SSC CGL 2024 Exam Pattern - Check Marking Scheme, Total Marks, Chapter Wise Weightage, Duration

SSC CGL Exam Pattern 2024

SSC CGL Exam Pattern 2024 is set by the Staff Selection Commission. The exam includes 2 stages namely, Tier 1 and Tier 2, both of which are conducted in online mode. SSC CGL Tier 1 Exam comprises multiple-choice type questions (MCQ), while the Tier 2 exam consists of 3 phases- Paper 1, Paper 2, and Paper 3. The candidates have to appear for Paper 1 mandatorily, however, paper 2 and 3 are only for the selective posts. Check the SSC CGL Syllabus 2024 to know the topics from where maximum questions are asked in the exam.

The first thing a candidate needs to do is learn the format of the test. The SSC CGL Full Form is the Staff Selection Commission - Combined Graduate Level Examination, whose examination format will assist candidates in strategically arranging their preparation. Candidates frequently feel lost since they are unaware of the examination formats. The plan should adapt when the examination format does as well. 

SSC CGL Exam Pattern 2024: Highlights

Candidates can refer to the table below containing the important highlights related to the SSC CGL 2024 Exam:

SSC CGL Exam Pattern 2023-24 Versus SSC CGL Exam Pattern 2022-23

The difference between the SSC CGL Exam Pattern 2023-24 and SSC CGL Exam pattern 2022-23 has been given below:

SSC CGL Exam Pattern 2023-24

Tier 1: Computer-Based Examination (Qualifying in nature)

• 4 Sections- English Intelligence & Reasoning, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, English Comprehension

Tier 2: Computer-Based Examination (Merit Decider)

• Paper 1-
  • Section 1 -Module I & II: Mathematical Abilities & Reasoning and General Intelligence
  • Section 2 – Module I & II: English Language and Comprehension & General Awareness
  • Section 3 – Module I & II (qualifying): Computer Knowledge Test & Data Entry Speed Test

SSC CGL Exam Pattern 2022-23

Tier 1: Computer-Based Testing

Tier 2: Computer-Based Testing

Tier 3: Pen and Paper (Descriptive paper)

Tier 4: Computer Proficiency Test/ Data Entry Skill Test/ Document Verification

SSC CGL Tier 1 Exam Pattern 2024

The SSC CGL 2024 Tier-1 test will be delivered online and consist of 4 sections with a total of roughly 100 questions and a maximum of 200 marks. A total of 60 minutes must be allotted for finishing the exam.

• Each question will be of 2 marks.

• There will be negative marking of 0.50 marks for every wrong answer.

• Candidates can choose their medium of writing their exam as Hindi or English.

The SSC CGL Tier-I Exam Pattern has been provided in the table below:

Marking Scheme

Note - SSC CGL Tier 1 is just a qualifying exam. The marks obtained in SSC CGL Tier 1 will not be considered for the final selection.

SSC CGL Tier 2 Exam Pattern 2024

Candidates who qualify SSC CGL Tier 1 will be shortlisted for CGL Tier 2. Now this is where the commission made the major changes. SSC CGL Tier 2 will be divided into 3 papers. Paper 1, 2 and 3. Paper 1 will be further divided into 2 sessions and further each session will be divided into certain modules. 

In Paper 1, there will be 3 sections. In section 1 there are two modules. Module 1 is mathematics and Module 2 is Reasoning ability. 30 questions will be asked from each maths and reasoning module. Then in Section 2, there are again two modules, English and General ability test. 45 questions will be asked from the English language and 25 questions will be there in the GK part. So, in total there will be 130 questions and each question will be of 3 marks.And in the last section of Paper 1, there will be a test of Computer Knowledge. There will be 20 questions of three marks each. Computer knowledge test has replaced the computer proficiency test which used to be in the olden exam pattern. Computer knowledge test will be of qualifying nature. Paper I will also be followed by a Data entry speed typing test, which, unlike earlier, is compulsory for all posts. But this will be of qualifying nature. Candidates will just need to secure the qualifying marks in the typing test where they will be supposed to type 2000 key depressions in 15 minutes.

Some of the important points related to SSC CGL Tier 2 have been listed below:

• Tier II will be conducted in online mode, and it will have Objective type of questions.

• Candidates can choose their medium of writing the paper as Hindi or English.

• There will be negative marking of 0.25 marks in Paper-II and 0.50 marks in Paper-I, Paper-II and Paper-III for each wrong response.

• Paper-I is  compulsory to attempt for all the categories of posts, whereas Paper-II is only for those who apply for the post of Statistical Investigator Gr. II and Compiler, and Paper III is only for those who apply for the post of Assistant Audit Officer. 

 SSC CGL Tier 2 Paper I Exam Pattern 

The table given below shows the module-wise division of paper I

SSC CGL Exam Pattern 2024: Negative Marking

It has to be noted that for every wrong answer, there will be a negative marking in the SSC CGL exam. Therefore, taking this into account candidates should attempt the questions. The candidates can check out the quantum of negative markings in each tier given below which is one by four. 

SSC CGL Tier 1 Exam: Negative Marking

The candidates will be awarded with one mark for every correct answer in the exam. While for each wrong answer in the exam, 0.50 marks will be deducted, meaning, each four incorrect answers will reduce the marks secured in one correct question leading to the resultant marks of 5 questions to zero. 

SSC CGL Tier 2: Negative Marking

In the SSC CGL Tier 2 Exam 2024, 1 mark will be deducted for each wrong answer in Section-I, Section-II and Module-I of Section-III of Paper-I and 0.50 marks will be deducted for each wrong answer in Paper-II and Paper-III. 

SSC CGL 2024: Document Verification (DV)

The candidates who will pass the SSC CGL Tier 1 and Tier 2 will be eligible to apper for Document Verification (DV) with photocopies and original documents. The document verification will be carried by the user departments or organisations. The reserved category candidates have to submit supporting documentation or else they will be considered in the Unreserved or General category. Below given are the documents that are to be presented in both original as well as photocopy by the candidates for verification:

• Matriculation or secondary certificate
• Caste or category certificate (if applicable)
• Educational qualification certificate
• PwD certificate (if applicable)
• Mark sheets of three years of post graduation
• ID proof
• Provisional certificate or the certificate of graduation
• Two passport-size coloured photos
• Relevant certificate if seeking any age relaxation
• Relevant documents for Ex-Servicemen
• No Objection certificate, in the case already employed in Government/Government undertakings
• Any other document specified in admit card

Computer Typing Test

Paper I will also be followed by a Data entry speed typing test, which, unlike earlier, is compulsory for all posts. But this will be of qualifying nature. Candidates will just need to secure the qualifying marks in the typing test . Some important points related to SSC CGL Computer typing Test are as follows:

• The data typing test evaluates a candidate's ability with computers.
• The combined time for the exam is 15 minutes.
• It is Qualifying in nature
• Candidates had to type 2000 key presses in 15 minutes for the Data Entry Speed Test (DEST).
• The CPT is used to assess candidates' computer skills by looking at their knowledge of word processing, spreadsheets, and slide creation.

Changes in the SSC CGL Exam Pattern Over the Years

SSC CGL exam, which earlier used to be a 4-tier exam, saw a lot of improvisations in its exam pattern after a corrigendum was released by the commission on September 17, 2022, on its official website. The official notification stated that the new SSC CGL pattern will be divided into two tiers. SSC CGL Tier 1 will be as it is. There will be no change in its exam pattern. The fact is that the SSC CGL Tier I will now be only qualifying in nature, which was earlier accounted for in the final merit. 

Candidates who qualify for Tier 1 will be shortlisted for Tier 2. Now this is where the commission made the major changes. SSC CGL Tier 2, which earlier consisted of two sections namely, Mathematics and English, will now be based on three sections and three sections will further be subdivided into modules. In a general sense, CGL Tier 2 will now be just a test of maths and English. It will include subjects like reasoning, general ability, and computer applications. Furthermore, the commission abolished the descriptive writing paper, which earlier used to be the Tier 3 exam. Instead, the commission has made it compulsory for all the students to undergo the computer speed typing test. This speed typing test was earlier not mandatory for all the posts. But now every student who qualifies in the proceeding stages of CGL will have to appear in the typing test to get selected. Complete information about the latest SSC CGL 2022 Exam pattern has been provided in the sections given below.

Candidates should be aware that if the SSC CGL Tier-I and Tier-II Exam are administered in various shifts, the scores will be normalized. The SSC will determine the normalization score, which will be taken as the final criterion for choosing candidates for the final selection. 

The notification states the following:

Tier 1: Objective Type – Computer Based Examination (CBT)
Tier 2: Objective Type – Computer Based Examination (CBT) followed by a Computer Test / Skill Test