to candidates who applied and were shortlisted for Junior Statistical Officer or Statistical Investigator Grade II posts named in the notice. Paper III, General Studies covering Finance and Economics, applies to candidates shortlisted for Assistant Audit Officer or Assistant Accounts Officer. Each specialist paper has 100 questions, 200 marks and a standard duration of two hours.
The wrong answer deduction is one mark in Sections I, II and III of Paper I. It is 0.50 marks in Paper II and Paper III. Keep that distinction separate from Tier I's 0.50 mark penalty. The specialist syllabus includes detailed Statistics topics in Paper II, while Paper III divides Finance and Accounts and Economics and Governance into 80 and 120 marks respectively.
To build a usable checklist, open the official notice and read the examination tables before the indicative syllabus. Mark the specialist paper that actually applies to your shortlisted post. For other examination structures, our guides cover UPSC stages and marks, the IBPS Clerk preliminary examination checklist and RRB NTPC graduate selection stages.
