SSC CGL Requirements & Prerequisites
Everything you need to know before registering for the SSC CGL, eligibility, cost, format, and what to expect on exam day.
Cost
~$1.50 (INR 100)
Provider
Staff Selection Commission
Validity
Annual exam
Available
India
Education
Check official exam requirements
Experience
1-3 years of hands-on experience recommended
Specific Requirements
- A bachelor's degree in any subject from a recognised university or institute for most posts, held as on 01 August 2026. Candidates in the final year of graduation may apply but must possess the qualification by that date.
- Junior Statistical Officer requires a bachelor's degree in any subject with at least 60 percent marks in Mathematics at class 12 level, or a bachelor's degree with Statistics as a subject at degree level.
- Statistical Investigator Grade-II requires a bachelor's degree in Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Demography, Population Studies, Operations Research, Information Technology, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Computer Technology, Computer Application, Data Science or Artificial Intelligence.
- Assistant Audit Officer and Assistant Accounts Officer in the state cadre additionally require a certificate of proficiency in the regional or official language of the state at Secondary School Examination level.
- Age as on 01 August 2026 must fall within the band for the post: 18 to 27, 18 to 30, 20 to 30 or 18 to 32. Upper age relaxation is 5 years for SC and ST, 3 years for OBC, 10 years for PwBD, 13 years for PwBD (OBC) and 15 years for PwBD (SC or ST).
- Indian nationality, or one of the other categories of eligibility specified in the notice, plus the physical and medical standards prescribed for posts that require them.
- Degrees earned through Open and Distance Learning are accepted only if the awarding institution is recognised and the programme was approved by the Distance Education Bureau of the University Grants Commission for the relevant period.
Number of Questions
Tier-I: 100 questions, 200 marks. Tier-II Paper-I: 60 questions in Section-I (180 marks), 70 questions in Section-II (210 marks), 20 questions in Section-III (60 marks) and one data entry task in Section-IV. Tier-II Paper-II and Paper-III: 100 questions and 200 marks each.
Duration
Tier-I: 60 minutes, run as four 15-minute sectional timers. Tier-II Paper-I Session-I: 2 hours 15 minutes. Tier-II Paper-I Session-II (Data Entry Speed Test): 15 minutes. Tier-II Paper-II and Paper-III: 2 hours each. Candidates eligible for a scribe get 1 hour 20 minutes in Tier-I, longer sectional timers in Tier-II and 2 hours 40 minutes in Paper-II and Paper-III.
Question Format
Objective multiple choice questions in Tier-I and in Sections I, II and III of Tier-II Paper-I, Objective multiple choice questions in Tier-II Paper-II (Statistics) and Paper-III (General Studies, Finance and Economics), One typed passage of about 2,000 key depressions in the Section-IV Data Entry Speed Test
Passing Requirement
Qualifying marks are 30 percent for Unreserved, 25 percent for OBC and EWS and 20 percent for all other categories, applied separately to Tier-I, to Section-I, Section-II and Section-III of Tier-II Paper-I, and to Paper-II and Paper-III. The Data Entry Speed Test caps errors at 20 percent for Unreserved, 25 percent for OBC and EWS and 30 percent for other categories. Selection cut-offs are far higher and are set fresh each cycle by category and post; in CGL 2024 the Unreserved cut-off on Section-I plus Section-II was 322.77352. That figure is a normalised score, not a raw mark, so it cannot be read as a percentage of the 390-mark nominal base.
How It Is Delivered
Computer-based test at Commission-designated centres. Candidates choose three centre preferences within one region at application, and the Commission reserves the right to divert candidates to another centre.
Languages Offered
English, Hindi (all questions except the English Comprehension and English Language sections are set in both languages)
Visit the official Staff Selection Commission certification page
Create an account and select your exam
Choose a test center or online proctoring option
Pay the exam fee and schedule your date
Score Scale
Tier-I is marked out of 200, with four sections of 50 marks each built from 25 two-mark questions. Tier-II Paper-I Section-I is out of 180 (60 questions at 3 marks), Section-II is out of 210 (70 questions at 3 marks) and Section-III is out of 60 (20 questions at 3 marks). Paper-II and Paper-III are each out of 200 (100 questions at 2 marks). Section-IV, the Data Entry Speed Test, is scored as a percentage of errors rather than as marks.
Score You Need
Qualifying marks are 30 percent for Unreserved, 25 percent for OBC and EWS and 20 percent for all other categories, applied separately to Tier-I, to Section-I, Section-II and Section-III of Tier-II Paper-I, and to Paper-II and Paper-III. The Data Entry Speed Test caps errors at 20 percent for Unreserved, 25 percent for OBC and EWS and 30 percent for other categories. Selection cut-offs are far higher and are set fresh each cycle by category and post; in CGL 2024 the Unreserved cut-off on Section-I plus Section-II was 322.77352. That figure is a normalised score, not a raw mark, so it cannot be read as a percentage of the 390-mark nominal base.
How It Is Calculated
Raw marks are computed by adding the marks for correct answers and subtracting the tier-specific penalty for wrong answers, with no deduction for unattempted questions. Because the exam runs in multiple shifts with different papers, the Commission then normalises marks across shifts using the procedure published in its notice dated 2 June 2025, which is why cut-offs appear with five decimal places. Scoring is conjunctive at the qualifying stage, since a candidate must clear every scored section separately, and compensatory above it, since merit is the aggregate of the qualifying sections.
When You Get Results
The Commission publishes a tentative answer key on ssc.gov.in after each computer-based stage, opens a paid objection window, then declares the stage result and uploads the final answer key. For CGL 2024, the Tier-I result was declared on 05 December 2024 and Tier-II followed in January 2025. No unofficial or instant score is displayed at the test centre.
In raw terms: In CGL 2024 the Unreserved cut-off on Section-I plus Section-II was 322.77352 against a qualifying requirement of only 30 percent, so the bar that decides selection sits far above the bar that decides qualification. The Commission does not publish a raw-mark equivalent, and none can be derived: normalised marks are not capped at the nominal maximum. In the same result the last selected candidate for Sub-Inspector/JIO in the Narcotics Control Bureau under Unreserved carries a Section-I score of 188.88195, above the 180 marks Section-I nominally carries. Treat published cut-offs as a rank threshold for that cycle, not as a target number of correct answers.
- Two forms of valid ID (one government-issued with photo)
- Appointment confirmation email
- For online proctoring: webcam, microphone, clean desk, stable internet
What are the prerequisites for the SSC CGL?
A bachelor's degree in any subject from a recognised university or institute for most posts, held as on 01 August 2026. Candidates in the final year of graduation may apply but must possess the qualification by that date.. Junior Statistical Officer requires a bachelor's degree in any subject with at least 60 percent marks in Mathematics at class 12 level, or a bachelor's degree with Statistics as a subject at degree level.. Statistical Investigator Grade-II requires a bachelor's degree in Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Demography, Population Studies, Operations Research, Information Technology, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Computer Technology, Computer Application, Data Science or Artificial Intelligence.. Assistant Audit Officer and Assistant Accounts Officer in the state cadre additionally require a certificate of proficiency in the regional or official language of the state at Secondary School Examination level.. Age as on 01 August 2026 must fall within the band for the post: 18 to 27, 18 to 30, 20 to 30 or 18 to 32. Upper age relaxation is 5 years for SC and ST, 3 years for OBC, 10 years for PwBD, 13 years for PwBD (OBC) and 15 years for PwBD (SC or ST).. Indian nationality, or one of the other categories of eligibility specified in the notice, plus the physical and medical standards prescribed for posts that require them.. Degrees earned through Open and Distance Learning are accepted only if the awarding institution is recognised and the programme was approved by the Distance Education Bureau of the University Grants Commission for the relevant period..
How much does the SSC CGL cost?
The SSC CGL exam costs ~$1.50 (INR 100). This includes the exam fee only, study materials are additional.
How do I register for the SSC CGL?
Visit the official Staff Selection Commission certification page → Create an account and select your exam → Choose a test center or online proctoring option → Pay the exam fee and schedule your date
What should I bring to the SSC CGL?
Two forms of valid ID (one government-issued with photo). Appointment confirmation email. For online proctoring: webcam, microphone, clean desk, stable internet.
Ready to prepare for SSC CGL?
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