SSC CGL Maths Questions With Solutions
The numbers change every shift. The methods do not.
SSC CGL maths questions come from a fixed list of chapters: percentages, profit and loss, interest, ratio, time and work, speed, averages, mixtures, algebra, geometry, mensuration, trigonometry and data. The numbers change every shift. The methods do not.
Below is a mixed set of original practice questions from the arithmetic, algebra and statistics chapters, each solved step by step. Trigonometry and geometry have their own pages with formula tables.
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Where Maths Sits in CGL
From the 2026 notice. SSC says Tier 1 Quant questions are set at 10th standard level.
Tier 1, Quantitative Aptitude
Questions
25
Marks
50 (2 each)
Time
15-minute sectional timer
Wrong answer
−0.50
Tier 2, Mathematical Abilities
Questions
30
Marks
90 (3 each)
Time
30-minute sectional timer
Wrong answer
−1
| Stage | Questions | Marks | Time | Wrong answer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1, Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 (2 each) | 15-minute sectional timer | −0.50 |
| Tier 2, Mathematical Abilities | 30 | 90 (3 each) | 30-minute sectional timer | −1 |
Mixed Practice Questions With Solutions
Original practice questions, not past paper questions. Give each one about a minute before reading the solution.
- 1
Practice question 1 (percentage): A price rises by 20% and then falls by 20%. What is the net change?
Multiply the factors: 1.20 × 0.80 = 0.96. The final price is 96% of the start, so the net change is a 4% decrease. The trap answer is "no change": the 20% fall is taken on a bigger number.
- 2
Practice question 2 (profit and discount): An article costs ₹600. Its marked price is ₹800 and it is sold at a 15% discount. Find the profit percentage.
Selling price = 800 × 0.85 = ₹680. Profit = 680 − 600 = ₹80. Profit % = 80 ÷ 600 × 100 = 13⅓%. Profit is always on cost price, not on marked price.
- 3
Practice question 3 (interest): Find the difference between compound and simple interest on ₹10,000 at 10% a year for 2 years.
SI = 10,000 × 10 × 2 ÷ 100 = ₹2,000. Amount with CI = 10,000 × 1.1 × 1.1 = ₹12,100, so CI = ₹2,100. Difference = ₹100. Shortcut for 2 years: P × (r/100)² = 10,000 × 0.01 = ₹100.
- 4
Practice question 4 (ratio): A : B = 2 : 3 and B : C = 4 : 5. Find A : B : C.
Make B the same in both. B is 3 in the first and 4 in the second, so scale to 12: A : B = 8 : 12 and B : C = 12 : 15. So A : B : C = 8 : 12 : 15.
- 5
Practice question 5 (time and work): A can finish a job in 12 days and B in 18 days. How long do they take together?
One day's work: 1/12 + 1/18 = 3/36 + 2/36 = 5/36. Together they need 36/5 = 7.2 days. Check with total work: take 36 units; A does 3 a day, B does 2, together 5 a day, so 36 ÷ 5 = 7.2 days.
- 6
Practice question 6 (speed): A 300 m train at 54 km/h crosses a 150 m platform. How long does it take?
54 km/h × 5/18 = 15 m/s. The train must cover its own length plus the platform: 300 + 150 = 450 m. Time = 450 ÷ 15 = 30 seconds. The trap is forgetting the train's own length.
- 7
Practice question 7 (average): The average of 5 numbers is 24. When one number is removed, the average of the rest is 22. Which number was removed?
Total of 5 = 5 × 24 = 120. Total of 4 = 4 × 22 = 88. Removed number = 120 − 88 = 32.
- 8
Practice question 8 (mixture): 20 litres of a mix has milk and water in the ratio 3 : 1. How much water must be added to make the ratio 3 : 2?
Milk = 15 L, water = 5 L. Milk stays 15, so for 3 : 2 water must be 10 L. Water to add = 10 − 5 = 5 litres. Check: 15 : 10 = 3 : 2.
- 9
Practice question 9 (algebra): If x + 1/x = 4, find x² + 1/x² and x³ + 1/x³.
Square both sides: x² + 2 + 1/x² = 16, so x² + 1/x² = 14. For cubes use (x + 1/x)³ = x³ + 1/x³ + 3(x + 1/x): 64 = x³ + 1/x³ + 12, so x³ + 1/x³ = 52.
- 10
Practice question 10 (statistics, Tier 2): Find the mean, median and mode of 4, 7, 7, 9, 13.
Mean = (4 + 7 + 7 + 9 + 13) ÷ 5 = 40 ÷ 5 = 8. The data is already in order, so the median is the middle value, 7. The mode, the most frequent value, is also 7.
Data interpretation and arithmetic in the exam style. No signup.
How CGL Tests Maths, and Where Marks Leak
Tier 1 maths is a time test. With a 15-minute sectional timer for 25 questions, you have about 36 seconds a question. The questions are set at 10th standard level, so speed comes from knowing the method instantly, not from harder maths.
Most wrong answers come from a trap built into the options. In the questions above, "no change" for question 1, profit on marked price for question 2, and 20 seconds (train length only) for question 6 would all be listed as options. Write one line of working for every question; it costs seconds and saves marks.
Chapters in the CGL Maths Syllabus
Grouped from the Tier 2 Mathematical Abilities syllabus in the 2026 notice.
- check_circleNumber systems: whole numbers, decimals, fractions and how numbers relate
- check_circleArithmetic: percentages, ratio and proportion, square roots, averages, simple and compound interest, profit and loss, discount, partnership, mixture and alligation, time and distance, time and work
- check_circleAlgebra: school algebra identities, simple surds, graphs of linear equations
- check_circleGeometry and mensuration: triangles and their centres, circles, polygons and 2D and 3D shapes (see the geometry page)
- check_circleTrigonometry: ratios, identities, complementary angles, heights and distances (see the trigonometry page)
- check_circleStatistics and probability: tables and graphs, mean, median, mode, standard deviation, simple probability
FAQs
How many maths questions are there in SSC CGL?expand_more
Tier 1 has 25 Quantitative Aptitude questions worth 50 marks. Tier 2 Paper I has 30 Mathematical Abilities questions worth 3 marks each, 90 marks in all.
What level is SSC CGL maths?expand_more
The 2026 notice says Tier 1 Quant questions are set at 10th standard level. Tier 2 uses the same chapters and adds mean, median, mode, standard deviation and simple probability.
Which maths topics are most important for SSC CGL?expand_more
SSC publishes no chapter weightage. Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, mensuration, trigonometry and data appear in the syllabus for both tiers, so cover all of them before going deep on any one.
Is there negative marking in CGL maths?expand_more
Yes. 0.50 marks per wrong answer in Tier 1 and 1 mark per wrong answer in Tier 2 Paper I.
Next steps
Take a full SSC CGL mock testThe whole Tier 1 syllabus in one timed, scored paper.