SSC CGL Syllabus 2025-26: Tier-wise Complete Topics, Exam Pattern & Preparation Tips
Latest Update: Staff Selection Commission has released the detailed syllabus for Combined Graduate Level (CGL) Examination 2025-26. Check the complete tier-wise topics, exam pattern, and preparation strategy below.
Important Notice: The online registration for SSC CGL 2025-26 is expected to begin in September 2025. Candidates are advised to prepare according to the latest syllabus and pattern.
| Examination Name | Combined Graduate Level (CGL) Examination |
| Conducting Body | Staff Selection Commission (SSC) |
| Exam Levels | Tier I, Tier II, Tier III, and Document Verification |
| Mode of Exam | Online Computer Based Test (Tier I & II), Descriptive Paper (Tier III) |
| Official Website | ssc.gov.in |
SSC CGL Exam Pattern 2025-26
The SSC CGL examination consists of four tiers:
Tier-I Examination (Computer Based)
| Subject | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 25 | 50 | 60 minutes (80 minutes for PwD candidates) |
| General Awareness | 25 | 50 | |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 | |
| English Comprehension | 25 | 50 | |
| Total | 100 | 200 |
Tier-II Examination (Computer Based)
| Paper | Subject | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper-I | Quantitative Abilities | 100 | 200 | 2 hours (2 hours 40 minutes for PwD candidates) |
| Paper-II | English Language & Comprehension | 200 | 200 | 2 hours (2 hours 40 minutes for PwD candidates) |
| Paper-III | Statistics | 100 | 200 | 2 hours (2 hours 40 minutes for PwD candidates) |
| Paper-IV | General Studies (Finance & Economics) | 100 | 200 | 2 hours (2 hours 40 minutes for PwD candidates) |
Note: Paper-I and Paper-II are compulsory for all posts. Paper-III is only for the post of “Statistical Investigator Grade-II” & “Compiler”. Paper-IV is only for the post of “Assistant Audit Officer/ Assistant Accounts Officer”.
Tier-III Examination (Descriptive Paper)
| Mode | Scheme | Maximum Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pen and Paper Mode | Essay Writing, Letter/Application Writing, etc. | 100 | 1 hour (1 hour 20 minutes for PwD candidates) |
Tier-IV Examination (Skill Test/Computer Proficiency Test)
The Skill Test/Computer Proficiency Test is of qualifying nature and is required for certain posts only.
- Data Entry Skill Test (DEST): For Tax Assistant (Central Excise & Income Tax)
- Computer Proficiency Test (CPT): For Assistant Section Officer, Assistant, and various other posts
Detailed SSC CGL Syllabus 2025-26
Tier-I Syllabus
1. General Intelligence & Reasoning
- Verbal and Non-verbal type questions
- Semantic Analogy
- Symbolic operations
- Symbolic/Number Analogy
- Trends
- Figural Analogy
- Space Orientation
- Semantic Classification
- Venn Diagrams
- Symbolic/Number Classification
- Drawing inferences
- Figural Classification
- Punched hole/pattern – folding & unfolding
- Semantic Series
- Figural Pattern – folding and completion
- Number Series
- Embedded figures
- Figural Series
- Critical Thinking
- Problem Solving
- Emotional Intelligence
- Word Building
- Social Intelligence
- Coding and de-coding
- Numerical operations
- Other sub-topics, if any
2. General Awareness
- History
- Culture
- Geography
- Economic Scene
- General Policy
- Scientific Research
- Current Affairs
- Sports
- Books and Authors
- Awards and Honors
- Important Schemes
- Important Days
- Indian Constitution
- Science & Technology
- Environment
3. Quantitative Aptitude
- Number Systems
- Computation of Whole Numbers
- Decimals and Fractions
- Relationship between numbers
- Fundamental arithmetical operations
- Percentages
- Ratio and Proportion
- Averages
- Interest
- Profit and Loss
- Discount
- Mixture and Alligation
- Time and distance
- Time and work
- Basic algebraic identities of School Algebra
- Elementary surds
- Graphs of Linear Equations
- Triangle and its various kinds of centers
- Congruence and similarity of triangles
- Circle and its chords, tangents, angles subtended by chords of a circle, common tangents to two or more circles
- Triangle, Quadrilaterals, Regular Polygons, Circle, Right Prism, Right Circular Cone, Right Circular Cylinder, Sphere, Hemispheres, Rectangular Parallelepiped, Regular Right Pyramid with triangular or square base
- Trigonometric ratio
- Degree and Radian Measures
- Standard Identities
- Complementary angles
- Heights and Distances
- Histogram, Frequency polygon, Bar diagram & Pie chart
4. English Comprehension
- Reading Comprehension
- Fill in the Blanks
- Spellings
- Phrases and Idioms
- 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
- Para Jumbles
- Error Spotting
- Synonyms/Antonyms
Tier-II Syllabus
Paper-I: Quantitative Abilities
- Number System: Computation of Whole Number, Decimal and Fractions, Relationship 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 and Elementary surds (simple problems) and Graphs of Linear Equations.
- Geometry: Familiarity with elementary geometric figures and facts: Triangle and its various kinds of centers, Congruence and similarity of triangles, Circle and its chords, tangents, angles subtended by chords of a circle, common tangents to two or more circles.
- Mensuration: Triangle, Quadrilaterals, Regular Polygons, Circle, Right Prism, Right Circular Cone, Right Circular Cylinder, Sphere, Hemispheres, Rectangular Parallelepiped, Regular Right Pyramid with triangular or square Base.
- Trigonometry: Trigonometry, Trigonometric ratios, Complementary angles, Height and distances (simple problems only) Standard Identities like sin²θ + cos²θ = 1 etc.
- Statistical Charts: Use of Tables and Graphs: Histogram, Frequency polygon, Bar-diagram, Pie-chart.
Paper-II: English Language & Comprehension
- Vocabulary
- Grammar
- Sentence Structure
- Synonyms
- Antonyms
- Passage Comprehension
- Fill in the Blanks
- Error Spotting
- Jumbled Sentences
- One Word Substitution
- Phrases and Idioms
- Active and Passive Voice
- Spellings
- Other topics to test English language proficiency
Paper-III: Statistics
- Collection, Classification and Presentation of Statistical Data
- Measures of Central Tendency
- Measures of Dispersion
- Moments, Skewness and Kurtosis
- Correlation and Regression
- Probability Theory
- Random Variable and Probability Distributions
- Sampling Theory
- Statistical Inference
- Analysis of Variance
- Time Series Analysis
- Index Numbers
Paper-IV: General Studies (Finance & Economics)
Part A: Finance and Accounts (80 marks)
- Fundamental principles and basic concept of Accounting
- Financial Accounting
- Basic concepts of accounting
- Self-Balancing Ledger
Part B: Economics and Governance (120 marks)
- Comptroller & Auditor General of India – Constitutional provisions, Role and responsibility
- Finance Commission – Role and functions
- Basic Concept of Economics and introduction to Micro Economics
- Theory of Demand and Supply
- Theory of Production and cost
- Forms of Market and price determination in different markets
- Indian Economy
- Economic Reforms in India
- Money and Banking
- Role of Information Technology in Governance
Tier-III Syllabus (Descriptive Paper)
The Tier-III Examination will be a descriptive paper of 100 marks in ‘Pen and Paper’ mode to test the written skills of candidates in English/Hindi. The paper will include:
- Essay writing (250-300 words)
- Letter/Application writing (approximately 150-200 words)
- Precis writing
The minimum qualifying marks in Tier-III examination is 33%. The paper will be of qualifying nature and is intended to test the writing skills of the candidates.
Tier-IV: DEST/CPT (Wherever Applicable)
Data Entry Skill Test (DEST)
- DEST is a qualifying exam with no prescribed minimum qualifying marks
- Candidates need to type 2000 key depressions in 15 minutes
- This is mainly for Tax Assistant posts
Computer Proficiency Test (CPT)
- CPT is a qualifying exam with no prescribed minimum qualifying marks
- Word Processing
- Spreadsheet
- Generation of Slides
- This is for the posts of Assistant Section Officer, Assistant, etc.
Important Vacancies in SSC CGL 2025-26
| Post | Minimum Educational Qualification | Pay Scale |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant Audit Officer/ Assistant Accounts Officer | Bachelor’s Degree from any recognized University | Level-8 (Rs.47,600-1,51,100) |
| Assistant Section Officer | Bachelor’s Degree from any recognized University | Level-7 (Rs.44,900-1,42,400) |
| Inspector (CBIC) | Bachelor’s Degree from any recognized University | Level-7 (Rs.44,900-1,42,400) |
| Inspector (Central Bureau of Narcotics) | Bachelor’s Degree from any recognized University | Level-7 (Rs.44,900-1,42,400) |
| Assistant/Superintendent | Bachelor’s Degree from any recognized University | Level-6 (Rs.35,400-1,12,400) |
| Inspector (Income Tax) | Bachelor’s Degree from any recognized University | Level-7 (Rs.44,900-1,42,400) |
| Junior Statistical Officer | Bachelor’s Degree with Statistics as one of the subjects | Level-6 (Rs.35,400-1,12,400) |
| Statistical Investigator Grade-II | Bachelor’s Degree with Statistics as one of the subjects | Level-6 (Rs.35,400-1,12,400) |
| Sub-Inspector | Bachelor’s Degree from any recognized University | Level-6 (Rs.35,400-1,12,400) |
| Tax Assistant | Bachelor’s Degree from any recognized University | Level-4 (Rs.25,500-81,100) |
SSC CGL 2025-26 Preparation Books
| Subject | Recommended Books |
|---|---|
| General Intelligence & Reasoning |
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| General Awareness |
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| Quantitative Aptitude |
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| English Comprehension |
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| Statistics |
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| Finance & Economics |
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Preparation Strategy for SSC CGL 2025-26
General Strategy:
- Understand the Syllabus: First step is to thoroughly understand the syllabus and exam pattern
- Create a Study Plan: Make a realistic study plan with adequate time for each subject
- Focus on Basics: Build strong fundamentals before moving to advanced topics
- Practice Previous Year Papers: Solve at least the last 5 years’ question papers
- Take Mock Tests: Regular mock tests will help in time management and identifying weak areas
- Revision: Regular revision is crucial to retain what you have learned
Tier-wise Strategy:
For Tier-I:
- General Intelligence & Reasoning: Practice different types of reasoning questions daily. Focus on both verbal and non-verbal reasoning
- General Awareness: Read newspapers daily and make notes of important events. Focus on current affairs of the last 6 months
- Quantitative Aptitude: Learn shortcut techniques and practice regularly. Focus on calculation speed
- English Comprehension: Improve vocabulary and grammar. Practice reading comprehension passages
For Tier-II:
- Paper-I (Quantitative Abilities): Cover all topics with special focus on Arithmetic and Algebra as they carry more weightage
- Paper-II (English Language & Comprehension): Focus on reading comprehension, error spotting, and vocabulary
- Paper-III (Statistics): For candidates applying for Statistical posts, focus on probability theory and statistical methods
- Paper-IV (General Studies-Finance & Economics): For AAO/AO posts, focus on fundamental principles of accounting and economics
For Tier-III:
- Practice essay writing, letter writing, and précis writing
- Improve your grammar and vocabulary
- Read good articles and essays to improve writing style
For Tier-IV:
- DEST: Practice typing to achieve speed of 2000 key depressions in 15 minutes
- CPT: Get familiar with MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the age limit for SSC CGL 2025-26?
The age limit for SSC CGL is 18-30 years (as on January 1, 2026) with relaxation for reserved categories. Upper age limit relaxation: 3 years for OBC, 5 years for SC/ST, 10 years for PwD, and 5 years for Ex-servicemen.
Is there negative marking in SSC CGL?
Yes, there is negative marking in Tier-I and Tier-II examinations. 0.50 marks are deducted for each wrong answer in Tier-I and 0.25 marks for Paper-II and Paper-IV of Tier-II. For Paper-I and Paper-III of Tier-II, 0.50 marks are deducted for each wrong answer.
How many attempts are allowed for SSC CGL?
There is no limit on the number of attempts for the SSC CGL examination. Candidates can appear for the exam as many times as they want, provided they meet the age and educational criteria.
Which posts require passing Paper-III (Statistics) in Tier-II?
Paper-III (Statistics) is only for candidates applying for the posts of “Statistical Investigator Grade-II” and “Compiler”. Candidates applying for other posts don’t need to appear for this paper.
Is SSC CGL Tier-III a qualifying paper or marks are included in the final merit?
The Tier-III examination (Descriptive Paper) is qualifying in nature, and candidates need to score a minimum of 33% marks to qualify. However, the marks obtained in Tier-III are not included in the final merit list. The final merit is based on the total scores obtained in Tier-I and Tier-II examinations.
How can I prepare for SSC CGL while working full-time?
For working professionals, the key is consistent preparation:
1. Dedicate 2-3 hours daily
2. Focus on weekends for intensive study
3. Use commute time for revision or listening to educational content
4. Prioritize sections based on your strengths and weaknesses
5. Use mobile apps for quick practice during breaks
6. Join weekend coaching classes if needed
7. Take regular mock tests to track progress
Conclusion: The SSC CGL examination is one of the most prestigious and competitive exams in India. With proper understanding of the syllabus, regular practice, and a systematic approach to preparation, candidates can successfully crack this examination. Remember that consistency is the key to success. Keep visiting Best Sarkari Results for the latest updates on SSC CGL 2025-26 examination.
