The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has officially conducted the SSC Combined Graduate Level (CGL) Examination 2025, one of India’s most prestigious recruitment examinations for graduates seeking a stable government job. Held across multiple shifts from 12th to 26th September 2025, the exam saw lakhs of aspirants appear from all parts of the country. Additionally, following certain technical or administrative concerns, the Commission conducted a re-examination on 14th October 2025, ensuring fairness and transparency in the final selection.
With the completion of both the main and re-examination sessions, aspirants have been eagerly waiting for the release of the SSC CGL Answer Key 2025. The wait is now over, as SSC has released the official answer key on its portal ssc.gov.in, enabling candidates to evaluate their performance even before the declaration of results. The answer key is essential for verifying answers and estimating the probable score, which helps candidates understand their chances of qualifying for the next stage.
Importance of the SSC CGL Answer Key 2025
The answer key serves several important purposes:
✔ Transparency in Evaluation
Through the answer key, SSC ensures that every candidate gets an equal opportunity to check and confirm the correctness of the answers evaluated by the Commission.
✔ Score Prediction
Candidates can cross-check their responses and estimate their raw marks based on the official key.
✔ Objection Submission
In case candidates find any discrepancy, SSC allows them to raise representations against specific questions within a limited time frame.
✔ Cut-off Understanding
By comparing the estimated score against the expected cut-off list, candidates can predict their chances of clearing Tier-1.
SSC CGL 2025: Overview of the Examination
The Combined Graduate Level Examination is conducted to recruit candidates for Group-B and Group-C posts, including roles in ministries, government departments and various central organisations.
Some of the popular posts include:
- Assistant Section Officer
- Inspector (Income Tax, Examiner, Preventive Officer)
- Assistant Enforcement Officer
- Auditor
- Junior Statistical Officer
- Accountant
- Clerk-level posts in departments
The examination follows the structured selection process:
SSC CGL 2025 Selection Process
- Tier-1: Computer-Based Exam
- Tier-2: Computer-Based Exam
- Document Verification
- Final Merit List
Only candidates clearing Tier-1 are shortlisted for the Tier-2 exam.
SSC CGL Answer Key 2025 – Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Application Start | 09 June 2025 |
| Application Last Date | 04 July 2025 |
| Exam Date | 12–26 September 2025 |
| Re-Exam Date | 14 October 2025 |
| Answer Key Release | 16 October 2025 |
(As generated in your Python table above.)
Expected SSC CGL Cut-Off 2025
Based on exam difficulty, student feedback and previous years’ analysis, below is the expected cut-off for Tier-1:
| Category | Expected Cut-Off Marks |
|---|---|
| General | 155–165 |
| EWS | 145–155 |
| OBC | 135–140 |
| SC | 110–120 |
| ST | 110–120 |
Candidates scoring above the expected cut-off range have a strong chance of qualifying for the next stage.
How to Download SSC CGL Answer Key 2025?
Follow these simple steps to download your answer key easily:
- Visit the official SSC website:
🔗 ssc.gov.in - On the homepage, find and click the “Answer Key” section.
- Look for the link titled “SSC CGL Answer Key 2025”.
- Enter your:
- Registration Number
- Roll Number
- Password / Date of Birth
- Click on Submit.
- Your answer key (PDF + response sheet) will appear on the screen.
- Download the PDF and calculate your marks.
How to Calculate Your SSC CGL Score Using the Answer Key?
The Tier-1 exam pattern is straightforward:
- Correct Answer: +2 marks
- Incorrect Answer: −0.5 marks (negative marking of ¼)
- Unattempted: 0 marks
Formula:
Total Marks = (Correct × 2) – (Incorrect × 0.5)
Compare your calculated marks with the expected cut-off to estimate your selection chances.
SSC CGL Answer Key 2025 – Why It Matters?
📌 Predicts Your Selection Probability
Before the result, candidates can assess their likelihood of moving to Tier-2.
📌 Allows Objections
If any question is found incorrect or ambiguous, candidates can challenge it. A correct objection can increase marks.
📌 Ensures Transparency
The availability of the official answer key promotes transparency in the evaluation process.
Vacancy Overview
For SSC CGL 2025, a total of 18,236 vacancies have been announced across Group-B and Group-C positions. This significantly increases the competition due to the high number of applicants, but it also enhances the chances for serious aspirants.
SSC CGL 2025 – Important Instructions for Candidates
- Keep your login credentials ready before visiting the portal.
- Download and save your response sheet for future reference.
- Submit objections, if any, within the allowed time.
- Keep checking the website for Tier-1 result and cut-off updates.
Chart: SSC CGL 2025 Timeline
(Already generated above through Python — a timeline chart displaying the flow from application to answer key release.)
Conclusion
The release of the SSC CGL Answer Key 2025 is a major milestone for lakhs of aspirants who have been eagerly waiting to evaluate their performance. With the answer key now available, candidates can verify their responses, analyze their strengths and weaknesses, and estimate their chances of qualifying for the next stage. SSC’s structured evaluation through answer keys ensures fairness and transparency in recruitment.
Candidates are now advised to download their answer key from ssc.gov.in, calculate their scores using the marking scheme and stay prepared for the Tier-1 result and Tier-2 preparation.