The Staff Selection Commission – Combined Graduate Level (SSC CGL) exam is one of the most sought-after competitive exams in India. Every year, lakhs of candidates appear for this exam, hoping to secure a prestigious government job at officer level. Knowing the SSC CGL exam difficulty level can help you to prepare for the exam more easily.
Aspirants who are planning to appear in the SSC CGL 2025 exam have one of the most common questions among them:
“How tough is the SSC CGL exam?”
“What is the difficulty level of the exam?”
“What are the important topics for each section?”
If you’re also looking for the same, then you are at the right place. This blog has provided a detailed breakdown of the SSC CGL exam difficulty level, previous year trends, and section-wise analysis. This information will help you to plan for the exam systematically and effectively.
As we know that the SSC CGL Tier 1 exam consists of four sections, and knowing the section-wise difficulty level is important. This will enable you to prepare for the exam more effectively.
To estimate the latest trend for the SSC CGL 2025 exam, first, you need to analyze the previous year’s exam trends. For that, we have provided the SSC CGL exam analysis data for the tier 1 exam, which was conducted in 2024 with section-wise difficulty level and good attempts. By analyzing the data, you can predict the upcoming exam trends.
| SSC CGL Exam Analysis 2024 | |||
| Part | Subjects | Difficulty Level | Good Attempt |
| A | General Intelligence and Reasoning | Easy to Moderate | 20-22 |
| B | General Awareness | Moderate | 19-21 |
| C | Quantitative Aptitude | Moderate | 18-20 |
| D | English Comprehension | Easy to Moderate | 22-24 |
| Total | Moderate | 75-80 | |
Here we have provided the number of questions asked from a particular topic for each section. This will allow you to know which topics are scoring and which are scoring. By analyzing these things, you can prepare for the exam accordingly, which will help you in SSC CGL exam difficulty level.
| Section | Topic/Type | Number of Questions / Details |
| Reasoning | Series (Number Mixed) | 3-4 questions |
| Syllogism | 1 question | |
| Counting of Figure (Triangle) | 1 question (implied) | |
| Coding Decoding (Letter to Number) | 3 questions | |
| Blood Relationship (Coded) | 1 question (implied) | |
| Mathematical Operator | 3 questions | |
| Mirror Image | 3-4 questions | |
| Alphabetically Arranged | 1 question (implied) | |
| Dice (Closed) | 1 question | |
| Number Series (Addition based) | 2 questions | |
| Analogy | 2-3 questions | |
| General Awareness | Five-Year Plan | 1 question (implied) |
| Human Rights Commission | 1 question (implied) | |
| PM Jhan Dhan Yojana | 1 question (implied) | |
| Khudi Ram Bose (Freedom Struggle) | 1 question | |
| Who decoded Ashoka Pillar script? | 1 question | |
| Nilgiri Hills | 1 question (implied) | |
| Satvahan Rulers | 1 question (implied) | |
| Culture | 1 question (implied) | |
| Current Affairs | 3 questions | |
| Festivals | 1 question (implied) | |
| Article of Gram Panchayat | 40 questions | |
| Dodabetta Peak | 1 question (implied) | |
| Formic Acid | 1 question (implied) | |
| Redox Reaction | 1 question (implied) | |
| Bharat Ratna to Lata Mangeshkar in 2001 | 1 question | |
| Question related to CM of Tamil Nadu | 1 question (implied) | |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Percentage | 1 question |
| Profit and Loss | 1 question | |
| Number System (Divisibility Rule) | 6 questions | |
| Circle | 1 question (implied) | |
| Data Interpretation | Not specified | |
| Mensuration (3D Cuboid, 2D) | 2 questions | |
| Trigonometry | 2 questions | |
| Geometry | 3 questions | |
| Time & Work | 1 question | |
| Ratio | 1 question (implied) | |
| English Comprehension | Synonyms | Words: Fatal, Innuendo, Toxic, Jovial |
| Antonyms | Rigorous | |
| Error Detection | 2 questions | |
| Sentence Improvement | 2 questions | |
| Cloze Test | Topic: Forest Density | |
| Active Passive | 2 questions | |
| Idioms | Call it a day, Piece of cake | |
| Spelling | Antiquity, Relevant |
After carefully analyzing the previous year’s exam trends, we have provided the upcoming exam trends for each section. You are highly advised to go through this section of the blog so that you can know how to prepare for the exam. Along with each section, we have provided free topic-wise tests so that you can prepare for each section.
The reasoning section will have a mix of topics like number series, coding-decoding, mirror images, and some questions on mathematical operators. Most questions won’t be overly tough but will need you to be sharp, especially with mixed series and blood relation puzzles where coding is involved. Mirror image and analogy questions might make you pause for a moment, but one can score good marks with steady practice; they’re quite manageable.
This section looks easy, but it requires a lot of study and revision. You’ll see questions from static general knowledge, such as history, geography, economics, and along with that, it consists of good weightage from current affairs. One thing to watch out for is the heavy focus on government-related questions. On top of that, there will be questions related to recent events, freedom struggle heroes, and important awards. Staying updated and revising these facts thoroughly will enable you to boost your preparation for the exam.
This part could feel slightly challenging. The questions cover a range of topics, such as number system (especially divisibility rules), geometry, trigonometry, and mensuration. Geometry and divisibility rules tend to be emphasized more, so make sure you’re comfortable with those. There’s also some data interpretation, though the exact number of questions isn’t clear. Trigonometry and mensuration problems often require careful calculations, so brushing up on those will help you avoid careless mistakes.
The English section will test your vocabulary and grammar. Expect synonyms and antonyms, error detection, sentence improvement, and active-passive voice questions. Focus on the most scoring topics, such as cloze test, as this will help you to maximize your score in the exam. It checks your understanding of context. Idioms and spelling questions should be straightforward if you’ve got a good grip on vocabulary. Overall, the English questions will be moderate in difficulty but will need focused practice, especially on grammar basics.
Here we have mentioned some pointers that will help in understanding how the SSC CGL exam difficulty level can help you in your exam preparation, what is the importance of knowing the SSC CGL exam difficulty level, and much more.
Join our exclusive Telegram group for expert guidance, personalized tips, and real-time solutions to boost your SSC exam prep. [Click here to join now!]
| Other Blogs of SSC CGL 2025 | |
| SSC CGL Notification | SSC CGL Syllabus |
| SSC CGL Study Plan | SSC CGL Exam Pattern |
| SSC CGL Cut Off | SSC CGL Preparation Strategy |
| SSC CGL Previous Year Question Papers | |
The SSC CGL exam is moderately difficult. One can score well in the exam by following the right preparation strategy and regular practice.
Generally, the Quantitative Aptitude section is considered the most challenging due to its lengthy calculations and time consuming.
You can analyze the difficulty level of the SSC CGL exam by solving previous year papers, attempting mock tests, and reviewing expert analysis of past exams.
One can improve their performance in difficult sections by attempting topic-wise tests, sectional tests, full-length mock tests, regular revision, and practice.
Get Coding Decoding Important Questions for PNB LBO 2025 Exam. Download free PDF and improve…
Smart 30‑day SEBI Grade A 2026 plan with Phase 1 & Phase 2 topics, daily…
NABARD Grade A 2025 last 10‑day plan with quizzes, active recall, micro notes, and mocks…
Download IBPS Specialist Officer Result 2025 and check what you can do next after the…
IBPS PO Mains Score Card 2025 has been released on their official website. Candidates can…
SSC has released the CHSL 2025 Tier 1 Answer Key. Download the response sheet, calculate…