SSC CGL English Sectional Mock Test Free (English Comprehension): Tier 1 and Tier 2

SSC CGL English Sectional Mock Test Free: Quick Answer

This page lists 17 free SSC CGL English sectional mock tests: 14 Tier-1 tests and 3 Tier-2 tests, 485 questions in all, as of 4 November 2026. Every test is free to attempt on this site, with the same sectional timer as the real exam. The Tier-1 tests have 25 questions in 15 minutes (50 marks, +2 / −0.50). The Tier-2 tests have 45 questions in 40 minutes (135 marks, +3 / −1). Start with Mock Test 01 and work through in order — the series is numbered, there are no gaps, and no test is repeated under another name.

🔥 Key Exam Takeaway: Tier-1 English is 25 questions, 50 marks, 15 minutes, +2 / −0.50 — and it only shortlists you; its marks do not count in the final merit. Tier-2 English is 45 questions, 135 marks, 40 minutes, +3 / −1 — and it carries the largest single share of the 390 merit marks. Practice Tier-1 for speed, Tier-2 for accuracy under the heavier negative marking.

Why do other pages show different numbers? Because the exam changed and many pages did not. Some coaching pages still describe Tier-1 English as 30 questions, and some list Tier-2 English at 25 questions — both wrong for the 2026 notice. Others show Tier-2 mock tests without the Computer Knowledge Test that sits in the same Paper-I sitting. The figures on this page come from the official SSC CGL 2026 notice (published on ssc.gov.in on 21 May 2026), as tabulated in our syllabus and pattern notes. This page is as of 4 November 2026.

SSC CGL English Exam Pattern 2026: Tier 1 and Tier 2

English Comprehension is the only Tier-1 section asked in English only — the other three sections are bilingual (English and Hindi). In Tier 2 it becomes the biggest merit section of all: 135 of the 390 marks.

Three rules decide how you should practise. First, Tier 1 has a sectional timer of 15 minutes per section. You cannot carry spare time from Reasoning into English, so every Tier-1 mock on this page runs its own 15-minute clock — train yourself to finish inside it, not to borrow time that will not exist. Second, Tier-1 marks do not count in the final merit. Tier 1 only shortlists candidates for Tier 2, with separate cut-offs for different post groups. That does not make Tier-1 English unimportant: you must clear the Tier-1 cut-off to reach Tier 2 at all, and English is the section where careless errors cost the most marks per minute. Third, Tier-2 English is 40 minutes inside a one-hour Section II sitting shared with General Awareness (25 questions). In the real exam the two modules share the hour; our Tier-2 English mocks give you the full 40 minutes for English alone, so you can practise the section in isolation before you combine it with GA in a full Paper-I mock.

The qualifying bar in Tier 2 is set per section: 30% for UR, 25% for OBC/EWS and 20% for other categories, and you must clear every section of Paper I separately — including the qualifying Computer Knowledge Test and DEST. Those are minimums, not targets: real cut-offs run far higher, and English, with 135 marks on offer, is where the merit list is most often decided.

What SSC CGL English Tests: Topics in These Mocks

The Tier-1 notice describes English only in one line — "ability to understand correct English, basic comprehension and writing ability" — and the detailed topic list sits in the Tier-2 syllabus. In practice the same families appear at both tiers, with Tier 2 adding longer reading passages and harder vocabulary. The counts below are real: they are the question topics counted across the actual mock tests listed on this page, not a guess at the syllabus.

In the 14 Tier-1 tests (350 questions), reading comprehension leads with 45 questions, followed by cloze tests (40), idioms and phrases (31), error spotting (31), synonyms (30), one-word substitution (29), spelling (24), antonyms (23), fill in the blanks (21), sentence improvement (21), active and passive voice (20) and direct and indirect speech (20), with smaller sets on homonyms and para jumbles. That mix mirrors the real paper: reading is about an eighth of the section (45 of 350), vocabulary about a third (113 — synonyms, antonyms, one-word substitution and idioms), and grammar about a quarter (92 — error spotting, improvement, voice and narration), with spelling, fillers and word-formation making up the rest.

In the 3 Tier-2 tests (135 questions), reading comprehension is 45 questions — a full third of every test — because each Tier-2 mock on this page carries three passages: one story-like passage and two on current affairs or ideas, from a report or editorial. Cloze passages contribute 15 questions and error spotting 15, with sentence improvement, voice and narration at 12 each, and the remaining 24 questions spread across vocabulary (9 — synonyms, antonyms and one-word substitution), rearrangement (9, including para jumbles), idioms (3) and spelling (3). If you only prepare Tier-1 English, Tier-2 reading will surprise you: the passages are longer, the questions ask what the passage implies rather than what it says, and the 40-minute clock leaves no room to re-read. Do at least one Tier-2 mock before the exam even if Tier 1 is your immediate target, so the step up in passage length is not new on the day.

Two topics deserve special attention because students lose marks on them again and again. Spelling is tested as "select the correctly spelt word" and "select the misspelt word" — the same word can be the answer in one form and the trap in the other, so read the instruction, not just the options. Idioms and phrases are tested with their SSC meanings, not their literal ones; "to bite the dust" has nothing to do with dust. Learn idioms as whole phrases with one example sentence each, and never guess an idiom's meaning from its individual words.

All SSC CGL English Sectional Mock Tests Free (Tier 1 + Tier 2)

Every test below is a separate file on this site, counted once. The Tier-1 series runs 01–14 with no gaps; the Tier-2 series runs 01–03 with no gaps. Each Tier-1 test has 25 questions; each Tier-2 test has 45 questions.

Tier-1 English Sectional Mock Tests (14 tests, 350 questions)

• SSC CGL English Sectional Mock Test 01
• SSC CGL English Sectional Mock Test 02
• SSC CGL English Sectional Mock Test 03
• SSC CGL English Sectional Mock Test 04
• SSC CGL English Sectional Mock Test 05
• SSC CGL English Sectional Mock Test 06
• SSC CGL English Sectional Mock Test 07
• SSC CGL English Sectional Mock Test 08
• SSC CGL English Sectional Mock Test 09
• SSC CGL English Sectional Mock Test 10
• SSC CGL English Sectional Mock Test 11
• SSC CGL English Sectional Mock Test 12
• SSC CGL English Sectional Mock Test 13
• SSC CGL English Sectional Mock Test 14

Tier-2 English Sectional Mock Tests (3 tests, 135 questions)

• SSC CGL Tier-2 Paper-1 English Sectional Mock Test 01
• SSC CGL Tier-2 Paper-1 English Sectional Mock Test 02
• SSC CGL Tier-2 Paper-1 English Sectional Mock Test 03

That is 17 sectional tests and 485 questions in total — 14 + 3, never blended into one inflated number. If you want the full Tier-2 sitting instead of one section at a time, the site also has 15 full Paper-I mocks of 130 questions (the Session-I sections without the Computer module, which is practised separately) — start from the SSC CGL mock test free page. Short on time? There are also 4 English mini-mock tests of 10 questions each, plus one older 20-question English mock, listed separately from the sectional series above — use them for a quick daily drill, not as a substitute for a full 25-question sectional.

How to Use These English Mocks

Attempt Tier-1 mocks at Tier-1 speed. Fifteen minutes for 25 questions is 36 seconds per question, and the sectional timer does not pause. A workable order is: error spotting and fill in the blanks first (fast, rule-based), then vocabulary, then the cloze passage, and the reading passage last — because the passage rewards unhurried reading and is the easiest place to lose five minutes without noticing. If a question takes more than a minute, mark your best guess and move on; at +2 / −0.50, a blind guess on a four-option question gains +0.125 marks on average ((1/4 × +2) + (3/4 × −0.50) = 0.50 − 0.375 = +0.125), so the penalty alone does not make it a losing bet — but a guess still costs time at 36 seconds a question, so guess only when you can rule out at least one option.

Attempt Tier-2 mocks at Tier-2 standard. Forty minutes for 45 questions is 53 seconds per question, but the reading passages need more and the grammar questions need less — budget about 15 minutes for the three passages and 25 for the rest. At +3 / −1, the penalty for a wrong answer is a full mark: the same guessing rule applies more strongly. After each mock, re-read every passage question you got wrong and ask whether the answer was stated, implied, or not stated at all — Tier-2 questions punish answers that "sound right" but are not in the passage.

Score yourself honestly. For a Tier-1 mock, note three numbers: attempted, correct, and marks (correct × 2 minus wrong × 0.50). For a Tier-2 mock: correct × 3 minus wrong × 1. Track the three numbers across mocks, not just the total: rising attempts with flat accuracy means you are getting faster but not better, and the fix is revision, not more mocks. The qualifying percentages above (30% / 25% / 20%) are floors for Tier 2, not aims — aim to be comfortably above them in practice, because the real cut-off for your post group will be higher.

Revise from your errors, not from the answer key alone. Keep a one-line error log: the question type, the rule you missed, and the correct form. Most Tier-1 English errors come from ten rules — subject–verb agreement, tense consistency, articles, prepositions, voice change, narration change, and four spelling patterns — and the log will show you which two or three are yours within four mocks. Fix those before you attempt the next mock; otherwise you will practise the same mistake seventeen times.

Common Mistakes in SSC CGL English

• Treating Tier-1 English as unimportant because it does not count in the merit. It decides whether you reach Tier 2 at all, and a weak Tier-1 English score is the commonest reason strong maths students miss the cut-off.
• Reading the passage twice. In Tier 2 there is no time for it. Read once, slowly, underlining the author's opinion as you go; answer from that one reading and move on.
• Answering vocabulary questions from the options instead of the stem. For synonyms and antonyms, fix the meaning of the stem word in your head first, then look at the options — otherwise the nearest-sounding option wins.
• Guessing on every question. At −0.50 in Tier 1 a blind guess gains +0.125 marks on average, and at −1 in Tier 2 it is exactly break-even (EV 0) — random guessing does not lose marks on the penalty alone in either tier. It still loses you time: guess only after eliminating at least one option.
• Confusing active/passive and direct/indirect rules under time pressure. Voice changes tense and the object; narration changes tense, pronouns and time words. They are different operations — practise them as separate drills, not as one mixed set.
• Skipping the cloze passage. It looks long, so students leave it — but its five questions share one context and are among the most scoreable in the section. Attempt it before the standalone vocabulary questions.
• Preparing only Tier-1 English for a Tier-2 exam. Tier-2 passages are longer and its questions test implication, not recall. The step up must be practised, not discovered on exam day.

SSC CGL English Practice Questions with Answers

Q1. Select the part containing the error: "Neither of the two brothers / have submitted / the form / on time." (a) Neither of the two brothers (b) have submitted (c) the form (d) No error Answer: (b) have submitted. "Neither" is singular, so the verb must be "has submitted".

Q2. Select the one-word substitution for "a person who compiles dictionaries". (a) Biographer (b) Lexicographer (c) Cartographer (d) Calligrapher Answer: (b) Lexicographer. A biographer writes lives, a cartographer makes maps, a calligrapher writes beautifully.

Q3. Select the correct passive form of "The committee approved the proposal yesterday." (a) The proposal is approved by the committee yesterday. (b) The proposal was approved by the committee yesterday. (c) The proposal had approved by the committee yesterday. (d) The proposal was being approved by the committee yesterday. Answer: (b). Past simple active becomes "was + past participle" in the passive; the time word "yesterday" stays.

Q4. Select the meaning of the idiom "to cut corners". (a) To take a shortcut through a lane (b) To do something cheaply or quickly, sacrificing quality (c) To divide a shape into parts (d) To avoid a difficult topic Answer: (b). The idiom describes saving time or money at the cost of quality.

Q5. Select the synonym of "candid". (a) Secretive (b) Frank (c) Clever (d) Careful Answer: (b) Frank. "Candid" means truthful and straightforward.

SSC CGL English Sectional Mock Test FAQs

How many free SSC CGL English sectional mock tests are on this site?

17 in total as of 4 November 2026: 14 Tier-1 tests (25 questions each, 350 questions) and 3 Tier-2 tests (45 questions each, 135 questions). The counts are stated separately because the two tiers have different patterns — they are not one blended series.

Are these mock tests free?

Yes. Every test listed on this page is free to attempt on this site, with no test repeated under another name and no question counted twice across the series.

What is the pattern of the Tier-1 English section?

25 questions, 50 marks, 15 minutes, with a sectional timer. Each correct answer scores 2 marks and each wrong answer loses 0.50. Tier-1 marks do not count in the final merit; Tier 1 is a shortlisting stage.

What is the pattern of the Tier-2 English section?

45 questions, 135 marks, 40 minutes, +3 / −1. It sits in Section II of Tier-2 Paper I alongside General Awareness (25 questions, 75 marks, 20 minutes), sharing a one-hour sitting. English carries the largest share of the 390 merit marks.

How is Tier-2 English different from Tier-1 English?

Longer reading passages (three or more, including current-affairs editorials), heavier weight on implication questions, and a full-mark penalty per wrong answer instead of half a mark. The topic families overlap, but the depth and the clock do not.

Do I need to clear each Tier-2 section separately?

Yes. You must clear every section of Tier-2 Paper I separately, including the qualifying Computer Knowledge Test (20 questions, 60 marks) and the Data Entry Speed Test. The minimum qualifying marks are 30% for UR, 25% for OBC/EWS and 20% for other categories.

Which mock should I attempt first?

Start with Tier-1 Mock Test 01 and work through the Tier-1 series in order. Attempt a Tier-2 mock once you finish Tier-1 mocks comfortably inside 15 minutes — the passage length is the adjustment, and it is better made in practice than on exam day.

Practice Next

• Other subjects: SSC CGL Maths sectional mock tests free and SSC CGL Reasoning sectional mock tests free.
• Full pattern: SSC CGL syllabus 2026 and SSC CGL exam pattern 2026.
• All CGL mocks: SSC CGL mock test free.
• Tier-2 qualifying sections: SSC CGL Computer Knowledge Test syllabus 2026 and the Tier-2 General Awareness sectional mock test (Mock Test 01).
• More free notes: All Study Notes

Sources: SSC Combined Graduate Level Examination 2026 notice (ssc.gov.in, 21 May 2026), Paras 13 and 16, as tabulated in the house syllabus and exam-pattern notes; question counts and topic counts enumerated from the test files listed above. As of 4 November 2026.