Where this exam stands today
Applications closed months ago. Everything between now and the exam hall is a waiting game with two documents in it.
- Notification21 May 2026
- Applicationsclosed
- Exam date out12 Sep 2026
- City slip & admit cardbefore your shift
Next up - Tier 130 Sep – 30 Oct
- Tier 2December 2026
Important dates
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification released | 21 May 2026 |
| Application window | Closed — reopened briefly in late June, correction in early July |
| Tier 1 exam date notice | 12 September 2026 |
| City intimation slip | About 8 – 10 days before your exam |
| Tier 1 admit card | About 2 – 3 days before your exam, region-wise |
| Tier 1 exam | 30 September – 30 October 2026 |
| Tier 2 exam | Expected December 2026 |
Tier 1 exam pattern
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence and Reasoning | 25 | 50 | 15 min |
| General Awareness | 25 | 50 | 15 min |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 | 15 min |
| English Comprehension | 25 | 50 | 15 min |
| Total | 100 | 200 | 60 min |
Objective multiple choice, computer based, with 0.50 marks deducted for every wrong answer. Candidates with a scribe get 80 minutes.
Tier 2 exam pattern
Tier 2 is the scoring stage — Tier 1 only qualifies you for it. Paper 1 is compulsory for everyone. Paper 2 applies to Junior Statistical Officer applicants and Paper 3 to AAO and AAAO applicants.
| Paper | Who takes it | Content |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | All shortlisted candidates | Session I: Mathematical Abilities, Reasoning and General Intelligence. Session II: English Language and Comprehension, General Awareness, Computer Knowledge. Followed by a Data Entry Speed Test. |
| Paper 2 | Junior Statistical Officer applicants | Statistics |
| Paper 3 | AAO and AAAO applicants | General Studies — Finance and Economics |
Selection process
Four stages, no interview at any point.
- Tier 1 — computer based test. Qualifying only. It decides who moves to Tier 2 and nothing else; the marks do not carry into your final score.
- Tier 2 — computer based test. The merit-deciding stage, including a Data Entry Speed Test or Computer Proficiency Test for the posts that need one.
- Document verification. Shortlisted candidates are called before final appointment.
- Final merit list, based entirely on Tier 2 performance and the post preferences you submitted.
Admit card and city slip
Two different documents, and candidates mix them up every year.
- The city intimation slip arrives first, roughly 8 to 10 days before your exam. It tells you the city and nothing else. It is not valid for entry.
- The admit card arrives about 2 to 3 days before, on your SSC regional website. It carries your exact date, shift, reporting time and full centre address.
- Carry a printed admit card and one original photo ID — Aadhaar, Voter ID, PAN, passport or driving licence. Phones, smart watches, Bluetooth devices and earphones are not allowed, and centres do not store them.
How to use the last few weeks
You have somewhere between two and seven weeks depending on your date. The plan is the same either way.
- Take every mock with the sectional clock on. This is the single biggest change in the 2026 paper and the easiest way to lose marks you already know how to earn.
- Work backwards from previous year papers. CGL recycles question types relentlessly. Solving real papers shift by shift is worth more now than starting a new chapter.
- Give General Awareness a fixed daily slot. It is the only section where fifteen focused minutes a day reliably converts into marks.
- Stop adding new topics in the last ten days. Revise what you have already solved, and fix the two chapters your mock analysis keeps flagging.
Frequently asked questions
When is the SSC CGL 2026 Tier 1 exam?
From 30 September to 30 October 2026. SSC published the schedule on 12 September 2026. Your individual date and shift come on your admit card.
When will the SSC CGL 2026 admit card be released?
Region-wise on the SSC regional websites, usually two to three days before your exam date. The city intimation slip comes earlier and only names the city.
How many vacancies are there in SSC CGL 2026?
12,256 tentative vacancies, announced with the notification on 21 May 2026.
What is sectional timing in SSC CGL 2026 Tier 1?
Each section gets its own 15-minute window. When that window ends the section closes and the next one opens. You cannot return to a closed section or move unused minutes into the next one.
What is the SSC CGL 2026 Tier 1 exam pattern?
100 questions for 200 marks in 60 minutes, split into four sections of 25 questions and 50 marks each — General Intelligence and Reasoning, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude and English Comprehension. Wrong answers lose 0.50 marks.
Is SSC CGL Tier 1 conducted online?
Yes. It is a computer-based test taken at an allotted examination centre. There is no pen-and-paper option and no option to sit it from home.
How many questions are asked in SSC CGL Tier 1?
100 questions for 200 marks in 60 minutes — 25 questions and 50 marks in each of the four sections.
When is the SSC CGL 2026 Tier 2 exam?
Expected in December 2026. Exact dates will be notified separately.
What is Paper 3 in SSC CGL Tier 2?
General Studies with Finance and Economics. Only candidates who applied for Assistant Audit Officer and Assistant Accounts Officer posts take it.
Every date and figure on this page comes from the official SSC notification and notices published at ssc.gov.in. Vacancy counts are tentative and schedules can change. Confirm against the commission’s own notice before you act on anything here.