SSC CGL Previous Year Question Papers 2022-2024 | Free PDFs, Solutions & Analysis
Table of Contents
Download SSC CGL previous year question papers (2016-2026) free of cost for Tier 1 and Tier 2. Here, you will find shift-wise PDFs with solutions, year-wise cut-off trends, topic-wise weightage analysis, and a stepwise strategy to utilize PYQs effectively for your SSC CGL 2026 preparation.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | SSC CGL - Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level |
| Conducting Body | Staff Selection Commission (SSC) |
| Format | PDF - Bilingual (Hindi + English) |
| With Solutions? | Yes - answer key + detailed solutions included |
| Mode of Exam | Computer Based Test (CBT) - Online |
| Tier 1 Structure | 100 Questions | 200 Marks | 60 Minutes | 4 Sections |
| Tier 2 Structure | Paper 1 (Compulsory) + Paper 2 (Statistics) + Paper 3 (Finance & Economics) |
| Official Source | ssc.gov.in |
| Free Download | Yes - all papers on this page are free |
SSC CGL Previous Year Question Papers - Download PDF (2022–2024)
SSC CGL Previous Year Question Papers (2022 – 2024) helps candidates to know the Latest Exam Pattern, Question Trends & Difficulty Level of SSC CGL Exam. Download free PDF papers with solutions to practice effectively and enhance your preparation strategy. Regularly solving these papers can help you improve your accuracy, time management and confidence before the actual exam.
SSC CGL 2024 Tier 1 Question Paper with Answer Key PDF
SSC CGL 2024 Tier 1 Previous Year Question Papers with Answer Keys are given below. Download shift-wise PDFs to practise real exam questions and check your preparation for the upcoming SSC CGL exam.
| Question Paper PDF | Download PDF | Attempt Now |
|---|---|---|
| SSC CGL Tier 1 Shift 1 (9th Sep 2024) Previous Year Question Paper PDF With Answer Key | Download PDF | Attempt Now |
| SSC CGL Tier 1 Shift 2 (9th Sep 2024) Previous Year Question Paper PDF With Answer Key | Download PDF | Attempt Now |
| SSC CGL Tier 1 Shift 3 (9th Sep 2024) Previous Year Question Paper PDF With Answer Key | Download PDF | Attempt Now |
| SSC CGL Tier 1 Shift 1 (10th Sep 2024) Previous Year Question Paper PDF With Answer Key | Download PDF | Attempt Now |
| SSC CGL Tier 1 Shift 2 (10th Sep 2024) Previous Year Question Paper PDF With Answer Key | Download PDF | Attempt Now |
| SSC CGL Tier 1 Shift 3 (10th Sep 2024) Previous Year Question Paper PDF With Answer Key | Download PDF | Attempt Now |
| SSC CGL Tier 1 Shift 1 (11th Sep 2024) Previous Year Question Paper PDF With Answer Key | Download PDF | Attempt Now |
| SSC CGL Tier 1 Shift 2 (11th Sep 2024) Previous Year Question Paper PDF With Answer Key | Download PDF | Attempt Now |
| SSC CGL Tier 1 Shift 3 (11th Sep 2024) Previous Year Question Paper PDF With Answer Key | Download PDF | Attempt Now |
| SSC CGL Tier 1 Shift 1 (12th Sep 2024) Previous Year Question Paper PDF With Answer Key | Download PDF | Attempt Now |
SSC CGL 2023 Tier 1 Question Paper with Answer Key PDF
SSC CGL 2023 Tier 1 Previous Year Question Papers with answer keys are provided below. Candidates can download the PDFs to know the exam pattern and check their preparation with the real SSC CGL questions.
| Question Paper PDF | Download PDF | Attempt Now |
|---|---|---|
| SSC CGL Tier 1 Shift 3 (17th July 2023) Previous Year Question Paper PDF With Answer Key | Download PDF | Attempt Now |
| SSC CGL Tier 1 Shift 2 (17th July 2023) Previous Year Question Paper PDF With Answer Key | Download PDF | Attempt Now |
| SSC CGL Tier 1 Shift 4 (14th July 2023) Previous Year Question Paper PDF With Answer Key | Download PDF | Attempt Now |
| SSC CGL Tier 1 Shift 3 (14th July 2023) Previous Year Question Paper PDF With Answer Key | Download PDF | Attempt Now |
SSC CGL 2022 Tier 1 Question Paper with Answer Key PDF
Below are the SSC CGL Tier 1 previous year question papers with answer keys of 2022. Practice Previous Year Questions and Track Your SSC CGL Exam Preparation With These PDFs
| Question Paper PDF | Download PDF | Attempt Now |
|---|---|---|
| SSC CGL Tier 1 Shift 4 (6th Dec 2022) Previous Year Question Paper PDF With Answer Key | Download PDF | Attempt Now |
| SSC CGL Tier 1 Shift 3 (6th Dec 2022) Previous Year Question Paper PDF With Answer Key | Download PDF | Attempt Now |
| SSC CGL Tier 1 Shift 2 (6th Dec 2022) Previous Year Question Paper PDF With Answer Key | Download PDF | Attempt Now |
| SSC CGL Tier 1 Shift 1 (7th Dec 2022) Previous Year Question Paper PDF With Answer Key | Download PDF | Attempt Now |
| SSC CGL Tier 1 Shift 2 (7th Dec 2022) Previous Year Question Paper PDF With Answer Key | Download PDF | Attempt Now |
| SSC CGL Tier 1 Shift 3 (7th Dec 2022) Previous Year Question Paper PDF With Answer Key | Download PDF | Attempt Now |
| SSC CGL Tier 1 Shift 4 (7th Dec 2022) Previous Year Question Paper PDF With Answer Key | Download PDF | Attempt Now |
| SSC CGL Tier 1 Shift 1 (8th Dec 2022) Previous Year Question Paper PDF With Answer Key | Download PDF | Attempt Now |
| SSC CGL Tier 1 Shift 2 (8th Dec 2022) Previous Year Question Paper PDF With Answer Key | Download PDF | Attempt Now |
| SSC CGL Tier 1 Shift 3 (8th Dec 2022) Previous Year Question Paper PDF With Answer Key | Download PDF | Attempt Now |
SSC CGL Exam Pattern 2026
Before solving the SSC CGL last year question paper PDF, you must know the present exam pattern. Practicing with the old pattern, there is a misconception of the actual exam by the change in the pattern over the years.
SSC CGL Tier 1 Exam Pattern 2026
| Section | No. of Questions | Total Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 25 | 50 (2 marks each) | - |
| General Awareness | 25 | 50 (2 marks each) | - |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 (2 marks each) | - |
| English Language & Comprehension | 25 | 50 (2 marks each) | - |
| TOTAL | 100 | 200 | 60 Minutes |
| Negative Marking | - | 0.50 marks per wrong answer | - |
| Nature | Qualifying only (marks not counted in final merit) | - | - |
SSC CGL Tier 2 Exam Pattern 2026 (Paper 1 - Compulsory for All)
| Session | Module | Subject | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Session I - Part 1 | Module I | Mathematical Abilities | 30 | 90 | 1 Hour |
| Session I - Part 1 | Module II | Reasoning & General Intelligence | 30 | 90 | (Combined) |
| Session I - Part 2 | Module I | English Language | 45 | 135 | 1 Hour |
| Session I - Part 2 | Module II | General Awareness | 25 | 75 | (Combined) |
| Session I - Part 3 | Module I | Computer Knowledge | 20 | 60 | 15 Min |
| Session I - Part 3 | Module II | Data Entry Speed Test | 1 Task | - | 15 Min |
| Total - Paper 1 | - | All Modules | 150 + DEST | 450 Marks | 2 hr 15 min |
Paper 2(Statistics - 100 questions, 200 marks) and Paper 3(General Studies: Finance & Economics - 100 questions, 200 marks) are applicable only for some post preferences. These are required if you are applying for JSO, AAO or Statistical Investigator posts.
SSC CGL Topic-wise Weightage Analysis (2019-2025)
This is the section most students look forward to because knowing a paper exists is one thing, knowing what topics SSC asks year after year is what actually gets you marks. We searched all the SSC CGL Tier 1 Question Papers from 2019 to 2025 and prepared the frequency of questions asked from each major topic.
Quantitative Aptitude - Topic-wise Frequency (Tier 1, 25 Questions)
| Topic | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Avg Qs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geometry & Mensuration | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | ~4.6 |
| Algebra | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | ~4.0 |
| Data Interpretation | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | ~3.0 |
| Number System & Simplification | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ~2.1 |
| Profit, Loss & Discount | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ~2.0 |
| Time, Work & Pipes | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ~1.9 |
| Speed, Time & Distance | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ~1.9 |
| Percentage & Ratio | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | ~1.7 |
| Interest (SI & CI) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ~1.1 |
| Trigonometry | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ~1.0 |
| Statistics & Average | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ~1.0 |
| Mixture & Alligation | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ~0.9 |
General Intelligence & Reasoning - Topic-wise Frequency (Tier 1, 25 Questions)
| Topic | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Avg Qs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analogy (Verbal + Non-Verbal) | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | ~4.0 |
| Number/Letter Series | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | ~3.0 |
| Coding-Decoding | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | ~3.0 |
| Matrix / Figure Based | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ~2.0 |
| Blood Relations | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ~1.9 |
| Direction & Distance | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | ~1.7 |
| Venn Diagram | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | ~1.7 |
| Syllogism | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | ~1.4 |
| Statement & Conclusion | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | ~1.4 |
| Paper Folding / Cutting | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ~1.0 |
| Mirror / Water Image | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ~1.0 |
| Embedded Figures | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ~1.0 |
English Language & Comprehension - Topic-wise Frequency (Tier 1, 25 Questions)
| Topic | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Avg Qs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | ~5.0 |
| Cloze Test | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | ~5.0 |
| Error Spotting | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | ~3.0 |
| Fill in the Blanks | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | ~2.7 |
| Synonyms & Antonyms | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | ~2.4 |
| One Word Substitution | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ~2.0 |
| Idioms & Phrases | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ~2.0 |
| Sentence Improvement | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | ~1.6 |
| Para Jumbles | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | ~1.3 |
General Awareness - Topic-wise Frequency (Tier 1, 25 Questions)
| Topic | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Avg Qs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Static GK (Art, Culture, Awards) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | ~5.0 |
| History (Indian + Modern) | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | ~4.0 |
| Polity & Constitution | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | ~3.0 |
| General Science (Phy+Chem+Bio) | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | ~3.7 |
| Geography (India + World) | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | ~3.0 |
| Economy & Budget | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | ~2.3 |
| Current Affairs (Last 6 months) | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | ~3.3 |
| Computer & Technology | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ~0.7 |
Most Repeated Topics in SSC CGL PYQs
After analysing SSC CGL previous year question papers from 2016 to 2025, we have identified topics that have appeared in every single exam cycle. These are SSC's non-negotiable favourites. If you skip these, you are leaving guaranteed marks on the table.
Mathematics
- Geometry: Triangles (congruency, similarity), circles (tangent, chord), quadrilaterals - 4-5 questions every year without fail
- Algebra: Linear equations, Quadratic equations, Algebraic identities (a+b)2, (a-b)3 - 3-5 questions per paper
- Data Interpretation: Bar graph, table, pie chart – 3 questions in each Tier 1 paper (since 2019)
- Percentage & Profit-Loss : Usually clubbed with Ratio - always 3-4 questions together
- Time & Work / Pipes & Cisterns : Comes in every single shift of every year
Reasoning
- Analogy: Verbal (Cat:Meow :: Dog:?) and non-verbal (figure-based) – 4 questions, zero exceptions
- Alphabet Series & Number Series: Pattern based sequences - 3 questions per paper, very predictable
- Coding-Decoding: Letter shifting, number codes - 3 questions always
- Blood Relations: 2 questions per paper, mostly moderate level
- Direction & Distance: Found in 90% of all papers since 2016
English
- Reading Comprehension: 1 Passage, 5 Questions – This is fixed. Practice RC every day
- Cloze Test: 5 blanks to fill up – also corrected. Focus on vocabulary in context
- Error Spotting / Sentence Correction: 3 questions per year - grammar rules are your weapon here
- Synonyms & Antonyms: 2–3 questions - vocab building is a long game, start early
- One Word Substitution + Idioms & Phrases: 4 questions combined – pure memory, high return
General Awareness
- Static GK: National parks, dances, folk music, awards, books & authors – 4-5 questions each year
- Indian History: Mughal Empire, Freedom Movement, important acts and events- 3-4 questions
- Polity: 3 questions on Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles, Structure of Parliament.
- Science: Human body, physics laws, chemistry reactions – 3–4 mixed questions
- Current Affairs : Last 6 months before exam – 3-4 questions. Read newspapers or monthly GK pdf
SSC CGL Difficulty Level Trend
This is one of the most common questions asked by aspirants. We have collected the data from candidate feedback, official cut-offs and expert analysis to provide the clearest picture possible.
| Year | Overall Difficulty | Maths | Reasoning | English | GA | Cut-off UR (Tier 1) | Attempts (Good Score) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Moderate-Hard | Hard | Moderate | Moderate | Easy | ~143–148 | 78–83 |
| 2024 | Moderate | Moderate | Easy-Mod | Moderate | Moderate | ~138–142 | 82–87 |
| 2023 | Easy-Moderate | Moderate | Easy | Easy-Mod | Moderate | ~142–146 | 85–90 |
| 2022 | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Easy-Mod | ~140–144 | 80–85 |
| 2021 | Moderate-Hard | Hard | Moderate | Moderate | Easy | ~141–145 | 76–82 |
| 2020 | Moderate | Moderate | Easy | Moderate | Easy | ~137–140 | 83–88 |
| 2019 | Easy-Moderate | Easy-Mod | Easy | Moderate | Easy-Mod | ~135–139 | 88–92 |
SSC CGL Cut-off Trends - Last 5 Years (Tier 1 & Tier 2)
Observing the SSC CGL cut off trends helps you set a realistic target score. Many aim for just passing Tier 1 and then regret not practising enough for Tier 2.
SSC CGL Tier 1 Cut-off Marks (Category-wise)
| Year | UR (General) | OBC | SC | ST | EWS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 143.5–148.0 | 136.0–141.0 | 128.0–133.0 | 119.0–125.0 | 137.0–142.0 |
| 2024 | 138.0–142.5 | 130.5–135.0 | 122.0–127.0 | 113.0–119.0 | 132.0–137.0 |
| 2023 | 141.5–145.0 | 134.0–138.5 | 126.0–131.0 | 117.0–123.0 | 135.0–140.0 |
| 2022 | 140.0–143.5 | 132.5–137.0 | 124.0–129.0 | 115.0–121.0 | 134.0–138.5 |
| 2021 | 141.0–144.5 | 133.0–137.0 | 123.5–128.0 | 114.0–120.0 | 135.0–139.0 |
| Expected 2026 | 144–149 (est.) | 136–141 (est.) | 127–133 (est.) | 118–124 (est.) | 138–143 (est.) |
SSC CGL Tier 2 Final Cut-off (Post Preference: Group B & C Combined)
| Year | UR | OBC | SC | ST | EWS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024–25 | 615–640 | 585–610 | 545–570 | 510–535 | 595–620 |
| 2023–24 | 608–632 | 578–602 | 538–562 | 502–528 | 588–612 |
| 2022–23 | 600–625 | 570–595 | 530–555 | 495–520 | 580–605 |
| 2021–22 | 595–618 | 565–588 | 525–548 | 490–515 | 575–598 |
| Expected 2026 | 618–645 (est.) | 588–615 (est.) | 548–572 (est.) | 512–538 (est.) | 598–625 (est.) |
Note: Tier 2 cut-off is calculated from the total of only the Tier 2 marks (Tier 1 is not included). The above scores are representative ranges based on official results; scores may vary slightly by post category.
How to Use SSC CGL Previous Year Papers Effectively - 4-Step Strategy
Downloading the paper is the easy part. Here is a tested strategy to get the maximum value from every paper you solve:
Step 1: Start with a Previous Year Paper
Attempt one SSC CGL previous year paper with no preparation in exam conditions. This will help you to know your strong and weak areas.
Step 2: Identify High-Priority Topics
Analyze your mistakes, and first focus on the topics where you have low accuracy, and focus on the questions which are frequently asked in the exam
Step 3: Practice Topic-wise PYQs
Solve previous year questions topic wise, like Geometry, Analogy, Cloze Test, Static GK etc to have a strong conceptual base.
Step 4: Attempt Full-Length Mock Tests
Take full mock tests regularly and analyze your performance with the help of answer keys and compare your scores with previous cut-offs to track your progress.
FAQ’s About Previous Year Question Papers.
You can download SSC CGL previous year question papers in PDF format along with answer keys from this page for free.
While previous year papers are a great help to know the exam pattern and question trends, you should use them alongside regular study and mock tests.
The last 4-5 years of SSC CGL question papers are recommended to be solved for gaining an idea about the current exam pattern.
Yes, the question papers provided on this page include answer keys to help candidates evaluate their performance.
Practice papers in exam conditions, identify errors and improve on weak points before attempting the next paper.
Yes, candidates may download the shift-wise SSC CGL question papers and answer key for better practice and analysis.
Yes, practicing the previous year's papers does help in developing skills in time management, accuracy and confidence during actual exam.
Yes, there is negative marking in SSC CGL Tier 1 Exam. Only one mark is deducted for each incorrect response in according to the marking scheme.