SSC STENO GRADE C & D 2026 GUIDE

Official Summary: Staff Selection Commission (SSC) conducts the Open Competitive Computer Based Examination for recruitment to the posts of Stenographer Grade ‘C’ (Group ‘B’ Non-Gazetted) and Stenographer Grade ‘D’ (Group ‘C’ Non-Gazetted) across various Central Ministries, Departments, and Attached/Subordinate Offices. Follow this verified guide to check your official response sheet, calculate marks with 0.25 negative marking, and check your real-time Shift Rank & Normalised Score on CBTRank.

1. SSC Stenographer 2026 Written Exam Pattern & Marks Distribution

According to Para 13 of the official advertisement (F. No.: E/13/2026-C-2), the Computer Based Examination (CBE) consists of 200 Objective MCQ Questions (200 Marks) with an exam duration of 120 Minutes (2 Hours). Each correct answer carries 1.0 Mark, while 0.25 (1/4th) Mark is deducted for every incorrect response. Sectional timers are implemented: 30 minutes each for Part I & II, and 60 minutes for Part III.

Part / Subject Component Questions Marks Sectional Time Negative Marking
Part-I: General Intelligence & Reasoning 50 50 30 Minutes -0.25 per wrong
Part-II: General Awareness 50 50 30 Minutes -0.25 per wrong
Part-III: English Language & Comprehension 100 100 60 Minutes -0.25 per wrong
TOTAL (Stage-I Written Exam) 200 Questions 200 Marks 120 Minutes (2 Hours) 0.25 Deduction / wrong

Calculate Your SSC Stenographer 2026 Score and Rank Online

Paste your response sheet URL to check section-wise marks, negative deductions, and real-time shift rank.

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2. Step-by-Step Guide: How to Check Answer Key on CBTRank

Step 1: Copy Official Response Sheet Link

Log in to the official SSC candidate portal (ssc.gov.in) using your User ID and Password. Open your tentative Answer Key / Response Sheet tab and copy the complete URL from your browser address bar.

Step 2: Open CBTRank SSC Stenographer Page

Visit the verified calculator link: cbtrank.com/ssc-stenographer-grade-c-and-d-examination-2026/answerkey.

Step 3: Paste URL and Select Category & Shift

Paste your copied response sheet link into the URL input box. Select your Category (UR, EWS, OBC, SC, ST) and gender/reservation details.

Step 4: View Scorecard, Normalised Marks & Shift Rank

Click “Calculate Marks and Rank”. In just 2 seconds, CBTRank generates your verified Net Raw Score, Correct/Wrong counts, -0.25 Negative Marking breakdown, Shift Rank, and full question-by-question review.

3. SSC Stage-II: Skill Test in Stenography (Grade ‘C’ & Grade ‘D’)

Candidates shortlisted on the basis of Computer Based Examination marks appear for the mandatory Stenography Skill Test (Qualifying in nature). One dictation of 10 minutes is given in English or Hindi as opted by the candidate:

Post Shorthand Speed (w.p.m.) Language Transcription Time (Computer) For Scribe Candidates
Stenographer Grade ‘D’ 80 w.p.m. (10 mins) English 50 Minutes 70 Minutes
Stenographer Grade ‘D’ 80 w.p.m. (10 mins) Hindi 65 Minutes 90 Minutes
Stenographer Grade ‘C’ 100 w.p.m. (10 mins) English 40 Minutes 55 Minutes
Stenographer Grade ‘C’ 100 w.p.m. (10 mins) Hindi 55 Minutes 75 Minutes
Official Minimum Qualifying Marks in Written Exam (Para 19.1):

• Unreserved (UR): 30% (Minimum 60 Marks out of 200)
• OBC / EWS: 25% (Minimum 50 Marks out of 200)
• All Other Categories (SC/ST/PwBD/ESM): 20% (Minimum 40 Marks out of 200)

4. Official SSC Negative Marking & Raw Score Formula

Net Raw Score = (Total Correct Answers × 1.0) − (Total Wrong Answers × 0.25)
Note: Unattempted questions carry zero marks (no negative penalty). Since the exam is conducted across multiple shifts, your final result is based on normalized marks as per the official SSC normalization formula.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: What is the negative marking deduction in SSC Stenographer 2026? As per official Para 13.3, 0.25 (1/4th) mark is deducted for each incorrect answer in the Computer Based Examination.
Q2: What is the shorthand dictation speed for Grade ‘C’ and Grade ‘D’? For Stenographer Grade ‘C’, the shorthand speed is 100 words per minute (w.p.m.). For Stenographer Grade ‘D’, the speed is 80 words per minute (w.p.m.). Both dictations last for 10 minutes.
Q3: Is sectional timing applicable in SSC Steno 2026 written exam? Yes, Sectional Timers are applicable: 30 minutes for Part-I (Reasoning), 30 minutes for Part-II (General Awareness), and 60 minutes for Part-III (English Language).
Q4: What is the official fee to challenge a question in the Answer Key? As per Para 13.5 of the notice, candidates can submit online representations on payment of Rs. 50/- per question challenged within the stipulated time limit.
Q5: How is Shift Rank calculated on CBTRank? CBTRank groups candidates who appeared in your exact exam shift and category to provide a real-time, highly accurate Shift Rank and comparative score analysis.

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