SSC Stenographer Grade C vs Grade D: The CBT Is Identical, the Skill Test Is Not
SSC Stenographer recruits for both Grade C and Grade D posts through one shared Computer Based Examination. If you are deciding how to prepare, the written stage gives you no reason to split your prep by grade at all, the CBT itself does not change; what changes is a dictation speed requirement in the Skill Test that follows it.
- Grade C and Grade D candidates sit an identical CBT: 200 questions for 200 marks in 120 minutes, three sections, one composite timer, no sectional lock.
- The three sections are General Intelligence and Reasoning (50 questions), General Awareness (50 questions), and English Language and Comprehension (100 questions), with 0.25 marks deducted per wrong answer, the same for both grades.
- Clearing the CBT shortlists you for the Skill Test in Stenography, a dictation-and-transcription test, which is where Grade C and Grade D genuinely diverge: 100 words per minute for Grade C against 80 words per minute for Grade D, both dictated for 10 minutes.
- CBT marks, normalized across shifts, decide both the Skill Test shortlist and the final merit for both grades, so a strong CBT score still matters even though the Skill Test is the harder practical hurdle for many candidates.
Grade C vs Grade D: what actually differs
| Stage | Grade C | Grade D |
|---|---|---|
| CBT structure | 200Q/200 marks/120 min, 3 sections, composite timer | Identical to Grade C |
| CBT negative marking | 0.25 marks per wrong answer | Identical to Grade C |
| Skill Test dictation speed | 100 words per minute, 10-minute dictation | 80 words per minute, 10-minute dictation |
| Merit basis | CBT marks (normalized across shifts) decide shortlist and final merit | Identical basis to Grade C |
One exam, one shortlisting mechanism
General Intelligence and Reasoning, General Awareness, and English Language and Comprehension make up the CBT for both grades, in the exact same proportions, under the exact same single 120-minute timer with no sectional lock. There is no Grade C-specific or Grade D-specific version of this paper: your CBT score, normalized across shifts to account for difficulty differences between exam sessions, is what both shortlists you for the Skill Test and ultimately decides your final merit position.
Where Grade C and Grade D actually part ways
The Skill Test in Stenography is a dictation-and-transcription test, and it is where the two grades stop being identical: Grade C candidates must take dictation at 100 words per minute, Grade D candidates at 80 words per minute, both for a 10-minute passage before transcribing it. It is qualifying in nature rather than scored into your final marks the way the CBT is, but it is also the stage many candidates find harder to clear than the written exam itself, and it is not a multiple-choice format, so it is not modeled on this site.
Everything up to the Skill Test is identical between Grade C and Grade D. Know which grade's dictation speed you are actually training toward once you clear the CBT.
This site's mocks cover the CBT stage only, since the Skill Test is not a written multiple-choice format; stenography dictation and transcription practice needs to happen separately, alongside your CBT preparation rather than after it. Practice tests are available from SSC Stenographer, part of the government exams directory.
Frequently asked questions
Do SSC Stenographer Grade C and Grade D candidates take a different written exam?
No. Both sit an identical Computer Based Examination: 200 questions for 200 marks in 120 minutes across the same three sections, with the same negative marking.
What is the dictation speed required for Grade C versus Grade D?
Grade C requires 100 words per minute; Grade D requires 80 words per minute. Both are dictated for 10 minutes before transcription in the Skill Test.
Does this site's mock test cover the Stenography Skill Test?
No. This site models the CBT (multiple-choice) stage only. The Skill Test is a dictation-and-transcription exercise, not a multiple-choice format, so it needs separate practice.
How is the final merit list decided for SSC Stenographer?
CBT marks, normalized across shifts, decide both the Skill Test shortlist and the final merit, for both Grade C and Grade D.