SSC CGL Syllabus 2025: Complete Topic-Wise Breakdown with Preparation Tips

By Daily Affairs Hub

Meta Description: Explore the complete SSC CGL Syllabus 2025 for Tier I, II, III, and IV with topic-wise details, preparation tips, and a downloadable PDF. Ace your exam with our guide!

The SSC CGL 2025 (Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level) exam is a premier opportunity for graduates aiming for prestigious government jobs in ministries, departments, and organizations. Conducted in four tiers, this exam demands a thorough understanding of the syllabus to succeed. This blog post provides a detailed, topic-wise syllabus for all tiers, weightage analysis, preparation strategies, and recommended resources. Download the syllabus PDF or explore our expert tips at Daily Affairs Hub.

SSC CGL Syllabus 2025  Topic wise Breakdown with Preparation Tips



Overview of SSC CGL 2025 Exam Pattern

The SSC CGL exam is conducted in four tiers: Tier I (Preliminary), Tier II (Mains), Tier III (Descriptive), and Tier IV (Skill Test). Below is the exam pattern for each tier.

Tier Mode Sections Total Marks Duration
Tier I Online (MCQs) General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, English Comprehension 200 60 minutes
Tier II Online (MCQs) Paper I (Compulsory), Paper II (JSO), Paper III (AAO) 800 2 hours per paper
Tier III Offline (Descriptive) Essay, Letter/Application Writing 100 60 minutes
Tier IV Skill Test Data Entry Speed Test (DEST), Computer Proficiency Test (CPT) Qualifying Varies

Key Point

  • Negative Marking: 0.50 marks deducted for each wrong answer in Tier I; 0.25 marks in Tier II Paper I (Section I, II, V), 0.50 marks in Paper II & III.
  • Tier I: Qualifying in nature.
  • Tier II & III: Contribute to the final merit list.
  • Tier IV: Qualifying for specific posts (e.g., Tax Assistant, AAO).

SSC CGL Tier I Syllabus 2025: Topic-Wise Breakdown & Weightage

Tier I is a screening round with four sections: General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, and English Comprehension. Each section has 25 questions and 50 marks, with a 60-minute total duration.

1. General Intelligence & Reasoning

This section tests logical and analytical skills. It’s crucial for scoring high in Tier I.

Topic Sub-Topics Weightage (Approx.)
Analogy Semantic, symbolic, number-based analogies 3-4 questions
Classification Number, letter, and figure-based classification 2-3 questions
Series Number, alphabet, mixed series 2-3 questions
Coding-Decoding Letter, number, symbol-based coding 2-3 questions
Blood Relations Family tree, coded relations 1-2 questions
Direction & Distance Directions, distances, turns 1-2 questions
Order & Ranking Position, rank-based problems 1-2 questions
Puzzles Seating arrangement, scheduling, and comparison 3-4 questions
Syllogism 2-3 statement syllogisms, possibility cases 2-3 questions
Venn Diagram Logical Venn diagrams 1-2 questions
Non-Verbal Reasoning Mirror/water images, paper folding, figure completion 2-3 questions

Pro Tip
Practice puzzles and syllogisms daily using A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning by R.S. Aggarwal.


2. General Awareness

This section covers current affairs and static GK, testing your knowledge of the world around you.

Topic Sub-Topics Weightage (Approx.)
Current Affairs National/international news, awards, summits (6-12 months) 5-6 questions
History Ancient, Medieval, Modern India, the freedom struggle 3-4 questions
Geography Physical, Indian, and world geography 3-4 questions
Polity Indian Constitution, governance, amendments 2-3 questions
Economy Basic economy, budget, economic survey 2-3 questions
Science Physics, Chemistry, Biology (NCERT-based) 3-4 questions
Static GK Countries, capitals, currencies, and important days 2-3 questions

Pro Tip
Read Lucent’s General Knowledge and follow daily updates on Daily Affairs Hub. Stay updated with PIB for government schemes.
Daily Current Affairs


3. Quantitative Aptitude

This section tests numerical and mathematical skills, requiring speed and accuracy.

Topic Sub-Topics Weightage (Approx.)
Simplification BODMAS, fractions, decimals, percentages 2-3 questions
Number Series Missing/wrong number series 2-3 questions
Data Interpretation Table, bar graph, line graph, pie chart 4-5 questions
Arithmetic Ratio & Proportion, Percentage, Profit & Loss 8-10 questions
Time & Work, Time-Speed-Distance, SI/CI, Average
Mixture & Alligation, Partnership, Ages
Quadratic Equations Root comparison, solving equations 2-3 questions
Mensuration 2D/3D shapes (triangle, circle, cube, cylinder) 2-3 questions
Trigonometry Heights & distances, basic identities 1-2 questions
Algebra Linear equations, basic algebraic identities 1-2 questions
Geometry Triangles, circles, polygons 1-2 questions

Pro Tip
Master shortcuts with Fast Track Objective Arithmetic by Rajesh Verma. Practice DI daily on Testbook


4. English Comprehension

This section evaluates grammar, vocabulary, and comprehension skills.

Topic Sub-Topics Weightage (Approx.)
Reading Comprehension Passages (social issues, economy, environment) 5-6 questions
Cloze Test Fill-in-the-blanks with grammar/vocabulary 4-5 questions
Spotting Errors Grammatical errors (tense, prepositions) 3-4 questions
Sentence Improvement Replacing incorrect words/phrases 3-4 questions
Para Jumbles Sentence rearrangement 2-3 questions
Fill in the Blanks Single/double fillers 2-3 questions
Vocabulary Synonyms, antonyms, idioms, and one-word substitutions 3-4 questions

Pro Tip
Improve vocabulary with Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis. Practice RC on Adda247. Check our English Tips.


SSC CGL Tier II Syllabus 2025: Topic-Wise Breakdown & Weightage

Tier II consists of three papers: Paper I (Compulsory for all posts), Paper II (Junior Statistical Officer), and Paper III (Assistant Audit Officer/Accounts Officer). Below is the detailed syllabus.

Paper I: Compulsory for All Posts

Paper I is divided into three sections: Mathematical Abilities, Reasoning and General Intelligence, English Language and Comprehension, General Awareness, Computer Knowledge, and Data Entry Speed Test (DEST).

Section Topics Weightage (Questions/Marks)
Mathematical Abilities Same as Tier I Quantitative Aptitude (advanced level) 30 questions / 90 marks
Reasoning & General Intelligence Same as Tier I Reasoning (advanced puzzles, syllogisms) 30 questions / 90 marks
English Language & Comprehension Advanced RC, cloze test, error spotting, para jumbles 45 questions / 135 marks
General Awareness Current affairs, static GK (history, polity, geography) 25 questions / 75 marks
Computer Knowledge Computer basics, MS Office, internet, cybersecurity 20 questions / 60 marks
Data Entry Speed Test (DEST) Typing test (2000 key depressions in 15 minutes) Qualifying

Key Point

  • Paper I is compulsory and has two modules: Module I (Math + Reasoning), Module II (English + GA + Computer).
  • DEST is qualifying for posts like Tax Assistant.

Paper II: Statistics (For Junior Statistical Officer)

This paper is for candidates applying for JSO posts, focusing on statistical concepts.

Topic Sub-Topics Weightage (Approx.)
Collection & Representation of Data Data classification, tabulation, graphs 10-12 questions
Measures of Central Tendency Mean, median, mode 10-12 questions
Measures of Dispersion Variance, standard deviation, range 8-10 questions
Probability Theory Basic probability, conditional probability 8-10 questions
Sampling Theory Random sampling, stratified sampling 8-10 questions
Statistical Inference Hypothesis testing, confidence intervals 10-12 questions
Correlation & Regression Pearson’s correlation, linear regression 8-10 questions
Time Series Analysis Trends, seasonal variations 6-8 questions
Index Numbers Types of index numbers, uses 6-8 questions

Pro Tip
Refer to Fundamentals of Statistics by S.C. Gupta for JSO preparation. Practice statistical problems on Oliveboard.


Paper III: General Studies (Finance & Economics) (For AAO)

This paper is for Assistant Audit Officer/Accounts Officer posts, focusing on finance and economics.

Topic Sub-Topics Weightage (Approx.)
Financial Accounting Accounting principles, balance sheet, journals 20-25 questions
Basic Economics Microeconomics, macroeconomics, demand-supply 20-25 questions
Indian Economy Budget, economic survey, and fiscal policy 15-20 questions
Public Finance Taxation, government expenditure 10-15 questions
Auditing Types of audits, audit process 10-15 questions

Pro Tip
Study Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh and Financial Management by Prasanna Chandra for AAO preparation.


SSC CGL Tier III Syllabus 2025

Tier III is a descriptive paper (offline) to test writing skills. It carries 100 marks with a 60-minute duration.

Topic Sub-Topics
Essay Writing Topics on social issues, economy, environment, technology (200-250 words)
Letter/Application Writing Formal (to officials), Informal (to friends/family)
Precis Writing Summarizing a given passage (1/3rd of the original length)

Pro Tip
Practice 2-3 essays/letters weekly. Refer to sample formats on Adda247 and


SSC CGL Tier IV Syllabus 2025

Tier IV is a skill test (qualifying in nature) for specific posts.

Test Details
Data Entry Speed Test (DEST) 2000 key depressions in 15 minutes (Tax Assistant posts)
Computer Proficiency Test (CPT) MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint tasks (AAO, Inspector posts)

Pro Tip
Practice typing daily and familiarize yourself with MS Office.


Preparation Tips for SSC CGL 2025

  1. Master the Syllabus: Use the tables above to create a structured study plan covering all topics.
  2. Recommended Books:
    • Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by R.S. Aggarwal
    • A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning by R.S. Aggarwal
    • Objective General English by S.P. Bakshi
    • Lucent’s General Knowledge by Dr. Binay Karna
    • Kiran’s SSC CGL Previous Year Solved Papers
  3. Practice Mock Tests: Use platforms like Gradeup or Bankersadda for mock tests.
  4. Stay Updated: Follow Daily Affairs Hub for current affairs and exam updates.
  5. Time Management: Allocate time for each section and practice sectional tests to improve speed.

Expert Advice
“Revise standard books 3-4 times and solve previous years’ papers to understand question trends.” – SSC CGL Topper


Why Choose This Syllabus Guide?

This detailed SSC CGL 2025 syllabus ensures you cover every topic with clarity and focus. Combined with our preparation tips and resources, you’re well-equipped to excel. For more exam strategies, visit Daily Affairs Hub.