SSC MTS Exam Pattern 2025: Check Havaldar & Negative Marking
Staff Selection Commission Multi Tasking (Non-Technical) Staff Examination 2025 ( SSC MTS )
The SSC MTS exam pattern is one of the most important pillars of exam preparation. The Staff Selection Commission mentioned the SSC MTS 2025 exam pattern in the official notification. The Commission will conduct the paper based on the exam pattern notified in the notification. The Commission was expected to conduct the exam in September but it was postponed and the Commission is expected to release the revised SSC MTS exam dates soon on ssc.gov.in.
The candidates should note that the SSC MTS syllabus and exam pattern are the two most important components for the preparation. The candidates should note that the Staff Selection Commission released the SSC MTS exam notification on June 26, 2025 and the last date to apply for the exam was July 24, 2025.
- SSC MTS and Havaldar Exam Pattern 2025
- Negative Marking in SSC MTS and Havaldar Exam 2025
- SSC MTS and Havaldar PET/PST Exam Pattern
- SSC MTS and Havaldar Exam Pattern 2025 FAQs
SSC MTS and Havaldar Exam Pattern 2025
A clear understanding of the SSC MTS exam pattern will boost the confidence of the candidates and help them score in a better way. Understanding the SSC MTS exam pattern is the first step in the SSC MTS preparation. As per the new exam pattern, the Commission removed Tier 2 and document verification from the recruitment process. Besides the exam pattern, the Commission also changed the SSC MTS and Havaldar syllabus to compensate for the removal of paper 2. The Commission divided the paper into two sections having a sectional time limit of 45 minutes.
The Staff Selection Commission will notify the SSC MTS exam pattern 2025 in the official notification. The candidates will be required to check the official notification to know the exam pattern. As per the current exam pattern, the Commission removed the SSC MTS Paper 2 from the selection process. So the SSC MTS exam has only two stages as mentioned below:
1. SSC MTS Paper 1 - Objective Type (CBE)
SSC MTS Paper 2 - Descriptive Type {Offline)
2. SSC MTS PET/PST - Physical Efficiency/Standard Test (for Havaldar post)
SSC MTS Paper 1 Exam Pattern
The Commission changed the SSC MTS Paper 1 exam pattern altogether. The Commission removed the negative marking from 2 sections and assigned 3 marks to each question. Consequently, the negative marking dedication is also changed. The total number of questions is also changed. For further clarification, candidates can refer the table below:
| SSC MTS Paper-I Subjects |
Number of Questions/Maximum Marks |
Time Duration |
|---|---|---|
|
Session 1 (No-Negative Marking)
|
|
|
|
Numerical and Mathematical Ability
|
20/60 |
45 Minutes (60 Minutes for candidates eligible for scribes as per para 8) |
|
Reasoning Ability and Problem-Solving
|
20/60 |
|
| Session 2 (Negative Marking) |
|
|
|
General Awareness
|
25/75 |
45 Minutes (60 Minutes for candidates eligible for scribes as |
|
English Language and Comprehension
|
25/75 |
|
| Total |
90/270 |
1.5 hours |
The SSC MTS paper 1 will be conducted as per the exam pattern shown above. The new exam pattern has increased the weightage of General Awareness and English in the whole selection process. The questions will be set in English, Hindi, and in 13 regional languages.
Also Read: SSC MTS Shift Timing
Commonly asked questions
The candidates should note that the Staff Selection Commission has removed the SSC MTS paper 2 from the exam process and made changes in the SSC MTS exam pattern. The Commission revised the SSC MTS syllabus for paper 1 to accommodate such changes. The SSC MTS result is prepared based on the marks obtained in paper 1 and subjec to clearing the PET/PST.
The Commission also removed the Document Verification process from the recruitment process and now the document verification will be carried out at the indented department.
The SSC MTS paper 2 was qualifying only when it existed in the exam process.
The Staff Selection Commission changed the SSC MTS exam pattern altogether. The Commission removed the Paper 2 (descriptive) from the selection process. Now there are only two stages in the SSC MTS exam. These are mentioned below:
- SSC MTS Paper 1
- PET/PST for Havaldar Posts
The Document Verification process will be carried out by the indenting user department. In addition to above, the Commission changed the SSC MTS Paper 1 exam pattern and removed negative marking from the Numerical and Mathematical Ability and Reasoning Ability and Problem-Solving section.
Negative Marking in SSC MTS and Havaldar Exam 2025
The Commission changed the SSC MTS paper 1 exam pattern and removed the negative marking from the Numerical and Mathematical Ability and Reasoning Ability and Problem-Solving sections and reduced the number of questions from 25 to 20. The Commission increased the marks assigned to each question in the SSC MTS Paper 1 from 1 to 3 marks. Similarly, the dedication for the incorrect answer is now 1 mark. The candidates should note that there is a negative marking in the SSC MTS Paper-I. For each correct answer, the candidates will be awarded 3 marks and for each incorrect answer, 1 mark will be deducted.
| Marking Scheme in SSC MTS and Havaldar Exam 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Marks allotted for each correct answer | 3 marks |
| Marks to be deducted for incorrect answer | 1 mark |
The candidates should note that the negative marking will play a key role in the final section of the candidate. Three incorrect answers will nullify the marks secured in one correct answer and the resultant of those four questions will be zero.
Commonly asked questions
The Staff Selection Commission mentioned the minimum qualifying marks that will render the candidates eligible for selection in the SSC MTS exam. These minimum marks are required to get eligible for the selection. The Commission released the percentage required to get eligible for selection:
Category | Minimum Percentage |
|---|---|
Unreserved | 30% |
OBC/EWS | 25% |
All Other Categories | 20% |
The candidates are required to score marks equal to or more than their category cutoff to get selected for the exam. There are no such passing marks which can ensure selection. SSC MTS exam is a competitive exam and the candidates can be selected even when they score low marks if the overall cutoff is decreased.
The Commission prescribes the minimum qualifying marks for the candidates. The Commission prescribes certain minimum marks required for a candidate which make them eligible to get selected in the exam.
The minimum qualifying marks for the SSC MTS exam are defined for each category separately which are summarised below:
Category | Minimum Percentage | Minimum Marks |
|---|---|---|
Unreserved | 30% | 81 Marks |
OBC/EWS | 25% | 67.5 Marks |
All Other Categories | 20% | 54 Marks |
SSC MTS and Havaldar PET/PST Exam Pattern
The Physical Efficiency Test (PET)/ Physical Standard Test (PST) is conducted for the post of Havaldar only. It is of a qualifying nature and the candidates opting for the Havaldar position must qualify as per the requirements. The followings are the PET/ PST standards for the post of Havaldar in CBIC and CBN:
SSC MTS Exam Pattern: Physical Efficiency Test (PET)
| Male | Female | |
|---|---|---|
| Walking | 1600 meters in 15 minutes. | 1 Km in 20 minutes |
The Commission removed the Cycling from the SSC MTS PET/PST in the new notification.
A woman candidate, who as a result of tests is found to be pregnant of 12 weeks standing or over, shall be declared temporarily unfit and her candidature will be held in abeyance until the confinement is over. Vacancies against temporary unfit candidates will be kept unfilled in the final result.
SSC MTS Exam Pattern: Physical Standard Test (PST):
The minimum physical standards for the post of Havaldar in CBIC and CBN are as follows:
For Male candidates:
| Height | Chest |
|---|---|
| 157.5 cms. (relaxable by 5 cm in the case of Garhwalis, Assamese, Gorkhas and members of Schedule Tribes) | Chest-81 cms. (fully expanded with a minimum expansion of 5 cm) |
The Commission removed the minimum chest measurement of 76 cm.
For Female Candidates
| Height | Weight |
|---|---|
| 152 cms. (relaxable by 2.5 Cms in the case of Garhwalis, Assamese, Gorkhas and members of Schedule Tribes) | 48 kg (relaxable by 2 Kg in the case of Garhwalis, Assamese, Gorkhas and members of Schedule Tribes) |
PET/ PST will be conducted by CBIC / CBN at various centres finalized by them. The candidates may be called for PET/ PST to any centre across the country.
See Here: SSC MTS Job Profile
As per the official notification, “The exam is intended to test elementary language skills in view of categorisation of the post as Group-C and in view of job requirements.”
Commonly asked questions
The candidates should note that there is a negative marking of one by four in the SSC MTS paper 1. It implies that 0.25 marks will be deducted from the aggregate marks for each incorrect answer. The candidates need to score well above the SSC MTS cutoff to get selected.
The candidates can see below the SSC MTS quantum of negative marking:
Negative Marking in SSC MTS Tier 1 Exam | |
Marks to be deducted for each incorrect answer | 1 mark |
The candidates can easily crack the SSC MTS exam without coaching. There is nothing in the SSC MTS syllabus which is difficult to prepare. It is not essential to join a coaching institute to prepare for the SSC MTS exam. SSC MTS Paper 1 has four sections, namely
- English
- General Intelligence & Reasoning
- Numerical Aptitude
- General Awareness
The candidates are suggested to practice with the previous year's question papers to know the difficulty level of the exam and the important topics from where the questions have been asked.
SSC MTS and Havaldar Exam Pattern 2025 FAQs
The candidates can see here the most important questions related to the SSC MTS and Havaldar Exam Pattern 2025.
Commonly asked questions
No, there is no typing test required in the SSC MTS exam. There is no skill test mentioned in the official SSC MTS notification. SSC MTS paper 2 was a descriptive test which is qualifying only.The candidates are required to undergo the PET/PST conducted by the designated authority.
The Staff Selection Commission removed the paper 2 from the exam process and there is no typing test included in the SSC MTS Exam Pattern.
The candidates should note that the Staff Selection Commission changed the SSC MTS exam pattern in 2022. The Commission dropped the tier 2 exam from the exam process and now there is only one online exam which decides the selection of the candidate. The total marks of the SSC MTS 2025 Tier 1 exam will be 270. There will be 90 questions and each question will be 3 marks. The total duration of the SSC MTS 2025 Tier 1 exam will be 90 minutes.
The SSC introduced sections in the SSC MTS Tier 1 exam in 2022. The SSC MTS paper 1 is divided into two sections. One section employs the negative marking for the candidates. There is a partial negative marking in the paper.
Yes, the SSC MTS exam centres are present across the nation. The Staff Selection Commission releases the list of SSC MTS exam centres with the official notification. The list shows that the SSC MTS exam centres are spread across the nation.The SSC MTS exam centres can be changed by the Commission any time. The candidates should check the SSC MTS application form to get the final list of SSC MTS exam centres.
SSC MTS Exam
Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 2 months ago
Yes, the Staff Selection Commission has activated the SSC MTS 2025 Application Correction Facility for the candidates. The candidates can make changes in their SSC MTS applications and OTR form and save the changes for future reference. The candidates are required to pay the Application correction f
N
Beginner-Level 5
Answered 2 months ago
Yes, the Staff Selection Commission postponed the SSC MTS 2025 application correction dates. The Commission released an official notice on its official website - ssc.gov.in this regard. The candidates should note that earlier, it was started on July 29, 2025.
The SSC MTS 2025 is expected to conducted
R
Beginner-Level 5
SSC MTS NotificationsUpcoming Sarkari Exam Dates
Bihar STET Notification 2025 19 Sep '25 - 31 Oct '25
Is the SSC MTS 2025 Application Correction Window Open?