SSC CPO Exam Pattern 2024 – Paper-I, Paper-II, PET/PST & Full Selection Structure
The ssc cpo exam pattern is designed to test candidates across multiple stages including written examination, physical tests and medical standards. Aspirants preparing for the SI posts in Delhi Police and CAPFs must understand the complete ssc cpo paper pattern, marking scheme, subject distribution and qualifying conditions. This guide explains the entire structure including SSC CPO Tier 1 exam pattern, SSC CPO Tier 2 exam pattern, PET/PST pattern and cutoff rules in a simple and clear format.
This article covers the exact and updated exam pattern as per the SSC CPO 2024 notification. Whether you are searching for ssc cpo mains exam pattern, ssc cpo exam pattern and cutoff, or ssc cpo si exam pattern, this is the complete reference guide.
SSC CPO Selection Process 2024 – Overview
The SSC CPO recruitment is conducted in four major stages:
- Paper-I (Online CBT)
- PET/PST (Physical Tests)
- Paper-II (Online English Test)
- Medical Examination
Each stage is mandatory. Candidates must qualify every level to move to the next.
SSC CPO Exam Pattern 2024 – Paper-I (Tier 1)
The first stage of the exam is the online objective-type Computer Based Test (CBT). It contains four sections:
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 50 | 50 | 2 Hours |
| General Knowledge & General Awareness | 50 | 50 | |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 50 | 50 | |
| English Comprehension | 50 | 50 |
Total Questions: 200
Total Marks: 200
Exam Duration: 2 Hours
Marking Scheme
- Each question → 1 mark
- Negative marking → 0.25 marks deducted for each wrong answer
- No sectional timing
- Papers are bilingual except English section
Key Points:
- Paper-I is qualifying for shortlisting to PET/PST
- Cut-off varies by category and gender (Delhi Police)
- Normalization applies for multi-shift exams
SSC CPO Exam Pattern 2024 – Paper-II (Tier 2)
The ssc cpo tier 2 exam pattern consists of only one subject: English Language & Comprehension.
| Subject | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language & Comprehension | 200 | 200 | 2 Hours |
Marking Rules:
- 1 mark per question
- 0.25 negative marking
- Bilingual instructions but English only questions
Paper-II is crucial because final merit is based on Paper-I + Paper-II combined score.
SSC CPO PET/PST Exam Pattern 2024
The Physical tests are qualifying in nature. Candidates who clear Paper-I are called for PST (Physical Standard Test) followed by PET (Physical Endurance Test).
Physical Standard Test (PST)
Height Requirements:
| Category | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| General/OBC/SC | 170 cm | 157 cm |
| ST | 162.5 cm | 154 cm |
Chest (Male Only):
| Category | Unexpanded | Expanded |
|---|---|---|
| General/OBC/SC | 80 cm | 85 cm |
| ST | 77 cm | 82 cm |
Weight should be proportional to height as per medical standards.
Physical Endurance Test (PET) Pattern
For Male Candidates:
- 100 Meter Race → 16 seconds
- 1.6 Km Race → 6.5 minutes
- Long Jump → 3.65 meters (3 chances)
- High Jump → 1.2 meters (3 chances)
- Shot Put (7.26 kg) → 4.5 meters
For Female Candidates:
- 100 Meter Race → 18 seconds
- 800 Meter Race → 4 minutes
- Long Jump → 2.7 meters (3 chances)
- High Jump → 0.9 meters (3 chances)
PST/PET is qualifying only; marks are not added to final merit.
SSC CPO SI Exam Pattern – Medical Examination
Candidates who clear Paper-II appear for the Medical Test.
Medical Requirements:
- No knock-knee
- No flat foot
- Normal hearing
- Eyesight: 6/6 and 6/9 without glasses
Medical examination is mandatory for all selected candidates.
SSC CPO Exam Pattern and Cutoff
The ssc cpo exam pattern and cutoff are closely connected. Cutoff depends on:
- Number of vacancies
- Difficulty level of Paper-I
- Category of candidates
- Normalization effect
- Performance in PET/PST
Final cutoff depends only on:
- Paper-I marks
- Paper-II marks
- NCC bonus marks (if applicable)
SSC CPO Paper Pattern – Summary Table
| Stage | Type | Marks | Mode |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper-I | MCQ (4 subjects) | 200 | Online |
| PST/PET | Qualifying | – | Physical |
| Paper-II | English Language | 200 | Online |
| Medical Test | Qualifying | – | Offline |
Why Understanding SSC CPO Exam Pattern Is Important?
- Helps in strategic preparation
- Helps in time management during exam
- Clear idea of scoring vs qualifying stages
- Reduces mistakes during PET/PST
- Avoids confusion about final merit calculation
FAQs – SSC CPO Exam Pattern
Q1: How many papers are there in SSC CPO?
Two written exams – Paper-I & Paper-II.
Q2: Is there negative marking?
Yes, 0.25 negative marking in both papers.
Q3: What is SSC CPO Tier 1 exam pattern?
200 questions, 200 marks, 4 subjects.
Q4: What is SSC CPO Tier 2 exam pattern?
English Language – 200 questions for 200 marks.
Q5: Are PET/PST marks counted in final merit?
No, they are qualifying only.
Q6: Is there sectional timing?
No sectional timing in Paper-I.
Q7: What is SSC CPO SI exam pattern for Delhi Police?
Same as CAPFs + driving license requirement.
Conclusion
The ssc cpo exam pattern includes two online exams, a physical test stage and a medical examination. Understanding the complete ssc cpo paper pattern, tier 1 exam pattern, tier 2 exam pattern, and PET/PST structure helps aspirants prepare systematically. Since the final merit is based on Paper-I and Paper-II scores, candidates must plan their study strategy accordingly.