SSC CPO Exam Pattern 2026: Quick Answer
SSC CPO 2026 Paper-I has 100 questions for 100 marks in 1 hour, with 25 questions each in Reasoning, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude and English, a 15-minute timer on every part and 0.25 negative marking. Paper-II has 200 questions: 20 each in Reasoning, General Awareness and Quant (40 marks each part) and 100 English questions for 200 marks, with 0.50 negative marking.
Key takeaway: The big change is the sectional timer. In Paper-I you cannot carry spare time from one part to the next, so you must finish each 25-question part in 15 minutes. Paper-II has English worth 200 of 320 marks, which decides final merit.
Source: SSC notice for the Sub-Inspector in Delhi Police and CAPFs Examination, 2026 (PDF), Para 12 and 16. Paper-I is scheduled for 23 to 28 November 2026 per the SSC corrigendum of 26.10.2026.
SSC CPO Paper-I Pattern 2026
| Part | Subject | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | General Intelligence and Reasoning | 25 | 25 | 15-minute sectional timer |
| II | General Knowledge and General Awareness | 25 | 25 | 15-minute sectional timer |
| III | Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 25 | 15-minute sectional timer |
| IV | English Comprehension | 25 | 25 | 15-minute sectional timer |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 1 hour |
Questions are in Hindi and English for Parts I to III. Each wrong answer costs 0.25 marks. Paper-I is the only paper for shortlisting to the physical stage.
SSC CPO Paper-II Pattern 2026
| Part | Subject | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | General Intelligence and Reasoning | 20 | 40 | 1 hour for Parts I to III, 20-minute sectional timer for each |
| II | General Knowledge and General Awareness | 20 | 40 | (same hour) |
| III | Quantitative Aptitude | 20 | 40 | (same hour) |
| IV | English Comprehension | 100 | 200 | 1 hour |
| Total | 160 | 320 | 2 hours |
Each wrong answer in Paper-II costs 0.50 marks. That means Paper-II has 60 questions in the first three parts for 120 marks and 100 English questions for 200 marks.
SSC CPO Exam Stages 2026
| Stage | What happens | Nature |
|---|---|---|
| Paper-I (CBE) | 100 questions, 100 marks | Used to shortlist for PST/PET |
| PST and PET | Physical Standard Test and Physical Endurance Test | Mandatory, qualifying |
| Paper-II (CBE) | 200 questions, 320 marks | Counts for final merit |
| Detailed Medical Examination | Medical fitness | Mandatory |
The notice says all these stages are mandatory (Para 12.1). Details of the PET standards, such as the 1.6 km race in 6.5 minutes for male candidates, are in our SSC CPO physical test 2026 note.
Negative Marking in SSC CPO 2026
| Paper | Negative marking per wrong answer |
|---|---|
| Paper-I | 0.25 |
| Paper-II | 0.50 |
Because Paper-II English carries 100 questions, one careless guess pattern can remove marks quickly. In Paper-II aim for accuracy in English first, then Reasoning, Quant and GA.
Qualifying Marks and Cut-Off Approach
The minimum qualifying marks in Paper-I and Paper-II, before adding NCC bonus marks, are UR 30%, OBC/EWS 25% and all other categories 20% (Para 16.2). SSC may fix different cut-offs for each part of Paper-I after looking at category-wise vacancies and candidates (Para 16.3). So a high total with a very low score in one part can still be risky. Past figures are in our SSC CPO cut off note; remember that older papers were out of 200 marks.
Normalisation and NCC Bonus Marks
If the exam runs in more than one shift, scores are normalised by the procedure of SSC's notice dated 02.06.2025, and normalised scores decide merit (Para 12.3). NCC certificate holders get bonus marks added to the normalised scores in each paper: 5% of the maximum marks for NCC C, 3% for NCC B and 2% for NCC A (Para 12.6).
How to Use the Sectional Timer: Practical Plan
- Divide your 15 minutes per Paper-I part: about 10 minutes to attempt the easy 15 to 18 questions, then 5 minutes for the rest.
- Follow the part order shown on screen and treat each part as a separate mini-test.
- Do not leave a part with unused time, because you cannot move it forward.
- In Paper-II English, read the passage-based and error-spotting questions first because they are usually quicker.
- Practise with a stopwatch using SSC CPO Paper-1 full mock test 01 and the English sectional mock.
What Changed Compared With the Older CPO Papers
Earlier CPO Paper-I was a 200-question, 200-mark paper. The 2026 notice reduces it to 100 questions and 100 marks with part-wise timers. Our SSC CPO syllabus 2026 note has the topic list, and SSC CPO vs SSC CGL compares the pattern with CGL.
SSC CPO Exam Pattern 2026 FAQs
How many questions are in SSC CPO Paper-I 2026?
Paper-I has 100 questions for 100 marks in 1 hour, with 25 questions each in Reasoning, General Awareness, Quant and English.
SSC CPO Paper-I me negative marking kitna hai?
Paper-I me har galat answer par 0.25 marks kat-te hain. Paper-II me negative marking 0.50 hai.
Is there a sectional timer in SSC CPO 2026?
Yes. Paper-I has a 15-minute timer for each part. Paper-II has a 20-minute timer for each of Parts I to III in the first hour; English is a separate hour.
How many marks is SSC CPO Paper-II?
Paper-II is out of 320 marks: 40 marks each for Reasoning, GA and Quant parts and 200 marks for English.
Is Paper-I enough to get selected in SSC CPO?
No. Paper-I shortlists you for PST/PET. Final merit is based on Paper-II marks and post preferences after PST/PET and the medical examination.
SSC CPO Paper-II ka English kitne marks ka hai?
English Comprehension me 100 questions hain aur total 200 marks hain, yani Paper-II ke 320 marks me se 200.
Practice Next for SSC CPO
- Hub: SSC exam hub and SSC mock tests
- Admit card: SSC CPO admit card 2026
- Dates: SSC CPO exam date 2026
- Eligibility: SSC CPO eligibility and age limit 2026
- Salary: SSC CPO salary 2026
Sources: SSC notice for the SI in Delhi Police and CAPFs Examination 2026, Para 12 and 16; SSC corrigendum dated 26.10.2026. As of 1 November 2026.