Over 15 lakh candidates are expected to apply for approximately 10,000 vacancies and the journey to crack the SSC CGL 2017 exams is not going to be easy.Only those who are best prepared and who do well in all the phases of the selection process are going to get appointed.
The first step to your preparation is to thoroughly understand the exam pattern and the marks allotted for each stage.
The SSC CGL selection process is conducted in 4 stages or tiers, which are to be held on different dates.Here are the tentative dates of each stage:
Tier 1 Exam: 1st August to 20th August 2017
Tier 2 Exam: 10th, 11th November
Tier 3 Exam: 21st January 2018
Tier 4 Exam: February 2018
This time around, SSC has brought in a few changes to the exam pattern. Let us first see what those changes are:
1. SSC will be conducting both Tier I and Tier II exams in online mode.
2. The time duration for Tier I exam is only 60 minutes. Earlier, it was 75 minutes. Tier II pattern is unchanged.
3. Tier III will be a descriptive paper in English/Hindi.
4. For few posts, Computer Proficiency test (CPT) is now an essential hurdle to pass. These posts are – Assistant Section Officer (CSS), Assistant Section Officer (MEA), Assistant (GSI) in Ministry of Mines and Assistants in Serious Fraud Investigation Agency.
Now let us look at the exam pattern, syllabus and important topics for tiers I, II, III and IV.
SSC CGL Tier-I exam is mandatory for all posts.The marks scored in this examination will be added for further stages as well.
You will have to clear Tier-I in order to attempt the Tier-II exam. The following is the exam pattern:
| Subject | Questions | Maximum marks | Total Duration |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 25 | 50 | 1 hour |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 | |
| General English | 25 | 50 | |
| General Awareness | 25 | 50 | |
| Total | 100 | 200 |
There is negative marking of 0.5 marks for every wrong answer.
SSC CGL Tier-II: It would involve 2 papers – Quantitative aptitude & General English.
| Subject | Questions | Maximum Marks | Time Duration |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 100 | 200 | 2 hrs |
| General English | 200 | 200 | 2 hrs |
| Statistics | 100 | 200 | 2 hrs |
| General studies (finance and economics) | 100 | 200 | 2 hrs |
Note: Paper-I & II are compulsory for all the categories of posts.Papers III & IV are only reserved for other positions.
Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) applicants should appear for Paper I, II & III.All those applying for Assistant Audit Officer (AAO)/Assistant Accounts Officer(AAO) must take up Paper I, II & IV.
Tier II would be similar to Tier I exam, except that the difficulty level would be slightly higher.
SSC CGL Tier-III: It contains a descriptive test for the duration of 1 hour
| SSC CGL Tier-III | Maximum Marks | Time Duration |
| Descriptive Paper in English/Hindi | 100 | 1 hour |
This exam will be conducted offline in pen and paper mode. Questions would involve Essay/Formal letter/Informal letter/Report Writing.
It is key that your work has zero or close to zero grammatical or spelling mistakes.
SSC CGL Tier-IV: This is conducted only for a few selected posts. It would involve a Computer Proficiency Test (CPT) or a Data Entry Skill Test.
The Data Entry skill test is conducted for the post of Tax assistants while the Computer Proficiency Test is for the post of Assistant Section Officer.
The Computer Proficiency Test will have different questions on Word Processing, Spread Sheets and generation of slides.
Knowing about the exam pattern for all the phases of SSC CGL exam, you should also know on how to prepare for the battle.
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