SSC Combined Graduate Level (CGL) 2025 Examination: In-Depth Guide
Important Dates (Tentative)
| Event | Date / Status |
|---|---|
| Official Notification Release | To be Announced (Expected Mid-Year) |
| Online Application Start | To be Announced |
| Application Last Date | To be Announced |
| Tier-I Exam Date | September 2025 (Tentative) |
| Tier-II Exam Date | December 2025 (Tentative) |
| Admit Card Date | Notified 7-10 Days Before Exam |
A consistent 6-8 month preparation window is recommended for comprehensive syllabus coverage and mastering the Tier II depth.
Application Fee (Tentative)
| CATEGORY | FEE (Tentative) |
|---|---|
| General / OBC | Rs. 100/- |
| SC / ST / PwD / Ex-Servicemen / Female | Exempted (Rs. 0/-) |
Payment Mode: Online through Net Banking, Credit Card, Debit Card, or SBI Challan. The fee structure is subject to final confirmation in the official notification.
Eligibility Criteria and Posts
I. Age Limit and Relaxation:
- Minimum Age: 18 Years
- Maximum Age: 32 Years (specific posts like AAO, JSO) or 27/30 Years (most clerical/inspector posts).
- Age Relaxation is extra as per Government Rules (OBC: 3 years, SC/ST: 5 years, PwD, etc.).
The crucial date for age calculation is specified in the official notification, typically falling on January 1st of the exam year.
II. Educational Qualification:
Candidates must meet the following qualification requirements:
- All Other Posts: Must hold a Bachelor's Degree in any discipline from a recognized University or equivalent.
- Junior Statistical Officer (JSO): Bachelor's Degree with at least 60% marks in Mathematics at the 12th standard level, OR a Bachelor's Degree in any subject with Statistics as one of the subjects in the graduation level.
- Assistant Audit Officer (AAO) / Assistant Accounts Officer (AAO): Bachelor's Degree (Desirable Qualification: Chartered Accountant or Cost & Management Accountant).
Final year students may apply provisionally, but must possess the essential qualification on or before the date specified by the Commission in the official notice.
III. Major Posts Recruited:
- Group 'B' Gazetted: Assistant Audit Officer, Assistant Accounts Officer.
- Group 'B' Non-Gazetted: Assistant Section Officer (CSS, MEA, Railway), Inspector of Income Tax, Inspector (Central Excise), Inspector (Preventive Officer/Examiner), Assistant Enforcement Officer, Sub Inspector (CBI).
- Group 'C' Non-Gazetted: Senior Secretariat Assistant (SSA), Tax Assistant (CBDT/CBIC), Upper Division Clerk (UDC).
Selection Process (Revised Structure)
The SSC CGL Exam is conducted in two compulsory tiers. Tier-I is qualifying; final merit is based on Tier-II marks. The selection process is sequential and requires qualifying each stage.
- Written Examination (Tier I): Computer-Based Examination (Qualifying in Nature)
- Written Examination (Tier II): Computer-Based Examination (Merit Deciding)
- Skill Test/Data Entry Speed Test (DEST) or Computer Proficiency Test (CPT) (Qualifying)
- Document Verification & Post Preference Selection.
Exam Pattern - Tier I (Qualifying)
Tier I is an Objective Type (MCQ) online exam. Total time is 60 minutes (1 hour). There is a negative marking of 0.50 marks for each wrong answer. This tier acts as a screening test to shortlist candidates 10-15 times the number of vacancies for Tier II.
| Section | Subject | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Time Allotted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | General Intelligence & Reasoning | 25 | 50 | 60 Minutes (Total) |
| 2 | General Awareness | 25 | 50 | |
| 3 | Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 | |
| 4 | English Comprehension | 25 | 50 | |
| Total | 100 | 200 |
Tier I Detailed Syllabus:
- General Intelligence & Reasoning: Semantic Analogy, Symbolic Operations, Space Visualization, Drawing Inferences, Word Building, Critical Thinking, Emotional Intelligence, and Numerical Operations.
- General Awareness: History, Culture, Geography, Economic Scene, General Policy, and Scientific Research. Emphasis on Current Affairs of the last 6 months.
- Quantitative Aptitude: Whole numbers, Decimals, Fractions, Relationships between numbers, Percentage, Ratio & Proportion, Square roots, Averages, Interest (Simple & Compound), Profit & Loss, Discount, Partnership, Time & distance, Time & work.
- English Comprehension: Active/Passive Voice, Direct/Indirect Speech, Cloze Test, Comprehension Passage, Error Detection, Sentence Improvement, One-word Substitution, Idioms & Phrases.
Exam Pattern - Tier II (Merit Deciding)
Paper-I is compulsory for all posts and is the primary merit decider. It is mandatory to qualify all sections (including the Computer Knowledge Test) of Paper-I. The total raw score of Paper-I is out of 390 marks (180 for Quant/Reasoning + 210 for English/GA).
Paper I: Compulsory for All Posts (Total Duration: 2 Hours 30 Minutes)
| Session | Section | Module | Subject | No. of Qs | Marks (3 marks/Q) | Duration | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Session-I | Section-I | Module-I | Mathematical Abilities | 30 | 90 | 1 Hour | 1 Mark per Q |
| Module-II | Reasoning and General Intelligence | 30 | 90 | ||||
| Section-II | Module-I | English Language and Comprehension | 45 | 135 | 1 Hour | ||
| Module-II | General Awareness | 25 | 75 | ||||
| Section-III | Module-I | Computer Knowledge Test | 20 | 60 | 15 Min | ||
| Session-II | Section-III | Module-II | Data Entry Speed Test (DEST) | One Data Entry Task | Qualifying | 15 Min | N/A |
The Computer Knowledge Test and DEST are mandatory and qualifying, but their scores are not included in the 390-mark merit total. DEST is required for all candidates, whereas CPT (involving Word Processing, Spreadsheets, and Slide Generation) is specified only for specific posts (e.g., CSS, MEA).
Paper II (Statistics - Only for JSO Posts)
- Subject: Statistics (Detailed syllabus includes Collection, Classification, Measures of Central Tendency, Correlation, Probability, Sampling Theory, etc.)
- No. of Questions: 100
- Maximum Marks: 200
- Negative Marking: 0.50 Marks per question.
Paper III (General Studies - Finance & Economics - Only for AAO Posts)
- Subject: General Studies (Finance & Economics)
- No. of Questions: 100 (50 questions from Finance and 50 from Economics)
- Maximum Marks: 200
- Negative Marking: 0.50 Marks per question.
Study Guide: Tier II Strategy and Subject Focus
Tier II demands a shift from speed to in-depth accuracy, especially in the 390-mark Paper I.
| Subject | Tier I Focus | Tier II Focus (Paper I) | Weightage & Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematical Abilities (Quant) | Arithmetic, Basic Algebra, Trigonometry. | Advanced Algebra (Identities, Graphs), 2D/3D Geometry, Statistics & Probability. | High Volume (30 Qs, 90 Marks). Requires solving complex problems within a strict time limit. |
| English Language | Grammar Rules, Vocabulary, Simple Comprehension. | Reading Comprehension (Longer/Inference-based), Cloze Test, High-Level Grammar, Synthesis/Transformation. | Highest Weightage (45 Qs, 135 Marks). Must be completed with exceptional accuracy. |
| Reasoning | Puzzles, Coding-Decoding, Series, Syllogism. | Critical Thinking, Logical Deductions, and Analytical Reasoning (More complex matrix puzzles and arrangement). | High Volume (30 Qs, 90 Marks). Focus on maximizing score here to balance Quant. |
| General Awareness | Static GK and last 6 months' Current Affairs. | Deeper coverage of Indian Polity, Economy concepts, and scientific research fundamentals. | Moderate Volume (25 Qs, 75 Marks). Quickest section; accuracy determines score boost. |
Crucial Strategy Tip: Allocate the first 45 minutes of the 1-hour session for Quant and Reasoning wisely. For the second session, finish English in 40-45 minutes to leave time for the lengthy GA questions.
Time Management & Common Mistakes
Success in SSC CGL hinges on strategic time management and avoiding critical errors:
- Mock Tests are Non-Negotiable: Attempt at least 4-5 full-length mock tests weekly in the last two months. Use the analysis to identify time sinks and topics needing revision.
- Tier I Time Strategy: Aim to complete General Awareness and Reasoning sections quickly (target 15-20 minutes combined) to save maximum time for Quant and English.
- Mistake to Avoid 1 (Revision): Skipping regular revision. Daily revision (1-2 hours) of formulas, vocabulary, and GK notes is essential for long-term retention.
- Mistake to Avoid 2 (Weak Areas): Ignoring difficult topics. Allocate dedicated time to your weak areas; Tier II demands high proficiency across all sections.
- Current Affairs: Cover the current affairs of the last 6-8 months comprehensively before the exam date.
Some Important Links:
| Official Notification (2025 Tentative) | Click Here |
| Apply Online Link | Click Here |
| SSC Official Website | Click Here |
| Detailed Exam Syllabus & Scheme | Click Here |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Tier I marks counted for the final selection?
No, Tier I is only qualifying in nature. The final merit is calculated based on the marks obtained in the Tier II examination (Paper-I, and Papers II/III if applicable). You must score above the minimum cut-off set by the Commission to proceed to Tier II.
What is the negative marking in Tier II?
There is a negative marking of 1 mark for each wrong answer in Sections I, II, and Module-I of Section III (Computer Knowledge) of Paper-I. This is a very high penalty. For Papers II and III (JSO/AAO), the penalty is 0.50 marks per wrong answer.
Is the Computer Knowledge Test (CKT) compulsory?
Yes, the Computer Knowledge Test (Module-I of Section-III) is mandatory and qualifying for all posts. Candidates who fail to achieve the minimum qualifying score will be immediately disqualified from the entire selection process, regardless of their Paper-I score.
What is the difference between DEST and CPT?
DEST (Data Entry Speed Test) is mandatory for almost all posts and requires typing a passage for 15 minutes. CPT (Computer Proficiency Test) is required for specific posts (like Assistant Section Officer) and involves modules on Word Processing, Spreadsheets, and Slide Generation.
Is there a sectional cutoff in Tier II?
Yes. As per the revised scheme, candidates must qualify in every section/module of Paper-I (Section I, Section II, and Module-I of Section III) by securing the minimum qualifying marks prescribed by the Commission.
How is the final merit list prepared?
The final merit list is prepared based on the candidate's aggregate score in Tier II (Paper-I + Paper-II/III, if applicable). Candidates must have also successfully qualified the Computer Knowledge Test (CKT) and the Data Entry Speed Test (DEST/CPT).