SSC CGL Tier 1 Exam 2026: Staff Selection Commission has shared the dates for SSC CGL 2026 Tier 1. This Tier 1 exam will run from September 30 to October 30, 2026. The test will be held in Computer-Based Examination mode. It will happen in multiple shifts.
This hiring campaign aims to fill 12,256 tentative posts under Group B and Group C. These posts are in central government ministries, departments, and organisations.
If you have already applied for SSC CGL 2026, start preparing for the Tier 1 format now. Give more time to revision and practice with mock tests. Also adjust your plan as per the updated exam style.
Tier 1 Exam Dates For SSC CGL 2026
As per the latest SSC notice, Tier 1 will be held between September 30 and October 30, 2026. After that, SSC will share the exact date for each candidate. You will also get your shift and exam centre details later through city intimation and admit card updates.
For admit cards, city details, and other updates, check the official SSC website first.
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SSC CGL Tier 1 Exam Pattern 2026
The Tier 1 paper will contain 100 objective-type multiple-choice questions carrying 200 marks.
- General Intelligence and Reasoning: 25 questions, 50 marks
- General Awareness: 25 questions, 50 marks
- Quantitative Aptitude: 25 questions, 50 marks
- English Comprehension: 25 questions, 50 marks
- Total: 100 questions, 200 marks
- Total duration: 60 minutes
- Negative marking: 0.50 mark for every incorrect answer
Each section carries equal weightage, so candidates cannot afford to completely neglect any one subject.
Big Change in SSC CGL 2026
A key change in this year’s exam is how time is split by section.
Each candidate gets 15 minutes per section. When that time runs out, the section locks on its own. The candidate then goes to the next section in the set order. If you finish early, you cannot use that leftover time in another section.
So the 2026 exam is not like the earlier 60-minute paper, where you could move across sections freely.
With the test spanning almost a month and thousands of applicants chasing 12,256 provisional seats, focus should shift. Practice under time limits, work on correct answers, and revise regularly.
