The SSC CGL Exam Analysis 2026 gives candidates a clear picture of the difficulty level, good attempts and topics asked in the Tier 1 exam. The SSC CGL Tier 1 exam is being held from 30 September to 30 October 2026 in three shifts a day, and this page will be updated after every exam day. Use it to assess your performance and plan for the shifts still to come.

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SSC CGL Tier 1 Exam Analysis 2026

The SSC CGL Exam Analysis 2026 for 30 September and 1 October 2026 covers the section-wise difficulty level, good attempts and important topics, based on feedback from candidates who appeared in the exam. This is also the first exam with the new sectional timing of 15 minutes per section, so time management played a bigger role than in previous years. Compare your attempts with this review to get an idea of where you stand.

SSC CGL Tier 1 Exam Analysis 2026: Difficulty Level & Good Attempts

The SSC CGL Tier 1 exam held on 30 September 2026 had questions from all four sections. According to the SSC CGL Exam Analysis 2026, the overall paper was moderate, with good attempts of around 82–85 out of 100. Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude and English were easy to moderate, while General Awareness was the most demanding section. On 1 October 2026, the paper was easy to moderate overall, with Reasoning reported as easy.

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SSC CGL Tier 1 Shift-Wise Exam Analysis 2026

The shift-wise SSC CGL Exam Analysis 2026 shows the section-wise difficulty and the main topics asked. The analysis below is based on candidate feedback for the 30 September and 1 October 2026 exams and will be updated for each new shift.

SSC CGL Exam Analysis 2026: 30 September 2026

SSC CGL Exam Analysis 2026: 1 October 2026

SSC CGL Tier 1 Shift Timings 2026

SSC CGL Tier 1 2026 is held in three shifts every day. The gate closes 30 minutes before the exam starts, so reach the centre by the reporting time. Your shift and reporting time are printed on your SSC CGL admit card. For gate-closing rules and exam-day instructions, see the full guide to SSC CGL shift timings.

SSC CGL Tier 1 Section-Wise Exam Analysis 2026

The SSC CGL Tier 1 paper has four sections of 25 questions each: General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude and English Comprehension. From 2026, each section has a fixed 15-minute time limit, and candidates cannot move between sections. Read more about the change in the SSC CGL syllabus and exam pattern. Here is the section-wise SSC CGL Exam Analysis 2026.

SSC CGL Tier 1 General Intelligence & Reasoning Analysis

The Reasoning section was easy to moderate on 30 September and easy on 1 October, with most questions following familiar previous-year patterns. Candidates who had regularly practised SSC CGL previous year papers could solve many questions quickly within the 15-minute limit.

SSC CGL Tier 1 General Awareness Analysis

General Awareness was moderate in both days' papers and was the toughest section overall. On 30 September, questions came from Five-Year Plans, Articles of the Constitution and the economic reforms of 1991. On 1 October, around 16–17 questions were doable, with 3–4 from Current Affairs. Candidates with strong static GK found this section easier to finish on time.

SSC CGL Tier 1 Quantitative Aptitude Analysis

The Mathematics section was easy to moderate on 30 September and moderate on 1 October. In both papers, around 22–23 questions were doable, while 2–3 questions were calculation-heavy and took extra time. A question based on Circles was reported on 30 September. Choosing questions wisely was important under the sectional time limit.

SSC CGL Tier 1 English Comprehension Analysis

The English section was easy to moderate on 30 September and moderate on 1 October. Questions came from Active-Passive Voice and Narration, and vocabulary was mostly based on familiar PYQ-type words. PQRS questions were relatively easy.

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SSC CGL Tier 1 Shift-Wise Difficulty Level 2026

In the SSC CGL Exam Analysis 2026, the difficulty level varies from shift to shift because each shift has a different paper. SSC normalises the scores to balance this out. Here is the section-wise difficulty level so far:

SSC CGL Tier 1 Shift-Wise Good Attempts 2026

Good attempts depend on the difficulty of the shift, your accuracy and your time management. Since 0.50 marks are deducted for each wrong answer, the number of questions you solved correctly matters more than the total attempted. Based on the SSC CGL Exam Analysis 2026, the good attempts for 30 September 2026 were:

Good attempts for 1 October 2026 will be updated here soon.

Once SSC releases the SSC CGL answer key, you can work out your exact score from your response sheet.

SSC CGL Tier 1 Exam Analysis: Practice Sets

If your exam is in an upcoming shift, use the SSC CGL Exam Analysis 2026 to focus on the topics being asked. With the new 15-minute sectional timing, practise each section with its own timer instead of attempting full papers in one 60-minute block. Check the SSC CGL topic-wise weightage to prioritise high-scoring topics, and follow the last-minute tips in our SSC CGL preparation guide.

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SSC CGL Cut Off 2026: Expected & Previous Year Trends

The SSC CGL Cut Off 2026 will be released by the Staff Selection Commission along with the SSC CGL Tier 1 result. The cut-off will depend on the difficulty level, the number of vacancies (10,731 this year) and the overall performance of candidates. Along with the SSC CGL Exam Analysis 2026, previous years' cut-offs give a good idea of the likely range. Category-wise cut-offs differ for JSO, Statistical Investigator Grade-II and all other posts. Check the full trend on the SSC CGL cut-off page.

SSC CGL Tier 1 Cut Off 2025 – JSO

SSC CGL Tier 1 Cut Off 2025 – Statistical Investigator Grade-II

SSC CGL Tier 1 Cut Off 2025 – All Other Posts

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SSC CGL Exam Analysis 2026 FAQs

Q1. What is the SSC CGL Tier 1 Exam Date 2026?

The SSC CGL Tier 1 exam is being held from 30 September to 30 October 2026.

Q2. Is the SSC CGL exam difficult?

As per the SSC CGL Exam Analysis 2026, the 30 September paper was moderate and the 1 October paper was easy to moderate. General Awareness was the most demanding section, and the new sectional timing made time management more important.

Q3. What are the good attempts for the SSC CGL exam?

For 30 September 2026, overall good attempts were around 82–85 out of 100. Good attempts can change from shift to shift depending on the difficulty level.

Q4. Has the SSC CGL exam pattern changed for 2026?

Yes. From 2026, SSC CGL Tier 1 has sectional timing of 15 minutes for each of the four sections, and candidates cannot switch between sections. The number of questions (100), total marks (200) and negative marking (0.50) remain the same.

Q5. Is there any sectional timing in SSC CGL Exam 2026?

Yes. SSC CGL Tier 1 2026 gives 15 minutes to each section: Reasoning, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude and English Comprehension.

Q6. How many shifts are conducted in a day in the SSC CGL Tier 1 exam?

SSC CGL Tier 1 2026 is held in three shifts a day: 10:00–11:00 AM, 1:30–2:30 PM and 5:00–6:00 PM.

Q7. What will be the expected cut-off for SSC CGL 2026?

The official cut-off will be released with the Tier 1 result. For reference, the SSC CGL 2025 Tier 1 cut-off for UR was 136.83 for all other posts and 153.46 for JSO. The 2026 cut-off will depend on the difficulty level, vacancies and normalised scores.

Q8. Is the SSC CGL exam easy to pass?

SSC CGL is competitive, but with consistent preparation, regular mock tests and good time management, candidates can clear it. Tier 1 is qualifying, so the main focus should be on scoring above the cut-off and then performing well in Tier 2.

Q9. Why is referring to the SSC CGL Exam Analysis helpful?

The SSC CGL Exam Analysis 2026 helps candidates understand the difficulty level, the topics being asked and the good attempts in each shift. Candidates with upcoming shifts can use it to revise the right topics and plan their time.

Q10. Which is the most powerful post in SSC CGL?

Posts such as Assistant Section Officer, Income Tax Inspector, GST/Central Excise Inspector and Assistant Audit Officer are often considered the most powerful and prestigious in SSC CGL. The best post depends on your interests, preferred work and career goals. See which post offers the highest salary in SSC CGL.