Quick answer
SSC CGL Tier 1 has 100 questions for 200 marks in 60 minutes (4 × 15). Sections: General Intelligence & Reasoning (25 questions, 15 min), General Awareness (25 questions, 15 min), Quantitative Aptitude (25 questions, 15 min), English Comprehension (25 questions, 15 min). +2 for each correct answer, −0.5 for each wrong answer. Computer-based, in English and Hindi.
Section-wise pattern
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time | Time per question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 25 | 50 | 15 min | 36 seconds |
| General Awareness | 25 | 50 | 15 min | 36 seconds |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 | 15 min | 36 seconds |
| English Comprehension | 25 | 50 | 15 min | 36 seconds |
| Total | 100 | 200 | 60 minutes (4 × 15) |
Marking scheme
+2 for each correct answer, −0.5 for each wrong answer. Computer-based, in English and Hindi.
On exam day
From 2026, each section has its own 15-minute timer and opens in order. A section closes when its time ends, and unused time does not carry over.
Practise on the real SSC CGL pattern
5 full mocks with the same sections, timer and marking. The first two are free.
Questions students ask
How many questions are there in SSC CGL Tier 1?
100 questions for 200 marks, in 60 minutes (4 × 15).
Is there negative marking in SSC CGL?
+2 for each correct answer, −0.5 for each wrong answer. Computer-based, in English and Hindi.
What is the SSC CGL exam interface like?
From 2026, each section has its own 15-minute timer and opens in order. A section closes when its time ends, and unused time does not carry over.
How many questions are there in SSC CGL Tier 1?
100 multiple-choice questions in four sections of 25 each, for 200 marks. The paper lasts 60 minutes.
Is there sectional timing in SSC CGL 2026 Tier 1?
Yes. From the 2026 cycle each of the four sections gets its own 15 minutes. You cannot move to the next section early or come back to a closed one, and time saved in one section is not added to the next. RankVyuh mocks follow the same rule.
Is there negative marking in SSC CGL Tier 1?
Yes. Each correct answer gets 2 marks and each wrong answer loses 0.5 marks. Unanswered questions get zero.