SSC Stenographer Syllabus 2026
Stage-wise and subject-wise syllabus with the exam pattern.
Updated 22 October 2026
SSC Stenographer syllabus 2026
The SSC Stenographer 2026 syllabus has three CBT subjects (General Intelligence and Reasoning, General Awareness, and English Language and Comprehension) plus a qualifying shorthand skill test. English carries 100 of the 200 CBT marks, so it plays the largest role in the merit list. The same syllabus applies to both Grade C and Grade D.
CBT subjects and marks
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence and Reasoning | 50 | 50 |
| General Awareness | 50 | 50 |
| English Language and Comprehension | 100 | 100 |
Duration: 2 hours. Negative marking: 0.25 per wrong answer. See the SSC Stenographer exam pattern for the full scheme.
General Intelligence and Reasoning syllabus
| Topic | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Analogies | Finding relationships between words, objects or phrases |
| Similarities and differences | Verbal and figure classification |
| Coding-decoding | Letter and number codes, pattern recognition |
| Blood relations | Family relationship questions |
| Syllogisms and statement-conclusion | Deductive reasoning |
| Puzzles | Logical and sequence puzzles |
| Seating arrangement | Linear, circular and other layouts |
| Ranking and direction sense | Order and direction problems |
| Clocks and calendars | Time and date problems |
| Series | Number and non-verbal series |
| Visual reasoning | Space visualisation, Venn diagrams, mirror images, embedded figures, paper folding |
General Awareness syllabus
| Topic | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Current affairs | National and international events |
| Indian history and culture | Major events and cultural heritage |
| Geography | India and the world |
| Indian polity and Constitution | Structure of government and the Constitution |
| Economy and financial awareness | Indian economy, fiscal policy, banking and finance |
| Science and technology | General science, inventions and discoveries |
| Sports | Major national and international events |
| Books and authors | Well-known books and their writers |
| Awards and honours | National and international awards |
English Language and Comprehension syllabus
| Topic | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Reading comprehension | Understanding and analysing passages |
| Grammar | Sentence structure, articles, prepositions and more |
| Vocabulary | Synonyms, antonyms, word meanings, one-word substitution, spelling |
| Error detection | Finding grammatical errors |
| Sentence rearrangement | Ordering jumbled sentences |
| Fill in the blanks | Choosing the right word |
| Idioms and phrases | Common idiomatic expressions |
| Voice and narration | Active/passive and direct/indirect speech |
| Cloze test | Passage-based fill in the blanks |
Skill test in stenography
Candidates who clear the CBT take a dictation of 10 minutes and transcribe it on a computer.
| Grade | Dictation speed | Transcription (English) | Transcription (Hindi) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade C | 100 wpm | 40 minutes | 55 minutes |
| Grade D | 80 wpm | 50 minutes | 65 minutes |
The test is qualifying and can be taken in English or Hindi.
How to prepare for the syllabus
- English: daily grammar practice, vocabulary lists and one comprehension passage a day, since this section is worth 100 marks.
- Reasoning: practise puzzles, seating arrangements and coding-decoding under time limits.
- General Awareness: read a newspaper daily and revise static GK weekly.
- Shorthand: practise dictation every day at a speed a little above your target and transcribe on a keyboard.
- Mocks: take full-length timed tests and revise weak topics regularly.
Check that you qualify on the SSC Stenographer eligibility page.
Frequently asked questions
What subjects are in the SSC Stenographer syllabus?
The CBT covers General Intelligence and Reasoning, General Awareness, and English Language and Comprehension. A qualifying shorthand skill test follows.
Which section carries the most marks in SSC Stenographer?
English Language and Comprehension, with 100 questions worth 100 of the 200 marks.
Is the syllabus different for Grade C and Grade D?
No. The CBT syllabus is the same; only the skill test speed and transcription time differ between the grades.
How should I prepare for the SSC Stenographer skill test?
Practise shorthand dictation daily slightly above the target speed and practise transcribing on a computer keyboard within the allotted time.
Always check the latest official notification on ssc.gov.in before applying.