SSC Stenographer syllabus

Class 12 level exam for Stenographer Grade C and D posts: a 200-question computer-based test in 2 hours, then a qualifying skill test in shorthand.

SSC Stenographer computer-based examination

Part I: General Intelligence and Reasoning

50 questions, 50 marks · 30 minutes

Verbal and non-verbal questions, in English and Hindi. 1 mark for a right answer, 0.25 taken off for a wrong one. Candidates with 40% or more visual disability get no maps, graphs, diagrams or statistical data.

  • Analogies, similarities and differences
  • Verbal and figure classification
  • Arithmetical number series and non-verbal series
  • Coding and decoding, relationship concepts
  • Space visualisation, visual memory, discriminating observation
  • Problem solving, analysis, judgement and decision making
  • Arithmetical reasoning and computation

Part II: General Awareness

50 questions, 50 marks · 30 minutes

In English and Hindi. 1 mark for a right answer, 0.25 taken off for a wrong one.

  • Current events
  • Everyday science and scientific research
  • India and its neighbouring countries: sports, history, culture, geography, economic scene
  • General polity including the Indian Constitution

Part III: English Language and Comprehension

100 questions, 100 marks · 60 minutes

Set in English in both the English and the Hindi paper. 1 mark for a right answer, 0.25 taken off for a wrong one.

  • Vocabulary: synonyms, antonyms, spellings, one-word substitution, idioms and phrases
  • Grammar: spotting the error, fill in the blanks, sentence improvement
  • Sentence structure: active and passive voice, direct and indirect speech, sentence rearrangement
  • Cloze passages and reading comprehension

SSC Stenographer Skill Test in stenography

Stenographer Grade 'C': dictation at 100 words per minute

One dictated passage, transcribed on a computer · 10 minutes dictation; transcription 40 minutes (English) or 55 minutes (Hindi)

Qualifying only. The language (English or Hindi) is chosen in the application form; a candidate who takes it in Hindi must learn English stenography after appointment, and vice versa.

  • Take down a 10-minute dictation at 100 words per minute in shorthand
  • Transcribe it on a computer: 40 minutes in English, 55 minutes in Hindi (55 and 75 minutes for candidates eligible for a scribe)

Stenographer Grade 'D': dictation at 80 words per minute

One dictated passage, transcribed on a computer · 10 minutes dictation; transcription 50 minutes (English) or 65 minutes (Hindi)

Qualifying only. The language (English or Hindi) is chosen in the application form.

  • Take down a 10-minute dictation at 80 words per minute in shorthand
  • Transcribe it on a computer: 50 minutes in English, 65 minutes in Hindi (70 and 90 minutes for candidates eligible for a scribe)