Exam Pattern
SSC Selection Post Exam Pattern
Staff Selection Commission: Phase XIV/2026 Selection Posts Examination
Three papers, identical in shape, different in level. Matriculation, Higher Secondary and Graduation posts each sit 100 questions for 200 marks across four locked 15-minute parts, and the structure never varies; what changes is the standard the questions are set at. One detail on the graduation paper: General Intelligence, General Awareness and English are set at graduation level while Quantitative Aptitude stays at Class 10 under the official syllabus. Fifteen minutes for 25 questions is 36 seconds each, with no way to move unused time between parts.
The SSC Selection Post exam pattern below is checked stage by stage, so one stage cannot inherit another stage's scoring rules.
Matriculation Level
Official Phase XIV/2026 pattern| Questions | 100 |
| Total marks | 200 |
| Duration | 60 minutes |
| Negative marking | 0.5 per wrong answer |
| Sections | General Intelligence, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, English Language |
| Test | Qs | Marks | Min |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence | 25 | 50 | 15 |
| General Awareness | 25 | 50 | 15 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 | 15 |
| English Language | 25 | 50 | 15 |
Timing: Each part has its own 15-minute timer. Unused time cannot be moved to another part.
This is the CBE for posts requiring Matriculation. Figure-based non-verbal reasoning is approximated with text-compatible logic questions in this initial mock. Post-specific skill tests, where prescribed, are qualifying and are not modeled here.
Official source · checked 9 August 2026The SSC Selection Post Matriculation Level exam pattern is 100 questions carrying 200 marks, to be answered in 60 minutes. That works out to about 36 seconds per question on average, before any time spent reading instructions or revisiting marked answers. The 4 sections are General Intelligence, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude and English Language. All 4 sections carry 50 marks each, so none of them repays disproportionate preparation and a weakness anywhere costs the same. 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 Selection Post Matriculation Level marking scheme
- Each correct answer is worth 2 marks.
- A wrong answer deducts 0.5 marks; an unattempted question scores zero.
- A guess therefore breaks even at 20% 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 80 of the 100 questions and get 60 right and 20 wrong, and you score 110 out of 200.
Practising against the same clock is the point of a mock test: at 36 seconds a question, the difference between a good score and an average one is usually pacing rather than knowledge. Attempt a free SSC Selection Post mock test to see where your time actually goes.
Higher Secondary (10+2) Level
Official Phase XIV/2026 pattern| Questions | 100 |
| Total marks | 200 |
| Duration | 60 minutes |
| Negative marking | 0.5 per wrong answer |
| Sections | General Intelligence, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, English Language |
| Test | Qs | Marks | Min |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence | 25 | 50 | 15 |
| General Awareness | 25 | 50 | 15 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 | 15 |
| English Language | 25 | 50 | 15 |
Timing: Each part has its own 15-minute timer. Unused time cannot be moved to another part.
This is the separate CBE for posts requiring Higher Secondary (10+2). Post-specific skill tests, where prescribed, are qualifying and are not modeled here.
Official source · checked 9 August 2026The SSC Selection Post Higher Secondary (10+2) Level exam pattern is 100 questions carrying 200 marks, to be answered in 60 minutes. That works out to about 36 seconds per question on average, before any time spent reading instructions or revisiting marked answers. The 4 sections are General Intelligence, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude and English Language. All 4 sections carry 50 marks each, so none of them repays disproportionate preparation and a weakness anywhere costs the same. 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 Selection Post Higher Secondary (10+2) Level marking scheme
- Each correct answer is worth 2 marks.
- A wrong answer deducts 0.5 marks; an unattempted question scores zero.
- A guess therefore breaks even at 20% 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 80 of the 100 questions and get 60 right and 20 wrong, and you score 110 out of 200.
Practising against the same clock is the point of a mock test: at 36 seconds a question, the difference between a good score and an average one is usually pacing rather than knowledge. Attempt a free SSC Selection Post mock test to see where your time actually goes.
Graduation and Above Level
Official Phase XIV/2026 pattern| Questions | 100 |
| Total marks | 200 |
| Duration | 60 minutes |
| Negative marking | 0.5 per wrong answer |
| Sections | General Intelligence, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, English Language |
| Test | Qs | Marks | Min |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence | 25 | 50 | 15 |
| General Awareness | 25 | 50 | 15 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 | 15 |
| English Language | 25 | 50 | 15 |
Timing: Each part has its own 15-minute timer. Unused time cannot be moved to another part.
General Intelligence, General Awareness and English are set at graduation level; Quantitative Aptitude remains at Class 10 level under the official syllabus. Post-specific skill tests, where prescribed, are qualifying and are not modeled here.
Official source · checked 9 August 2026The SSC Selection Post Graduation and Above Level exam pattern is 100 questions carrying 200 marks, to be answered in 60 minutes. That works out to about 36 seconds per question on average, before any time spent reading instructions or revisiting marked answers. The 4 sections are General Intelligence, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude and English Language. All 4 sections carry 50 marks each, so none of them repays disproportionate preparation and a weakness anywhere costs the same. 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 Selection Post Graduation and Above Level marking scheme
- Each correct answer is worth 2 marks.
- A wrong answer deducts 0.5 marks; an unattempted question scores zero.
- A guess therefore breaks even at 20% 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 80 of the 100 questions and get 60 right and 20 wrong, and you score 110 out of 200.
Practising against the same clock is the point of a mock test: at 36 seconds a question, the difference between a good score and an average one is usually pacing rather than knowledge. Attempt a free SSC Selection Post mock test to see where your time actually goes.
SSC Selection Post exam pattern: frequently asked questions
Is there negative marking in SSC Selection Post?
SSC Selection Post Matriculation Level deducts 0.5 marks for a wrong answer; SSC Selection Post Higher Secondary (10+2) Level deducts 0.5 marks for a wrong answer; SSC Selection Post Graduation and Above Level deducts 0.5 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 Selection Post?
SSC Selection Post Matriculation Level has 100 questions, SSC Selection Post Higher Secondary (10+2) Level has 100 questions, SSC Selection Post Graduation and Above Level has 100 questions. That leaves about 36 seconds per question in SSC Selection Post Matriculation Level, 36 seconds per question in SSC Selection Post Higher Secondary (10+2) Level and 36 seconds per question in SSC Selection Post Graduation and Above Level.
What are the total marks in SSC Selection Post?
SSC Selection Post Matriculation Level is out of 200 marks, which works out at 2 marks a question, SSC Selection Post Higher Secondary (10+2) Level is out of 200 marks, which works out at 2 marks a question, SSC Selection Post Graduation and Above Level is out of 200 marks, which works out at 2 marks a question.
How long is the SSC Selection Post exam?
SSC Selection Post Matriculation Level runs for 60 minutes, SSC Selection Post Higher Secondary (10+2) Level runs for 60 minutes, SSC Selection Post Graduation and Above Level runs for 60 minutes.
Does SSC Selection Post have a sectional time limit?
Yes. SSC Selection Post Matriculation Level times its sections separately, SSC Selection Post Higher Secondary (10+2) Level times its sections separately, SSC Selection Post Graduation and Above Level 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.
How many stages does SSC Selection Post have?
This site covers 3 objective stages: Matriculation Level, Higher Secondary (10+2) Level, Graduation and Above Level. Each stage is checked against the official notification separately, because scoring rules routinely differ between stages of the same exam.