Exam Pattern
SSC GD Constable Exam Pattern
Staff Selection Commission: Constable (GD) in CAPFs, SSF and Rifleman (GD) in Assam Rifles
Each question is worth 2 marks, which is worth noticing because the deduction is not. A wrong answer costs 0.25 against a correct answer's 2, so break-even sits at about one in nine, far more forgiving than the one in five or one in four most government papers use, and anything you can narrow at all is clearly worth attempting. The four sections are exactly equal at 20 questions and 40 marks apiece, all pitched at Matriculation level, and 60 minutes across 80 questions leaves 45 seconds each. Everything after the CBE is physical, medical or documentary, and none of it is written.
CBE
Official Constable (GD) Examination, 2026 pattern| Questions | 80 |
| Total marks | 160 |
| Duration | 60 minutes |
| Negative marking | 0.25 per wrong answer |
| Sections | General Intelligence and Reasoning, General Knowledge and General Awareness, Elementary Mathematics, English/Hindi |
| Test | Qs | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence and Reasoning | 20 | 40 |
| General Knowledge and General Awareness | 20 | 40 |
| Elementary Mathematics | 20 | 40 |
| English/Hindi | 20 | 40 |
Timing: Single 60-minute timer for all four sections combined (no sectional lock). Each question carries 2 marks.
Questions are of Matriculation (Class 10) level. The CBE is followed by a Physical Efficiency Test (PET)/Physical Standard Test (PST), Detailed Medical Examination, and Document Verification, none of which are written stages.
Official source · checked 5 August 2026The SSC GD Constable CBE exam pattern is 80 questions carrying 160 marks, to be answered in 60 minutes. That works out to about 45 seconds per question on average, before any time spent reading instructions or revisiting marked answers. The 4 sections are General Intelligence and Reasoning, General Knowledge and General Awareness, Elementary Mathematics and English/Hindi. All 4 sections carry 40 marks each, so none of them repays disproportionate preparation and a weakness anywhere costs the same. All sections share one composite timer, so you are free to move between them and spend your time where it earns most.
SSC GD Constable CBE marking scheme
- Each correct answer is worth 2 marks.
- A wrong answer deducts 0.25 marks; an unattempted question scores zero.
- A guess therefore breaks even at 11.1% accuracy: above that it gains you marks on average, below it loses them. A blind guess between four options is right 25% of the time, which is already above that line, so an educated guess is worth making rather than leaving the question blank.
- Worked example: attempt 64 of the 80 questions and get 48 right and 16 wrong, and you score 92 out of 160.
Practising against the same clock is the point of a mock test: at 45 seconds a question, the difference between a good score and an average one is usually pacing rather than knowledge. Attempt a free SSC GD Constable mock test to see where your time actually goes.
SSC GD Constable exam pattern: frequently asked questions
Is there negative marking in SSC GD Constable?
SSC GD Constable deducts 0.25 marks for a wrong answer. An unattempted question always scores zero, so the choice is only ever between guessing and leaving it blank.
How many questions are there in SSC GD Constable?
SSC GD Constable has 80 questions. That leaves about 45 seconds per question in SSC GD Constable.
What are the total marks in SSC GD Constable?
SSC GD Constable is out of 160 marks, which works out at 2 marks a question.
How long is the SSC GD Constable exam?
SSC GD Constable runs for 60 minutes.
Does SSC GD Constable have a sectional time limit?
No. SSC GD Constable runs every section on one composite timer of 60 minutes, so you can move between sections freely and give the slower ones more of your time.