SSC Stenographer Syllabus 2026 – Complete CBE Pattern, Topic List & Skill Test Guide
SSC Stenographer 2026 has a two-stage selection process: a Computer Based Examination (CBE) followed by a Stenography Skill Test. Your rank in the merit list is determined entirely by the CBE — the skill test is qualifying only. This means you must know the CBE pattern inside out, and also clear the skill test without making it a bottleneck. This article covers both in full.
Selection Process — Two Stages
| Stage |
Name |
Nature |
| Stage 1 | Computer Based Examination (CBE) | Merit-based (marks count) |
| Stage 2 | Stenography Skill Test | Qualifying only (pass/fail) |
There is no interview, no physical test, no document verification exam. Once you clear the skill test, you go to document verification and then receive your posting order.
CBE Exam Pattern — Complete Structure
| Subject |
Questions |
Marks |
Time |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 50 | 50 | 2 Hours (combined) |
| General Awareness | 50 | 50 |
| English Language & Comprehension | 100 | 100 |
| Total | 200 | 200 | 120 minutes |
Negative Marking: 0.25 marks deducted for every wrong answer. No penalty for unattempted questions.
Medium: English and Hindi both available for GI and GA sections. English L&C is English-only.
👉 SSC Stenographer Eligibility 2026 — Check if you're eligible before you start preparing. Age and education requirements explained clearly.
Subject 1: General Intelligence & Reasoning (50Q, 50M)
This section is entirely non-verbal and verbal reasoning — no current affairs, no GK. Most questions are straightforward if you've practised the pattern. Key topics:
| Topic |
What to Expect |
| Analogies | Semantic and figural — word relationships + figure pairs |
| Series (Number/Letter/Figure) | Find the missing/odd term in a sequence |
| Coding-Decoding | Letter shifting, symbol-based codes, new pattern codes |
| Similarities & Differences | Odd one out — semantic, symbolic, figural |
| Spatial Visualization | Paper folding, mirror/water images, embedded figures |
| Problem Solving | Arithmetic reasoning, seating arrangements, blood relations |
| Venn Diagrams | Set-based logic, usually 2–3 sets |
| Matrix | Find the missing value in a 3x3 or 4x4 matrix |
| Classification | Semantic, figural, symbolic classification |
| Word Building / Rearrangement | Meaningful words from jumbled letters |
SSC Stenographer reasoning tends to be moderate difficulty — not as hard as CGL Tier-1 and a step above MTS. Aim for 40+ out of 50 with consistent practice. Figure-based questions (paper cutting, mirror images) are time-consuming — practise them separately.
Subject 2: General Awareness (50Q, 50M)
GA for SSC Stenographer is static + dynamic. SSC doesn't publish an exact topic breakup, but previous year patterns show:
| Area |
Typical Weightage |
Key Focus |
| History | 6–8 Q | Ancient, Medieval, Freedom Struggle; NCERT Class 6–10 |
| Geography | 5–7 Q | Physical + Indian geography, rivers, passes, soils |
| Polity & Constitution | 5–7 Q | Articles, Amendments, Fundamental Rights, Parliament |
| Economics | 4–6 Q | Budget terms, GDP, RBI functions, banking basics |
| Science (Physics/Chem/Bio) | 8–10 Q | Class 8–10 NCERT concepts, everyday applications |
| Current Affairs | 8–12 Q | Last 6 months: awards, sports, appointments, schemes |
| Miscellaneous | 5–8 Q | Computer basics, inventions, sports records, Books & Authors |
GA is where most candidates either gain or lose the edge. Static GK is consistent and repeatable — nail it through NCERT reading. Current affairs from the last 6 months before the exam is non-negotiable.
Subject 3: English Language & Comprehension (100Q, 100M)
This is the most important section — it has double the questions and marks of the other two subjects combined. Your English score will largely decide whether you qualify for Grade C or Grade D, and your overall rank.
| Topic |
Approximate Questions |
| Reading Comprehension | 10–15 Q (1–2 passages) |
| Cloze Test | 10–12 Q |
| Sentence Correction / Improvement | 10–15 Q |
| Para Jumbles (Sentence Ordering) | 5–8 Q |
| Error Spotting | 8–12 Q |
| Synonyms & Antonyms | 8–12 Q |
| One Word Substitution | 5–8 Q |
| Idioms & Phrases | 5–8 Q |
| Fill in the Blanks | 5–8 Q |
| Spelling / Direct Indirect / Active Passive | 8–12 Q |
Because English carries 50% of the total marks, candidates who are average in GI and GA can still rank high if their English is strong. Read English newspapers (The Hindu, Indian Express) for comprehension and vocabulary. The questions are not IELTS-level — they're SSC standard, meaning intermediate to upper-intermediate difficulty.
Skill Test — Stenography Speed & Transcription
The skill test is mandatory for all candidates shortlisted after CBE. It does not add to your CBE marks — you must simply pass it. Here is what each grade requires:
| Grade |
Dictation Speed |
English Transcription |
Hindi Transcription |
| Grade C | 100 wpm (10 minutes) | 40 minutes | 55 minutes |
| Grade D | 80 wpm (10 minutes) | 50 minutes | 65 minutes |
The dictation passage is read aloud for 10 minutes. You write in shorthand. Then you type out your shorthand notes on a computer. The transcription time is more generous for Hindi because transliteration takes longer. Important: You choose either English medium OR Hindi medium skill test — you cannot switch after registering.
English vs Hindi Medium for Skill Test — Which to Choose?
This is one of the most asked questions by candidates who know Hindi. Here is the practical answer:
- Choose English medium if: you learned Pitman shorthand in school, your typing speed in English is faster, and you're comfortable with English dictation passages.
- Choose Hindi medium if: you've practised Devnagari shorthand (Steno in Hindi), you type Hindi faster than English, and most of your preparation has been in Hindi shorthand systems.
- The speed required is the same — 100/80 wpm regardless of medium. Hindi transcription gets extra time (15 minutes more) compared to English, which is an advantage.
- Post-joining: Most central government offices work in both languages, so medium doesn't significantly affect your work profile.
Marking Scheme and Negative Marking Strategy
Each correct answer: +1 mark. Each wrong answer: −0.25 marks. No penalty for unattempted. This means if you're not sure about an answer, the break-even point is 4 attempts for 3 right answers. In practice: attempt all questions you're 70%+ confident about, skip where you're genuinely guessing between all four options.
For English (100Q section), time management is key. Allocate roughly: RC passages 15 min, Cloze 10 min, Error Spotting + Sentence Correction 20 min, Vocabulary 10 min, Para Jumbles 5 min, remaining 10 min for remaining questions. That's 70 minutes out of 120 total — leave 50 minutes for GI (25 min) and GA (25 min).
Preparation Tips (Specific, Not Generic)
For English (your highest-leverage section): Solve 50 previous year SSC English questions every day. Do not jump between resources — stick to one book (SP Bakshi or Neetu Singh) and one mock series. Vocabulary from Norman Lewis Word Power is excellent for synonyms/antonyms and one-word substitution.
For GI & Reasoning: RS Aggarwal's Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning covers all patterns. Time yourself — do 50 questions in 40 minutes consistently. Figure-based questions are predictable; build a template approach for paper folding, mirror images and matrix questions.
For GA: NCERT summary notes (Lucent's GK) for static. Current affairs: read one reliable monthly PDF (Adda247, StudyIQ, or Testbook monthly capsule). Two months before the exam, switch to weekly revision of current affairs.
For Skill Test: Start practising shorthand from day one if you don't already have the speed. 80 wpm for Grade D requires consistent daily practice of 1–2 hours. For Grade C, 100 wpm needs 3–6 months of dedicated shorthand training if you're starting from 60 wpm. Don't leave skill test prep for after the CBE result — start simultaneously.
👉 SSC Stenographer Salary 2026 — Grade C vs Grade D in-hand pay, allowances and promotion path explained with exact figures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is there a separate cut-off for Grade C and Grade D in the CBE?
Yes. SSC prepares separate merit lists for Grade C and Grade D based on CBE scores. Grade C cut-off is always higher since there are fewer vacancies (232 vs 1,483). If you score high enough, you're considered for Grade C first. If you don't meet Grade C cut-off but meet Grade D cut-off, you're listed for Grade D.
Q: Can I skip the skill test if I'm confident in CBE?
No. The skill test is mandatory for all candidates who clear CBE. If you fail the skill test, you're out regardless of your CBE score. There is no exemption.
Q: How many times can I attempt the skill test?
There is only one chance per recruitment cycle. If you fail, you're not selected for that cycle. You would need to re-apply in the next cycle of the exam.
Q: Is the CBE conducted in online mode or offline?
The CBE is fully computer-based (online) — you appear at an SSC exam centre and answer on screen. The skill test is also conducted on computers where you type your shorthand transcription.
Q: What is the difficulty level of SSC Stenographer compared to SSC CGL?
SSC Stenographer CBE is easier than SSC CGL Tier-1 in most subjects. The reasoning is less complex, GA is similar, and English is at roughly the same level but with more questions. However, the added requirement of stenography skill (shorthand) makes the overall selection harder if you're not already trained. CGL has no physical skill test.
📌 SSC Stenographer 2026 – Complete Guide:
