SSC CPO Exam Pattern 2026
SSC CPO Exam Pattern 2026, Check New Paper 1 & Paper 2 Pattern
SSC CPO Exam Pattern 2026 includes major changes in Paper 1 and Paper 2. Check questions, marks, sectional timing, negative marking, PST/PET and the revised selection process.
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SSC CPO Notification
SSC CPO Notification 2026 Out, Check What’s New
SSC CPO Notification 2026 is out for 1,871 tentative vacancies. Major changes include the new SI (Fire) post in CISF, revised Paper 1 and Paper 2 patterns, sectional timing and updated negative marking.
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SSC CPO Previous Year Papers
SSC CPO Previous Year Papers, Download Paper 1 & Paper 2 PDFs
SSC CPO Previous Year Papers include Paper 1 question papers to help candidates understand the exam pattern, difficulty level and commonly asked topics.
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The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) conducts the SSC CPO Exam to recruit candidates for Sub-Inspector (SI) posts in Delhi Police and CAPFs, along with the newly added Sub-Inspector (Fire) post in CISF for 2026. The exam pattern includes Paper 1, PST/PET, Paper 2, Medical Examination and Document Verification. This article covers the latest SSC CPO Exam Pattern 2026, Paper 1 and Paper 2 structure, negative marking, sectional timing, PST and PET details.
What is SSC CPO Exam Pattern 2026 for Paper 1?
The SSC CPO Paper 1 Pattern has been revised for 2026. Paper 1 now consists of 100 questions for 100 marks, divided equally across four sections. Candidates get a total of 1 hour, with a 15-minute sectional timer for each part. There is a negative marking of 0.25 mark for every wrong answer.
| Subject | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Sectional Time |
|---|
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 25 | 25 | 15 minutes |
| General Knowledge & General Awareness | 25 | 25 | 15 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 25 | 15 minutes |
| English Comprehension | 25 | 25 | 15 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 minutes |
The 2026 notification confirms the revised 100-question Paper 1 pattern and 15-minute sectional timing.
What is SSC CPO Exam Pattern 2026 for Paper 2?
SSC has also changed the Paper 2 pattern significantly. Unlike the previous cycle, Paper 2 is not limited to English only. It now includes General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Knowledge & General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude and English Comprehension.
| Subject | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks | Time Duration |
|---|
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 20 | 40 | 20 minutes |
| General Knowledge & General Awareness | 20 | 40 | 20 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 20 | 40 | 20 minutes |
| English Comprehension | 100 | 200 | 1 hour |
| Total | 160 | 320 | 2 hours |
The first three sections are completed in 1 hour with 20 minutes allotted to each section, while English Comprehension has a separate duration of 1 hour. Negative marking is 0.50 mark per wrong answer in Paper 2. SSC has also stated that the difficulty level of Paper 2 will be higher than Paper 1.
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What is SSC CPO Physical Test 2026?
The SSC CPO Physical Test includes the Physical Standard Test (PST) and Physical Endurance Test (PET). These stages are qualifying in nature. Candidates shortlisted through Paper 1 have to clear the applicable physical standards before moving to Paper 2. For Ex-Servicemen, PET is not required, but PST will still be conducted.
What is SSC CPO Physical Standard Test 2026?
The SSC CPO Physical Standard Test (PST) includes specific requirements for candidates. For male candidates, the chest measurement is mandatory, with different standards based on category and height. Female candidates do not have chest measurement requirements. Instead, they must meet height standards specific to their category. The details of the SSC CPO PST are as follows:
| Category | Height (Male) | Height (Female) | Chest (Male - Unexpanded/Expanded) | Weight (Male & Female) |
|---|
| General | 170 cm | 157 cm | 80 cm / 85 cm | Proportional to height |
| Hill Areas (Garhwal, Kumaon, HP, Gorkhas, Dogras, Marathas, Kashmir Valley, Leh & Ladakh, North-East, Sikkim) | 165 cm | 155 cm | 80 cm / 85 cm | Proportional to height |
| Scheduled Tribes (ST) | 162.5 cm | 154 cm | 77 cm / 82 cm | Proportional to height |
Download SSC CPO Paper 1 Previous Year Question Papers
What is SSC CPO Physical Endurance Test (PET) 2026?
The SSC CPO Physical Endurance Test (PET) 2026 assesses candidates' physical fitness through various exercises. For male candidates, the PET includes a 100-meter race, a 1.6 km race, long jump, high jump, and shot put. Female candidates will also participate in a 100-meter race and an 800-meter race, along with long jump and high jump. The details of the SSC CPO PET are as follows:
| Test | Male Candidates | Female Candidates |
|---|
| 100-meter race | 16 seconds | 18 seconds |
| 1.6 km race | 6.5 minutes | Not applicable |
| 800-meter race | Not applicable | 4 minutes |
| Long Jump | 3.65 meters (3 attempts) | 2.7 meters (3 attempts) |
| High Jump | 1.2 meters (3 attempts) | 0.9 meters (3 attempts) |
| Shot Put (16 lbs) | 4.5 meters (3 attempts) | Not applicable |
What are the key takeaways?
Below are the key takeaways from this article:
- Paper 1: 100 questions, 100 marks and 1-hour duration.
- Paper 1 Sectional Timing: 15 minutes for each of the four sections.
- Paper 1 Negative Marking: 0.25 mark per wrong answer.
- Paper 2: 160 questions for 320 marks.
- Paper 2 Subjects: Reasoning, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude and English Comprehension.
- Paper 2 Negative Marking: 0.50 mark per wrong answer.
- Paper 2 Difficulty: Higher than Paper 1.
- PST/PET: Mandatory and qualifying in nature, with PET exemption for Ex-Servicemen but PST still applicable.
- Final Selection: Based on Paper 2 performance and post/force preference.
- New 2026 Post: SI (Fire) in CISF has been added and has separate eligibility and physical requirements.
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