The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) Junior Engineer (JE) exam is one of the most sought-after competitive exams in India for engineering graduates aiming for prestigious government roles. Cracking this exam opens the door to positions in various departments across civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering domains. To succeed in this highly competitive exam, it’s essential to understand the SSC JE Exam Pattern 2025 in detail. This article breaks down the structure of both Paper 1 and Paper 2, the marking scheme, subject focus, and key differences to help aspirants plan their preparation strategy effectively.
JE Paper Pattern Details
The SSC JE exam is conducted in a Computer-Based Test (CBT) format and is divided into two objective-type papers—Paper 1 and Paper 2. Both exams are designed to assess different competencies. Paper 1 tests a candidate’s general aptitude and basic technical knowledge, while Paper 2 dives deeper into engineering-specific subjects. Each paper lasts for two hours and carries distinct marking schemes. Paper 1 carries 200 marks, and Paper 2 is worth 300 marks. It’s also important to note that negative marking is applied: 0.25 marks are deducted for wrong answers in Paper 1 and 1 mark in Paper 2.
SSC JE Paper 1
Paper 1 focuses on assessing the candidate’s general intelligence, awareness, and fundamental technical knowledge. This paper comprises three key sections. The first section, General Intelligence and Reasoning, consists of 50 questions for 50 marks and evaluates logical thinking and problem-solving abilities. The second section, General Awareness, also has 50 questions for 50 marks and tests a candidate’s awareness of current events, Indian polity, history, and science. The third part is divided into three options—Civil, Electrical, or Mechanical Engineering, with 100 questions and 100 marks. Candidates must choose the section that corresponds to their educational background. In total, Paper 1 includes 200 questions for 200 marks, and the time duration is two hours.
SSC JE Paper 2
Paper 2 is all about testing the in-depth technical knowledge of candidates in their respective fields. This paper is a more specialized version of Paper 1 and includes only the engineering subject opted by the candidate—Civil, Electrical, or Mechanical Engineering. It consists of 100 questions but carries 300 marks, reflecting the more complex nature of the questions. Each question in Paper 2 is worth 3 marks, making precision and accuracy vital. As with Paper 1, negative marking applies here too, but with 1 full mark deducted for every incorrect answer. The duration of Paper 2 is also two hours.
