SSC CGL Cut-Off: What Score Actually Qualifies
The cut-off is a moving line drawn after the exam. You can't know it in advance, but you can aim above its range.
The SSC CGL cut-off is decided after the exam, by three forces you don't control: how many vacancies the cycle has, how many candidates sat, and how hard the paper ran. That is why every honest cut-off page gives ranges, not a number, and why your target should sit above the top of the range rather than at it.
Here are the historical Tier 1 ranges by category and what actually moves them.
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What Is the SSC CGL Tier 1 Cut-Off?
The Tier 1 cut-off is the minimum score, out of 200, needed to qualify for Tier 2. It varies by year and category: the General category cut-off has historically ranged from about 120 to 145, OBC from 110 to 130, SC from 100 to 120, and ST from 80 to 105.
Historical Tier 1 Cut-Off Ranges by Category
Out of 200 marks. Ranges span recent years; any single year lands somewhere inside them.
| Category | Historical Range |
|---|---|
| General | 120-145 |
| OBC | 110-130 |
| SC | 100-120 |
| ST | 80-105 |
What Moves the Cut-Off Between Years
- check_circleVacancy count: fewer vacancies push cut-offs higher; years with large vacancy announcements ease them
- check_circlePaper difficulty: an easier Tier 1 inflates raw scores across the field, and the line rises with them
- check_circleApplicant volume: more serious candidates competing for the same seats tightens every category's line
- check_circlePost mix: cut-offs beyond Tier 1 also differ by post, since popular posts close at better ranks
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The Practical Score Target
Working candidates aim for 45+ correct answers out of 100 in Tier 1, which, after the 0.50-mark deduction per wrong answer, comfortably clears the historical General range in most years. The buffer is the point: a target that merely touches last year's cut-off leaves no room for a harder paper or a leaner vacancy year.
And remember what Tier 1 is for. It qualifies you; it does not rank you. Once safely across, marginal Tier 1 marks matter far less than early Tier 2 preparation.
Ranges Are History, Not Prediction
These ranges summarise past cycles. Your cycle's actual cut-off is published by SSC after results on ssc.gov.in and can land outside historical ranges in an unusual year. Set targets from the ranges; read results from the official notice.
SSC CGL Cut-Off FAQs
What is a safe score for SSC CGL Tier 1?expand_more
A practical target is 45+ correct out of 100 questions with high accuracy, which clears the historical General category range of 120-145 out of 200 with a buffer in most years.
Why does the SSC CGL cut-off change every year?expand_more
Because it is set after the exam based on vacancies, applicant numbers and paper difficulty. Years with fewer vacancies see higher cut-offs.
Is the cut-off the same for all posts?expand_more
Tier 1's cut-off qualifies you for Tier 2, but final selection lines differ by post: higher-demand posts close at better final ranks, so the effective bar varies with your preference list.
Next steps
Take a full SSC CGL mock testScore a full Tier 1 paper and compare it to the ranges above.