SSC JE Paper 2 Pattern 2026: Quick Answer
SSC JE 2026 Paper-II is a computer based exam of 100 questions for 300 marks in 2 hours (2 hours 40 minutes for scribe-eligible candidates), on one engineering part only. Each wrong answer costs 1 mark, compared with 0.25 in Paper-I. Only the normalised Paper-II score decides final merit, and the notice gives December 2026 as the tentative month; SSC has not announced the exact date.
Key takeaway: Paper-II has 3 marks per question and a 1-mark penalty. So a wrong answer wipes out one third of what a right answer earns. Attempt only questions where you can remove at least two options.
Source: SSC JE 2026 notice of examination (PDF), Para 13 and 18.
SSC JE Paper-II Exam Pattern Table
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Mode | Computer Based Examination |
| Subject | Your engineering part only (Part-A to Part-G) |
| Questions | 100 |
| Maximum marks | 300 |
| Duration | 2 hours (2 hours 40 minutes for scribe-eligible candidates) |
| Question type | Objective multiple choice, Hindi and English |
| Negative marking | 1 mark per wrong answer |
| Who can appear | Candidates shortlisted by merit in Paper-I |
Paper-II Parts A to G Explained
| Part | Subject | Applicable to |
|---|---|---|
| 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 (CS 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) |
Parts A to F run in one batch and Part-G runs in a separate batch (Para 13.4). Separate merit lists are drawn for JE (Civil), JE (Electrical and Mechanical), Scientific Assistant in IMD and JE (Telecom) (Para 13.3).
SSC JE Paper-I vs Paper-II Comparison
| Feature | Paper-I | Paper-II |
|---|---|---|
| Subjects | Reasoning, General Awareness, engineering part | Engineering part only |
| Questions | 200 | 100 |
| Marks | 200 | 300 |
| Time | 2 hours | 2 hours |
| Negative marking | 0.25 | 1 mark |
| Marks per question | 1 | 3 |
| Role in selection | Qualifying, used to shortlist | Decides final merit |
A full breakdown of Paper-I is in our SSC JE Paper 1 pattern 2026 note.
Negative Marking in SSC JE Paper-II: Does It Change Strategy?
Yes. With 3 marks per correct answer and 1 mark per wrong answer, the break-even guess probability is 25%. Put simply, a random guess among four options has an expected gain of 3 x 0.25 minus 1 x 0.75 = 0, so blind guessing gains nothing. Narrowing to two options gives a positive expectation. This is our calculation from the marking scheme, not an SSC statement.
Qualifying Marks and Normalisation
The minimum qualifying marks in Paper-I and Paper-II are 30% for UR, 25% for OBC/EWS and 20% for all other categories (Para 18.1). If the exam is held in multiple shifts, marks are normalised by SSC's procedure of 02.06.2025, and only normalised Paper-II scores are used for final merit (Para 13.16). Mechanical and Electrical scores are normalised against each other because some posts are common (Para 13.18).
Tables and Calculator in Paper-II
The notice says an on-screen scientific calculator is available throughout, and the IS 456:2000 table and the steam table appear on the candidate's console where required (Para 13.11 and 13.12). Physical tables and calculators are not allowed. Practise using the on-screen options before the exam.
Paper-II Syllabus: Where to Read It
Paper-II topics are listed in more detail than Paper-I in Para 14.3 of the notice. For civil, electrical and mechanical topics see our SSC JE syllabus 2026 note. For Part-G see the SSC JE Telecom syllabus 2026 note. The standard for Civil, Mechanical and Electrical is about Diploma in Engineering level; for CS and IT, Electronics and Telecommunication, Physics and Telecommunication it is about graduation level (Para 14.1).
SSC JE Paper-II Date 2026: Status
| Item | Status as of 1 Nov 2026 |
|---|---|
| Paper-I | 2 to 6 November and 30 November to 1 December 2026 |
| Paper-II | Tentatively December 2026 per the notice; no exact date announced |
| Shortlisting for Paper-II | After Paper-I result |
See SSC JE exam date 2026 for the date history. The schedule is tentative, and changes are posted only on the SSC website (Para 13.19).
A 30-Day Paper-II Preparation Plan
- Days 1 to 10: Revise core subjects with the highest question count in your part; make one-page formula sheets.
- Days 11 to 20: Solve topic-wise questions with a 1-mark penalty mindset: write down why each option is wrong.
- Days 21 to 27: Take full 100-question sets in 2 hours and analyse accuracy, not only score.
- Days 28 to 30: Revise tables (IS 456, steam table use) and weak topics; stop learning new material.
For practice, use your part's sectionals such as SSC JE Civil Part-A mock test 01 or SSC JE Electrical Part-B mock test 01. The payoff is explained in SSC JE salary 2026.
SSC JE Paper 2 Pattern FAQs
How many questions are in SSC JE Paper-II 2026?
100 questions for 300 marks in 2 hours, from your engineering part only.
SSC JE Paper 2 me negative marking kitna hai?
Paper-II me har galat answer par 1 mark katta hai, jabki Paper-I me 0.25 marks.
Is SSC JE Paper-II date announced?
No. The notice mentions December 2026 as tentative, and SSC has not released an exact date.
Do Reasoning and GA questions come in Paper-II?
No. Paper-II has only your engineering part (Part-A to Part-G). Reasoning and General Awareness are in Paper-I.
Which paper decides the final merit in SSC JE?
Only the normalised Paper-II score is used to determine final merit; Paper-I is qualifying.
Practice Next for SSC JE
- Hub: SSC exam hub and SSC mock tests
- Dates: SSC JE exam date 2026
- Cut-off: SSC JE cut off 2025
- Exam day: SSC JE exam day guidelines 2026
Sources: SSC JE 2026 notice (F. No. HQ-C-3019/1/2026-C-3), Para 13, 14, 18. As of 1 November 2026.