Complete Guide to Staff Selection Commission (SSC) Examinations at EDUPATH
What is SSC?
The vacancies under various departments in central govt ministries are filled by staff selection commission through various examinations. Various levels of examinations are conducted by SSC on the basis of various qualification level that include both technical and nontechnical. SSC is the largest career exam platform where thousands of candidates are selected every year and the different posts under SSC include positions like Clerks, Assistants, Sub-Inspectors, Stenographers, CGL (Combined Graduate Level), CHSL (Combined Higher Secondary Level), MTS (Multi-Tasking Staff), JE (Junior Engineers), and many others.
The most important details pertaining to all exams conducted by ssc is provided in the table below:
| Exam Name | Category | Level of Exam | Qualification Eligibility Criteria | Exam Months (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SSC CGL (Combined Graduate Level) | Non-Technical | Graduate level | Bachelor's Degree in any discipline, Indian citizen; age 18-32 (varies by post) | Feb/March & August |
| SSC CHSL (Combined Higher Secondary Level) | Non-Technical | 10+2 level | 12th class pass from a recognized board, Indian citizen; age 18-27 | March & November |
| SSC JE (Junior Engineer) | Technical | Graduate level | Engineering Degree or Diploma (Civil, Electrical, Mechanical), Indian citizen; age 18-32 (varies by post) | January & June |
| SSC MTS (Multi-Tasking Staff) | Non-Technical | 10th pass | Matriculation (10th class) from a recognized board, Indian citizen; age 18-25 | April & September |
| SSC GD Constable | Non-Technical | 10th pass | Matriculation (10th class) from a recognized board, Indian citizen; age 18-23 | February & October |
| SSC Stenographer Grade C & D | Non-Technical | 10+2 level | 12th class pass from a recognized board, Indian citizen; age 18-30 (Grade C), 18-27 (Grade D) | July & December |
| SSC CPO (Central Police Organization) | Non-Technical | Graduate level | Bachelor's Degree in any discipline, Indian citizen; age 20-25 | March & October |
| SSC Scientific Assistant (IMD) | Technical | Graduate level (B.Sc./B.Tech) | Bachelor’s degree in relevant discipline (Science/Engineering), Indian citizen; age 18-30 | October |
| SSC Selection Posts | Technical & Non-Technical | 10th, 12th, Graduate levels | Matriculation, 12th pass, or Graduation as per post requirement, Indian citizen; age 18-30 (varies by post) | Multiple times in a year |
| SSC Jr. Translator (Hindi) | Non-Technical | Graduate level | Master's Degree in Hindi or English with relevant experience, Indian citizen; age 18-30 | August |
The above table is based on the latest notifications and candidates are advised to go through the detailed notification with regard to technical post and nontechnical post qualifications and age relaxation criteria etc.only after collecting precise information candidates should apply for exams
Exam Conduct Frequency:
- Most of these exams are held annually or semi-annually (i.e., twice a year), but exact dates are subject to SSC's official annual calendar, which can change year to year.
WHY SSC?
- SSC exams are among the most coveted jobs for jobseekers as they offer thousands of vacancies every year under various departments of the ministry of central government.
- Government jobs are always a great attraction to educated people as they provide hundred percent job security in any situation. The Government of India is not only the largest recruiter but also the safest employer.
- Financial stability plays a vital role in our day-to-day life. The salaries of central government employees are credited to their accounts without any intervention, and there is a confirmed hike every year for all promotion levels. In addition to the salary, central government employees are entitled to various other benefits such as health insurance, DA, housing loan, pensionary benefits, etc. The salaries of central government employees are hiked every 10 years on the basis of the pay commission recommendations.
- SSC offers social equality to all its employees. No selection is made based on caste, race, sex, or religion. It provides equal opportunities to all candidates to get jobs and prospective promotions. The recruitment process is transparent, and one can crack the exam with their capabilities.
- Seniority is a key factor in Central Government promotion policy, and it comes with its fair share of exceptionally good opportunities. The promotion scheme is timely and provides equal opportunities. Due importance is given to the time employees have spent on the job, and they are fairly rewarded based on their experience.
- People employed under various ministries and departments under SSC enjoy dignity and honor in society. It attracts a lot of young candidates from various fields because it offers a high salary and social esteem.
Here are the detailed tables for SSC exams, including their exam patterns, syllabus, and marking scheme based on the latest available notifications.
1. SSC CGL (Combined Graduate Level)
Exam Pattern
| Tier | Exam Type | Total Questions | Duration | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Objective (MCQ) | 100 | 60 minutes | 200 |
| Tier 2 | Objective (MCQ) | 200 | 2 hours | 400 |
| Tier 3 | Descriptive | - | 1 hour | 100 (No Negative) |
| Tier 4 | Skill/Typing Test | - | - | Qualifying Only |
Marking Scheme
- Tier 1: +2 marks for each correct answer, -0.50 for each wrong answer
- Tier 2: +2 marks for each correct answer, -0.50 for each wrong answer
- Tier 3: 100 marks (no negative marking)
- Tier 4: Qualifying (no marks)
Syllabus for SSC CGL
| Tier | Subject | Topics |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | General Intelligence & Reasoning | Analogies, Series, Classification, Direction Sense, Blood Relations, Coding-Decoding, etc. |
| Tier 1 | General Awareness | History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Science, Current Affairs, Static GK |
| Tier 1 | Quantitative Aptitude | Number System, Percentages, Profit & Loss, Time & Work, Simple & Compound Interest, Algebra, Geometry |
| Tier 1 | English Comprehension | Reading Comprehension, Error Spotting, Fill in the Blanks, Synonyms/Antonyms, Sentence Improvement |
| Tier 2 | Quantitative Abilities | Arithmetic (Ratio, Proportion, Profit & Loss, Time & Work, Time & Distance), Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, etc. |
| Tier 2 | English Language & Comprehension | Vocabulary, Sentence Structure, Error Correction, Reading Comprehension, Antonyms & Synonyms, etc. |
| Tier 2 | Statistics (for specific posts) | Measures of Central Tendency, Measures of Dispersion, Probability, etc. |
| Tier 2 | General Studies (Finance & Economics) | Indian Economy, Financial Markets, Budget, Economic Reforms, RBI Policies, etc. |
| Tier 3 | Descriptive Paper | Essay Writing, Letter Writing, Precis Writing |
| Tier 4 | Data Entry/Computer Proficiency | Speed Test: 8,000 Key Depressions per hour for Data Entry Test (DEST), MS Word/Excel/PowerPoint for CPT |
2. SSC CHSL (Combined Higher Secondary Level)
Exam Pattern
| Tier | Exam Type | Total Questions | Duration | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Objective (MCQ) | 100 | 60 minutes | 200 |
| Tier 2 | Descriptive | - | 1 hour | 100 |
| Tier 3 | Skill/Typing Test | - | - | Qualifying Only |
Marking Scheme
- Tier 1: +2 marks for each correct answer, -0.50 for each wrong answer
- Tier 2: 100 marks (no negative marking)
- Tier 3: Qualifying (no marks)
Syllabus for SSC CHSL
| Tier | Subject | Topics |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | General Intelligence & Reasoning | Series, Analogy, Blood Relations, Syllogism, Coding-Decoding, Direction Sense, etc. |
| General Awareness | History, Geography, Indian Polity, Economy, General Science, Current Affairs, Static GK | |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Number System, Simplification, Algebra, Profit and Loss, Percentage, Average, Time & Distance, etc. | |
| English Language | Reading Comprehension, Sentence Structure, Error Spotting, Fill in the Blanks, Synonyms/Antonyms, etc. | |
| Tier 2 | English Language & Comprehension | Essay Writing, Letter Writing, Precis Writing, Formal Letters, etc. |
| Tier 3 | Skill Test/Typing Test | Typing Speed Test (English: 35 WPM, Hindi: 30 WPM), Data Entry Test (8000 Key Depressions per hour) |
3. SSC JE (Junior Engineer)
Exam Pattern
| Tier | Exam Type | Total Questions | Duration | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Objective (MCQ) | 200 | 2 hours | 200 |
| Tier 2 | Objective (MCQ) | 300 | 2 hours | 300 |
Marking Scheme
- Tier 1: +1 mark for each correct answer, -0.25 for each wrong answer
- Tier 2: +1 mark for each correct answer, -0.25 for each wrong answer
Syllabus for SSC JE
| Tier | Subject | Topics |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | General Intelligence & Reasoning | Analogies, Series, Coding-Decoding, Directions, Blood Relations, Number Series, etc. |
| General Awareness | History, Geography, Economy, Polity, Science & Technology, Current Affairs, Static GK | |
| General Engineering (Civil/Mechanical/Electrical) | Engineering Mathematics, Strength of Materials, Fluid Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Electrical Circuits, etc. | |
| Tier 2 | General Engineering (Civil/Mechanical/Electrical) | Fluid Mechanics, Surveying, Concrete, Structures, Thermodynamics, Electrical Circuits, Power Systems, etc. |
4. SSC MTS (Multi-Tasking Staff)
Exam Pattern
| Tier | Exam Type | Total Questions | Duration | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Objective (MCQ) | 100 | 1 hour | 100 |
| Tier 2 | Descriptive | - | 30 minutes | 50 |
Marking Scheme
- Tier 1: +1 mark for each correct answer, -0.25 for each wrong answer
- Tier 2: 50 marks (no negative marking)
Syllabus for SSC MTS
| Tier | Subject | Topics |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | General Intelligence & Reasoning | Number Series, Blood Relations, Analogy, Coding-Decoding, Direction Sense, etc. |
| General Awareness | History, Geography, Economy, Polity, Science, Current Affairs, Static GK | |
| Numerical Aptitude | Simplification, Average, Percentages, Time & Work, Speed & Distance, Number System, etc. | |
| English Language | Reading Comprehension, Synonyms/Antonyms, Error Spotting, Sentence Improvement, Fill in the Blanks | |
| Tier 2 | Short Essay/Letter Writing | Letter Writing, Essay Writing, etc. |
5. SSC GD Constable
Exam Pattern
| Tier | Exam Type | Total Questions | Duration | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Objective (MCQ) | 100 | 1 hour | 100 |
| Tier 2 | Physical Test (PET) | - | - | Qualifying Only |
Marking Scheme
- Tier 1: +1 mark for each correct answer, -0.25 for each wrong answer
- Tier 2: Qualifying only (Physical Test)
Syllabus for SSC GD Constable
| Tier | Subject | Topics |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | General Intelligence & Reasoning | Analogies, Blood Relations, Coding-Decoding, Number Series, Direction Sense, etc. |
| General Awareness | History, Geography, Economy, Polity, Current Affairs, Science, Static GK | |
| Numerical Ability | Simplification, Average, Time & Work, Percentages, Number System, Time & Distance | |
| English Comprehension | Sentence Completion, Error Detection, Reading Comprehension, Synonyms/Antonyms, etc. | |
| Tier 2 | Physical Efficiency Test (PET) | 5 km race (Male), 1.6 km race (Female), Long Jump, High Jump, etc. |
6. SSC Stenographer
Exam Pattern
| Tier | Exam Type | Total Questions | Duration | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Objective (MCQ) | 200 | 2 hours | 200 |
| Tier 2 | Skill Test (Stenography) | - | - | Qualifying Only |
Marking Scheme
- Tier 1: +1 mark for each correct answer, -0.25 for each wrong answer
- Tier 2: Qualifying (No marks for skill test)
Syllabus for SSC Stenographer
| Tier | Subject | Topics |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | General Intelligence & Reasoning | Analogies, Number Series, Coding-Decoding, Blood Relations, etc. |
| General Awareness | History, Geography, Current Affairs, Economy, Polity, Science, Static GK | |
| English Comprehension | Sentence Structure, Error Spotting, Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, Synonyms/Antonyms | |
| Tier 2 | Stenography Skill Test | Dictation in English/Hindi at 80 WPM for 10 minutes; Transcription Time: 50 minutes (English), 65 minutes (Hindi) |
How to Apply for SSC Exams
- Visit the Official SSC Website: Go to the official SSC website www.ssc.nic.in.
- Register/Login: If you are a first-time applicant, register with your basic details. Existing candidates can log in directly.
- Fill the Application Form: Select the desired SSC exam, fill out the form with your personal, educational, and contact details.
- Upload Documents: Upload a recent photograph, signature, and any other documents (as per the requirements).
- Pay the Application Fee: Pay the application fee via online payment methods (credit/debit card, net banking, etc.).
- Submit the Form: Once all the details are correct, submit the application form.
- Download Admit Card: After the exam date is announced, download your admit card from the SSC website.
How to Prepare for SSC Exams: Tips and Strategies
- Understand the Syllabus: Familiarize yourself with the exam syllabus and break it down into smaller topics.
- Time Management: Divide your study time efficiently among the sections based on your strengths and weaknesses.
- Solve Mock Tests: Practice mock tests regularly to familiarize yourself with the exam pattern and improve speed.
- Revision: Revise all the topics multiple times, especially the weak areas.
- Study from Good Books: Refer to the recommended SSC preparation books for each section.
- Stay Updated: Read newspapers and current affairs magazines to boost your General Awareness.
EDUPATH: Your Partner in SSC Exam Success
At EDUPATH, we provide comprehensive coaching for all SSC exams. Our expert faculty, online and offline learning options, and personalized guidance ensure that you are well-prepared to crack the SSC exams. Here’s how EDUPATH can help:
- Expert Faculty: Learn from experienced mentors who have guided hundreds of students to success in SSC exams.
- Up-to-date Study Material: Get access to the latest study materials, including mock tests, practice papers, and video lectures.
- Doubt Clearing Sessions: Attend weekly doubt clearing sessions to clarify your concepts and improve your understanding.
- Mock Tests & Time Management: Take timed mock tests to simulate real exam conditions and improve your time management skills.
- Flexible Learning: Choose from online classes or offline coaching at our centers, based on your convenience.