What is the qualifying marks for SSC CGL exam?

The SSC Combined Graduate Level (CGL) exam is one of the most sought-after, prestigious recruitment exams in the country and is attempted by thousands of aspirants every year. It provides avenues for various prestigious jobs in government ministries, departments, and organizations like Assistant Audit Officer, Junior Statistical Officer, Assistant Audit Officer, Inspector, etc..

The candidates have to cross the cutoff marks in order to proceed to the next stages of the selection process. These grades determine who will be moving on to the next round of the examination and who will not. The official cutoff of SSC CGL 2025 will be released in September or October.

Be it preparation with regular SSC books, practice with SSC CGL PYQ books, or going through the previous years’ papers, one must know the cutoff. It assists you in figuring out what a realistic target score is and how to prepare to achieve that score.

This article will examine the previous years’ SSC CGL cutoffs trend as well as predictions for the 2025 cutoff.What are SSC CGL Qualifying/Cutoff Marks?

In SSC CGL, the cutoff refers to the minimum qualifying marks that need to be obtained in Tier I and II exams to qualify for the next stage or to attain final selection.

Tier 1 is the preliminary, and Tier 2 is the Mains exam, respectively. Each tier has an independent cutoff. Those candidates who are above the Tier I cut-off are called for Tier II, and again, Tier II cut-offs determine the final selection.

No matter how prepared you are, if you don’t achieve the cutoff in Tier I, you won’t be able to appear for Tier II. And this is the reason every aspirant must target a score much higher than the expected cut-off.
Read More: SSC CGL Tier 1 2025: Time Management Tips for the Exam Day

How Are SSC CGL Cut-Off Marks Decided?

Cut-off marks are determined by the Staff Selection Commission based on a number of factors.

These include:

• Appearing candidates count: higher count = higher cut-off.

• Exam difficulty: If the exams are more difficult, then the cut-off is lowered.

• Released Vacancies: Fewer Vacancies = Higher Cut Off.

• Preferred posts: Posts such as AAO or JSO have cut-offs in excess of the general posts.

As this cut-off changes every year, candidates need to prepare accordingly using SSC CGL exam books and question papers from previous years to understand the level of difficulty they should expect.

SSC CGL Cut-Off 2025 (Expected)

The official cut-off for SSC CGL 2025 will only be declared once the results are published. But if we look at SSC CGL 2024 cut-offs and compare them with the past few years, we can get a realistic picture of what to expect this year.

Tier I Cut-Off 2024

For posts other than JSO & Statistical Investigator

What this means:

In 2024, the Tier I General category cutoff to qualify for the next stage was approximately 153 marks. For OBC and EWS candidates, the required scores were between 140 and 146, whereas SC and ST candidates’ cutoffs had much lower values in the range of 110-125. The cut-off for PwD categories was also lowered, with a few categories clearing at less than 70 marks.

This demonstrates that the cut-off is not the same for all, but it is a function of how competitive each category is. The error margin for General and OBC candidates is very small. In other categories, the cut-off is bound to be lower, but marks above the minimum are important to remain in the competition at subsequent stages.

Tier II Cut-Off 2024

What this means:

The actual filter is the Tier II exam. Tier I gets you over the entry barrier, but Tier II is where the competition is. For the 2024 General candidates required more than 322, while those belonging to the OBC category required 306+ marks. The needed score is almost twice as high as in Tier I, thus making Tier II the elimination round.

This, for aspirants, particularly highlights the need not just to “clear” Tier I but to create a buffer. If you are much below the cutoff in Tier I, then you will have to excel in Tier II to make up.

Previous Year Cut-Off Trends (General Category)

What this means:

Examining the last six years, it can be deduced that:

• Tier I stability: The cut-off almost always falls in the 130–170 range. This gives candidates a safe target; if you consistently score 155+ in mocks, you’re in the competitive bracket.

• Tier II volatility: Unlike Tier I, Tier II cut-offs vary widely. In recent years, they’ve mostly been in the 270–330 range, but in 2020 and 2021, the scores shot up to 500+ due to pattern changes and higher competition. This makes Tier II less predictable and more demanding.

• Bottom line: Depending on the minimum cut-off value can be a dangerous assumption. Because Tier II is more difficult to anticipate, you always want to “cushion” your scores by getting points above the average safe zone.

What to Aim for in 2025

According to recent trends:

• General Tier I safe score: 155+

• General Tier II safe score: 300-320+

• OBC/EWS candidates: A little lower, but should target the General safe score to have a better margin.

• For SC/ST candidates: 20 – 30 marks lower than the previous one should be expected, but don’t make this your target and aim high.

In short, Tier I is qualifying while Tier II is competing. Candidates must aim well above the cut-off trend line and not just above the threshold for 2025.

How to Score Above SSC CGL Qualifying Marks?

One needs to have a strategy, be consistent, and have the right resources to be able to crack the SSC CGL cutoff. Here are some tips to get started:

Step 1: Study from targeted material

Among the most popular SSC CGL exam preparation books are:

• R.S. Aggarwal’s “Quantitative Aptitude”

• Neetu Singh’s “English by Plinth to Paramount”

• Lucent’s “General Awareness”

• R.S. Aggarwal’s “Reasoning”

Step 2: Practice from SSC CGL PYQ Books

These books assist you in:

• Familiarize yourself with the actual exam difficulty level, real exam tackling level

• Determine the types of questions that are repeated

• Practice time management.

Step 3: Solve SSC Previous Year Question Paper

Practicing with SSC previous years’ question papers gives real exam experience. Most of the toppers recommend that candidates must attempt at least the last 8-10 years’ papers.

Step 4: Take Mock Tests Regularly

Mocks are useful to assess if you are consistently scoring above the expected cutoff.

Final Thoughts

Qualifying marks in SSC CGL are the first in the series of stepping stones that lead to well-known government jobs. These numbers change every year according to different variables, but there is one constant: you have to be consistently above average in order to make it.

The most effective way to do this is through a combination of using good and authentic SSC exam books, practicing with an SSC CGL PYQ book, solving a sufficient number of previous year question papers, and monitoring oneself via mock tests. With this discipline, you will not only qualify but will also qualify with a good margin, thus increasing your chances of success in the exam.