SSC GD Exam Pattern 2027: CBE, Marking Scheme and PET

This guide explains the complete SSC GD Constable exam pattern stage by stage, using the official notice for the 2026 recruitment as the base for 2027. You will find the Computer Based Examination (CBE) structure, the marking scheme with worked examples, normalisation, qualifying marks, PST and PET standards, the medical stage and how the final merit list is prepared. Year-specific points are marked, so you can update them quickly once the 2027 notice is released on ssc.gov.in.

SSC GD Exam Pattern 2027 at a Glance

Stage-Wise SSC GD Selection Pattern

The recruitment runs in a fixed order. The Commission conducts the CBE, while the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) conduct the physical and medical stages, with CRPF acting as the nodal force for admission certificates.

The shortlisting ratios matter. Only around eight candidates per vacancy reach the physical stage, so the CBE is where the real competition happens. After that, fitness and documents decide whether you keep your place.

SSC GD CBE Exam Pattern

The CBE is a single objective paper with four parts of equal weight.

Key Rules of the CBE

• Timing: You get 60 minutes for the whole paper and can move freely between parts.

• Question type: All questions are multiple choice, set at matriculation level.

• Language choice: You answer Part D in either English or Hindi. The rest of the paper is available in English, Hindi and 13 regional languages: Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu.

• No calculators: Calculators and other electronic gadgets are not allowed, so arithmetic speed matters.

• Official mock: SSC provides a mock test of the CBE interface in the Candidate's Corner section of its website. Try it once before exam day.

SSC GD Marking Scheme Explained

Each correct answer earns 2 marks. Each wrong answer costs 0.25 marks. Unanswered questions score zero.

Formula: Raw score = (Correct answers x 2) - (Wrong answers x 0.25)

What the Numbers Tell You

A wrong answer costs only one-eighth of what a correct answer earns. That makes the SSC GD penalty mild compared with exams that deduct a quarter or a third of the question's marks.

In practice, if you can eliminate even one option, attempting the question is usually worth it. Candidate C above attempted every question and still scored the highest, despite 16 errors. That said, accuracy remains the safer route to a high score, because careless errors on questions you actually know are the most expensive mistakes of all.

Normalisation, Qualifying Marks and NCC Bonus

Normalisation

The CBE is held in many shifts, and papers differ slightly in difficulty. SSC therefore converts raw scores into normalised scores using the procedure published in its notice dated 2 June 2025. The normalised score, not the raw score, is used for merit and cut-offs.

Minimum Qualifying Marks

You must reach these minimum marks to be considered for PST/PET. NCC bonus marks are not counted for this check.

Clearing these marks does not guarantee a call for the physical stage. The actual cut-off for your state and category is usually far higher.

NCC Bonus Marks

Bonus marks are added to the normalised score. You must claim the NCC certificate in the application form, it must be issued on or before the notified cut-off date, and you must show the original at document verification. The bonus is not available to Ex-Servicemen.

Answer Key, Objections and Tie-Breaking

After the CBE, SSC publishes a tentative answer key. You can challenge answers online by paying ₹50 per question within the given window. There is no re-evaluation or re-checking of scores after the result.

When two or more candidates have the same score (including NCC bonus), SSC breaks the tie in this order:

This is a useful detail for strategy. Reasoning is the first tie-breaker, so a strong Part A score can matter even when your total equals someone else's.

Suggested Time Plan for the 60-Minute Paper

SSC sets no sectional timer, so you need your own plan. The split below is a starting point; adjust it after a few mock tests.

SSC GD Physical Standard Test (PST)

The PST measures height, chest (men only) and weight. Full physical and age conditions are covered in our SSC GD eligibility guide. Candidates first go through biometric verification.

Height Standards

Chest Standards (Male Only)

For women, the chest is not measured, but it must be well developed. Relaxation in height or chest for categories other than ST requires a certificate in the prescribed format. If you fail the height or chest check, you can appeal on the same day through the Presiding Officer.

SSC GD Physical Efficiency Test (PET)

• No appeal: There is no appeal against a PET result, so arrive fully prepared.

• Ex-Servicemen: They are exempt from the PET but must attend for height, chest and weight records.

• Women candidates: A pregnancy self-declaration is required. A candidate found pregnant is declared temporarily unfit, and her vacancy is held until she can be re-tested after confinement.

Medical Examination and Document Verification

Candidates who clear PST and PET are called for the Detailed Medical Examination (DME) along with Document Verification. Medical fitness is judged under the Ministry of Home Affairs' uniform guidelines for CAPF recruitment. A 2026 update moved weight assessment from the PST to the medical examination, with a BMI range of 18 to 25 as the standard. Candidates declared unfit can seek a Review Medical Examination (RME).

At the same stage, the CAPFs verify your Class 10 certificate, domicile certificate, caste or category certificate, NCC certificate and any relaxation certificates.

How the Final Merit List and Force Allocation Work

• Merit basis: Normalised CBE score plus NCC bonus marks.

• Separate lists: Selection is made separately for men and women, for each category (UR, SC, ST, OBC, EWS and ESM) and for each state or UT.

• Special areas: Some vacancies are earmarked for border-guarding districts and militancy or Naxal-affected districts, reserved for candidates from those districts.

• SSF: Secretariat Security Force vacancies are filled on an all-India basis.

• Force preference: In the 2026 cycle, candidates had to rank all seven forces. Force allocation depends on your merit and this ranking, and it cannot be changed after submission.

New for 2027: The Ex-Agniveer Category

In July 2026, the Ministry of Home Affairs told the Lok Sabha that a new Ex-Agniveer category has been created for Constable (GD) and Rifleman posts, with 50% of vacancies reserved, upper age relaxation, and exemption from the written exam, PST and PET. The first batch of Agniveers had not completed its term at that time. How this is applied in the SSC GD 2027 notice will shape the number of seats open through the CBE, so read that section of the notice carefully.

The SSC GD exam pattern rewards candidates who understand the rules, not just the syllabus. Build speed for the 60-minute CBE, use the mild negative marking to your advantage, and train early for the PET, which has no appeal. Once the 2027 notice is out on ssc.gov.in, confirm the details above, and use Testkart's SSC GD mock tests to practise the exact exam pattern until it feels routine.