Does SSC CGL have sectional cut off in Tier 1 or Tier 2?

There is a lot of confusion online. Many candidates compare SSC with banking exams conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS), where sectional cut offs are compulsory.

However, the selection framework of the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) is completely different.

This article provides a fully accurate explanation strictly based on the latest revised SSC CGL pattern — without assumptions, myths, or outdated structures.

As per the latest revised pattern followed by SSC:

1️⃣ Tier 1 – Computer Based Examination (Qualifying)
2️⃣ Tier 2 – Computer Based Examination (Merit Determining)
3️⃣ Skill Test (where applicable – qualifying)
4️⃣ Document Verification

There is no interview stage in SSC CGL.

Final selection is based on Tier 2 performance (Paper 1 primarily).

Tier 1 Structure:

Time: 60 minutes
Negative Marking: 0.50 per wrong answer

SSC does not prescribe sectional cut off in Tier 1.

There is:

✔ Only overall cut off
✔ Category-wise overall cut off
✔ Post-wise overall cut off

There is no rule like:

• Minimum 25% in each section
• Minimum 33% in Quant
• Separate English qualifying mark

Qualification is based purely on total normalized marks.

Tier 2 consists of:

Sections include:

• Mathematical Abilities
• Reasoning & General Intelligence
• English Language & Comprehension
• General Awareness
• Computer Knowledge Test (Qualifying)
• Data Entry Speed Test (Qualifying)

There is:

❌ No sectional cut off for

• Mathematical Abilities
• Reasoning
• English
• General Awareness

Merit is prepared based on aggregate marks in Paper 1.

Some components are qualifying only:

• Computer Knowledge Test (CKT)
• Data Entry Speed Test (DEST)

These must be cleared, but:

• They do NOT add marks to merit ranking
• They are pass/fail
• They are NOT sectional cut offs

SSC notifications generally mention minimum qualifying percentage overall for Tier 1 and Tier 2 such as:

• UR – 30%
• OBC/EWS – 25%
• Others – 20%

This is overall qualifying percentage, not sectional qualifying marks.

This applies to total marks, not individual subjects.

Banking exams conducted by IBPS or SBI include:

✔ Sectional cut off
✔ Sectional timing
✔ Overall cut off

SSC CGL does not follow this model.

SSC follows:

✔ Single paper evaluation
✔ Aggregate merit system
✔ No sectional elimination

In SSC CGL 2023, 2022, and 2021:

• SSC declared only overall cut off
• No subject-wise cut off declared
• Merit list based on total marks

SSC result PDFs never mention sectional qualifying marks.

Even though SSC does not impose sectional cut off:

You must not ignore any section.

Why?

Because:

• Overall cut off is high
• Competition is intense
• Weak section reduces total score
• Normalization impacts final marks

Balanced preparation is still essential.

Although no sectional cut off exists, ideal balanced targets should be:

Quant: 40–45
English: 40–45
Reasoning: 40+
GA: 30–35

Overall Safe Target (UR): 160+

For SSC CGL 2026:

✔ Tier 1 – No sectional cut off
✔ Tier 2 – No sectional cut off
✔ Only overall cut off applies
✔ Skill tests are qualifying only
✔ Merit based on aggregate marks

SSC CGL does NOT follow sectional cut off system like banking exams.