SSC CGL (Tier 1) Syllabus 2026
SSC CGL Tier-1 tests four sections equally — Quantitative Aptitude, General Intelligence & Reasoning, English Comprehension and General Awareness — with Tier-2 going deeper into advanced Quant and English.
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SSC CGL (Tier 1) exam pattern
| Section | Questions | Duration |
|---|
| General Intelligence & Reasoning (25 Q) | 25 | 15 min |
| General Awareness (25 Q) | 25 | 15 min |
| Quantitative Aptitude (25 Q) | 25 | 15 min |
| English Comprehension (25 Q) | 25 | 15 min |
| Total | 100 | 60 min |
Marking: 2 marks per correct answer, -0.5 per wrong answer (negative marking). Scale: 0–200.
SSC CGL (Tier 1) syllabus — topic-wise
Quantitative Aptitude
- Number System & Simplification
- Percentage, Ratio & Proportion
- Profit & Loss, Discount
- Time, Speed, Distance & Work
- Averages, Mixtures & Alligation
- Algebra & Elementary Trigonometry
- Geometry & Mensuration
- Data Interpretation
General Intelligence & Reasoning
- Analogy & Classification
- Series (Number & Alphabet)
- Coding-Decoding
- Blood Relations & Directions
- Syllogism & Statements
- Puzzles & Seating Arrangement
- Non-Verbal Reasoning
English Comprehension
- Reading Comprehension
- Grammar (Error Spotting, Fill in the Blanks)
- Vocabulary (Synonyms, Antonyms, Idioms)
- Sentence Improvement & Rearrangement
- Cloze Test
- Active/Passive & Direct/Indirect Speech
General Awareness
- History, Polity & Geography
- Economics & Current Affairs
- General Science
- Static GK & Important Days
How to cover the SSC CGL (Tier 1) syllabus
SSC CGL Tier-1 gives you barely 36 seconds per question, so it is a speed-and-accuracy test far more than a knowledge test. The differentiator is Quantitative Aptitude — most serious candidates clear reasoning and English, so the maths section usually decides who makes the cut.
✅ Preparation tips
- Drill calculation shortcuts (tables, squares, percentages) until arithmetic is reflexive — this buys you the time to attempt more.
- Keep a daily current-affairs and static-GK routine; General Awareness is fast, high-yield marks if you are consistent.
- Start Tier-2 preparation in parallel — the advanced Quant and English there decide your final post.
⚠️ Common mistakes
- Spending too long on a single hard question and running out of time for easy marks later in the paper.
- Leaving General Awareness to the end — it is the most time-efficient section and rewards steady daily effort.
Frequently asked questions
What is the SSC CGL (Tier 1) syllabus?
The SSC CGL (Tier 1) syllabus covers Quantitative Aptitude, General Intelligence & Reasoning, English Comprehension, General Awareness. SSC CGL Tier-1 tests four sections equally — Quantitative Aptitude, General Intelligence & Reasoning, English Comprehension and General Awareness — with Tier-2 going deeper into advanced Quant and English.
What is the SSC CGL (Tier 1) exam pattern?
Staff Selection Commission — Combined Graduate Level (Tier 1) has 100 questions across 4 sections in 60 minutes, with negative marking of -0.5 per wrong answer.
How many sections are there in SSC CGL (Tier 1)?
SSC CGL (Tier 1) is organised into 4 sections: General Intelligence & Reasoning (25 Q), General Awareness (25 Q), Quantitative Aptitude (25 Q), English Comprehension (25 Q).
Where can I practise the full SSC CGL (Tier 1) syllabus for free?
Wrexa Edge offers 10 free full-length SSC CGL (Tier 1) mock tests that cover the entire syllabus in the real exam interface, with instant scoring and topic-wise analysis.
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