The Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level (SSC CGL) exam is a gateway to prestigious Group 'B' and Group 'C' posts in various ministries and departments of the Government of India. Lakhs of aspirants compete for these roles every year.
If you're targeting SSC CGL 2025, a clear understanding of the exam pattern, syllabus, and the weightage given to different topics is crucial for effective and strategic preparation.
This guide breaks down the SSC CGL 2025 exam structure and provides a detailed chapter-wise weightage analysis based on recent trends (primarily the 2024 Tier-1 and Tier-2 exams as shown in the analysis) to help you optimize your study plan.
While this post focuses specifically on CGL, for a broader overview and general strategies applicable to various SSC exams, check out our comprehensive SSC Exam Preparation Guide.
SSC CGL 2025: Key Dates & Eligibility (Tentative)
Based on the SSC calendar and previous cycles:
| Important Factors | Dates / Details |
|---|---|
| Notification Date | 22-Apr-2025 (Tuesday) |
| Last Date to Apply | 21-May-2025 (Wednesday) |
| Crucial Date for Eligibility of Caste Certificates | 21-May-2025 (Wednesday) |
| Age Limit | Varies (e.g., 18-27, 18-30, 18-32 for JSO) |
| Educational Qualification | Bachelor's Degree (Graduation) |
| Expected Tier-1 Exam Date | Jun-Jul, 2025 |
Always refer to the official notification once released for confirmed dates and details.
SSC CGL Exam Structure
The CGL exam is conducted in two tiers:
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Tier-1: Computer-Based Examination (CBE) - Qualifying in nature. You must clear the minimum cut-off marks to be eligible for Tier-2. Marks are not added to the final merit.
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Tier-2: Computer-Based Examination (CBE) - This is the merit-deciding stage. It consists of multiple papers/sections.
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Paper-I (Compulsory for all posts): Contains modules for Mathematical Abilities, Reasoning, English Language & Comprehension, General Awareness, Computer Knowledge (Qualifying), and Data Entry Speed Test (DEST - Qualifying).
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Paper-II (Statistics): Only for candidates applying for Junior Statistical Officer (JSO).
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Paper-III (General Studies - Finance & Economics): Only for candidates applying for Assistant Audit Officer (AAO)/Assistant Accounts Officer (AAO).
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SSC CGL Tier-1: Detailed Pattern & Weightage
Tier-1 Exam Pattern:
| Part | Subject | Number of Qs. | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | General Intelligence & Reasoning | 25 | 50 |
| B | General Awareness | 25 | 50 |
| C | Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 |
| D | English Comprehension | 25 | 50 |
| Total | 100 | 200 |
- Total Duration: 60 minutes (1 hour)
- Negative Marking: 0.50 marks for each wrong answer.
- Nature: Qualifying.
Tier-1 Chapter-wise Weightage (Based on CGL 2024 T-1, 36 Shifts Analysis):
1. Quantitative Aptitude (Maths):
| Chapter Name | Questions Per Shift (Avg) | Priority/Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Geometry | 4.22 | Very High |
| DI | 3.97 | Very High |
| Trigonometry | 2.67 | High |
| Profit and Loss | 2.06 | High |
| Number system | 1.56 | Moderate |
| Algebra | 1.50 | Moderate |
| Ratio | 1.42 | Moderate |
| Simplification | 1.42 | Moderate |
| Mensuration | 1.17 | Moderate |
| SI & CI, T&W, TSD | 1.06 each | Moderate (1 Q each) |
| Percentage | 0.92 | Moderate (Approx. 1 Q) |
| Average | 0.44 | Lower |
| Mixture | 0.42 | Lower |
| Height and Distance | 0.03 | Negligible for T1 |
| Partnership | 0.06 | Negligible for T1 |
- Key Takeaway: Focus strongly on Geometry, DI, Trigonometry, and Profit & Loss for Tier-1. Arithmetic forms the base. Advanced topics like Coordinate Geometry, P&C, Probability, Statistics are generally not tested in Tier-1.
2. General Awareness (GK/GS):
| Subject | Questions Per Shift (Avg) | Priority/Focus |
|---|---|---|
| History | 4.25 | Very High |
| Current Affairs | 3.53 | Very High (Can be 1-2 years old) |
| Geography | 2.97 | High |
| Economics | 2.58 | High |
| Polity | 2.31 | High |
| Static GK (Combined) | ~5.5 | High (Dance, Music, Sports etc.) |
| Science (Combined) | ~4.0 | Moderate |
- Key Takeaway: History, Current Affairs, Geography, Economics, Polity, and Static GK are crucial for Tier-1. Science contributes moderately.
3. Reasoning:
| CHAPTER NAME | Questions per shift (Avg) | Priority/Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Coding Decoding | 3.39 | Highest |
| Odd One Out | 2.08 | Very High |
| Number set | 2.03 | Very High |
| Mathematical Operations | 2.00 | Very High |
| Next Figure | 1.94 | High (Visual) |
| Word Analogy | 1.53 | Moderate |
| Series (Alpha/Num/Miss) | ~3.3 | Moderate-High |
| Mirror/Water/Embed/Cut/etc | ~3.7 | High (Visual) |
| Syllogism | 1.11 | Moderate |
| Blood relation | 1.00 | Moderate |
- Key Takeaway: Coding-Decoding, Odd One Out, Number Set, Mathematical Operations, and Visual Reasoning (Figure series, Mirror image etc.) need significant practice. Statement-based questions and Sitting Arrangement are typically Tier-2 topics.
4. English:
| Topic Name | Questions per shift (Avg) | Priority/Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Close Test | 5.00 | Highest (Comprehension) |
| Antonyms | 2.83 | Very High (Vocab) |
| Synonyms | 2.61 | Very High (Vocab) |
| Error Detection/Correction | ~4.1 | Very High (Grammar) |
| Active & Passive Voice | 2.03 | High (Grammar) |
| One word substitution | 2.08 | High (Vocab) |
| Fill in the Blanks | 1.94 | High (Grammar/Vocab) |
| Spellings | 1.89 | High (Vocab) |
| Jumbled Sentences | 1.78 | Moderate |
| Idioms | 1.53 | Moderate (Vocab) |
- Key Takeaway: Vocabulary, Grammar basics (Errors, Voice), and Close Test are vital. Reading Comprehension passages and Narration are generally excluded from Tier-1.
SSC CGL Tier-2: Detailed Pattern & Weightage
Tier-2 Exam Pattern (Paper-I - Compulsory):
| Session | Module | Subject | No. of Questions | Max Marks | Time Allowed | Nature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Session-I (2hr 15min) | Module-I | Mathematical Abilities | 30 | 90 | 1 hour (per section) | Merit |
| Reasoning & General Intelligence | 30 | 90 | Merit | |||
| Module-II | English Language & Comprehension | 45 | 135 | 1 hour (per section) | Merit | |
| General Awareness | 25 | 75 | Merit | |||
| Session-II (15min) | Module-III | Computer Knowledge Module | 20 | 60 | 15 minutes | Qualifying |
| Session-III (15min) | Module-IV | Data Entry Speed Test (DEST) | One Task | N/A | 15 minutes | Qualifying |
- Negative Marking: 1 mark for Maths, Reasoning, English, GA; 0.50 marks for Computer Knowledge.
- Total Merit Marks: 390 (from Session-I modules).
Tier-2 Chapter-wise Weightage (Based on CGL 2024 T-2 Analysis):
1. Mathematical Abilities (30 Qs):
| Chapter Name | Questions Per Shift (Avg) | Priority/Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Geometry | 4.50 | Highest |
| Simplification | 3.00 | Very High |
| Ratio | 3.00 | Very High |
| Percentage | 2.50 | High |
| Mensuration | 2.50 | High |
| Number system | 2.00 | Moderate |
| Trigonometry | 2.00 | Moderate |
| Profit and Loss | 2.00 | Moderate |
| Statistics | 2.00 | Moderate (Added T2) |
| Algebra | 1.50 | Moderate |
| Mixture | 1.00 | Lower |
| SI & CI | 1.00 | Lower |
| Time & work | 1.00 | Lower |
| Time, Speed & Distance | 1.00 | Lower |
| Probability | 1.00 | Lower (Added T2) |
| Partnership/Average/H&D | 0.00 | Negligible/Absent |
- Key Takeaway: Geometry remains crucial. Simplification, Ratio, Percentage gain importance. Probability and Statistics are introduced.
2. Reasoning & General Intelligence (30 Qs):
| CHAPTER NAME | Questions per shift (Avg) | Priority/Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Statement Based | 4.50 | Highest (Added T2) |
| Coding Decoding | 2.50 | High |
| Blood relation | 2.00 | Moderate |
| Number Pair | 2.00 | Moderate |
| Meaningful Order | 2.00 | Moderate |
| Letter Cluster Pair | 1.50 | Moderate |
| Ranking | 1.50 | Moderate |
| Mirror and Water Image | 1.50 | Moderate (Visual) |
| Missing Alphabet Series | 1.00 | Lower |
| Number Series | 1.00 | Lower |
| Number Arrange | 1.00 | Lower |
| Mathematical Operations | 1.00 | Lower |
| Number Set | 1.00 | Lower |
| Meaningful Word | 1.00 | Lower |
| Seating Arrangement | 1.00 | Lower (Added T2) |
| Figure Analogy | 1.00 | Lower (Visual) |
| Figure Odd One Out | 1.00 | Lower (Visual) |
| Embedded Figure | 1.00 | Lower (Visual) |
| Complete Figure | 1.00 | Lower (Visual) |
| Inequality | 0.50 | Low |
| Syllogism | 0.50 | Low |
| Dice | 0.50 | Low |
- Key Takeaway: Statement-Based reasoning becomes the most important topic. Sitting Arrangement is added. Focus shifts slightly from purely calculation-based reasoning.
3. General Awareness (25 Qs):
| Subject | Questions Per Shift (Avg) | Priority/Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Geography | 4.50 | Highest |
| Current Affairs | 4.00 | Very High |
| Economics | 3.50 | High |
| History | 3.50 | High |
| Science (Combined) | 7.00 | Very High (Increased) |
| Biology | 2.50 | |
| Chemistry | 2.50 | |
| Physics | 2.00 | |
| Polity | 2.50 | Moderate |
- Key Takeaway: Static GK topics (Dance, Music etc.) are absent. Science weightage nearly doubles compared to Tier-1. Core subjects and Current Affairs remain vital.
4. English Language & Comprehension (45 Qs):
| Topic Name | Questions Per Shift (Avg) | Priority/Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 12 | Highest (Added T2) |
| Jumbled Sentence | 4.5 | Very High (Added T2) |
| Active Passive Voice | 3 | High (Added T2 focus) |
| Narration (Direct-Indirect) | 3 | High (Added T2 focus) |
| Antonyms | 3 | High (Vocab) |
| Fill in the Blanks | 6 | Very High (Grammar/Vocab) |
| One word substitution | 3.5 | High (Vocab) |
| Spellings | 2 | Moderate (Vocab) |
| Idioms | 2 | Moderate (Vocab) |
| Error Detection | 1.5 | Moderate (Grammar) |
| Cloze Test | 4 | High (Comprehension) |
| Synonyms | 1 | Lower (Vocab) |
- Key Takeaway: Reading Comprehension becomes the most dominant section. Para Jumbles, Active/Passive, and Narration are crucial additions for Tier-2. Vocabulary and Grammar fundamentals are still necessary.
Final Thoughts
Success in SSC CGL 2025 hinges on understanding these patterns and weightages. While Tier-1 is qualifying, a strong score builds confidence and ensures smooth passage to the crucial Tier-2 stage. Focus your Tier-1 preparation broadly but prioritize high-weightage areas.
For Tier-2, adapt your strategy by incorporating the newly added topics (Statistics, Probability, Statement Reasoning, RC, PJ, Narration, Active/Passive) and adjusting your focus based on the increased weightage of Science and decreased importance of Static GK. Consistent practice with previous year questions and mock tests tailored to the CGL pattern is key.
Remember to always check the official SSC notification for the most up-to-date syllabus and pattern details.