SSC CPO Exam Pattern and Syllabus 2025
SSC CPO is a national-level test by the SSC in order to recruit Sub-Inspectors (SI) within different central police forces like Delhi Police, Central Armed Police Forces, commonly referred to as CAPFs that include the CISF, CRPF, BSF, and ITBP, and Assistant Sub-Inspectors (ASI) in CISF. It draws enormous amounts of aspirants across the country each year due to the diversified opportunities and the prestige related with working forces.
One of the most important things while looking at any official notification is the exam pattern and then the syllabus. These two factors help test-takers to understand the exam properly and make necessary preparation plans. SSC CPO exam 2025 notification will be released soon, providing details of the SSC CPO exam dates, eligibility criteria, and more. The SSC CPO syllabus mainly comprises four sections, namely Quantitative Aptitude, English language, General Intelligence and Reasoning & General Awareness. All the sections hold equal weightage in the exam; therefore, it is important to give equal importance to each and every section. It is very important to look at the SSC CPO syllabus before starting preparation for the SSC CPO 2025 exam, as you need to be aware of the topics under each subject involved in the exam. It is advised to go through the SSC CPO syllabus in detail before starting the preparation. Also detailed SSC CPO exam pattern has been provided further below.
Why Choose SSC CPO?
One of the primary reasons the SSC CPO exam has gained so much popularity is due to the fact that it promises a government job. Along with a high salary pay scale, attractive allowances, and benefits, this has made the post in demand because of the security and stability associated with government jobs. However, the scope to serve in numerous police and paramilitary forces has also made the examination popular apart from such monetary benefits.
Another paramount factor is the variety of job roles made available through SSC CPO. Candidates who clear the SSC CPO get a chance to work in numerous capacities within the paramilitary and police forces; these opportunities have to do with law enforcement, maintenance of public order, and national security. Variety in job roles offers challenges and responsibilities that attract the passionate public servant and the conscious protector of security.
Notably, SSC CPO positions are held with great respect and prestige. Serving as a member of the national police or paramilitary is considered to be an honorable career choice, for these officers are the very institutions who form the bedrock of the law-enforcing machinery for combating crime and protecting the country. This sense of pride serving the nation gives to its candidate is another reason motivating the candidates.
Also, the roles encompassed under the SSC CPO provide career progression and promotions in due course, making the SSC CPO examination popular. The SSC CPO career path is candid with a good number of chances of taking higher responsibilities in the roles and moving up the leadership hierarchy. It is also a physically fit role that involves fieldwork and various tactical responsibilities, so it attracts any candidate who prefer physically active roles.
In short, a job in the government, dignified remuneration, wide spectrum of career choices, chance for promotion, and pride in the fact that they belong to a national security unit have made SSC CPO exams the most sought after among the aspirants. The allure of doing work as part of the system in law enforcement and its contribution towards public safety becomes an invitation for thousands of aspirants all over the year.
SSC CPO Paper 1 Exam Pattern
SSC CPO Paper 1 is an online, computer-based test which has a duration of 2 hours in total. The SSC CPO syllabus has been divided into four core subjects and that are Quantitative Aptitude, General English, General Awareness, and General Intelligence and Reasoning. Each section will carry fifty questions testing a candidate's knowledge in these areas. Under this section, we have a comprehensive outline of the SSC CPO syllabus along with an exam pattern for 2025 to help the applicants understand their exam pattern and topics accordingly. Knowing the SSC CPO syllabus is also essential to prepare effectively so that the candidate will narrow their focus to the right topic in each section.
| Subjects | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks | Time Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence and Reasoning | 50 | 50 | 2 Hours |
| General Knowledge and General Awareness | 50 | 50 | |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 50 | 50 | |
| English Comprehension | 50 | 50 | |
| Total | 200 | 200 |
SSC CPO Syllabus: Paper 1
The SSC CPO Paper 1 exam syllabus is divided into four main sections- General Awareness, General Intelligence and Reasoning, English Comprehension, and Quantitative Aptitude. All the four sections of Paper 1 play an important role in assessing the performance of a candidate in the examination. Complete information about the SSC CPO syllabus needs to be known to perform well and gain good marks.
| Section | Topics |
|---|---|
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | Analogies, Similarities and Differences, Space Visualization, Spatial Orientation, Problem Solving, Analysis, Judgment, Decision Making, Visual Memory, Discrimination, Observation, Relationship Concepts, Arithmetical Reasoning and Figural Classification, Arithmetic Number Series, Non-verbal Series, Coding And Decoding, Statement Conclusion, Syllogistic Reasoning, Semantic Analogy, Symbolic/ Number Analogy, Figural Analogy, Semantic Classification, Symbolic/ Number Classification, Figural Classification, Semantic Series, Number Series, Figural Series, Problem Solving, Word Building, Coding & De-coding, Numerical Operations, Symbolic Operations, Trends, Space Orientation, Space Visualization, Venn Diagrams, Drawing Inferences, Punched Hole/ Pattern- Folding & Un-folding, Figural Pattern-folding And Completion, Indexing, Address Matching, Date & City Matching, Classification Of Centre Codes/ Roll Numbers, Small &Amp; Capital Letters/ Numbers Coding, Decoding and Classification, Embedded Figures, Critical Thinking, Emotional Intelligence, Social Intelligence |
| General Awareness | Current Events [BeePedia], India and its neighboring countries especially pertaining History, Culture, Geography, Economic Scene, General Policy & Scientific Research
|
| Quantitative Aptitude | Whole Numbers, Decimals, Fractions and Relationships Between Numbers, Percentage. Ratio & Proportion, Square Roots, Averages, Interest, Profit and Loss, Discount, Partnership Business, Mixture and Alligation, Time and Distance, Time & Work, Basic Algebraic Identities of School Algebra & Elementary Surds, Graphs of Linear Equations, Triangle and Its Various Kinds of Centres, Congruence and Similarity of Triangles, Circle and Its Chords, Tangents, Angles Subtended By Chords of a Circle, Common Tangents to Two or More Circles, Triangle, Quadrilaterals, Regular Polygons, Circle, Right Prism, Right Circular Cone, Right Circular Cylinder, Sphere, Hemispheres, Rectangular Parallelepiped, Regular Right Pyramid With Triangular or Square Base, Trigonometric Ratio, Degree and Radian Measures, Standard Identities, Complementary Angles, Heights and Distances, Histogram,Frequency Polygon, Bar Diagram & Pie Chart |
| English Language | Candidate's ability to understand correct English, his/ her basic comprehension and writing ability, etc. would be tested |
All of these sections have an equal weightage in respect of the marks distribution. In the section of Quantitative Aptitude specific topics like Time, Speed, and Distance; Time and Work; Mensuration; Height and Distance are more weighted topics, and students are encouraged to concentrate on these topics so as to get better marks.
Likewise, from the SSC CPO syllabus in the General Awareness section, History, Sports, Current Affairs, and Science are some of the most important topics that one needs to be aware of to clear the exam. As the questions keep appearing on these topics, a good grasp over them is required for candidates so that aspirants can develop better performance with time. Thorough knowledge of these would make them miles ahead of others.
To crack the SSC CPO exam, candidates must read through all the topics in the SSC CPO syllabus so that they can get an idea of what the exam constitutes. For easy reference, the SSC CPO exam syllabus is provided in the table below in detail. This will help candidates prepare strategically for Paper 1, by planning their preparation in such a manner that they have practiced optimally for all areas of the SSC CPO syllabus for better exam results.
SSC CPO Paper 2 Exam Pattern
The SSC CPO Paper 2 carries a total of 200 marks and covers a range of topics related to English language skills, such as grammar, vocabulary, sentence structure, reading comprehension, and more. Candidates are given a composite time of two hours to complete the exam, which means they need to manage their time efficiently to ensure they perform well in all parts of the test. Since Paper 2 carries significant weightage, excelling in this section is crucial for overall success in the SSC CPO exam.
| Part | Subjects | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks | Time Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | English Language and Comprehension | 200 | 200 | 2 Hours |
SSC CPO Syllabus: Paper 2
Once candidates clear the SSC CPO Paper 1, they are then eligible to sit for the SSC CPO Paper 2. The SSC CPO syllabus for comprises of English Language and Comprehension for testing the proficiency of the candidates in the English language. This exam will have a total of 200 marks where the candidates have to answer questions related to grammar, vocabulary, comprehension of passages and language skills.
| Section | Topics |
|---|---|
| English Language and Comprehension | Error recognition, Filling in the blanks (using verbs, preposition, articles), Vocabulary, Spellings, Grammar, Sentence structure, Synonyms, Antonyms, Sentence completion, Phrases and idiomatic use of words, Comprehension |
The SSC CPO Paper 2 will be of a composite time of two hours. Therefore, candidates must take good care regarding management of time during the test. It is a must for the candidates to know the SSC CPO syllabus for Paper 2 in detail and study each and every topic contained within the SSC CPO syllabus because this section has a heavy weight in the final selection process.
Students aiming to clear the SSC CPO Paper 2 must focus on the development of reading English skills, since the paper checks language understanding into all aspects of reading, sentence structures, and usage. More details about the SSC CPO syllabus for Paper 2 and the pattern of the exam have been given below to help aspirants plan an ideal course of preparation.
SSC CPO Marking Scheme
The SSC CPO marking scheme decides how candidates will be awarded marks for their answer choices in the exam. For every correct answer, one mark is awarded to the candidates. For every incorrect answer in the SSC CPO exam 2025, 1/4th of the marks will be deducted as a penalty. More details for SSC CPO 2025 marking scheme is given below.
SSC CPO 2025 Exam Marking scheme
| SSC CPO 2025 Exam Marking scheme | Considered Marks |
|---|---|
| For correct answers (Tier 1 and Tier 2) | 1 mark |
| For wrong answers (Tier 1 and Tier 2) | -0.25 marks |
| For not attempted (Tier 1 and Tier 2) | 0 (no marks) |
SSC CPO Exam Language
The SSC CPO exam is essentially bilingual and leaves the choice to the candidate about their own choice of language in which they want to appear for the test. SSC states that candidates can choose either English or Hindi to take the SSC CPO Exam. This makes the test accessible to various linguistic groups. However, except for the section of the English Language, the rest of the exam can be attempted in either language; hence, while all of the paper can be attempted in Hindi, only the English Language sections will be presented only in English, meaning that candidates need to attempt that particular section entirely in English and not in Hindi.
This is an essential thing to remember while preparing for the test. Candidates need to learn to differentiate and come well prepared to meet the demands of the English section in its intended language. This aspect of the structure of the test is significant in remembering because to do well in this section, one must know the English language.
SSC CPO Books
In order to help you choose the best resource available for you regarding SSC CPO exam, we have compiled some books that will be useful for your preparation. Good base books are essential for you to develop a strong understanding of the concepts and fundamentals required to attempt questions from the SSC CPO syllabus. It is essential to choose the best books available in the market to make sure that all the topics on the SSC CPO syllabus are covered in a comprehensive manner. Good resources are essential to give a direction and to save time. In this regard, ixamBee offers you the SSC Superpack Online Course to take your learning experience for SSC exams to next level. Please look at the table below for best SCC CPO books that help you cover the SSC CPO syllabus.
| Subjects | Useful Books | Author/Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Aptitude | Quicker Mathematics | BSC Publications |
| Quantitative Aptitude | RS Agarwal | |
| Class Notes | SS Bharti | |
| General Awareness | Lucent General Science | Lucent Publication |
| General Knowledge | Arihant Publication | |
| General Science | Kiran Publications | |
| BeePedia | ||
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | A modern approach to verbal & Non-verbal reasoning | R.S. Agarwal |
| Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning | S.Chand | |
| Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning | Arihant Publication | |
| English Language | English Comprehension | Wren & Martin |
| Word Power Made Easy | Norman Lewis |
SSC CPO Free Mock test
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