How to Calculate Your SSC CGL Score: TIER I vs TIER II

Introduction:

The SSC CGL exam is one of the most competitive exams in India, and understanding how to calculate your score for both Prelims and Mains is crucial for effective preparation. Whether you’re aiming to clear SSC CGL 2025 or strategizing for future exams, knowing how your performance translates into scores will help you assess your strengths and weaknesses. In this blog, we’ll walk you through the process of calculating your SSC CGL score for Prelims and Mains, comparing both stages, and giving you a better understanding of how the marks are awarded.

Main Body:

Section 1: Understanding the SSC CGL Exam Structure

The SSC CGL exam consists of two main stages:

• TIER I (Prelims): This stage is a computer-based test with 4 sections: General Intelligence and Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, English Language and Comprehension, and General Awareness.
• TIER II (Mains): This stage includes more specialized papers, such as Quantitative Abilities, English Language and Comprehension, and General Studies (Finance and Economics), depending on the post you are applying for.

Both stages are important, and understanding the scoring system for each will help you track your performance and improve your strategy.

Section 2: How SSC CGL Prelims (TIER I) Scores Are Calculated

The TIER I exam is the first stage in the SSC CGL selection process. It consists of 4 sections, with a total of 100 questions for 200 marks. Here’s how to calculate your Prelims score:

• Each question carries 2 marks.
• Negative marking: 0.5 marks are deducted for every incorrect answer.

SSC CGL Prelims Scoring Formula:

1. Correct Answer: Awarded 2 marks for each correct answer.
2. Incorrect Answer: 0.5 marks deducted for each incorrect answer.
3. Unanswered Questions: No marks are awarded or deducted.

For example, if you answer 80 questions correctly, 15 incorrectly, and leave 5 unanswered, your score would be:

• 80 x 2 = 160 marks (correct answers)
• 15 x -0.5 = -7.5 marks (incorrect answers)
• 5 x 0 = 0 marks (unanswered questions)

Your total score = 160 - 7.5 = 152.5 marks.

TIER I Exam Breakdown:

• Total Marks: 200 marks
• Time Limit: 60 minutes
• Total Questions: 100 questions (25 questions in each section)

Section 3: How SSC CGL Mains (TIER II) Scores Are Calculated

The TIER II exam is more detailed and involves multiple papers depending on the job you are applying for. The two main papers for most posts are Quantitative Abilities (Paper 1) and English Language and Comprehension (Paper 2).

• Paper 1 (Quantitative Abilities) contains 100 questions for 200 marks.
• Paper 2 (English Language and Comprehension) contains 200 questions for 200 marks.

The scoring for Mains is similar to Prelims:

• Correct Answer: Awarded 2 marks for each correct answer.
• Incorrect Answer: 0.5 marks deducted for each incorrect answer.

However, unlike Prelims, there are also additional papers like Paper 3 (for certain posts) and Paper 4 (General Studies: Finance and Economics). These papers contribute to the overall score.

SSC CGL Mains Scoring Formula:

1. Correct Answer: Awarded 2 marks for each correct answer.
2. Incorrect Answer: 0.5 marks deducted for each incorrect answer.
3. Unanswered Questions: No marks are awarded or deducted.

For example, if you answer 150 questions correctly, 30 incorrectly, and leave 20 unanswered, your score would be:

• 150 x 2 = 300 marks (correct answers)
• 30 x -0.5 = -15 marks (incorrect answers)
• 20 x 0 = 0 marks (unanswered questions)

Your total score = 300 - 15 = 285 marks.

TIER II Exam Breakdown:

• Total Marks: 400 marks (or more, depending on the number of papers)
• Time Limit: 2 hours per paper
• Total Questions: 100-200 questions per paper

Section 4: How to Calculate Overall SSC CGL Score (Prelims + Mains)

The overall SSC CGL score is a combination of your TIER I (Prelims) and TIER II (Mains) marks. The final merit list is prepared based on the scores obtained in TIER I and TIER II combined.

Calculation Process:

1. TIER I Marks: You get your marks for TIER I based on the scoring formula.
2. TIER II Marks: Your marks for TIER II will be calculated similarly for each paper.
3. Final Score Calculation: Your final score will be a sum of your TIER I and TIER II marks.

For example:

• If your TIER I score is 152.5 marks (as calculated earlier) and your TIER II score is 285 marks, your total score will be 152.5 + 285 = 437.5 marks.

Note:

• The final score may also be adjusted after normalization (in case of multiple shifts) to ensure fairness.

Section 5: SSC CGL 2025 Expected Cut-Offs Based on Scores

Understanding how to calculate your score will help you gauge how much you need to score to clear the cut-offs for SSC CGL 2025. The cut-off for both TIER I and TIER II varies each year based on exam difficulty, vacancies, and the overall performance of candidates.

Here’s a quick look at the expected cut-offs for SSC CGL 2025:

Category	TIER I (Prelims) Cut-Off	TIER II (Mains) Cut-Off
General	145-155	310-325
OBC	135-145	290-305
SC	120-130	270-280
ST	110-120	250-260
EWS	130-145	290-305

Section 6: Tips for Improving Your SSC CGL Score Calculation Strategy

1. Focus on Accuracy: Since there’s negative marking, ensure that you only answer questions that you are confident about.
2. Practice with Mock Tests: Regular practice with mock tests will improve your accuracy and help you gauge your speed and performance.
3. Time Management: For both Prelims and Mains, time management is crucial. Practice solving questions within the allotted time to improve efficiency.
4. Understand the Scoring Scheme: Familiarize yourself with the negative marking system and avoid random guessing.
5. Analyze Your Results: After each mock test, analyze your performance, calculate your score, and identify areas that need improvement.

Conclusion:

Knowing how to calculate your SSC CGL score for both Prelims and Mains is crucial for your preparation strategy. With a clear understanding of the marking scheme, you can track your progress, manage time better, and improve your performance. By focusing on accuracy, practicing regularly, and analyzing your results, you’ll be well on your way to clearing the SSC CGL 2025 exam.