SSC CGL Exam Overview

• SSC CGL stands for Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level Examination.
• It is conducted by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) in India.
• The exam recruits candidates for various Group B and Group C posts in different government departments and organizations.
• SSC CGL is a national-level exam.
• The exam is conducted annually, depending on the vacancies reported by the government departments.

Exam Structure

• The SSC CGL exam consists of four tiers: Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3, and Tier 4.
• Tier 1 and Tier 2 are computer-based examinations (CBE).
• Tier 3 is a descriptive paper in English/Hindi (essay, precis, letter, application, etc.).
• Tier 4 includes computer proficiency test/skill test and document verification.
• All tiers are compulsory for all posts unless otherwise specified.

Tier 1 Exam

• Tier 1 is a computer-based exam.
• It consists of four sections: General Intelligence and Reasoning, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, and English Comprehension.
• Each section has 25 questions, and each question carries 2 marks.
• The total marks for Tier 1 are 200.
• The duration of the exam is 60 minutes (1 hour).
• There is a negative marking of 0.50 marks for each wrong answer.
• Questions are of objective type, multiple choice.

Tier 1 Syllabus

General Intelligence and Reasoning

• Includes questions of both verbal and non-verbal type.
• Analogies, symbolic operations, coding and decoding.
• Similarities and differences, space visualization, problem solving, analysis, judgment, decision-making.
• Visual memory, discriminating observation, relationship concepts, arithmetical reasoning and figural classification.
• Arithmetic number series, non-verbal series, coding-decoding, statement conclusion, syllogistic reasoning.

General Awareness

• Questions are designed to test the candidate’s general awareness of the environment and its application to society.
• Knowledge of current events.
• Matters of everyday observation and experience in their scientific aspect.
• India and its neighboring countries especially pertaining to History, Culture, Geography, Economic Scene.
• General Policy & Scientific Research.

Quantitative Aptitude

• Includes questions on arithmetical and mathematical skills.
• Number Systems: Computation of Whole Number, Decimal and Fractions, Relationships between numbers.
• Fundamental arithmetical operations: Percentages, Ratio and Proportion, Square roots, Averages, Interest (Simple and Compound).
• Profit and Loss, Discount, Partnership Business, Mixture and Alligation, Time and distance, Time and work.
• Algebra: Basic algebraic identities of School Algebra, Elementary surds, Graphs of Linear Equations.
• Geometry: Familiarity with elementary geometric figures and facts.
• Mensuration: Triangle, Quadrilaterals, Regular Polygons, Circle, Right Prism, Right Circular Cone, Right Circular Cylinder, Sphere, Hemispheres, Rectangular Parallelepiped.
• Trigonometry: Trigonometry, Trigonometric ratios, Complementary angles, Height and distances.
• Data Interpretation: Bar diagrams & Pie charts, Histogram, Frequency polygon.

English Comprehension

• Candidates’ ability to understand correct English, basic comprehension and writing ability, etc. would be tested.
• Error Spotting, Fill in the blanks, Spellings/Detecting Mis-spelt words.
• Idioms & Phrases, One word substitution, Improvement of Sentences, Active/Passive Voice of Verbs.
• Conversion into Direct/Indirect narration, Shuffling of Sentence parts, Shuffling of Sentences in a passage.
• Cloze Passage, Comprehension Passage.

Tier 2 Exam

• Tier 2 is also a computer-based exam.
• It consists of three papers.
• Paper-I: Mathematical Abilities, Reasoning and General Intelligence, English Language and Comprehension, General Awareness.
• Paper-II: Statistics (for Junior Statistical Officer (JSO)).
• Paper-III: General Studies (Finance and Economics) (for Assistant Audit Officer/ Assistant Accounts Officer).

Tier 2 - Paper I

• Paper I is compulsory for all posts.
• It consists of four sections:
  • Section-I: Mathematical Abilities and Reasoning and General Intelligence (30 questions each, 60 questions total, 180 marks)
  • Section-II: English Language and Comprehension (45 questions, 135 marks) and General Awareness (25 questions, 75 marks).

Tier 2 Syllabus

Mathematical Abilities

• Number Systems: Computation of Whole Number, Decimal and Fractions, Relationships between numbers.
• Fundamental arithmetical operations: Percentages, Ratio and Proportion, Square roots, Averages, Interest (Simple and Compound), Profit and Loss, Discount, Partnership Business, Mixture and Alligation, Time and distance, Time and work.
• Algebra: Basic algebraic identities of School Algebra, Elementary surds, Graphs of Linear Equations.
• Geometry: Familiarity with elementary geometric figures and facts.
• Mensuration: Triangle, Quadrilaterals, Regular Polygons, Circle, Right Prism, Right Circular Cone, Right Circular Cylinder, Sphere, Hemispheres, Rectangular Parallelepiped.
• Trigonometry: Trigonometry, Trigonometric ratios, Complementary angles, Height and distances
• Statistics and Probability: Use of Bar diagrams and Pie charts, Histogram, Frequency polygon, Measures of central tendency: mean, median, mode, standard deviation; Simple probability.

Reasoning and General Intelligence

• Questions of both verbal and non-verbal type.
• Semantic Analogy, Symbolic/Number Analogy, Figural Analogy, Semantic Classification, Symbolic/Number Classification, Figural Classification.
• Semantic Series, Number Series, Figural Series, Problem Solving, Word Building, Coding & decoding, Numerical Operations.
• Symbolic Operations, Trends, Space Orientation, Venn Diagrams, Drawing inferences.
• Punched hole/ pattern-folding & unfolding, Figural Pattern-folding and completion, Indexing, Address matching.
• Date & city matching, Classification of centre codes/ roll numbers, Small & Capital letters/ numbers coding, decoding and classification, Embedded Figures, Critical thinking, Emotional Intelligence, Social Intelligence.

English Language and Comprehension

• Vocabulary, Grammar, Sentence Structure, Synonyms, Antonyms and their correct usage.
• Spot the Error, Fill in the Blanks, Spellings/Detecting Mis-spelt words, Idioms & Phrases, One word substitution, Improvement of Sentences, Active/ Passive Voice of Verbs.
• Conversion into Direct/Indirect narration, Shuffling of Sentence parts, Shuffling of Sentences in a passage, Cloze Passage, Comprehension Passage.

General Awareness

• Questions are designed to test the candidate’s general awareness of the environment and its application to society.
• Current events, knowledge of significant events pertaining to India and its neighboring countries especially pertaining to History, Culture, Geography, Economic Scene, General Policy & Scientific Research.

Tier 2 - Paper II - Statistics

• Required only for the post of Junior Statistical Officer (JSO).

Syllabus Topics

• Collection, Classification and Presentation of Statistical Data
• Measures of Central Tendency
• Measures of Dispersion
• Correlation and Regression
• Probability Theory
• Random Variable and Probability Distributions
• Sampling Theory
• Statistical Inference
• Analysis of Variance
• Time Series Analysis
• Index Numbers

Tier 2 - Paper III - General Studies (Finance and Economics)

• Required only for the posts of Assistant Audit Officer/ Assistant Accounts Officer

Syllabus Topics

• Finance and Accounts:
  • Fundamental principles and basic concept of Accounting
  • Financial Accounting
• Economics and Governance:
  • Comptroller & Auditor General of India – Constitutional provisions, Role and responsibility
  • Finance Commission
  • Basic Concept of Economics and introduction to Micro Economics
  • Theory of Demand and Supply
  • Theory of Production and cost
  • Market Structure
  • Macro Economics
  • Economic Reforms in India
  • Money and Banking
  • Fiscal policy
  • Indian Economy

Tier 3 Exam

• Tier 3 is a pen and paper based descriptive paper.
• The paper is designed to test the writing skills of the candidates in English or Hindi.
• The duration of the exam is 60 minutes.
• The paper consists of writing an essay, precis, letter, or application.
• The total marks for Tier 3 are 100.

Tier 4 Exam

• Tier 4 includes a Computer Proficiency Test (CPT) and/or a Data Entry Speed Test (DEST).
• CPT consists of three modules: Word Processing, Spreadsheet, and Generation of Slides.
• DEST requires candidates to enter data at a specified speed.
• Tier 4 is qualifying in nature; passing it is mandatory.
• Document verification is also conducted in Tier 4.

Eligibility Criteria

• Nationality: Candidate must be a citizen of India.
• Age Limit: Varies depending on the post.
• Educational Qualification: Bachelor's degree from a recognized university or equivalent is essential for most posts. Some posts may require specific qualifications.