The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) recruits staff for Group B and Group C posts in central government ministries, departments and organisations — from Assistant Section Officers and Income Tax Inspectors to clerks, multi-tasking staff and constables in the armed police forces.

Every SSC exam follows the same basic idea: a computer-based test screens candidates, further tiers or physical tests narrow the list, and the final merit decides who gets which post and department. If you understand one SSC exam well, the others feel very familiar.

Conducted byStaff Selection Commission

ModeComputer-based test (CBT)

FrequencyMost exams once a year

Eligibility10th, 12th or graduation, by exam

How it works

How SSC selection works, step by step

Notification

SSC publishes an annual exam calendar, then a detailed notice for each exam with vacancies, eligibility, age limits and dates.

Online application

Register once on the SSC portal, then apply for each exam and pay the fee (women, SC/ST, PwBD and ex-servicemen are usually exempt).

Tier 1 CBT

An objective, computer-based screening test. Candidates are shortlisted for the next stage based on category-wise cut-offs.

Tier 2 / physical tests

Depending on the exam: a deeper CBT (CGL, CHSL), a typing or skill test, or physical efficiency and standard tests (GD, CPO, MTS Havaldar).

Document verification

Shortlisted candidates verify certificates, category and eligibility. Some exams also include a medical examination.

Final merit & allocation

Posts and departments are allotted using your final score and the preferences you submitted.

Exam pattern

Exam pattern: sections, questions, marks & time

SSC CGL

Free mock tests →

Combined Graduate Level — the flagship SSC exam for graduates. Posts include Assistant Section Officer, Income Tax Inspector, Excise Inspector, Auditor and Accountant.

Tier 1 (qualifying / screening)

General Intelligence & Reasoning 25% General Awareness 25% Quantitative Aptitude 25% English Comprehension 25%

Section	Questions	Marks
General Intelligence & Reasoning	25	50
General Awareness	25	50
Quantitative Aptitude	25	50
English Comprehension	25	50
Total · 60 min	100	200

−0.50 for each wrong answer.

Tier 2 — Paper I (compulsory for all posts)

Mathematical Abilities 23% Reasoning & General Intelligence 23% English Language & Comprehension 35% General Awareness 19%

Section	Questions	Marks
Mathematical Abilities	30	90
Reasoning & General Intelligence	30	90
English Language & Comprehension	45	135
General Awareness	25	75
Computer Knowledge (qualifying)	20	60
Data Entry Speed Test (qualifying)	1 task	—
Total · 2 hr 30 min (in sessions)	—	390

−1 for each wrong answer in Sections I and II. Paper II (Statistics) and Paper III (General Studies – Finance & Economics) are only for JSO and AAO posts.

SSC CHSL

Free mock tests →

Combined Higher Secondary Level — for 12th-pass candidates. Posts: Lower Division Clerk, Junior Secretariat Assistant and Data Entry Operator.

Tier 1

English Language 25% General Intelligence 25% Quantitative Aptitude (basic arithmetic) 25% General Awareness 25%

Section	Questions	Marks
English Language	25	50
General Intelligence	25	50
Quantitative Aptitude (basic arithmetic)	25	50
General Awareness	25	50
Total · 60 min	100	200

−0.50 for each wrong answer.

Tier 2 has two objective sections (Maths + Reasoning; English + General Awareness), a qualifying computer module, and a skill/typing test.

SSC MTS & Havaldar

Free mock tests →

Multi-Tasking (Non-Technical) Staff and Havaldar in CBIC/CBN — for 10th-pass candidates.

Computer-based exam (two sessions, 45 min each)

Session I: Numerical & Mathematical Ability 22% Session I: Reasoning Ability & Problem Solving 22% Session II: General Awareness 28% Session II: English Language & Comprehension 28%

Section	Questions	Marks
Session I: Numerical & Mathematical Ability	20	60
Session I: Reasoning Ability & Problem Solving	20	60
Session II: General Awareness	25	75
Session II: English Language & Comprehension	25	75
Total · 90 min	90	270

No negative marking in Session I; −1 per wrong answer in Session II. Havaldar candidates also take a physical efficiency and standard test.

SSC GD Constable

Free mock tests →

Constable (General Duty) in BSF, CISF, CRPF, ITBP, SSB, SSF, Assam Rifles and NCB — for 10th-pass candidates.

Computer-based exam

General Intelligence & Reasoning 25% General Knowledge & General Awareness 25% Elementary Mathematics 25% English / Hindi 25%

Section	Questions	Marks
General Intelligence & Reasoning	20	40
General Knowledge & General Awareness	20	40
Elementary Mathematics	20	40
English / Hindi	20	40
Total · 60 min	80	160

−0.25 for each wrong answer. Followed by PET/PST (running, height, chest), medical examination and document verification.

Syllabus

Subjects and important topics

Quantitative Aptitude

Number systemPercentageRatio & proportionProfit & lossSimple & compound interestTime & workTime, speed & distanceAlgebraGeometryTrigonometryMensurationData interpretation

Reasoning

Analogy & classificationSeriesCoding-decodingBlood relationsDirection senseSyllogismVenn diagramsSeating arrangementMirror & water imagesPaper foldingEmbedded figures

English

Error spottingSentence improvementFill in the blanksSynonyms & antonymsIdioms & phrasesOne-word substitutionActive-passiveDirect-indirect speechCloze testReading comprehension

General Awareness

Indian historyPolity & constitutionGeographyEconomicsGeneral scienceStatic GKCurrent affairs (last 6–8 months)

Strategy

How to prepare for SSC exams

01Start with the common core

Quant, Reasoning, English and GA cover every SSC exam. Build them once and you can take CGL, CHSL and MTS in the same year.

02Use previous years' papers

SSC repeats question types heavily. Solve at least the last three years of papers for your exam before buying any new book.

03Speed is the real test

Tier 1 gives you about 36 seconds per question. Learn calculation shortcuts and practise with a timer from week one.

04Mock, then analyse

Take a full mock every week in the first half of your prep and two to three a week near the exam. Spend as long analysing as you did writing.

05Don't ignore physical tests

For GD, CPO and Havaldar, start running practice months before the written result — PET failures are common and avoidable.

From the blog

Frequently asked questions about SSC exams

How many SSC exams are there in a year?

SSC conducts around ten major exams every year, including CGL, CHSL, MTS, GD Constable, CPO, Stenographer, JE and Selection Posts. The yearly calendar on ssc.gov.in lists the tentative dates.

Is there negative marking in SSC exams?

Yes. Most SSC computer-based tests deduct marks for wrong answers — for example 0.50 marks per question in CGL and CHSL Tier 1 and 0.25 marks in GD Constable. MTS Session I has no negative marking.

What is the age limit for SSC exams?

It depends on the post: typically 18–27 years for most CGL and CHSL posts and 18–23 for GD Constable, with up to 32 years for some CGL posts. Reserved categories get age relaxation as per government rules.

Can I apply for SSC CGL in the final year of graduation?

Usually yes, provided you complete your degree by the cut-off date mentioned in the notification. Check the exact date in that year's notice.

Is the same syllabus enough for CGL and CHSL?

Largely yes. The four subjects are the same; CGL Tier 2 goes deeper in Maths and English, while CHSL adds a typing or skill test.

Exam patterns, marks and eligibility are based on the latest notifications available and can change from one cycle to the next. Always confirm the details in the official notification on ssc.gov.in before you apply.

Practise for SSC exams

Free full-length mock tests with an instant all-India rank.

Choose your exam →

SSC Exams 2026: Free Mock Tests

SSC Exams: How They Work, Pattern, Subjects & Preparation

How SSC selection works, step by step

Notification

Online application

Tier 1 CBT

Tier 2 / physical tests

Document verification

Final merit & allocation

Exam pattern: sections, questions, marks & time

SSC CGL

SSC CHSL

SSC MTS & Havaldar

SSC GD Constable

Subjects and important topics

Quantitative Aptitude

Reasoning

English

General Awareness

How to prepare for SSC exams

01Start with the common core

02Use previous years' papers

03Speed is the real test

04Mock, then analyse

05Don't ignore physical tests

Read next

Frequently asked questions about SSC exams

Practise for SSC exams