SSC CGL 2026 has four Tier 1 subjects: General Intelligence and Reasoning, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude and English Comprehension. Tier 2 Paper I covers Mathematical Abilities, Reasoning, English, General Awareness, Computer Knowledge and DEST. Paper II is only for JSO and Statistical Investigator candidates; Paper III is only for Assistant Audit Officer and Assistant Accounts Officer candidates.
SSC CGL 2026 syllabus at a glance
The official notice separates the examination into Tier 1 and Tier 2. Tier 1 is a screening examination. Tier 2 contains the papers and qualifying modules used for final selection. Candidates should therefore use the syllabus with the selection process, not treat every subject as equally important at every stage.
| Stage | Subjects or modules | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Reasoning, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, English | Category-wise shortlisting for Tier 2 |
| Tier 2 Paper I | Maths, Reasoning, English, GA, Computer Knowledge, DEST | Compulsory for all posts |
| Tier 2 Paper II | Statistics | Only for JSO and Statistical Investigator Grade II |
| Tier 2 Paper III | Finance and Economics | Only for Assistant Audit/Accounts Officer posts |
Tier 1 syllabus, marks and timing
Tier 1 contains 100 objective questions for 200 marks. Each of the four subjects has 25 questions and 50 marks. The 2026 notice provides one hour with a 15-minute sectional timer for each subject. Candidates eligible for a scribe receive the additional time specified in the notice.
| Subject | Questions | Marks | Core areas |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence and Reasoning | 25 | 50 | Analogies, series, coding, classification, Venn diagrams, spatial and critical reasoning |
| General Awareness | 25 | 50 | Current events, history, culture, geography, economy, policy and science |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 | Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, mensuration, trigonometry and charts |
| English Comprehension | 25 | 50 | Correct English, comprehension and writing ability |
Tier 1 has a penalty of 0.50 marks for each wrong answer. The sectional timer makes balanced preparation more important because unused time from one subject cannot repair another weak section.
Tier 2 Paper I syllabus
Paper I is compulsory for every candidate who reaches Tier 2. Section I includes Mathematical Abilities and Reasoning. Section II includes English Language and Comprehension plus General Awareness. Section III is Computer Knowledge and Section IV is the Data Entry Speed Test.
- Mathematical Abilities: number systems, arithmetic, algebra, geometry, mensuration, trigonometry, statistics and probability.
- Reasoning: verbal and non-verbal analogy, classification, series, Venn diagrams, coding, problem solving and critical thinking.
- English: vocabulary, grammar, error spotting, sentence improvement, voice, narration, cloze and comprehension.
- General Awareness: current events and India-focused history, culture, geography, economy, policy and scientific research.
- Computer Knowledge: computer basics, Windows and office software, internet, email, networking and cyber security.
- DEST: about 2,000 key depressions in 15 minutes. Use the 15-minute practice test for the correct duration.
Who must study Paper II and Paper III
Do not spend months on a specialist paper unless the target post requires it. Paper II Statistics applies only to candidates shortlisted for Junior Statistical Officer and Statistical Investigator Grade II. Paper III General Studies (Finance and Economics) applies only to candidates shortlisted for Assistant Audit Officer and Assistant Accounts Officer.
Paper II covers data collection and presentation, probability, distributions, sampling, inference, variance analysis, time series and index numbers. Paper III covers accounting principles plus finance, economics and governance topics specified in the notice.
A practical order for covering the syllabus
- Take one recent paper or diagnostic mock and record section-level accuracy.
- Build arithmetic, grammar and core reasoning first because they recur across both tiers.
- Add General Awareness as a daily revision stream rather than a single weekly session.
- Begin Tier 2 computer knowledge and typing practice early; qualifying modules can still block selection.
- Use weekly timed sections before moving to full mocks.
- Revise from an error log instead of repeatedly reading the entire syllabus.
The syllabus is a boundary, not a timetable. A strong plan assigns more time to high-error topics while keeping every timed section above a safe baseline.
Common syllabus planning mistakes
- Using an old pattern that does not include the current sectional timers.
- Preparing only Tier 1 and postponing all Tier 2 work until the result.
- Ignoring Computer Knowledge or DEST because they are qualifying.
- Studying specialist papers without checking the target post.
- Downloading a topic list without connecting it to questions, marks and revision.
Pair this page with the detailed Tier 2 exam pattern and the previous-paper method.
Common questions
Is the SSC CGL syllabus the same for Tier 1 and Tier 2?
No. Some foundations overlap, but Tier 2 has a wider Paper I, Computer Knowledge, DEST and specialist Papers II or III for selected posts.
Is there a sectional timer in SSC CGL Tier 1 2026?
Yes. The 2026 notice gives one hour with a 15-minute sectional timer for each of the four subjects.
Is DEST part of the SSC CGL syllabus for every post?
DEST is included in Tier 2 Paper I and is mandatory for all posts, subject to the limited exemptions stated in the official notice.
Sources, scope and author
This guide is based on the official SSC material linked below. Rules can change through later notices or corrigenda, so verify time-sensitive decisions on ssc.gov.in.