SSC JE Paper 1 Pattern 2026: Quick Answer
SSC JE 2026 Paper-I is a computer based test of 200 questions for 200 marks in 2 hours, with 50 questions in General Intelligence and Reasoning, 50 in General Awareness and 100 in your chosen engineering part. Each wrong answer costs 0.25 marks. Candidates eligible for a scribe get 2 hours 40 minutes. Paper-I is qualifying in nature; Paper-II decides final merit.
Key takeaway: Half the paper is your engineering subject, so Paper-I rewards technical accuracy. But because Paper-I only qualifies you, the aim is to clear the minimum marks safely and save energy for the 300-mark Paper-II.
Source: SSC JE 2026 notice of examination (PDF), Para 13 and 18. Paper-I dates are 2 to 6 November and 30 November to 1 December 2026 per SSC's corrigendum of 26.10.2026.
SSC JE Paper-I Exam Pattern Table
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence and Reasoning | 50 | 50 | 2 hours in total |
| General Awareness | 50 | 50 | (same 2 hours) |
| Engineering part (A, B, C, D, E, F or G) | 100 | 100 | (same 2 hours) |
| Total | 200 | 200 | 2 hours (2 h 40 min for scribe-eligible candidates) |
Questions are objective multiple choice in Hindi and English only (Para 13.9). There is no sectional timer mentioned in the notice for JE Paper-I, so you can divide the 2 hours yourself.
Which Engineering Part Will You Attempt?
| Part | Subject | Post |
|---|---|---|
| Part-A | General Engineering (Civil and Structural) | JE (Civil) |
| Part-B | General Engineering (Electrical) | JE (Electrical) |
| Part-C | General Engineering (Mechanical) | JE (Mechanical) |
| Part-D | General Engineering (Computer Science and IT) | Scientific Assistant, IMD |
| Part-E | General Engineering (Electronics and Telecommunication) | Scientific Assistant, IMD |
| Part-F | Physics | Scientific Assistant, IMD |
| Part-G | Telecommunication | JE (Telecom), separate batch |
You cannot change the subject you opted for in the application form (Para 13.8). Topic lists for Parts A to C are in our SSC JE syllabus 2026 note, and Part-G is in the SSC JE Telecom syllabus 2026.
Negative Marking and Qualifying Marks
| Rule | Value |
|---|---|
| Negative marking in Paper-I | 0.25 for each wrong answer |
| Minimum qualifying marks, UR | 30% |
| Minimum qualifying marks, OBC/EWS | 25% |
| Minimum qualifying marks, all other categories | 20% |
On a 200-mark paper, the UR minimum is 60 marks and OBC/EWS minimum is 50 marks, but those are only the minimum to be considered. SSC shortlists candidates for Paper-II by merit, so the actual cut-off is higher. See SSC JE cut off 2025 for last cycle's figures from SSC's own result write-ups.
Normalisation of Marks
If the exam is held in multiple shifts, marks are normalised using SSC's procedure of 02.06.2025, and normalised Paper-I marks are used to shortlist for Paper-II (Para 13.16). The notice also says Mechanical and Electrical question papers are different but their scores are normalised with each other, because some posts are common to both (Para 13.18).
Tools Available in the Exam
- An on-screen scientific calculator is available for the full duration (Para 13.12).
- The IS 456:2000 table and the steam table, where required, appear on the candidate's console under the "Useful Data" option next to Instructions (Para 13.11).
- No physical table or calculator is allowed in the exam lab (Para 13.13).
A Simple Time Plan for the 2 Hours
| Block | Suggested time | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering part (100 Q) | 55 to 60 minutes | Highest marks per question set; you know the subject best |
| Reasoning (50 Q) | 25 minutes | Quick scoring if practised |
| General Awareness (50 Q) | 12 to 15 minutes | Know it or leave it |
| Review and marked questions | 15 to 20 minutes | Recheck calculations and guesses |
This is our practice suggestion, not an SSC rule. Test it with timed mocks such as SSC JE Civil Part-A mock test 01 and Electrical Part-B mock test 01.
Paper-I vs Paper-II at a Glance
| Feature | Paper-I | Paper-II |
|---|---|---|
| Subjects | Reasoning, GA, engineering | Engineering part only |
| Questions | 200 | 100 |
| Marks | 200 | 300 |
| Time | 2 hours | 2 hours |
| Negative marking | 0.25 | 1 mark |
| Role | Qualifying | Decides final merit |
Details of Paper-II are in our SSC JE Paper 2 pattern 2026 note.
SSC JE Paper 1 Pattern FAQs
How many questions are asked in SSC JE Paper-I 2026?
200 questions: 50 Reasoning, 50 General Awareness and 100 from your engineering part, all in 2 hours.
SSC JE Paper 1 me negative marking kitna hai?
Paper-I me har galat answer par 0.25 marks kat-te hain. Paper-II me ek poora mark katta hai.
Is SSC JE Paper-I qualifying?
Yes. The notice says Paper-I is qualifying and candidates are shortlisted for Paper-II by merit after minimum qualifying marks.
Is there a calculator in the SSC JE exam?
Yes, a scientific calculator appears on the computer screen for the whole exam. A physical calculator is not allowed.
Is there a sectional timer in SSC JE Paper-I?
The notice gives one 2-hour duration for the whole paper and mentions no sectional timer.
Practice Next for SSC JE
- Hub: SSC exam hub and SSC mock tests
- Date: SSC JE exam date 2026
- Eligibility: SSC JE eligibility and age limit 2026
- Salary: SSC JE salary 2026
- Exam day: SSC JE exam day guidelines 2026
Sources: SSC JE 2026 notice (F. No. HQ-C-3019/1/2026-C-3), Para 13 and 18; SSC corrigendum dated 26.10.2026. As of 1 November 2026.