SSB Head Constable Exam Pattern 2026: Marks, Stages and Merit

The SSB Head Constable exam pattern for the Non-GD trades has five stages: PET, PST, a 150-mark written examination, a skill test for Electrician only, and document verification with a medical examination. Only the written examination counts for merit. The Sashastra Seema Bal uses this pattern for the Communication, Electrician, Veterinary and Steward posts in its Head Constable (Non-GD) 2025 recruitment, advertised in March 2026.

This page sets out each stage with marks, time and qualifying rules, explains what the numbers mean for your time and accuracy, and shows how the final merit is decided. It also separates the Ministerial pattern, which many pages mix up with the trade posts. Figures here are as reported from the 2025 cycle advertisement; check the admit card instructions for the final rules.

Table of Contents

• SSB Head Constable Exam Pattern at a Glance

• Key Changes to Know

• Stage 1: PET and PST

• Stage 2: Written Examination Pattern

• Marking Scheme and Negative Marking

• What the Pattern Means for You

• Stage 3: Skill Test for HC Electrician

• Stage 4: Document Verification and Medical Examination

• Final Merit Calculation

• Head Constable (Ministerial) Exam Pattern

• Time Management and Exam-Day Strategy

SSB Head Constable Exam Pattern at a Glance

There is no interview in this recruitment. Your final rank depends on written marks alone, provided you clear every qualifying stage.

Key Changes to Know

• Physical tests come first: In the 2025 cycle, SSB ran PET and PST in August to October 2026, before any written test. Only candidates who qualified the physical stage move to the written examination.

• Fewer trades, fewer posts: The current cycle has 233 posts in four trades. The 2023 cycle had Mechanic posts and many more Communication posts, so competition per seat can be very different this time.

• Skill test is limited: Only HC (Electrician) has a skill test in this cycle. Pages that list skill tests for every trade are carrying over older or Constable-level rules.

• Mode of the written test: Reports describe the paper as a computer-based test. Confirm the mode and centre in the admit card when it is issued.

Stage 1: PET and PST

SSB holds the physical tests before the written examination. In the 2025 cycle, they started in the third week of August 2026, with the admit card link open until 13 October 2026.

Physical Efficiency Test

The race is pass or fail. Finishing ten seconds under the limit earns nothing extra, but finishing one second over ends your candidature. Train to finish at least 30 seconds inside the limit so that a bad day, a crowded track or heat does not cost you the stage.

Physical Standard Test

The PST checks height for all candidates and chest for male candidates. Standards vary by trade and category, with relaxation for Scheduled Tribes, hill-area candidates and the North-Eastern states. For example, the reported general-category standard for Communication is 170 cm height and 80 cm chest with 5 cm expansion for men, and 157 cm height for women. The full table is on the SSB Head Constable eligibility page.

Stage 2: Written Examination Pattern

The written examination is a single objective paper of two parts. Part I is common to all trades and Part II is the technical subject of your trade.

The advertisement does not fix how the 50 Part I questions split between the four subjects, so expect roughly 12 to 13 questions each. The level of Part I is around Class 10 to Class 12, while Part II follows the level of your trade qualification: Class 12 science, ITI or diploma.

What Part II Looks Like by Trade

Because Part II is trade-specific, candidates compete only with others in the same trade and category. A Communication candidate's rank is never compared with an Electrician candidate's.

Qualifying Marks

Clearing the qualifying marks only keeps you in the race. Selection depends on where you rank in category-wise merit, which is usually well above the minimum.

Marking Scheme and Negative Marking

Each question carries one mark. Reports on negative marking differ: some describe a deduction of 0.25 mark for each wrong answer, while others do not mention any deduction. Until the admit card instructions confirm the rule, prepare as if a quarter-mark penalty applies.

• Blank answers: An unanswered question gets zero and is not penalised.

• Wrong answers: If the 0.25 penalty applies, four wrong answers cancel one correct answer.

• Multiple responses: In computer-based tests only one option can be recorded, so review before you move on.

What the Pattern Means for You

• Two-thirds of the paper is technical: Part II gives 100 of 150 marks. A candidate strong in the trade subject can carry an average Part I score.

• Time per question is tight: 180 minutes for 150 questions gives 72 seconds each. Part I questions should take less than a minute so you can bank time for technical calculations.

• Guessing has a cost: With a 0.25 penalty, a random guess among four options gives an expected score of zero. Guess only when you can rule out at least one option.

• Accuracy beats attempts: Because merit is category-wise and cut-offs are close, 120 accurate attempts usually score better than 145 rushed ones.

Stage 3: Skill Test for HC Electrician

Only HC (Electrician) candidates take a skill test after the written examination. It is conducted by a board of SSB officers.

Expect practical tasks from the electrician trade: wiring a circuit, using a multimeter or megger, identifying faults and components, and following safety steps. Communication, Veterinary and Steward candidates go straight from the written test to document verification.

Stage 4: Document Verification and Medical Examination

Candidates up to about three times the vacancies in each category are reported to be called for document verification and the Detailed Medical Examination (DME). The medical follows CAPF standards, which typically cover eyesight, colour vision, flat feet, knock knees and general fitness.

• Documents: Class 10 certificate for age, qualification certificates, trade or experience certificates, category and domicile certificates, and photo ID.

• Review Medical Examination: A candidate declared unfit in the DME can appeal for an RME. The RME decision is final.

Final Merit Calculation

The final merit list is prepared trade-wise and category-wise from written examination marks out of 150, for candidates who cleared all qualifying stages. Ties are reported to be resolved in this order:

1. Higher marks in Part II (technical subject).

2. Older candidate by date of birth.

3. Alphabetical order of names.

Worked example: Two OBC candidates for HC (Communication) both score 112 out of 150. Candidate A has 38 in Part I and 74 in Part II. Candidate B has 42 in Part I and 70 in Part II. Candidate A ranks higher because of the stronger Part II score, even though B did better in the general section.

Head Constable (Ministerial) Exam Pattern

Head Constable (Ministerial) is a separate clerical recruitment, Advt. 338/RC/SSB/HC(Min)/2020. Its written examination (CBT) was held on 7 July 2026 and CBT marks were released on 14 October 2026. The reported pattern is different from the trade posts.

The total of 100 questions, 100 marks and 2 hours is widely reported; the equal 25-question split per subject is indicative. Qualifying marks are reported as 50% for UR, EWS, OBC and Ex-Servicemen and 45% for SC and ST. The CBT is followed by a typing skill test at 35 words per minute in English or 30 in Hindi, then documentation, PST and medical.

Older pages may show the 100-mark Ministerial pattern as the HC trade pattern, or include a Mechanic paper that is not part of the current cycle. Follow the advertisement for your own post.

Time Management and Exam-Day Strategy

A fixed plan for the three hours helps you avoid spending too long on one part. Adjust the order to your strengths, but keep the time limits.

• Practise the full length: Three hours is long. Sit at least eight to ten full papers before the exam to build stamina.

• Keep units straight: Many technical errors in Communication and Electrician papers come from unit conversions, not concepts.

• Stay fit for the medical: The DME comes after the written test, so keep a basic fitness routine going while you study.

Official website: https://recruitment.ssb.gov.in/