SSC CGL Tier 1
SSC CGL Previous Year Papers: Free Mock Tests (2020-2025)
40 real SSC CGL Tier 1 previous-year paper sections (1000 questions) spanning 2020 to 2025, across Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, English and General Awareness. Take any of them as a timed mock test, scored with SSC's exact marking scheme (+2 for a correct answer, -0.50 for a wrong one), with a step-by-step explanation for every question.
Reviewed by Anna Nagaraj · Assistant Audit Officer, DG Audit (Railways), Secunderabad · Cleared SSC CGL with All India Rank 442.
Last reviewed: October 2026Comprehensive SSC CGL Tier 1 Previous Year Question Bank
The Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level exam decides who gets through to Tier 2 almost entirely on speed and accuracy under pressure. Tier 1 itself is a single 100-question objective paper, 60 minutes, split across four sections: General Intelligence & Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, English Comprehension, and General Awareness, each worth 25 questions and 50 marks.
This page collects 10 full previous-year papers per subject, 40 in total, from shifts held between 2020 and 2025. Each one is split by subject so you can attempt a real 25-question section on its own, scored with SSC's actual negative marking (+2 for a correct answer, -0.50 for a wrong one), rather than working through a randomly generated question set.
Mock test vs. practice test on this site
Every SSC CGL subject page here has two different things, not one. The practice test mixes human-curated questions with AI-generated variations built from that same curated question bank, scored on plain accuracy for quick concept drilling. The mock test is different: it's one fixed previous-year paper, served exactly as printed, scored with SSC's real Tier 1 marking scheme, with a step-by-step explanation for every question. Pick a subject below to try either one.
Two papers of every subject are free: the first one and one from the middle of the series. The rest unlock with a one-time launch price (₹10 for Reasoning, ₹5 for each other subject, or ₹20 for all four), with lifetime access on any device.
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SSC CGL Reasoning Previous Year Papers
Open Reasoning page →Every card above opens the Reasoning page with that exact paper highlighted, ready to start.
SSC CGL Quantitative Aptitude Previous Year Papers
Open Quantitative Aptitude page →Every card above opens the Quantitative Aptitude page with that exact paper highlighted, ready to start.
Serious about SSC CGL? Get expert training.
One-on-one guidance, proven exam strategy, and weekly SSC CGL mock tests prepared by a qualified professional, at discounted prices. Leave your number — we'll call you.
SSC CGL English Previous Year Papers
Open English page →Every card above opens the English page with that exact paper highlighted, ready to start.
SSC CGL General Awareness Previous Year Papers
Open General Awareness page →Every card above opens the General Awareness page with that exact paper highlighted, ready to start.
SSC CGL Tier 1 Exam Pattern & Topic Weightage
Knowing which topics actually show up most often is what makes revision time efficient. Here's how each section tends to break down, based on the papers above.
Quantitative Aptitude
25 Questions / 50 Marks
- Arithmetic (roughly half the section): Percentage, Profit & Loss, Ratio & Proportion, Time & Work, Simple & Compound Interest, and Averages come up almost every single paper.
- Advanced Maths (the other half): Algebra (identities, quadratic equations), Geometry (triangle and circle properties, tangents), Mensuration, and Trigonometry.
- Data Interpretation: Usually 1-2 table or bar-chart questions per paper, testing calculation speed more than the maths itself.
General Intelligence & Reasoning
25 Questions / 50 Marks
- Verbal reasoning: Analogy, classification, coding-decoding, number and letter series, blood relations, syllogisms, and Venn diagrams.
- Non-verbal reasoning: Paper folding and cutting, embedded figures, mirror and water images, and pattern completion grids.
English Comprehension
25 Questions / 50 Marks
- Vocabulary: Synonyms, antonyms, one-word substitutions, idioms, and spelling errors make up a large share of this section.
- Grammar: Error spotting, sentence improvement, active/passive voice, and direct/indirect speech.
- Reading skills: A cloze test or a short reading-comprehension passage, usually 5 linked questions.
General Awareness
25 Questions / 50 Marks
- Static GK: Indian history, art & culture, geography, polity & the Constitution, and basic economics.
- General science: Everyday physics, chemistry and biology, roughly at a Class 6-10 NCERT level.
- Current affairs: Recent sports results, government schemes, awards, and national or international summits from the months before the exam.
How to Actually Use Previous Year Papers
- Simulate real conditions. No calculator, no reference material, a quiet room. Attempt each section at the pace you'd need on exam day rather than pausing to double-check answers mid-way.
- Budget your time across all four sections. In the real 60-minute, 100-question paper, most aspirants aim for roughly 15-18 minutes on Reasoning, 22-25 minutes on Quantitative Aptitude, 10-12 minutes on English, and 5-7 minutes on General Awareness, leaving a small buffer to revisit flagged questions.
- Review every wrong and skipped question. After a mock test, work out whether each miss came from a concept gap, a calculation slip, or simply running out of time. Each reason needs a different fix.
- Benchmark against real cut-offs. Tier 1 unreserved-category cut-offs have generally landed somewhere between 130 and 150+ out of 200 in recent years, though the exact number moves with each paper's difficulty. Treat it as a rough target, not a guarantee.
Step-by-Step Explanations, Not Just Answer Keys
Every question on every paper above has a written explanation, shown right on the review screen once you submit, not a bare answer key you have to decode on your own.
- Quantitative Aptitude: the worked calculation steps behind each answer, not just the final number.
- Reasoning: the pattern or rule being tested, and why the other options don't fit it.
- English: the grammar rule or word meaning behind the correct choice.
- General Awareness: a short line of context on the fact being tested, so it's easier to remember next time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these real SSC CGL questions, or AI-generated?
Real. Every mock-test question is transcribed verbatim from an actual SSC CGL Tier 1 paper, cross-checked against the printed answer key, and published in its original order and wording. Nothing on this page is AI-generated.
How is a mock test different from a practice test on this site?
A practice test mixes curated and AI-generated questions and scores plain accuracy, meant for topic drilling. A mock test here is one fixed previous-year paper, scored with the real SSC CGL Tier 1 marking scheme: +2 for a correct answer, -0.50 for a wrong one.
Which years do these papers cover?
2020 through 2025, 10 papers per subject, from the 4 Mar 2020 Shift 2 paper up to the 17 Sep 2025 Shift 1 paper.
Is each mock test the full 100-question paper, or one section?
One section at a time: pick a subject page and the mock test runs that paper's 25-question section (Reasoning, Quant, English or GA) with its real marks and negative marking, not all 4 sections combined in one sitting.
Do these marks count toward anything official?
No. These are self-practice mock tests for exam simulation. Your score only measures your own preparation against the real exam's marking scheme, it has no connection to SSC's actual records.
Can I retake the same paper?
Yes, there's no limit. Keep in mind you'll have already seen the questions and answers once you've reviewed a paper, so it stops being a fair timed simulation on a repeat attempt.
Ready to try one? Open any subject above and click "Conduct a real mock test".
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