SSC CGL Tier 2 Exam Pattern 2026 and Syllabus: Papers I, II and III
SSC CGL Tier 2 exam pattern 2026 from the official notice: Paper I sections, marks, timers, negative marking, CKT and DEST, plus JSO and AAO papers.
Updated 28 October 2026· 8 min read
Tier 2 decides your rank in SSC CGL. The 2026 notice, published on ssc.gov.in on 21 May 2026, says the final merit list is prepared on Tier 2 performance only. This page sets out the SSC CGL Tier 2 exam pattern 2026 and the topic-wise syllabus exactly as the notice gives them. The scheme is in paragraph 13.9 and the syllabus in paragraph 13.11.
Three papers, but most candidates write only one
Tier 2 has three papers, held in separate shifts or on separate days:
- Paper I is compulsory for every post.
- Paper II (Statistics) is only for candidates shortlisted for Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) in MoSPI and Statistical Investigator Grade-II in the Office of the Registrar General of India.
- Paper III (General Studies: Finance and Economics) is only for candidates shortlisted for Assistant Audit Officer and Assistant Accounts Officer.
SSC fixes separate Tier 1 cut-offs for these three groups. So you may qualify for Tier 2 for "all other posts" but not for JSO or AAO, or the other way round.
SSC CGL Tier 2 exam pattern 2026: Paper I
Paper I is held in two sessions on the same day. Session I runs for 2 hours 15 minutes and covers Sections I to III. After a break for re-registration, Session II is the 15-minute Data Entry Speed Test.
| Session | Section and subject | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | Section I-A: Mathematical Abilities | 30 | 90 | 30 minutes |
| I | Section I-B: Reasoning and General Intelligence | 30 | 90 | 30 minutes |
| I | Section II-A: English Language and Comprehension | 45 | 135 | 40 minutes |
| I | Section II-B: General Awareness | 25 | 75 | 20 minutes |
| I | Section III: Computer Knowledge Test (qualifying) | 20 | 60 | 15 minutes |
| II | Section IV: Data Entry Speed Test (qualifying) | One data entry task | – | 15 minutes |
Each question in Sections I to III carries 3 marks. Every subject has its own sectional timer, so time left over in one subject does not move to the next.
Key rules from the notice:
- Negative marking: 1 mark is deducted for each wrong answer in Sections I, II and III of Paper I.
- Merit marks: only Sections I and II count towards your rank. Together they carry 390 marks (180 + 210).
- Qualifying sections: the Computer Knowledge Test and DEST must be cleared but their marks are not added to the merit total.
- Language: questions are in English and Hindi, except the English Language and Comprehension part.
- Level: Mathematical Abilities is set at Matriculation level and English at 10+2 level.
- Scribe-eligible candidates get 40 minutes each for Maths and Reasoning, 55 minutes for English, 25 minutes for GA, 20 minutes for the Computer Knowledge Test and 5 extra minutes in DEST.
You must qualify every section of Paper I separately. For Sections I, II and III, the minimum qualifying marks are 30% for UR, 25% for OBC and EWS, and 20% for all other categories. DEST has its own standard, explained below.
What is DEST?
The Data Entry Speed Test asks you to type a passage of about 2,000 key depressions in 15 minutes. It has no objective questions. The notice sets the maximum error allowed at 20% for UR, 25% for OBC and EWS, and 30% for other categories.
DEST and the Computer Knowledge Test are compulsory for all posts. For posts where computer proficiency or DEST is prescribed, SSC sets a higher qualifying standard. The notice names posts such as ASO in CSS, MEA and AFHQ, CBIC Inspectors and Executive Assistant, Postal and Sorting Assistant, and Tax Assistant in CBIC and CBDT. For the limited DEST exemption available to PwBD-OH candidates, read paragraph 13.9.10.6 of the notice.
Paper II and Paper III pattern
| Paper | Who writes it | Questions | Marks | Time | Wrong answer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper II: Statistics | Candidates shortlisted for JSO and Statistical Investigator Grade-II | 100 | 200 | 2 hours | −0.50 |
| Paper III: General Studies (Finance and Economics) | Candidates shortlisted for AAO and Assistant Accounts Officer | 100 | 200 | 2 hours | −0.50 |
Both papers are set at graduation level, and scribe-eligible candidates get 2 hours 40 minutes. For JSO and Statistical Investigator posts, merit is the total of Paper I Sections I and II plus Paper II. For AAO and Assistant Accounts Officer posts, it is Paper I Sections I and II plus Paper III. The same 30%, 25% and 20% qualifying marks apply to Papers II and III.
SSC CGL Tier 2 syllabus 2026, topic-wise
| Section | Topics in the 2026 notice (para 13.11) |
|---|---|
| Mathematical Abilities | Number systems (whole numbers, decimals, fractions, relationship between numbers); percentage, ratio and proportion, square roots, averages, simple and compound interest, profit and loss, discount, partnership, mixture and alligation, time and distance, time and work; basic algebraic identities, elementary surds, graphs of linear equations; triangle centres, congruence and similarity, circles, chords, tangents and common tangents; mensuration of 2D and 3D figures; trigonometric ratios, complementary angles, standard identities, heights and distances; tables and graphs, mean, median, mode, standard deviation, simple probability |
| Reasoning and General Intelligence | Semantic, symbolic, number and figural analogy, classification and series; trends, space orientation, Venn diagrams, drawing inferences, punched hole and pattern folding, figural pattern completion, embedded figures, critical thinking, problem solving, emotional and social intelligence, word building, coding-decoding, numerical operations |
| English Language and Comprehension | Vocabulary and grammar, synonyms, homonyms, antonyms, spelling, idioms and phrases, one-word substitution, spot the error, fill in the blanks, sentence improvement, active and passive voice, direct and indirect speech, shuffling of sentence parts and sentences, cloze passage, comprehension passages |
| General Awareness | Current events, everyday science, and India and its neighbouring countries: history, culture, geography, economic scene, general policy and scientific research |
| Computer Knowledge | Computer organisation, CPU, input and output devices, memory, backup devices, ports, Windows Explorer, keyboard shortcuts; Windows and MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint; web browsing, downloading and uploading, e-mail, e-banking; networking devices and protocols, security threats such as hacking, viruses, worms and Trojans, and how to prevent them |
| Paper II: Statistics | Data collection and presentation, central tendency and partition values, dispersion, moments, skewness and kurtosis, correlation and regression, probability theory including Bayes' theorem, random variables and distributions (binomial, Poisson, normal, exponential), sampling theory, statistical inference (Z, t, chi-square and F tests), analysis of variance, time series, index numbers |
| Paper III: Finance and Economics | Part A, Finance and Accounts (80 marks): accounting principles, double entry, journal, ledger, trial balance, bank reconciliation, final accounts, depreciation, inventory valuation, non-profit accounts, bills of exchange. Part B, Economics and Governance (120 marks): CAG and Finance Commission, demand and supply, production and cost, market forms, Indian economy, national income, reforms since 1991, money and banking, budget, FRBM Act 2003, IT in governance |
A note on the English comprehension part: the notice says there will be three or more passages. At least one is a simple passage from a book or story, and the others are on current affairs, based on a report or editorial.
How Tier 2 differs from Tier 1
The topic lists for Maths, Reasoning and GA look much like the Tier 1 syllabus. The paper is not the same, though:
- Each question is worth 3 marks, and a wrong answer costs 1 mark, so a guess has a larger effect.
- English has 45 questions, the most of any subject, and the largest share of merit marks (135).
- Maths adds statistics topics: mean, median, mode, standard deviation and simple probability.
- The time per question is longer. Maths and Reasoning give 60 seconds per question, against 36 seconds in Tier 1.
- There are two qualifying tests, the Computer Knowledge Test and DEST, that do not exist in Tier 1.
When is SSC CGL Tier 2 2026?
The 2026 notice lists Tier 2 tentatively for December 2026. It does not give exact dates, and it says any schedule change will be communicated only through the SSC website, so check ssc.gov.in for the admit card and final dates.
A simple plan for Tier 2
- Start typing practice now. A short daily DEST session helps build speed, and DEST must be qualified whatever your other marks.
- Revise the computer topics once. Twenty questions on basics, MS Office, internet and security can be covered in a week.
- Give English the most time, as it carries 135 of the 390 merit marks.
- Practise attempting only questions you are fairly sure of. With minus 1 per wrong answer, accuracy matters more than in Tier 1.
- If you are shortlisted for JSO or AAO, plan separate weeks for Paper II or Paper III, which have full graduation-level syllabi of their own.
The Maths, Reasoning, English and GA topics overlap with Tier 1, so Tier 1 practice still helps. You can take SSC CGL Full Mock 1 free to check your speed and accuracy, and find more resources on the SSC CGL page.
SSC CGL Tier 1 Full Mock 1, free
Same pattern and timer as the real exam, with a report on what to fix.
Frequently asked questions
What is the SSC CGL Tier 2 exam pattern for 2026?
Paper I has Mathematical Abilities (30 questions), Reasoning (30), English (45), General Awareness (25) and a qualifying Computer Knowledge Test (20), each question worth 3 marks, plus a 15-minute Data Entry Speed Test. Paper II (Statistics) and Paper III (Finance and Economics) have 100 questions and 200 marks each, for JSO and AAO candidates only.
What is the negative marking in SSC CGL Tier 2 2026?
1 mark is deducted for each wrong answer in Sections I, II and III of Paper I. In Paper II and Paper III, 0.50 marks are deducted per wrong answer.
Are computer knowledge and DEST marks counted in the SSC CGL merit list?
No. Both are qualifying. You must clear them, but merit is based on Sections I and II of Paper I (390 marks), plus Paper II or Paper III for JSO and AAO posts.
Who has to write SSC CGL Tier 2 Paper III?
Only candidates shortlisted in Tier 1 for Assistant Audit Officer and Assistant Accounts Officer. Paper III is General Studies (Finance and Economics), with 80 marks of Finance and Accounts and 120 marks of Economics and Governance.
What is the SSC CGL 2026 Tier 2 exam date?
The 2026 notice gives December 2026 as the tentative month for Tier 2. It does not give exact dates; check ssc.gov.in for the final schedule and admit card.
Sources
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