SSC-CGL Details

Revision of Scheme of Combined Graduate Level Examination

Scheme of the Examination:

Different Tiers of existing Scheme of Examination for Combined Graduate Level Examination are as follows:

• Tier -I -- Written Examination (Objective Multiple Choice Type)
• Tier -II -- Written Examination (Objective Multiple Choice Type)
• Tier -III -- Personality Test /Interview/Computer Proficiency Test or Skill Test (wherever applicable).

Scheme of Examination for different posts will be as follows:

Post	Tier I  Examination	Tier II Examination	Interview	Proficiency/Skill Test	Total Mark
Posts for which Interview is prescribed other than Statistical Investigator Grade-II.	A. General Intelligence + Reasoning - 50 marks B. Gen.Awareness -50marks C. Quantitative Aptitude – 50 marks D. English Comprehension – 50 marks Total Marks - 200 Duration: 02 hours For VH: 2 hours 40 minutes	I. Quantitative Abilities : 200 marks (100 Questions) Duration: 2 hours For VH: 2hours 40 minutes where eligible. II. English Language &Comprehension: 200 marks. Total Marks : 400 Duration : 2 hours For VH: 2 hours 40 minutes wherever eligible.	100 Marks	Computer Proficiency Test (CPT) for post of Assistant in CSS only	700
Posts for which no Interview is prescribed, other than Compiler.	-do	-do	NO	Data Entry Skill Test at Speed of 8000 key depression per hour for post of Tax Assistant	600
Statistical Investigator Grade-II	-do-	Paper-I & II as above 400 marks Paper-III Statistics 200 marks	100 Marks	--	900
Compiler	-do-	-do-	NO	--	800

NOTE:

• There is negative marking of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer in Tier-I.
• In Tier-II, there is negative marking of 0.25 marks in Paper-II and III and 0.50 marks in Paper-I for each wrong answer.
• Candidates are advised to keep this in mind while answering the questions.

The Restructured Examination, which tests the native intelligence of the candidates with reduced emphasis on mere reproduction from memory, has elicited appreciation from user departments, who now get the manpower in less than half the time taken earlier, and the candidates because of its facile structure leading to results in reasonable time.

The Commission has been undertaking post-examination analysis based on valid and sound statistical principles since 2011. Action taken by the Commission in cancellation of candidature – sometimes even after selection-based on post – examination analysis – has been questioned in a few cases. There has also been a suggestion from a user department, the Department of Personnel & Training, which recruits Assistants in CSS out of the Combined Graduate Level Examination, for re-introduction of descriptive papers, despite its rejection in the report of the 2nd ARC, on account of time taken for examination and lack of consistency, objectivity, and accuracy in evaluation.

While the restructured scheme of Combined Graduate Level Examination has proved itself in the last three examinations, the Commission has been considering, for some time now, incorporation of a mechanism, without prolonging the recruitment cycle and without any drastic modification of the existing scheme, to ensure that only bonafide candidates finally qualify in the examination and those taking recourse to mal-practices in examination, which has become possible with modern communication technology are screened. This will also obviate the need for detailed posts-examination analysis and wasting scarce human and financial resources in fighting litigation.

It has, therefore, been decided by the Commission that the candidates qualifying in Tier-II of the Examination, for Computer Proficiency Test and Interview for posts of Assistant in CSS, Interview for other Interview posts, Data Entry Skill Test for posts of Tax Assistant and document verification for other non-interview posts, will be subjected to a short descriptive paper of not more than one hour’s duration, with questions drawn from “English Language and Comprehension”, “Quantitative Abilities” and “General Awareness”. If adequate infrastructure with reliable real time connectivity is available, at least in the Regional Headquarters and Lucknow, the Commission will at its option, change this to an online examination. The examination will be qualifying in nature and will not be taken into account for determining the position of the candidates in merit order. This is expected to screen those candidates who might have been able to take advantage of unfair means in Tier-I and II examinations. The proposed short descriptive papers/online test will not only screen but deter those candidates who intend to use unfair means in examination.

As the number of candidates qualifying for the final stage will be in the range of 25,000 to 35,000 and also in view of the fact that Interviews/Computer Skill Test/Data Entry Skill Test take about 8 to 10 weeks, the evaluation of the additional qualifying paper, even if it is not administered online and is of descriptive type, is not expected to lead to lengthening of the recruitment cycle beyond the present one year. Analysis of performance of the candidates in the qualifying examination and other papers will also be facilitated due to very small number of candidates qualifying for the final stage.

The Commission’s decision is now placed on its website for the information of the public, in particular candidates intending to apply for the Combined Graduate Level Examination, 2013, which is scheduled to be notified on 19th January, 2013.

SSC: Combined Graduate Level Examination
(Exam Syllabus)

Syllabus: Tier-I of The Examination:

General Intelligence & Reasoning :

It would include questions of both verbal and non-verbal type. This component may include questions on

• analogies,
• similarities and differences,
• space visualization,
• spatial orientation,
• problem solving,
• analysis,
• judgement,
• decision making,
• visual memory,
• discrimination,
• observation,
• relationship concepts,
• arithmetical reasoning and figural classification,
• arithmetic number series,
• non-verbal series,
• coding and decoding,
• statement conclusion,
• syllogistic reasoning etc.

The topics are,

• Semantic Analogy,
• Symbolic/Number Analogy,
• Figural Analogy,
• Semantic Classification,
• Symbolic/Number Classification,
• Figural Classification,
• Semantic Series,
• Number Series,
• Figural Series,
• Problem Solving,
• Word Building,
• Coding & de-coding,
• Numerical Operations,
• symbolic Operations,
• Trends,
• Space Orientation,
• Space Visualization,
• Venn Diagrams,
• Drawing inferences,
• Punched hole/pattern –folding & unfolding,
• Figural Pattern – folding and completion,
• Indexing,
• Address matching,
• Date & city matching,
• Classification of centre codes/roll numbers,
• Small & Capital letters/numbers coding, decoding and classification,
• Embedded Figures,
• Critical thinking,
• Emotional Intelligence,
• Social Intelligence,
• Other sub-topics, if any.

General Awareness :

Questions in this component will be aimed at testing the candidates general awareness of the environment around him and its application to society. Questions will also be designed to test knowledge of current events and of such matters of every day observations and experience in their scientific aspect as may be expected of any educated person. The test will also include questions relating to India and its neighbouring countries especially pertaining

• History,
• Culture,
• Geography,
• Economic Scene,
• General Policy & Scientific Research.

Numerical Aptitude :

The questions will be designed to test the ability of appropriate use of numbers and number sense of the candidate. The scope of the test will be computation of whole numbers, decimals, fractions and relationships between numbers, Percentage. Ratio & Proportion, Square roots, Averages,Interest, Profit and Loss, Discount, Partnership Business, Mixture and Alligation, Time and distance, Time & Work, Basic algebraic identities of School Algebra & Elementary surds, Graphs of Linear Equations, Triangle and its various kinds of centres, Congruence and similarity of triangles, Circle and its chords, tangents, angles subtended by chords of a circle, common tangents to two or more circles, Triangle, Quadrilaterals, Regular Polygons , Circle, Right Prism, Right Circular Cone, Right Circular Cylinder, Sphere, Hemispheres, Rectangular Parallelepiped, Regular Right Pyramid with triangular or square base, Trigonometric ratio, Degree and Radian Measures, Standard Identities, Complementary angles, Heights and Distances, Histogram, Frequency polygon, Bar diagram & Pie chart.

English Comprehension :

Candidates‘ ability to understand correct English, his basic comprehension and writing ability, etc. would be tested.

(The questions in all the components A,B & D will be of a level commensurate with the Essential Qualification prescribed for the post viz., graduation and questions in component C will be of 10+2 level).

Syllabus: Tier-II of The Examination:

Paper-I : Arithmetic Ability : The questions will be designed to test the ability of appropriate use of numbers and number sense of the candidate. The scope of the test will be the computation of whole numbers, decimals ,fractions and relationships between numbers, Percentage. Ratio & Proportion, Square roots, Averages, Interest, Profit and Loss, Discount, Partnership Business, Mixture and Alligation, Time and distance, Time & Work, Basic algebraic identities of School Algebra & Elementary surds, Graphs of Linear Equations, Triangle and its various kinds of centres, Congruence and similarity of triangles, Circle and its chords, tangents, angles subtended by chords of a circle, common tangents to two or more circles, Triangle, Quadrilaterals, Regular Polygons , Circle, Right Prism, Right Circular Cone, Right Circular Cylinder, Sphere, Hemispheres, Rectangular Parallelepiped, Regular Right Pyramid with triangular or square base, Trigonometric ratio, Degree and Radian Measures, Standard Identities, Complementary angles, Heights and Distances, Histogram, Frequency polygon, Bar diagram & Pie chart.

Paper-II : English Language & Comprehsion : Questions in this components will be designed to test the candidate‘s understanding and knowledge of English Language and will be based on spot the error, fill in the blanks, synonyms, antonyms, spelling/detecting mis-spelt words,idioms & phrases, one word substitution, improvement of sentences, active/passive voice of verbs, conversion into direct/indirect narration, shuffling of sentence parts, shuffling of sentences in a passage, close passage & comprehension passage.

Paper-III : Statistics for Investigator Grade-II, for Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation & Compiler for RGI.
Collection Classification and Presentation of Statistical Data – Primary and Secondary data, Methods of data collection; Tabulation of data; Graphs and charts; Frequency distributions; Diagrammatic presentation of frequency distributions.

• Measures of Central Tendency- Common measures of central tendency – mean median and mode; Partition values- quartiles, deciles, percentiles.
• Measures of Dispersion- Common measures dispersion – range, quartile deviations, mean deviation and standard deviation; Measures of relative dispersion.
• Moments, Skewness and Kurtosis – Different types of moments and their relationship; meaning of skewness and kurtosis; different measures of skewness and kurtosis.
• Correlation and Regression – Scatter diagram; simple correlation coefficient; simple regression lines; Spearman‘s rank correlation; Measures of association of attributes; Multiple regression; Multiple and partial correlation (For three variables only).
• Probability Theory – Meaning of probability; Different definitions of probability; Conditional probability; Compound probability; Independent events; Bayes‘ theorem.
• Random Variable and Probability Distributions – Random variable; Probability functions; Expectation and Variance of a random variable; Higher moments of a random variable; Binomial , Poisson, Normal and Exponential distributions; Joint distribution of two random variable (discrete).
• Sampling Theory – Concept of population and sample; Parameter and statistic, Sampling and non-sampling errors; Probability and non-probability sampling techniques (simple random sampling, stratified sampling, multistage sampling, multiphase sampling, cluster sampling, systematic sampling, purposive sampling, convenience sampling and quota sampling); Sampling distribution (statement only); Sample size decisions.
• Statistical Inference - Point estimation and interval estimation, Properties of a good estimator, Methods of estimation (Moments method, Maximum likelihood method, Least squares method), Testing of hypothesis, Basic concept of testing, Small sample and large sample tests, Tests based on Z, t, Chi-square and F statistic, Confidence intervals.
• Analysis of Variance - Analysis of one-way classified data and two-way classified data.
• Time Series Analysis - Components of time series, Determinations of trend component by different methods, Measurement of seasonal variation by different methods.
• Index Numbers - Meaning of Index Numbers, Problems in the construction of index numbers, Types of index number, Different formulae, Base shifting and splicing of index numbers, Cost of living Index Numbers, Uses of Index Numbers.

NOTE-I: There will not have any component of Map / Graphs / Statistical Data / Diagrams / Figures / Geometrical problems in Numerical Aptitude in Tier I Examination for Visually Handicapped candidates of 40% and above visual disability, opting for SCRIBE.

NOTE-II : The Commission shall have the discretion to fix different minimum qualifying standards in each component of the Tier-I Examination taking into consideration among others, category-wise vacancies and category-wise number of candidates. Only those candidates, who have scored above the cut off marks fixed by the Commission would be required to appear in the Tier –II Examination.

NOTE-III : Tier-I examination will be used to screen the candidates for appearing in Tier-II examination for various papers which will be specifically required for different groups of posts. However, marks of such screened candidates in Tier-I will be taken into account for final ranking of candidates for selecting them for the interview/skill test and also final selection.

NOTE-IV: (i) The Commission will have the full discretion to fix separate minimum qualifying marks in each of the papers in Tier I or in Tier II and in the aggregate of all the papers separately for each category of candidates (viz. SC/ST/OBC/PH/ExS/General (UR) ). Only those candidates who qualify in all the papers as well as in the aggregate would be eligible to be considered for being called for the Personality Test / Interview and / or Skill Test.
(ii) There will be different set of Questions for the papers on Arithmetic in Tier II for Visually Handicapped (VH) candidates, which shall not have any component of Map/Graphs / Statistical Data / Diagrams / Figures/Geometrical problems / Pie-chart etc. However, components of other papers will be the same as that for general candidates.

NOTE-V : Discrepancies in Question paper should be brought to the notice of the Commission in writing within fifteen days of holding of the examination. Representation submitted thereafter will not be considered.