SSC CGL Exam Analysis 30 September 2026 — Shift 3
SSC CGL 2026 Tier 1 · 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM IST · Updated 30 Sept, 10:45 pm IST
Some sites list this 5 PM paper as 'Shift 2', because only two shifts were held on 30 September.
This paper was harder than the 1:30 PM one. Quant included a graph-based data-interpretation set with heavy calculation, which most reviewers advised skipping under the 15-minute lock. English was long, with a demanding cloze test, para-jumbles and error spotting. Reasoning stayed easy to moderate, and General Awareness was mostly direct one-line facts. Repeat candidates rated it moderate, while first-timers found it tough.
Section-wise difficulty and good attempts
| Section | Qs | Difficulty | Good attempts |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 25 | Easy to Moderate | 22–24 |
| General Awareness | 25 | Moderate | 14–18 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | Moderate to Difficult | 20–22 |
| English Comprehension | 25 | Moderate to Difficult | 19–21 |
Topics asked, section by section
General Intelligence & Reasoning
Easy to ModerateMostly standard types. This shift had more figure-based questions than the 1:30 PM paper, and some candidates skipped them to save time.
General Awareness
ModerateThe section was mostly factual, with few statement-based questions. That made it quick if you knew the fact, but left little room to eliminate options if you didn't. There were about 3–4 current-affairs questions.
Quantitative Aptitude
Moderate to DifficultThis was the hardest section of the shift. A graph-based data-interpretation set (about 4–5 questions, per one candidate) appeared for the first time this cycle, and the arithmetic was calculation-heavy. Most reviewers suggested skipping DI and banking on the advanced-maths questions.
English Comprehension
Moderate to DifficultSeveral reviewers called this the toughest English section of the day, mainly because of its length. The cloze test, the para-jumbles and the error-spotting questions all needed careful reading.
Topics with an arrow link to our free notes and practice questions for that topic.
Questions asked (memory-based)
What candidates recalled after the shift, reworded. Exact wording and options may differ from the real paper.
General Awareness
- How many points is a touchdown worth in American football?
answer
6 - Where was the 2023 World Test Championship final played?
answer
The Oval, London - Who wrote 'Heat and Dust', the 1975 Booker Prize winner?
answer
Ruth Prawer Jhabvala - Which Article of the Constitution provides for a financial emergency?
answer
Article 360 - Teej is mainly associated with which season?
answer
The monsoon (the month of Shravan) - A question on India's medallists in shooting at the 2026 Asian Games.
- A question on the reforms introduced by Governor-General William Bentinck.
Quantitative Aptitude
- A 4–5 question data-interpretation set built on a graph, with the answers requiring percentage and ratio calculations.
What candidates noticed
- The Quant section is where the timer hurt most. Candidates who got stuck on the DI set lost time they could not recover, because the section locks at 15 minutes.
- At least one centre had small desks, which made it awkward to handle the mouse and the rough sheet together.
- No systemic technical problems were reported for this shift.
Where reviews disagree
- English difficulty: most reviews rated it Moderate to Hard, but one listing rated it Easy and one candidate called it easy but long.
- QUAD vs BRICS: one source places the QUAD question in this shift, while another says QUAD came in the 1:30 PM paper and BRICS in this one.
- Overall good attempts: coaching tables say 82–85. Section-by-section estimates from video reviews add up nearer 78–82, which suggests the lower end is more realistic.
Other shifts on 30 September
Sources
Compiled and cross-checked from candidate reviews and coaching-institute analyses. Figures are unofficial until SSC releases the answer key.
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FAQs
How was the SSC CGL 30 September 2026 Shift 3 paper?
Candidates rated the 30 September 2026 Shift 3 paper Moderate overall. This paper was harder than the 1:30 PM one. Quant included a graph-based data-interpretation set with heavy calculation, which most reviewers advised skipping under the 15-minute lock. English was long, with a demanding cloze test, para-jumbles and error spotting. Reasoning stayed easy to moderate, and General Awareness was mostly direct one-line facts. Repeat candidates rated it moderate, while first-timers found it tough.
What are good attempts for SSC CGL 30 September 2026 Shift 3?
Around 78–85 out of 100 questions, going by candidate and coaching-institute reviews. Accuracy matters more than raw attempts because of the 0.50 negative marking.
Which General Intelligence & Reasoning topics were asked in SSC CGL 30 September 2026 Shift 3?
General Intelligence & Reasoning was Easy to Moderate. Topics reported: Analytical reasoning, Dice (1), Syllogism, Venn diagrams, Coding-decoding, Statement & conclusion (2), Non-verbal (figures).
Which General Awareness topics were asked in SSC CGL 30 September 2026 Shift 3?
General Awareness was Moderate. Topics reported: 2026 Asian Games – shooting, Sports rules & venues, Festivals (Teej), International groupings (BRICS/QUAD), Books & awards, Article 360 & constitutional articles, Census, Latitude/longitude, doabs, Chalukyas, William Bentinck, SI units (~2 science).
Which Quantitative Aptitude topics were asked in SSC CGL 30 September 2026 Shift 3?
Quantitative Aptitude was Moderate to Difficult. Topics reported: Data interpretation (graphs) (4–5), Calculation-heavy arithmetic.
Which English Comprehension topics were asked in SSC CGL 30 September 2026 Shift 3?
English Comprehension was Moderate to Difficult. Topics reported: Cloze test, Para-jumbles (PQRS), Error spotting, Direct & indirect speech, Active & passive voice, Sentence improvement, Spelling, Vocabulary (previous-year words).
Was SSC CGL Shift 1 held on 30 September 2026?
No. The 10 AM slot had no exam at almost all centres. The first paper actually held was at 1:30 PM, which is why many sites call it 'Shift 1'.
Is there sectional timing in SSC CGL 2026 Tier 1?
Yes. Each of the four sections gets 15 minutes and locks when its time is up, so you cannot go back to it. On day 1 the order reported was Reasoning, GA, Quant, then English.
What is a safe score for SSC CGL 2026 Tier 1 after day 1?
Early estimates put a safe raw score for the general category at around 135–140 out of 200. This is only coaching-channel chatter. Tier 1 scores are normalised across all shifts, and SSC has not published any cut-off.
Will a tougher shift lower my final score?
No. SSC normalises scores across shifts, so candidates in a harder shift are not penalised compared with those in an easier one.