SSC CGL 2026 Exam Pattern at a Glance
SSC CGL is conducted in two tiers. Tier-I is a common qualifying stage with 100 objective questions across four subjects, and Tier-II is the scoring stage that decides your final selection. Both tiers are computer-based (CBT). Understanding the pattern before you start preparing tells you exactly where the marks are and how to spend your time.
Tier-I Exam Pattern
Tier-I has 100 questions worth 200 marks, to be solved in 60 minutes. The four sections carry equal weight (25 questions / 50 marks each):
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 25 | 50 |
| General Awareness | 25 | 50 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 |
| English Comprehension | 25 | 50 |
| Total | 100 | 200 |
Negative Marking — How Scoring Works
There is negative marking in SSC CGL. In Tier-I, 0.50 marks are deducted for each wrong answer. This means blind guessing hurts you — only attempt a question when you can reasonably eliminate options. A disciplined accuracy-first approach usually beats attempting every question.
Tier-II Exam Pattern
Tier-II is the decisive stage and covers Mathematical Abilities, Reasoning & General Intelligence, English, General Awareness, plus a Computer Knowledge module and a Data Entry Speed Test. Tier-II carries far more weight in the final merit list than Tier-I, so most of your serious preparation should be aimed here.
What the Pattern Tells You About Preparation
Three takeaways from the pattern:
- 1Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning together decide most of your score — prioritise topic-wise practice here.
- 2General Awareness is quick to attempt but needs consistent revision; it rewards daily current-affairs habits.
- 3Negative marking means accuracy beats attempts. Practising topic by topic with full solutions builds the accuracy the pattern rewards.
Practice by Topic on Parikshala
Once you know the pattern, the fastest way to improve is targeted practice on your weak topics with step-by-step solutions — not random full-length tests. Parikshala builds an adaptive plan around exactly the topics the SSC CGL pattern weights most.