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CBE (Written Test) · Skill Test (Stenography) — both stages covered with syllabus, speed targets and free practice.
This guide covers everything you need to clear the SSC Stenographer (Stenographer Grade C & D) exam conducted by Staff Selection Commission (SSC). You will find the complete SSC Stenographer syllabus, stage-wise exam pattern, preparation tips, and direct links to free mock tests and live practice exams. Bookmark this page — it is updated whenever the official notification changes.
| Stage | Subjects | Questions | Marks | Duration | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CBE — Written Test | General Intelligence & Reasoning (50), General Awareness (50), English Language & Comprehension (100) | 200 | 200 | 2 hrs (2 hrs 40 min for PwBD) | 0.25 |
| Skill Test — Grade C (English) | Stenography dictation at 100 WPM, transcription on computer | — | Qualifying | 50 min transcription | — |
| Skill Test — Grade C (Hindi) | Stenography dictation at 80 WPM, transcription on computer | — | Qualifying | 65 min transcription | — |
| Skill Test — Grade D (English) | Stenography dictation at 80 WPM, transcription on computer | — | Qualifying | 65 min transcription | — |
| Skill Test — Grade D (Hindi) | Stenography dictation at 65 WPM, transcription on computer | — | Qualifying | 75 min transcription | — |
With 100 out of 200 marks coming from English, your score is largely determined by this section. Focus on Spot the Error, Fill in the Blanks, and Comprehension Passage — these three alone cover 40–50 questions. Read one editorial daily to build vocabulary and sentence sense passively.
The Skill Test is qualifying but eliminates a large share of CBE qualifiers. If you choose English stenography (Grade C), you need 100 WPM which requires months of consistent daily practice. Begin at 60 WPM and add 5 WPM every 2 weeks. Use Pitman shorthand for English and standard Hindi shorthand material from NIELIT or government manuals.
50 marks of GA can be secured with consistent 20-minute daily revision. Revise last 6 months of current affairs, focus on Science & Tech, Indian Constitution, and Government schemes. Avoid reading full newspapers — use a monthly GK digest instead.
SSC Stenographer Reasoning is easier than SSC CGL but has its own question patterns. The 2019–2025 question papers contain repeating topic types — Coding-Decoding, Series, and Venn Diagrams appear almost every year. Solve them under timed conditions.
With 0.25 negative marking, attempting an extra 8 wrong questions cancels 2 correct ones. In English, Cloze and Comprehension questions have clear answers — attempt all of these. In GK and Reasoning, skip if you cannot narrow down to 2 options.
SSC Stenographer has two stages: (1) Computer Based Examination (CBE) with 200 questions in 2 hours covering General Intelligence & Reasoning (50 Qs), General Awareness (50 Qs), and English Language & Comprehension (100 Qs); (2) Skill Test in Stenography which is qualifying in nature.
Grade C is a Group B Gazetted post (higher pay level, typically in Central Secretariat) and requires 100 WPM in English or 80 WPM in Hindi for the Skill Test. Grade D is a Group C Non-Gazetted post posted across various ministries/departments and requires 80 WPM in English or 65 WPM in Hindi.
Yes — 0.25 marks (1/4th) are deducted for every wrong answer across all sections of the CBE.
For English stenography, Pitman Shorthand is the most widely accepted system and recommended. For Hindi stenography, the standard Hindi shorthand system (as used by NIELIT/DOEACC) is used. Check the official notification — it specifies the permissible shorthand systems for each post.
Grade C English: 100 WPM (transcription: 50 min). Grade C Hindi: 80 WPM (transcription: 65 min). Grade D English: 80 WPM (transcription: 65 min). Grade D Hindi: 65 WPM (transcription: 75 min). The dictation passage is read out at the stated speed and candidates must transcribe on a computer.
Candidates must have passed 12th Standard (Class XII) or equivalent examination from a recognised Board or University. There is no graduation requirement. Additionally, candidates must possess the requisite speed in shorthand as per the grade applied for.
English carries 100 out of 200 marks. Focus on: (1) Spot the Error — study subject-verb agreement, tense, prepositions; (2) Vocabulary — synonyms, antonyms, one-word substitution; (3) Comprehension passages — practice reading for speed and inference; (4) Idioms & Phrases. Solve SSC Steno previous-year papers specifically as the question style differs from CGL/CHSL.