BSSC CGL Cut Off: Qualifying Marks and Target Score Guide

The BSSC CGL cut-off is the lowest score that takes a candidate to the next stage or onto the final merit list in each category. The Bihar Staff Selection Commission sets it separately for the prelims shortlist and the final selection, after each result for the 4th Graduate Level exam under Advertisement No. 05/25. Since the prelims for this cycle had not been held by October 2026, no cut-off exists yet for it.

This page explains the fixed minimum qualifying marks, what is known about the previous cycle, the factors that move the cut-off, and how to set a safe target score. Cut-offs change every cycle, so treat any past figure as a benchmark only.

Table of Contents

Minimum Qualifying Marks for BSSC CGL

The advertisement sets a minimum percentage that each category must reach to be considered for the merit list. The third column converts each percentage into marks out of 600, the total of Mains Paper 2, which decides merit.

Mains Paper 1 (Hindi) has its own rule: at least 30%, or 120 out of 400, for Paper 2 to be evaluated. Qualifying marks are a floor, not the cut-off. The actual cut-off is usually well above them.

Previous Cycle Reference

The previous cycle was the 3rd Graduate Level exam under Advertisement No. 01/22. Its prelims result came out in May 2023, and the final result followed in December 2023 after document verification. The result notices for that cycle are on the commission's website.

We have not been able to verify a category-wise cut-off table for that cycle against the official notices, so we are not listing figures here. Unofficial figures shared online for the 3rd cycle vary widely and often do not say which stage or total they refer to, so do not plan around them. Check the result notices on the official BSSC notice board for the exact figures.

What Affects the BSSC CGL Cut-off

• Vacancies: This cycle has 1,883 posts after the November 2025 revision, more than the 1,481 first advertised. More posts in a category usually lower its cut-off.

• Number of candidates: A large applicant pool pushes the prelims shortlist cut-off up.

• Paper difficulty: A harder paper lowers scores across the board.

• Normalisation: If the exam runs in several shifts, scores may be normalised, which can shift cut-offs.

• Category and post: Cut-offs differ by category, by women's and other horizontal reservation, and sometimes by post.

How to Set Your Target Score

Cut-offs change every year with difficulty, vacancies and the number of applicants. Aim for a clear margin above the minimum rather than a bare pass.

• Start from the floor: Your category's qualifying marks are the lowest you can afford. Plan to beat them by a wide margin in every mock.

• Do not leave a section weak: Each section carries 200 marks, so one poor section can sink an otherwise good score.

• Watch accuracy: With 1 mark lost per wrong answer, a score built on accurate attempts holds up better on exam day.

• Track the trend, not one test: Judge your readiness by your average over your last five mocks, not by a single good score.