SSC CGL Exam 2025: The Complete Guide
Everything you need to know about the SSC CGL exam, updated as of March 3, 2025.
What is SSC CGL?
The Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level (SSC CGL) exam is a national-level test for recruiting graduates into Group B and C posts in Indian government departments. Known for its competitive nature, it offers stable careers with excellent benefits. Some of these posts are known for their administrative powers.
Exam Structure
SSC CGL 2025 will be conducted in phased manners with two Phases.
Tier 1: Preliminary Exam
This will be of 1 Hour with 100 Questions (25 From each Section). This will be of Qualifying Nature. Marks of TIER-1 will not be added to final merit list.
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Mode | Online (Computer-Based Test) |
| Duration | 60 minutes |
| Total Marks | 200 |
| Sections |
|
| Marking Scheme | +2 for correct, -0.5 for wrong |
Tier 2: Mains Exam
Tier-2 will have two papers: Paper-1 Compulsory for all posts, and Paper-2 only for the posts of Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) in the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
| Paper | Sections | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I (Compulsory) |
| 450 | 2 hr 15 min |
| Paper II (JSO) | Statistics (100 Qs) | 200 | 2 hr |
| Paper III (AAO) | Finance & Economics (100 Qs) | 200 | 2 hr |
Eligibility Criteria
- Nationality: Indian citizens or specific exemptions (Nepal/Bhutan).
- Age Limit:
- 18–27 years (e.g., Tax Assistant)
- 20–30 years (e.g., Assistant Section Officer)
- Up to 32 years (e.g., Inspector)
- Relaxations: OBC (+3 yrs), SC/ST (+5 yrs), PwD (+10 yrs)
- Qualification: Bachelor’s degree; specialized degrees for JSO/AAO posts.
SSC CGL Posts & Salary
Here you can find Salary for all SSC CGL Posts. Further if you know Grade Pay or Pay Level you can calculate salary for any post by Simply Clicking Here
| Post | Grade Pay | In Hand Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant Audit Officer | 4800 / Level-8 | 92000/- Click for full details |
| Assistant Account Officer | ||
| Assistant Section Officer | 4600 / Level-7 | 87000/- Click for full details |
| Assistant | ||
| Inspector of Income Tax | ||
| Inspector (Central Excise) | ||
| Inspector(Preventive Officer) | ||
| Inspector(Examiner) | ||
| Assistant Enforcement Officer | ||
| Sub Inspector | ||
| Inspector Posts | ||
| Inspector | ||
| Assistant | 4200 / Level-6 | 70000/- Click for full details |
| Assistant/Superintendent | ||
| Divisional Accountant | ||
| Sub Inspector | ||
| Junior Statistical Officer | ||
| Statistical Investigator Grade-II | ||
| Auditor | 2800 / Level-5 | 58000/- Click for full details |
| Accountant | ||
| Accountant/ Junior Accountant | ||
| Senior Secretariat Assistant/ Upper Division Clerks | 2400 / Level-4 | 52000/- Click for full details |
| Tax Assistant | ||
| Sub-Inspector | ||
| Upper Division Clerks |
Detailed Syllabus
Tier 1 Syllabus
| Section | Topics |
|---|---|
| General Intelligence & Reasoning |
|
| General Awareness |
|
| Quantitative Aptitude |
|
| English Comprehension |
|
Tier 2 Syllabus
| Paper | Sections & Topics |
|---|---|
| Paper I |
|
| Paper II (Statistics) |
|
| Paper III (General Studies - Finance & Economics) |
|
Key Dates for SSC CGL 2025
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | April 22, 2025 |
| Application Period | April 22 – May 21, 2025 |
| Tier 1 Exam | June–July 2025 (Tentative) |
SSC CGL 2025 Preparation Strategy
Step-by-Step Preparation Strategy
Step 1: Understand the Exam
Download the latest syllabus and previous papers from SSC’s website.
Analyze weightage: Quant and English often dominate scoring.
Step 2: Build a Study Plan
Daily Schedule (6–8 hours):
- Morning: Quantitative Aptitude (2–3 hours) – focus on weak areas.
- Midday: Reasoning (1–2 hours) – practice puzzles/series.
- Afternoon: English (1–2 hours) – grammar + vocab.
- Evening: General Awareness (1 hour) – current affairs + static GK.
Weekly Goals:
- Cover 2–3 topics per subject.
- Take 1 full-length mock test (Tier 1 pattern).
Monthly Revision:
Revisit formulas, GK notes, and vocab lists.
Step 3: Master the Basics
- Quant: Use NCERT Maths (Class 6–10) for fundamentals, then graduate to advanced books.
- Reasoning: Practice 20–30 questions daily to sharpen logic.
- English: Learn 10 new words daily; revise grammar rules.
- GK: Create concise notes (e.g., dates, events, schemes).
Step 4: Practice Extensively
- Solve previous 5 years’ papers (2019–2024) to spot trends.
- Take 20–30 mock tests before Tier 1; analyze mistakes.
- Time yourself: Aim for 40–45 seconds per question in Tier 1.
Step 5: Focus on Tier 2
- Strengthen Computer Knowledge (practice MCQs + typing).
- For Paper II/III aspirants, study specialized subjects alongside Tier 1 prep.
Step 6: Stay Updated
- Read The Hindu or Indian Express daily (15–20 minutes).
- Revise static GK weekly (e.g., capitals, rivers, historical events).
- OR you can just attempt our specially curated Daily Current Affair Test Series From Here
- Follow YouTube channels like Adda247 or StudyIQ for current affairs summaries.
Step 7: Improve Speed and Accuracy
- Use shortcuts for Quant (e.g., Vedic Maths for multiplication).
- Avoid guesswork due to negative marking; aim for 80%+ accuracy.
Step 8: Resources
Books:
- Quant: Quantitative Aptitude by R.S. Aggarwal; CAT Quant by Arun Sharma (advanced).
- Reasoning: Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning by R.S. Aggarwal; Analytical Reasoning by M.K. Pandey.
- English: Objective General English by S.P. Bakshi; High School Grammar by Wren & Martin.
- GK: Lucent’s GK; Manorama Yearbook.
- Statistics: Fundamentals of Statistics by S.C. Gupta.
- Finance/Economics: Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh; Financial Management by Khan & Jain.
Online:
- Free: SATHEE SSC (by IITs), YouTube (Unacademy, Gradeup).
- Paid: Testbook, BYJU’S Exam Prep, Oliveboard.
Application Process
- Visit ssc.gov.in.
- Register with personal details.
- Upload photo and signature.
- Pay ₹100 fee (exempt for SC/ST/PwD/women).
Latest Updates
March 3, 2025: SSC CGL 2024 Tier 2 conducted in January 2025; 2025 notification expected on April 22, 2025.