Exam Pattern
SSC MTS Exam Pattern
Staff Selection Commission: Multi-Tasking Staff & Havaldar
The SSC MTS exam pattern below is checked stage by stage, so one stage cannot inherit another stage's scoring rules.
CBT
Official MTS & Havaldar (CBIC & CBN) Examination, 2025 pattern| Questions | 90 |
| Total marks | 270 |
| Duration | 90 minutes |
| Negative marking | 0 in Session 1, 1 in Session 2 per wrong answer |
| Sections | Numerical and Mathematical Ability, Reasoning Ability and Problem Solving, General Awareness, English Language and Comprehension |
| Test | Qs | Marks | Min |
|---|---|---|---|
| Numerical and Mathematical Ability | 20 | 60 | 45 |
| Reasoning Ability and Problem Solving | 20 | 60 | 45 |
| General Awareness | 25 | 75 | 45 |
| English Language and Comprehension | 25 | 75 | 45 |
Timing: Two mandatory 45-minute sessions on the same day.
Session 1 (Numerical and Reasoning) carries no negative marking. Only candidates who qualify Session 1 have Session 2 (General Awareness and English) evaluated, where each wrong answer deducts 1 mark. This mock combines both sessions under one continuous timer for practice purposes; the real exam runs them as two separately timed, sequential sessions.
Official source · checked 4 August 2026The SSC MTS CBT exam pattern is 90 questions carrying 270 marks, to be answered in 90 minutes. That works out to about 60 seconds per question on average, before any time spent reading instructions or revisiting marked answers. The 4 sections are Numerical and Mathematical Ability, Reasoning Ability and Problem Solving, General Awareness and English Language and Comprehension. All 4 sections are separately timed, so time saved in one cannot be carried into another. You cannot bank minutes by rushing an easy section.
SSC MTS CBT marking scheme
- Each correct answer is worth 3 marks.
- There is no negative marking, so leaving a question blank can only cost you: an unattempted question and a wrong one score the same zero. Attempt everything.
- Worked example: attempt 72 of the 90 questions and get 54 right and 18 wrong, and you score 162 out of 270.
Practising against the same clock is the point of a mock test: at 60 seconds a question, the difference between a good score and an average one is usually pacing rather than knowledge. Attempt a free SSC MTS mock test to see where your time actually goes.
SSC MTS exam pattern: frequently asked questions
Is there negative marking in SSC MTS?
SSC MTS has no negative marking. 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 MTS?
SSC MTS has 90 questions. That leaves about 60 seconds per question in SSC MTS.
What are the total marks in SSC MTS?
SSC MTS is out of 270 marks.
How long is the SSC MTS exam?
SSC MTS runs for 90 minutes.
Does SSC MTS have a sectional time limit?
Yes. SSC MTS times its sections separately, so time left over in one section cannot be spent on another. Plan a per-section budget before you sit it.