SSC Stenographer Exam Pattern 2026: Marks and Skill Test

The SSC Stenographer exam pattern for 2026 has two stages that matter for your score: a computer-based exam of 200 questions, and a qualifying stenography skill test. The written paper has three parts, each with its own clock, and every wrong answer costs 0.25 marks. The skill test then checks whether you can take dictation and transcribe it at the speed set for your grade.

This page explains the structure, the marking rules and the final selection logic, then turns the numbers into practical advice on time and accuracy. All figures come from the Staff Selection Commission notice for the 2026 cycle.

Table of Contents

• Exam pattern at a glance

• Computer-based exam pattern

• Marking scheme and negative marking

• What the pattern means for you

• Stenography skill test pattern

• Later stages

• How final merit works

• Time management and exam-day strategy

• Source and older pages

Exam pattern at a glance

Computer-based exam pattern

Sectional timing

Each part has its own time limit. Candidates who are eligible for a scribe get 40, 40 and 80 minutes for the three parts, which makes 2 hours 40 minutes in all. If you finish a part early, you cannot carry the saved time to another part, so plan each part as a separate mini exam.

Language of the paper

The questions are set in English and Hindi. The English Language and Comprehension part is naturally in English only.

Minimum qualifying marks

These are only the qualifying floors. Candidates are shortlisted and allotted posts on merit, so actual cut-offs are usually much higher.

Marking scheme and negative marking

• Correct answer: Every question carries one mark. Reasoning and General Awareness have 50 questions for 50 marks, and English has 100 questions for 100 marks.

• Wrong answer: 0.25 marks are deducted for each wrong answer.

• Unattempted question: The notice mentions deduction only for wrong answers, so a question you leave blank does not cost marks.

• Normalisation: If the exam is held in more than one shift, scores are normalised to adjust for difficulty differences between shifts.

• Re-evaluation: There is no re-evaluation or re-checking of scores.

What the pattern means for you

• Half your marks sit in English: English carries 100 of the 200 marks, as much as Reasoning and General Awareness together. English marks are also the first tie-breaker, so a strong English score helps twice.

• A wrong guess is cheap but not free: A wrong answer costs 0.25 marks, so four wrong guesses cancel one correct answer. If you can remove two of four options, guessing makes sense. Blind guessing across many questions does not.

• Speed is about 36 seconds a question: That is the average in all three parts, 30 minutes for 50 questions and 60 minutes for 100. Reading comprehension passages take longer, so quick grammar and vocabulary items must be done faster.

• No spillover between parts: A weak reasoning part cannot be repaired with spare time from English, so practise each part under its own timer.

Stenography skill test pattern

The skill test is mandatory for shortlisted candidates and is qualifying in nature. You choose English or Hindi in your application. The dictation lasts 10 minutes, after which you transcribe it on a computer within the time shown below.

Candidates who are eligible for extra time get a longer transcription window as specified in the notice. Category-wise qualifying standards for the skill test are set by the Commission.

A candidate who opts for Hindi must learn English stenography after appointment, and the reverse applies for English. The notice states that probation may not be cleared otherwise.

Later stages

After the written exam and skill test, selected candidates go through document verification and medical or physical checks conducted by the user departments. BRO posts in Grade D carry an additional physical efficiency test described in the notice. Post preferences are submitted online and cannot be changed afterwards.

How final merit works

The skill test is only a gate. Allocation of posts rests on your computer-based exam score and the post preferences you submit.

Worked example of a raw score: Suppose you attempt 170 questions, get 150 right and 20 wrong. Your raw score is 150 minus 20 times 0.25, which equals 145 out of 200. If the exam ran in several shifts, the normalised score may differ slightly.

If two candidates have the same marks, the tie is broken in this order: marks in English, then marks in General Awareness, then the older date of birth, then alphabetical order of names.

Time management and exam-day strategy

1. Treat each part as its own exam: Decide in advance how many questions you will attempt in each part and the pace you need, then stick to it.

2. Do easy questions first within each part: In English, finish vocabulary and grammar items first and leave long passages for the end of the 60 minutes.

3. Use a 30-second rule in Reasoning: If a puzzle is not yielding in about half a minute, mark it and move on.

4. Keep 3 to 4 minutes in each part for review: Re-check marked questions and avoid changing answers without a clear reason.

5. Carry the right documents: Take the admission certificate and a valid original photo ID. Candidates without Aadhaar authentication are asked to report two hours early.

Source and older pages

Older pages may still show a different exam pattern or the earlier exam dates, so follow the official notice. You can read the full text in the SSC notice for the Stenographer Grade C and D Examination, 2026 and check updates on the Staff Selection Commission website.