SSC CGL Exam Analysis 30 September 2026 — All Shifts
SSC CGL 2026 Tier 1 · Updated 30 Sept, 10:45 pm IST
Day 1 of SSC CGL 2026 Tier 1 ran in two slots, 1:30 PM and 5:00 PM. The 10 AM slot had no exam at virtually every centre. This was also the first CGL with a locked 15-minute timer for each section, and that timer drew more comment than any single question. The 1:30 PM paper was easy to moderate. The 5:00 PM paper was a notch harder, with a data-interpretation set in Quant and a tougher English section.
| Shift | Timing | Overall | Good attempts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shift 1 | 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM IST | Not held | — | Full analysis → |
| Shift 2 | 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM IST | Easy to Moderate | 80–85 | Full analysis → |
| Shift 3 | 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM IST | Moderate | 78–85 | Full analysis → |
Shift 2 — Easy to Moderate
The paper leaned heavily on previous-year question patterns. Reasoning and English were comfortable for most candidates. General Awareness felt harder than its content because of statement-based and chronology questions. Quant was mostly direct formula work in advanced maths. The 15-minute lock, not the questions, is what set the pace: several candidates had solvable questions still open when the Quant timer ran out.
Shift 3 — Moderate
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.
Your shift is still ahead?
Take a free full-length mock in the real CBT interface, then check where you stand.
FAQs
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.