SSC CGL Topics 2026
High-yield topics by subject and what to study first.
Updated 22 October 2026
High-yield topics for SSC CGL
SSC CGL rewards speed and accuracy in four core subjects: Quant, Reasoning, English and General Awareness. A small set of chapters comes up in almost every Tier 1 and Tier 2 paper. This page lists those high-yield topics and explains how to practise them with topic-wise quizzes and full mocks.
Quantitative Aptitude
- Arithmetic: percentage, profit and loss, discount, simple and compound interest, ratio, averages, time and work, time-speed-distance, mixtures
- Advanced maths: algebraic identities, geometry (triangles, circles, polygons), trigonometry, heights and distances, mensuration
- Data interpretation: tables, bar charts, pie charts and histograms
- Tier 2 extras: mean, median, mode, standard deviation and simple probability
Reasoning
- Analogy, classification and series (semantic, number and figural)
- Coding-decoding, blood relations, direction sense
- Syllogism, Venn diagrams, mathematical and symbolic operations
- Non-verbal: mirror and water images, paper folding, punched holes, embedded figures
English
- Error spotting and sentence improvement
- Vocabulary: synonyms, antonyms, idioms, one-word substitution, spelling
- Reading comprehension and cloze test
- Active/passive voice, direct/indirect speech, para jumbles
General Awareness
- Polity and Constitution, modern and ancient history
- Geography of India, basics of the economy, government schemes
- General science (biology, physics and chemistry basics)
- Current affairs from the last 6 to 12 months, plus static GK such as awards, books and sports
Most-asked SSC CGL topics by weightage
| Subject | Topic | Approx. weightage |
|---|---|---|
| Quant | Geometry and trigonometry | High |
| Quant | Arithmetic (percentage, profit & loss, interest) | High |
| Quant | Data interpretation | Medium |
| Quant | Algebra | Medium |
| Reasoning | Analogy, classification, series | High |
| Reasoning | Coding-decoding, blood relations, syllogism | High |
| Reasoning | Puzzles and non-verbal reasoning | Medium |
| English | Vocabulary (synonyms, idioms, one-word substitution) | High |
| English | Error spotting / sentence improvement | High |
| English | Reading comprehension and cloze test | Medium |
| GA | History and polity | High |
| GA | General science | Medium |
| GA | Current affairs (usually 4–6 questions) | Medium |
| Computer | MS Office, internet and security basics | Low (qualifying) |
How to practise these topics
Reading alone will not get you through CGL. You need regular timed practice. A good practice routine has three layers.
| Practice type | What it does | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Topic-wise quizzes | Short sets on one chapter to build the concept and spot gaps | Straight after studying a topic |
| Sectional tests | One full section under its own timer | Once the main chapters of a subject are done |
| Full-length mocks | The complete Tier 1 (100 questions, 60 minutes) or Tier 2 paper | Weekly at first, then 3 or 4 a week near the exam |
| Previous year papers | Show the real difficulty level and the topics that repeat | Throughout, especially in the last two months |
Practise in both English and Hindi if you plan to take the exam bilingually. Pick a test platform that gives detailed solutions and a performance report, so you can see your accuracy by topic. Re-attempting tests where you scored badly is one of the quickest ways to improve.
Suggested preparation order
- Start with arithmetic and basic reasoning. They build speed for both tiers.
- Add English grammar and daily vocabulary. English carries 135 marks in Tier 2.
- Move to advanced maths (geometry, trigonometry, algebra) once arithmetic feels comfortable.
- Cover static GK and science in short daily slots, and add current affairs from the past year.
- Practise previous year papers and full mocks under time limits, then analyse your mistakes.
- Prepare the Computer Knowledge Test and typing in the last few weeks before Tier 2.
The full topic list is on the SSC CGL syllabus page, and a month-wise plan is in the SSC CGL preparation guide. For trusted practice material, see SSC CGL books.
Frequently asked questions
Which topics are most important for SSC CGL Quant?
Geometry, trigonometry and arithmetic (percentage, profit and loss, interest) carry the most weight. Algebra and data interpretation come next.
Which reasoning topics come most often in SSC CGL?
Analogy, classification, series, coding-decoding, blood relations and syllogism show up in almost every paper. Non-verbal questions such as paper folding and embedded figures are also common.
How many current affairs questions come in SSC CGL?
Usually around 4 to 6 questions, mostly on government schemes, policies, people in the news and sports.
Are practice quizzes enough to prepare for SSC CGL?
Topic-wise quizzes are a good start, but you also need sectional tests, full-length mocks and previous year papers to build speed and exam stamina.
Should I re-attempt the same mock test?
Yes. Re-attempting a mock after reviewing your mistakes shows whether you have fixed your weak areas, and it builds speed and accuracy.
Always check the latest official notification on ssc.gov.in before applying.