The SSC CGL 2026 syllabus comes from one document: the Staff Selection Commission's notice for the Combined Graduate Level Examination, dated 21 May 2026, which sets out the scheme of examination and topics for 10,731 vacancies. Tier 1 has already been held, from 30 September to 30 October 2026, so the stage that now matters is Tier 2, tentatively due in December 2026 or January 2027.
Tier 2 is where the final merit is decided, and its marks are not spread evenly. English Language and Comprehension carries 135 of the 390 merit marks in Paper I, more than Mathematics or Reasoning, which carry 90 each.
SSC CGL 2026: Where the Exam Stands
Post-wise eligibility and age limits are on our SSC CGL eligibility criteria page.
SSC CGL Exam Pattern 2026: Both Tiers in One Table
Tier 1 screens candidates for Tier 2; final selection is made on Tier 2 marks. Paper I of Tier 2 is compulsory for every post, while Papers II and III are taken only by candidates shortlisted for specific posts.
SSC CGL Tier 1 Syllabus
Tier 1 has four sections of 25 questions each, two marks a question, and a separate 15-minute timer for each section. That leaves 36 seconds per question.
Questions are set in English and Hindi, except English Comprehension. Each wrong answer costs 0.50 marks.
SSC CGL Tier 2 Syllabus: Paper I
Paper I is taken by every Tier 2 candidate and is the core of the final merit. Each question carries 3 marks, and 1 mark is deducted for each wrong answer in Sections I to III.
The Mathematics, Reasoning, English and General Awareness topics follow the Tier 1 list at a harder level. The Computer Knowledge Test covers computer basics (organisation of a computer, CPU, input and output devices, memory, keyboard shortcuts), software (Windows, Word, Excel and PowerPoint), the internet and e-mail, and networking and cyber security. Every section of Paper I must be qualified separately.
How Paper I's 390 Merit Marks Are Split
The Computer Knowledge Test and the typing test are qualifying, so the merit is decided by 390 marks across four modules.
Source: SSC, Notice of Combined Graduate Level Examination 2026 (21 May 2026), scheme of examination
English alone is worth 45 marks more than Mathematics, which makes it the single largest lever in the final merit.
Time per Question in Each Stage
Source: Calculated from the SSC CGL 2026 scheme of examination
SSC CGL Tier 2 Syllabus: Papers II and III
These papers count only for the posts they serve. Each has 100 questions for 200 marks in 2 hours, with 0.50 marks deducted per wrong answer.
Negative Marking: What a Guess Is Worth at Each Stage
The penalty is not the same across the exam, so the value of a blind guess between four options changes too.
A blind guess still has a small positive expected value in Tier 1, but in Tier 2 Paper I it is worth exactly zero. That makes eliminating at least one option before guessing far more important in the stage that decides merit.
Where to Get the Official SSC CGL Syllabus PDF
The only authoritative syllabus is the one in SSC's CGLE 2026 notice of 21 May 2026, published on ssc.gov.in, which contains the scheme of examination and the topic-wise syllabus. Unofficial PDFs often carry older patterns, such as Tier 2 without Paper III or without sectional timers. Check that any PDF you use matches the 21 May 2026 notice.
SSC CGL Syllabus 2026 FAQs
These answers use SSC's CGLE 2026 notice of 21 May 2026.
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Ques. What is the SSC CGL syllabus for Tier 1?Ans. Four sections of 25 questions each: General Intelligence and Reasoning, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude and English Comprehension, for 200 marks in 60 minutes, with 15 minutes per section.
Ques. What is the SSC CGL Tier 2 syllabus?Ans. Paper I covers Mathematical Abilities, Reasoning, English, General Awareness, a qualifying Computer Knowledge Test and a qualifying typing test. Paper II (Statistics) is for JSO and SI Grade-II posts, and Paper III (Finance and Economics) is for AAO and AAcO posts.
Ques. Do Tier 1 marks count in the final SSC CGL merit?Ans. No. Tier 1 is a screening stage; final merit is drawn from Tier 2.
Ques. Which section carries the most marks in SSC CGL Tier 2?Ans. English Language and Comprehension, with 135 of the 390 merit marks in Paper I (34.6%).
Ques. What is the negative marking in SSC CGL 2026?Ans. 0.50 marks per wrong answer in Tier 1 and in Papers II and III, and 1 mark per wrong answer in Sections I to III of Tier 2 Paper I.
Ques. When is SSC CGL Tier 2 2026?Ans. SSC has indicated December 2026 or January 2027; the exact dates will be announced on ssc.gov.in. |
