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SSC CGL vs UPSC Prelims
SSC CGL: 100 questions, 200 marks, 60 minutes. UPSC Prelims: 100 questions, 200 marks, 120 minutes. Both test General Awareness, so preparing for one covers much of the other. Most aspirants in this bracket sit both.
| SSC CGL Tier 1 | UPSC Prelims GS Paper I | |
|---|---|---|
| Conducted by | Staff Selection Commission | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Questions | 100 | 100 |
| Marks | 200 | 200 |
| Time | 60 min | 120 min |
| Seconds a question | 36 | 72 |
| Marking | +2 for each correct answer, −0.5 for each wrong answer. Computer-based, in English and Hindi. | +2 for a correct answer. A wrong answer costs one third of the question's marks (0.66). GS Paper I marks decide the Prelims cutoff. |
| Sections | General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, English Comprehension | General Studies Paper I |
| Languages | English, Hindi | English, Hindi |
| Next exam | Not announced | 23 May 2027; notification 13 Jan, apply by 2 Feb 2027 (tentative) |
| Last cut-off (UR) | 136.4 / 200 (SSC CGL 2025 Tier 1 cutoff (all other posts), UR) | Not published |
| Mocks on RankVyuh | 9 full (2 free) | 9 full (2 free) |
Which should you prepare for?
- Both test General Awareness, so preparing for one covers much of the other. Most aspirants in this bracket sit both.
- Speed: SSC CGL gives 36 seconds a question against 72 in UPSC Prelims. Practise SSC CGL with a stricter clock.
Neither is "easier": cut-offs move with vacancies and candidates every year. Take a free mock of each and compare your two reports; the gap to each exam's last cut-off is the honest answer.
FAQ
- Can I prepare for SSC CGL and UPSC Prelims together?
- Yes. Both test General Awareness. Prepare those once, then the sections only one of them has.
- Which has negative marking, SSC CGL or UPSC Prelims?
- SSC CGL: +2 for each correct answer, −0.5 for each wrong answer. Computer-based, in English and Hindi. UPSC Prelims: +2 for a correct answer. A wrong answer costs one third of the question's marks (0.66). GS Paper I marks decide the Prelims cutoff.
- What are the age limits for SSC CGL and UPSC Prelims?
- See each exam's official notification; the age-limit calculator on RankVyuh checks your date of birth against it.
Sources: official notifications of Staff Selection Commission (website ) and Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) (website ); SSC Notice, Combined Graduate Level Examination 2026, F. No. HQ-C11018/1/2026-C-1, published 21-05-2026. Age-limit calculator · All comparisons