SSC JE Exam Pattern 2026, Tier 1 and Tier 2 Exam Structure Details

The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has officially released the SSC JE 2025-26 Notification, announcing the recruitment process for Junior Engineer posts in Civil, Mechanical, and Electrical branches. To succeed in this highly competitive exam, it is essential for aspirants to understand the detailed exam pattern, marking scheme, and subject-wise structure of both Paper 1 and Paper 2. In this article, we break down the complete SSC JE 2026 exam pattern to help candidates plan their preparation effectively and avoid common mistakes.

SSC JE Exam Pattern 2026

The SSC JE Exam Pattern is structured to assess both the technical knowledge and general aptitude of candidates applying for Junior Engineer roles in Civil, Mechanical, and Electrical disciplines. The selection process comprises two papers: Paper-I and Paper-II, conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode. Candidates must choose their engineering stream carefully while filling out the form, as the same will be applicable for both papers.

SSC JE 2026 Exam Pattern- Overview

SSC JE has two stage exam process. Paper-I tests candidates on General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Awareness, and General Engineering (specific to the chosen stream), while Paper-II focuses solely on technical subjects. Both papers include objective-type questions, with a penalty for incorrect answers. Candidates can check the key details of the pattern from the table mentioned below.

SSC JE Mock Test - Click to Attempt

​SSC JE Answer Key 2025 Out- Click To Check​

SSC JE Paper 1 Exam Pattern 2026

SSC JE Paper 1 is the first stage of the selection process and serves as a screening test for candidates applying to Junior Engineer posts in Civil, Electrical, and Mechanical streams. The exam is conducted in online mode and comprises three sections: General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Awareness, and General Engineering (as per the candidate’s selected discipline).

SSC JE Paper 2 Exam Pattern 2026

SSC JE Paper 2 is the second and final stage of the examination, focusing entirely on the candidate’s core engineering discipline. It is a Computer-Based Test (CBT) consisting of 100 objective-type questions from the selected stream—Civil, Electrical, or Mechanical Engineering.

SSC JE Negative Marking

The SSC JE exam includes a negative marking system to promote accuracy and discourage guesswork. Both Paper 1 and Paper 2 follow different penalty rules for incorrect answers. Understanding this marking scheme is crucial for effective time and risk management during the exam. Candidates should plan their attempts carefully to avoid losing marks due to wrong answers.

• In Paper 1, 0.25 marks will be deducted for each incorrect answer.
• In Paper 2, 1 mark will be deducted for every wrong answer.
• There is no negative marking for unanswered questions.
• Negative marking is applicable in all sections of both papers.
• Both Paper 1 and Paper 2 are objective-type exams with multiple-choice questions.
• Candidates should avoid random guessing to prevent unnecessary loss of marks.
• Final scores will be calculated after applying negative marking, which can impact cut-offs and merit.

SSC JE Syllabus 2026​