SSC MTS Exam Pattern 2017

Overview

The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) conducts the MultiTasking Staff (MTS) examination to recruit candidates for various clerical and support positions in ministries, departments and offices of the Government of India. The 2017 edition followed a twostage format an online prelims (computer based) test and a written mains (penandpaper) test for those who qualified the prelims.

The exam is known for its straightforward questions, but the time pressure demands efficient timemanagement and a solid grasp of the prescribed syllabus.

Syllabus Highlights

The 2017 SSC MTS syllabus is divided into three main sections:

General Intelligence & Reasoning
General Awareness (including Current Affairs)
Quantitative Aptitude & General English

Each section contains topics that are typical for competitive exams but with a few SSCspecific twists. Below is a brief outline of the subtopics.

Section	Key Topics
General Intelligence & Reasoning	Series, Analogies, CodingDecoding, Data Interpretation, Direction Sense, Syllogism, Blood Relation, Circular Reasoning, Nonverbal reasoning.
General Awareness	History, Geography, Indian Polity & Governance, Economy, Science & Technology, Sports, Awards & Honors, Current Affairs (last 12 months).
Quantitative Aptitude & General English	Number Systems, Simplification, Percentage, Ratio & Proportion, Average, Profit & Loss, Time & Work, Speed & Distance, Geometry, Data Sufficiency, Grammar, Vocabulary, Comprehension, Sentence Completion.

Sectionwise Exam Pattern

Preliminary Test (Computer Based)

Section	No. of Questions	Marks per Question	Total Marks	Time Allotted
General Intelligence & Reasoning	40	1	40	75 minutes
General Awareness	30	1	30
Quantitative Aptitude & General English	30	1	30

There is no negative marking. The cutoff is decided separately for each section; candidates must meet the sectional cutoff as well as the overall cutoff to qualify for the mains.

Mains Examination (Pen & Paper)

Section	No. of Questions	Marking Scheme	Total Marks	Time Allotted
General Intelligence & Reasoning	25	+2 for correct, -0.5 for wrong	50	120 minutes
General Awareness	25	+2 for correct, -0.5 for wrong	50
Quantitative Aptitude & General English	25	+2 for correct, -0.5 for wrong	50

The total marks for the mains exam are 150. A candidate must secure the minimum qualifying marks in each section; otherwise, the answer sheet is considered void even if the total score is high.

Marking Summary

Prelims: 100 marks (no negative marking).
Mains: 150 marks (negative marking of 0.5 per wrong answer).
Overall: 250 marks, but qualification is based on sectional cutoffs.

Preparation Tips for SSC MTS 2017

Know the pattern inside out. Recreate the table of questions, timing, and marking scheme on a sheet of paper. It helps in planning daily study schedules.
Practice with a timer. Simulate the 75minute prelims and the 120minute mains. Gradually reduce the time per question to improve speed.
Sectional focus. Since each section has a separate cutoff, allocate equal preparation time to all three. Weak areas should be identified early.
Reasoning shortcuts. Learn common patterns for series, codingdecoding, and nonverbal puzzles. Shortcut methods cut down computation time significantly.
Update current affairs. Read a reputable daily newspaper and a monthly currentaffairs magazine. Make a concise notes sheet for quick revision.
Quantitative formulas. Prepare a onepage formula sheet (percentage, profitloss, timework, speeddistance, etc.) and memorize it you cannot bring it into the exam hall.
English practice. Focus on errorspotting, fillintheblanks, and reading comprehension. Regularly solve previous years English sections.
Mock tests. Take at least 5 fulllength mock tests for each stage. Analyse every mistake categorize as conceptual, careless, or timepressure.
Health is crucial. Maintain a balanced diet, proper sleep, and short breaks during study sessions to keep the mind sharp.