What is SSC Stenographer
The Staff Selection Commission Stenographer exam is a national-level recruitment exam conducted for Grade C and Grade D stenographer posts in various ministries, departments and offices of the Government of India. It tests shorthand (dictation & transcription) skills, English proficiency, reasoning, general awareness, etc.
Important Updates for 2025
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SSC Stenographer Grade C & D exam dates: CBT from 6th to 11th August 2025.
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Notification, application period etc as per SSC’s calendar.
Eligibility Criteria
Typical eligibility requirements:
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Educational qualification: 10+2 (Senior Secondary) pass or equivalent from a recognized board/institution.
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Nationality: Indian citizen (or as per SSC’s rules).
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Age limit: SSC usually specifies age bounds; check the notification for exact range. (Often around 18-27 years, with relaxations for reserved categories) — you must confirm for 2025.
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Other: For persons needing a scribe (PwBD etc.), extra time is provided.
Exam Pattern
There are two main stages:
Stage 1: Computer Based Test (CBT)
| Subject | Number of Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 50 | 50 | Total time for CBT: 120 minutes (2 hours) |
| General Awareness | 50 | 50 | Same total duration |
| English Language & Comprehension | 100 | 100 | Total 200 questions, 200 marks |
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Negative marking: 0.25 marks deducted for each wrong answer.
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Language: Bilingual (English & Hindi) except the English section which is in English.
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For candidates using a scribe, additional time is given (e.g. extra 40 minutes) for the CBT.
Stage 2: Skill Test (Shorthand + Transcription)
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Only those who qualify the CBT are called for this test.
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Dictation: 10 minutes at a speed of:
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100 words per minute (wpm) for Grade C
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80 wpm for Grade D
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Transcription time (to type up the dictated passage) depends on the post (Grade C or D) and the language (English / Hindi), and also whether a scribe is used. For example:
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Grade C English: ~ 40 minutes (without scribe), more time with scribe.
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Grade C Hindi: ~ 55 minutes etc.
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Grade D English: ~ 50 minutes, Hindi longer.
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The skill test is qualifying in nature: i.e. you must pass it, but your rank/merit is largely determined by the CBT.
Syllabus
Here are the topics you need to prepare under each section for the CBT.
| Section | Topics Included |
|---|---|
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | Analogies, Similarities & Differences; Space Visualization; Problem-Solving; Analysis; Judgment; Decision Making; Visual Memory; Discriminating Observation; Relationship Concepts; Arithmetical Reasoning; Verbal and Figure Classification; Number Series; Non-Verbal Series etc. |
| General Awareness | Current Events; History; Geography; Indian Polity and Constitution; Economy & Finance; Culture; Scientific Research; General Science; Sports etc. |
| English Language & Comprehension | Vocabulary; Grammar; Sentence Structure; Synonyms & Antonyms; Fill in the Blanks; Spotting Errors; Sentence Completion; Para Jumbles; Reading Comprehension; Correct Usage of Phrases and Idioms etc. |
Minimum Qualifying Marks / Cut-Offs
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For CBT, minimum qualifying marks vary by category (UR / OBC / EWS / SC / ST / PwBD etc.). For example: UR: 30%, OBC/EWS: ~25%, SC/ST etc: ~20%.
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Skill test is qualifying; mistakes allowed are limited. (Exact tolerance may be given in the notification)
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Final cut-offs depend on number of vacancies, difficulty of exam, number of candidates etc.
Important Dates & Vacancies
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Application window, exam dates etc as per SSC’s recruitment calendar. For 2025, CBT is scheduled 6-11 August.
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Number of vacancies for Grade C & D combined is approx 1,590 for 2025.
Preparation Strategy: How to Crack SSC Stenographer
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Know the exam pattern & syllabus inside out. Make a schedule that covers each section weekly.
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Practice English grammar, reading comprehension daily. As English section has half the questions, scoring well there helps significantly.
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General Awareness: Keep up with current affairs, static GK. Use monthly magazines, GK apps, news.
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Reasoning & Intelligence: Regular practice of puzzles, number series etc. Speed + accuracy matter.
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Shorthand skill: Shorthand practice is essential. Practice dictation and transcription regularly. If new to shorthand, take a course or coaching to build speed.
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Mock tests: Solve previous year papers + full mocks under timed conditions. Helps in accuracy and time management.
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Revision: Always keep a revision calendar. Grammar rules, reasoning formulae, vocabulary etc should be revised often.
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Manage stress & exam day strategy: Try to maintain calm, read questions well, don’t spend too much time on one question, attempt all sections.
Job Profile & Career Growth
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Duties include preparing shorthand notes, transcribing, assisting with documentation, typing/steno work in offices etc.
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Grade C & D indicate different levels of pay scale and responsibility.
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Post-appointment, there may be requirement to learn English shorthand even if you choose Hindi for test (or vice versa) as per some SSC guidelines.
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Regular government benefits, promotions, transfers, etc.
