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SSC CGL 2026 Exam Pattern: Questions, Marks, Duration & Negative Marking

SSC CGL 2026 exam pattern — number of questions, marks per question, duration, negative marking scheme, section-wise split, and tips to maximise your score within the time limit.

Reviewed by: StudyRoadmap Editorial · Last verified: 2026-04-06

SSC CGL 2026 exam pattern

Tier-I: 100 MCQs, 60 minutes, 200 marks (General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning, English) with 0.5 negative marking. Tier-II: computer-based Mains — Paper-I (compulsory for all posts) plus Paper-II/III for specific posts, with module-wise sections, a qualifying Computer-Knowledge module, and a Data Entry Speed Test (DEST) where required. 1 mark negative per wrong answer in Tier-II.

Subjects in this exam

  • Reasoning: 16 topics
  • Quantitative Aptitude: 15 topics
  • English: 11 topics
  • General Awareness: 8 topics

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