SSC CGL Exam Pattern 2026 Released: Check Tier 1 & 2 Pattern; Paper-wise Negative Marking

The candidates are advised to read and understand SSC CGL exam pattern as given in the notification. The exam pattern help candidates to know the stages in the exam, duration of the exam and also the marking scheme. The best way to practise the exam pattern is to solve the exam's previous year question papers. The previous year question papers provide the better idea of time management and the topics preparation required for clearing the CGL exam. The exam pattern for all the Tiers is different. See below here the summarised version of exam patterns for SSC CGL exam.

SSC CGL Tier-I exam contains a total of 100 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) of 200 marks. Candidates need to complete the exam in online mode for 60 minutes (one hour).

SSC CGL Tier 1 Exam Pattern

For further clarification, candidates can refer to the table below:

The candidates need to read, understand, solve and marks the answer of 100 questions in 60 minutes. It implies that less than one minute will be available to the candidates for one question. There is a negative marking in the Tier 1 exam and the Commission deducts 0.50 marks for each incorrect answer.

SSC CGL Tier 1 Exam Marking Scheme

The candidates can calculate their marks from the tentative answer key because there is not much changes in the final answer key. The SSC CGL Tier 1 marking scheme is summarised below:

SSC CGL Tier 1 Marks Calculation formula - (Number of Correct Questions x 2) - (Number of Incorrect Questions x 0.5)

The Commission will carry out the normalisation process on these raw marks to arrive at the normalised marks and based on which, the SSC CGL Tier 1 result will be prepared.

The candidates are required to read and understand the CGL exam pattern so that they can understand the exam fully. SSC CGL exam pattern in consonance with the syllabus, previous year question papers and cutoff immensely help the candidates in SSC CGL preparation. Exam patterns of all the tiers are different and hence the candidates should read, understand and internalise them. Marks secured in each tier are counted for the final merit. 

Also Read

SSC CGL Tier 1 Shift Timing

SSC CGL Tier 2 Exam Pattern

SSC CGL Tier 2 exam consists of three papers. Each paper consists of MCQs that candidates need to attempt in online mode. Candidates need to attempt each paper for a duration of 120 minutes (two hours). For further clarification, candidates can refer to the table below:

Note: Paper-I of SSC CGL tier-II is compulsory for all posts. It will be mandatory for the candidates to qualify all the sections of Paper-I.

Paper-II will be for only those candidates who apply for the posts of Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) in the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation and who are shortlisted in Tier-I for these Posts.

Paper-III will be for only those candidates who are shortlisted in Tier-I for Paper-III i.e. for the posts of Assistant Audit Officer/ Assistant Accounts Officer. This year, there will be no Paper III (General Studies-Finance and Economics). 

SSC CGL Tier 2 Marking Scheme

The candidates can see here the SSC CGL Tier 2 marking scheme so that they can easily calculate their marks. There are three papers in the SSC CGL Tier 2 exam and the marks allotted for the questions in each paper is different. The SSC CGL Tier 2 marking scheme can be understood with the help of following table.

The candidates can check their score based on the above marking scheme.

SSC CGL Tier 2 Paper 1 Marks Calculation formula - (Number of Correct Questions x 3) - (Number of Incorrect Questions x 1)

SSC CGL Tier 2 Paper 2 & 3 Marks Calculation formula - (Number of Correct Questions x 2) - (Number of Incorrect Questions x 0.5)

The Staff Selection Commission will carry out normalisation on the above-calculated marks and prepare the result based on the normalised marks. 

The Commission will mention the SSC CGL scorecard after the declaration of result of each phase. 

Earlier, the Commission introduced a new exam pattern for the CGL Tier 2 exam. Earlier, there were four papers in SSC CGL Tier 2 exam, but now there will be three papers only. 

Candidates should note that there is a negative marking in the SSC CGL exam and the candidates should attempt the questions keeping in mind the same. The negative marking reduces the marks of the candidate for each incorrect answer. The candidates can see below the quantum of negative markings in each tier. The candidates can see here the SSC CGL General Awareness questions with official answers.

The candidates can see here the SSC CGL exam analysis.

Negative Marking in SSC CGL Tier 1 Exam

There is a negative marking in SSC CGL Tier 1 exam. two marks are awarded for every correct answer in the exam. There is a negative marking of 0.50 marks for each wrong answer in the exam.

For each incorrect answer, 0.5 marks of the candidate will be deducted. It means each four incorrect answers will eat up the marks secured in one correct question making the resultant marks of 5 questions to zero. 

Negative Marking in SSC CGL Tier 2

There will be a negative marking of 1 mark for each wrong answer in Section-I, Section-II and Module-I of Section-III of Paper-I and of 0.50 marks for each wrong answer in Paper-II and Paper-III. SSC CGL tier-II marking scheme for different papers is mentioned below:

SSC CGL Document Verification (DV)

The candidates should note that the following documents will be required for the document verification stage. The document verification is the last stage of the CGL selection process.

It may be noted that the candidature of candidates who are unable to produce the aforementioned documents will be cancelled. 

Also Read: SSC CGL Post-Wise Requirements of Physical Standards, Physical Tests & Medical Standards

The candidates can see here important questions related to SSC CGL pattern 2026.