SSC CGL Exam Pattern - Tier 1, 2, 3 & 4 Updated

Hello Aspirants,

If you are planning to appear in the SSC CGL exam, then you should plan your study as per the pattern of the exam. It will help you to answer the questions quickly in the examination.

Exam pattern is necessary for all the exams, it gives a detailed idea about the exam scheme, division of questions, exam duration, and marks-weightage. You need to give a meaningful glance at the exam pattern and prepare the strategy accordingly. We are providing the details about the SSC CGL exam pattern for tier 1, tier 2 and tier 3 exams in this article.

SSC CGL Exam Pattern

According to the selection procedure of the SSC CGL Exam, the recruitment process consists of 4 Tier exams. Every tier of the process is mandatory to pass. All Tiers consist of objective/ subjective type questions. Candidates can check out the important topics to be asked in the examination from SSC CGL Syllabus. Interview component has been dispensed with their will, therefore, be no interview. The aspirants of SSC CGL can refer to the tabular data given below and get knowledge about the whole exam pattern.

SSC CGL Tier 1 Exam Pattern

According to the SSC CGL exam pattern- 

• The tier-1 has consist of four sections that is General Intelligence, General Awareness, Quantitative aptitude, English comprehension.
• The exam is conducted in online mode in various centers across the country.
• The question asked in the question paper are of Multiple-Choice Type. Candidates need to choose the correct answer out of the given four options.
• There is a negative marking of 0.5 marks for each wrong answer in the SSC CGL Tier-1 exam.

Here is the chart for the SSC CGL Tier-1 Exam Pattern. You can check complete details about all the four parts of the tier-1 exam below.

SSC CGL Tier-2 Exam Pattern

The candidates who are shortlisted from the tier-1 exam will be able to appear in the Tier -2 Examination. SSC CGL Tier-2 has 4 papers that are Quantitative aptitude, English language & Comprehension, Statics, and General Studies (Finance & Economics) respectively. 

• Paper-1 (Quantitative aptitude) and Paper-2 (English language & Comprehension) are mandatory for all the categories of posts in the SSC CGL exam.
• The Tier-2 exam is also conducted in online mode. 
• The questions asked in Tier-2 are objective type. 
• Paper-3 is only for those candidates who apply for the post of Junior Statistical Officer (JSO). 
• Paper-4 is only for those candidates who apply for the post of Assistant Accounts Officer (AAO).
• The negative marking system of 0.25 for each wrong answer in Paper-2 (English Language & Comprehension) and 0.50 for each wrong answer in Paper-1, Paper-3 and Paper-4.

Here is a chart of SSC CGL tier 2 exam pattern. You can check complete details about all the four parts of the SSC CGL tier-2 exam below.

SSC CGL Tier 3 Exam Pattern

• SSC CGL Tier-3 exam is conducted in Pen and Paper mode. 
• It is a subjective/ descriptive type of paper-based on English/Hindi language questions. 
• The questions asked in are descriptive type and total marks allotted 100 for this paper.

SSC CGL Tier 4 Exam Pattern

According to the SSC CGL tier 4 exam pattern, it has two parts for different posts. Let's describe in details below.

(1) DEST (Data Entry Speed Test)

• Data Entry Speed Test (DEST) at 8,000 (eight thousand) Key Depression (type) per hour on Computer.
• The “Data Entry Speed” Skill Test at 2000 (two thousand) key depressions (type) for a duration of 15 (fifteen) minutes will be of qualifying nature.
• DEST only for those candidates who apply for the post of Tax Assistants (Central Excise & Income Tax).
• Only those candidates who secure at least the minimum qualifying marks in the written examination as may be fixed by the Commission at its discretion will be eligible to appear in the SKILL TEST.

(2) CPT (Computer Proficiency Test)

• The Commission will hold Computer Proficiency Test (CPT), comprising of three modules are Word Processing, Spread Sheet and Generation of Slides.
• CPT Only for those candidates who apply for the post of Assistant Section Officer of CSS Assistant Section Officer (MEA) and Assistant in Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) under M/o Corporate affairs, Assistant (GSI) in M/O Mines.
• OH, candidates opting for the post of Tax Assistant in CBDT are exempted from appearing in skill test.
• OH, candidates opting for the post of Tax Assistant in CBEC are not exempted from skill test.
• HH and VH candidates are not eligible for exemption from the skill test.
• Detailed instructions regarding the Skill Test will be sent by the Regional /Sub Regional Offices of the Commission to eligible candidates declared qualified for appearing in Skill Test.
• VH candidates may be allowed appropriate compensatory time in DEST at par with typing test. Only those VH candidates who opt for scribes in the written examination will be provided passage reader at the time of skill test.

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Conclusion

A candidate having a good understanding of the exam pattern can score good marks in the SSC CGL Exam. I hope this article about the SSC CGL Exam Pattern is helpful to boost your confidence level and for your exam preparation. If you have any problem or have any related queries, then do comment us in the commenting section.

All the Best!!