Important Update: Staff Selection Commission has released the official SSC CGL 2025 notification along with the detailed syllabus and exam pattern. The application process is scheduled to start from 10 April 2025.
| Organization | Staff Selection Commission (SSC) |
| Exam Name | Combined Graduate Level (CGL) Examination 2025 |
| Category | Syllabus & Pattern |
| Official Website | ssc.nic.in |
SSC CGL 2025 Exam Pattern
The SSC CGL 2025 examination will be conducted in four tiers:
Tier-I: Computer Based Examination
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 60 minutes |
Tier-II: Computer Based Examination
| Paper | Subject | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 & Paper-II are mandatory for all posts. Paper-III is for Statistical Investigator Grade-II & Compiler posts. Paper-IV is for Assistant Audit Officer and Assistant Accounts Officer posts.
Tier-III: Descriptive Paper
| Mode | Subject | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pen and Paper Mode | Essay Writing, Letter/Application Writing, Precis Writing | 100 | 1 hour (1 hour 20 minutes for PwD candidates) |
Tier-IV: Computer Proficiency Test/Data Entry Skill Test
- CPT: Word Processing, Spreadsheet, and Generation of Slides
- DEST: Data Entry Speed of 8,000 key depressions per hour
Note: This is a qualifying test only. No marks are awarded for this tier.
SSC CGL Tier-I Syllabus 2025
General Intelligence & Reasoning
- Verbal Reasoning:
- Analogy
- Classification
- Series
- Coding-Decoding
- Word Formation
- Logical Venn Diagrams
- Syllogism
- Direction & Distance
- Blood Relations
- Arrangement & Pattern
- Verbal Problems
- Non-Verbal Reasoning:
- Analogy
- Classification
- Series
- Mirror Images
- Water Images
- Pattern Completion
- Figure Matrix
- Paper Folding
- Paper Cutting
- Embedded Figures
General Awareness
- History: India’s freedom struggle, Indian history and culture
- Geography: India and World Geography
- Economics: Indian Economy, Budget, Five Year Plans
- Science: Basic concepts in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology
- Polity: Indian Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj
- Current Affairs: Last 6 months’ current events (national and international)
- Static GK: Famous places, personalities, awards, books & authors
- Sports: Important championships, athletes, and tournaments
Quantitative Aptitude
- Basic Arithmetic:
- Number System
- Simplification
- Decimals & Fractions
- LCM & HCF
- Ratio & Proportion
- Percentage
- Average
- Profit & Loss
- Discount
- Simple & Compound Interest
- Time & Work
- Time & Distance
- Data Interpretation (Tables, Charts, Graphs)
- Algebra:
- Basic algebraic identities
- Linear equations
- Quadratic equations
- Geometry:
- Lines & Angles
- Triangles
- Quadrilaterals
- Circles
- Area & Perimeter
- Mensuration:
- Areas and volumes of 2D and 3D figures
- Trigonometry:
- Basic trigonometric identities
- Height and Distance
- Statistics:
- Mean, Median, Mode
- Standard Deviation
English Comprehension
- Reading Comprehension
- Fill in the Blanks
- Synonyms & Antonyms
- Spelling/Detecting Misspelled words
- Idioms & Phrases
- One word substitution
- Improvement of Sentences
- Active/Passive Voice
- Direct/Indirect Narration
- Cloze Passage
- Para Jumbles
SSC CGL Tier-II Syllabus 2025
Paper-I: Quantitative Abilities
All topics covered in Tier-I with higher difficulty level, plus:
- Interest (Simple and Compound)
- Profit and Loss
- Discount
- Partnership
- Mixture and Alligation
- Time and Work
- Time and Distance
- Basic Algebra
- 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
- Regular Polygons
- Regular Right Prism, Pyramid, Cylinder, Cone, Sphere
- Permutation and Combination
- Probability
- Sets, Relations and Functions
- Logarithms
Paper-II: English Language & Comprehension
- Reading Comprehension
- Cloze Test
- Para Jumbles
- Synonyms/Antonyms/Homonyms
- Error Spotting
- Fill in the Blanks
- Sentence Improvement/Phrase Replacement
- Active & Passive Voice
- Direct & Indirect Speech
Paper-III: Statistics
- Collection, Classification and Presentation of Statistical Data:
- Primary and Secondary data
- Methods of data collection
- Tabulation of data
- Graphical representation
- Frequency distributions
- Measures of Central Tendency:
- Mean, Median, Mode
- Quartiles, Deciles, Percentiles
- Measures of Dispersion:
- Range, Quartile deviations, Mean deviation, Standard deviation
- Coefficient of variation
- Moments, Skewness and Kurtosis:
- Different types of moments
- Measures of skewness & kurtosis
- Correlation and Regression:
- Scatter diagram
- Correlation coefficient
- Linear regression
- Probability Theory:
- Axiomatic approach
- Addition and multiplication theorem
- Conditional probability
- Bayes’ theorem
- Random Variable and Probability Distributions:
- Probability distribution of discrete and continuous random variables
- Binomial, Poisson, Normal distributions
- Sampling Theory:
- Concept of population and sample
- Sampling and non-sampling errors
- Sampling distributions
- Statistical Inference:
- Point estimation and interval estimation
- Properties of good estimators
- Testing of hypotheses
- Analysis of Variance:
- One-way and two-way classification
- ANOVA tables
- Time Series Analysis:
- Components of time series
- Trend and seasonal variations
- Index Numbers:
- Construction and uses
- Different types of index numbers
- Tests for index numbers
Paper-IV: General Studies (Finance & Economics)
- Finance and Accounts:
- Fundamental principles of public finance
- Indian tax system
- Public expenditure
- Public debt
- Fiscal Policy
- Finance Commission
- Financial Accounting
- Basic concepts of Accounting
- Economics and Governance:
- Economic development in India since independence
- Five-Year Plans
- National Income of India
- Monetary policy
- Banking in India
- Insurance
- Budget and fiscal deficits
- Liberalization, Privatization, Globalization
- Inflation
- Poverty and unemployment
- Good Governance
- E-governance
SSC CGL Tier-III Syllabus 2025
The Tier-III of SSC CGL is a descriptive paper conducted in pen and paper mode. The topics covered in this tier include:
- Essay Writing
- Precis Writing
- Letter/Application Writing
- Report Writing
Candidates need to write essays on current affairs, social issues, economic challenges, political scenarios, etc. The letter/application writing section may include formal letters, business letters, applications, etc.
SSC CGL Tier-IV Syllabus 2025
This tier includes Computer Proficiency Test (CPT) and Data Entry Skill Test (DEST).
Computer Proficiency Test (CPT)
Candidates need to demonstrate proficiency in:
- Word Processing: MS Word usage, formatting, printing, etc.
- Spreadsheet: MS Excel usage, formulas, functions, data analysis, etc.
- Presentation: MS PowerPoint usage, slide creation, animations, transitions, etc.
Data Entry Skill Test (DEST)
Candidates need to demonstrate typing speed of 8,000 key depressions per hour on computer.
Important Books for SSC CGL Preparation
| Subject | Recommended Books |
|---|---|
| General Intelligence & Reasoning |
– A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning by R.S. Aggarwal – Analytical Reasoning by M.K. Pandey – How to Crack Test of Reasoning by Jaikishan & Premkishan |
| General Awareness |
– Lucent’s General Knowledge – Manorama Yearbook – Current Affairs Monthly Magazines |
| Quantitative Aptitude |
– Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by R.S. Aggarwal – Fast Track Objective Arithmetic by Rajesh Verma – Quantum CAT by Sarvesh K. Verma |
| English Comprehension |
– Objective General English by S.P. Bakshi – Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis – High School English Grammar by Wren & Martin |
| Statistics |
– Fundamentals of Statistics by S.C. Gupta – Statistical Methods by S.P. Gupta – NCERT Statistics Books |
| Finance & Economics |
– Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh – Economics by Sanjeev Verma – Public Finance by H.L. Bhatia |
Preparation Tips for SSC CGL 2025
- Understand the Exam Pattern: Familiarize yourself with the tier-wise exam pattern and marking scheme.
- Create a Study Plan: Divide your time for each subject based on your strengths and weaknesses.
- Practice Previous Year Papers: Solve at least the last 5 years’ question papers to understand the pattern and level of questions.
- Take Mock Tests: Regular mock tests will help you manage time efficiently during the actual exam.
- Focus on Accuracy: Remember there’s negative marking, so focus on accuracy rather than attempting all questions.
- Current Affairs: Keep yourself updated with the last 6 months’ current affairs for the General Awareness section.
- Revision: Regular revision is crucial for retaining what you’ve studied.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the negative marking scheme in SSC CGL 2025?
There is a negative marking of 0.50 marks for each wrong answer in Tier-I and Tier-II examinations. No negative marking is applicable in Tier-III and Tier-IV.
Which posts require Paper-III (Statistics) and Paper-IV (Finance & Economics) in Tier-II?
Paper-III (Statistics) is required for Statistical Investigator Grade-II and Compiler posts. Paper-IV (Finance & Economics) is for Assistant Audit Officer and Assistant Accounts Officer posts.
Is the Tier-III descriptive paper conducted online or offline?
The Tier-III descriptive paper is conducted in offline mode (pen and paper).
What is the minimum qualifying marks for each tier in SSC CGL?
The minimum qualifying marks vary by category: General – 30%, OBC/EWS – 25%, SC/ST/PwD – 20%. However, SSC may change these cutoffs based on the difficulty level of the exam.
How many attempts are allowed for SSC CGL exam?
There is no limit on the number of attempts for SSC CGL. Candidates can appear as many times as they want, provided they meet the age and educational qualification criteria.
We hope this detailed SSC CGL 2025 syllabus helps you in your preparation. For more updates on government jobs, admit cards, answer keys, and results, keep visiting Best Sarkari Naukri.