What is confirmed so far
The CGL 2026 notice (uploaded on 21 May 2026) lists approximately 12,256 tentative vacancies across Group B and Group C posts. SSC says it will publish any updated post-wise and category-wise figures on its website under the Tentative Vacancy section. Tier-II is tentatively scheduled for December 2026.
- Tier-I (computer-based): 30 September to 30 October 2026, as per SSC's notice dated 12.09.2026.
- Admission certificates: available for download 2–3 days before your exam date, and you must carry a printout to the hall.
- Carry two recent passport-size colour photographs and an original photo ID whose date of birth matches the admission certificate.
- If you could not complete Aadhaar-based authentication, you must report to the centre two hours before the exam starts.
- Check your exam city and date by logging in at ssc.gov.in. Don't rely on forwarded screenshots.
The Tier-I pattern, and the timer that changes your strategy
Tier-I has 100 objective questions worth 200 marks across four sections of 25 questions each. Every section carries 50 marks, and each wrong answer costs 0.50 marks, a quarter of the 2 marks a correct answer earns.
- General Intelligence and Reasoning: 25 questions, 50 marks.
- General Awareness: 25 questions, 50 marks.
- Quantitative Aptitude: 25 questions, 50 marks (10th-standard level).
- English Comprehension: 25 questions, 50 marks (English only; the other sections are bilingual).
- Time: 1 hour, with a sectional timer of 15 minutes for each section (20 minutes each for scribe-eligible candidates).
Why the sectional timer matters
With a 15-minute lock on each section, time you save in General Awareness cannot be spent on Quant. Every section has to be managed on its own. If you have been practising full 60-minute papers where you jump between sections, switch to sectional-timed practice now.
In practice, this means you need a plan for each 15-minute block. In Reasoning and English, aim to finish a first pass in about 11 minutes and use the rest on the questions you marked. In General Awareness, answer what you know within the first few minutes and don't agonise over the rest. In Quant, attempt the direct arithmetic and algebra first and leave lengthy geometry or data questions for the end of the block.
Tier-I is a screening test, but the cut-off is tough
The notice says the final merit list is prepared on the basis of Tier-II only. Tier-I is used to shortlist candidates category-wise for Tier-II, subject to minimum qualifying marks of 30% for UR, 25% for OBC/EWS and 20% for other categories. Scores across shifts are normalised.
That does not make Tier-I easy. Shortlisting is competitive, so the real target is to clear the category cut-off comfortably, not just the qualifying percentage. Accuracy matters more than attempts: at −0.50 per wrong answer, four wrong guesses cancel out one correct answer.
A 14-day revision plan
The plan below assumes your exam is in the first week of the window. If your date is later, stretch the first block and keep the last four days unchanged.
- Days 1–4: Take one full timed mock every alternate day. On the other days, fix your two weakest Quant topics (usually geometry and trigonometry, or mensuration) and revise reasoning types you keep getting wrong.
- Days 5–8: Revise static GK in short blocks (history, polity, geography, science) and current affairs from the last six months. Keep daily English practice going: one cloze or comprehension set, plus idioms and one-word substitutions.
- Days 9–11: Take a mock every day under strict sectional timing. Keep an error log and note why each question went wrong: concept, calculation or guess.
- Days 12–13: No new topics. Re-read your error log, formula sheet and GK notes, and do one light sectional test to stay sharp.
- Day 14 (the day before): Check your admission certificate, ID and photographs, confirm the centre route and reporting time, and sleep early.
After the exam
SSC places tentative answer keys on its website after the exam. You can challenge a key online within the stated window by paying ₹100 per question, which is non-refundable. There is no re-evaluation or re-checking of scores. Once the key is out, calculate your raw score honestly and start Tier-II preparation straight away rather than waiting for the result. The December Tier-II window leaves little slack.
For your final few mocks, practise on the real pattern with a free full-length CGL mock that uses sectional timing, so the 15-minute lock doesn't surprise you on the day.
Key takeaways
- SSC CGL 2026 Tier-I runs from 30 September to 30 October 2026, per SSC's 12.09.2026 notice.
- The paper has 100 questions and 200 marks, with a 15-minute sectional timer and −0.50 per wrong answer.
- Final merit is based on Tier-II only, but Tier-I shortlisting is still competitive.
- In the last two weeks, focus on timed mocks, an error log and GK revision, not new topics.
Sources
Dates and patterns change — always confirm on the official website before applying.
