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Updated: September 2026 · Based on SSC’s official answer-key process (recent cycles)
The moment your SSC CGL Tier-1 exam ends, a second, quieter stage begins — and most candidates don’t know exactly how it works. SSC releases your answer key, response sheet and question paper, gives you a short window to challenge wrong answers, and only then declares the result. Handled well, this stage lets you calculate your score early and even improve it. This guide walks you through every step, in order, with the honest advice on when an objection is actually worth the fee.
Quick answer: After Tier-1, SSC uploads the tentative answer key, your response sheet and the question paper on ssc.gov.in, usually within about a week of the exam. You log in with your registration number and password to download them, compare your marked answers with the key, and calculate your score using +2 for a correct answer and −0.50 for a wrong one. If you find a genuine error, you can raise an objection during a short, time-bound window by paying a per-question fee (₹50 per question in the recent cycle). SSC then releases the final answer key and the result.
On this page:
What SSC releases after Tier-1
Once the Tier-1 exam is over, SSC publishes three things together on its official website, ssc.gov.in — usually within about a week of the exam (the exact date is announced in an official notice):
| What you get | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Tentative answer key | The answers SSC considers correct (before objections) |
| Your response sheet | Exactly what you marked, question by question |
| Question paper | Your shift’s paper, for self-analysis |
Download immediately. The response sheet and answer key are available only during the window. Once it closes, SSC removes them, so save the PDFs the day they go live.
How to download your response sheet & answer key
- Go to the official website, ssc.gov.in.
- Open the answer key notice/link for CGL 2026 Tier-1 on the homepage.
- Log in with your registration number (OTR) and password.
- View and download the PDF of your response sheet, the tentative answer key and your question paper.
- Save all files to your device — they won’t be available after the window closes.
How to calculate your expected marks
Tier-1 has 100 questions worth 200 marks (four sections of 25 each). Match your response sheet against the answer key, count your correct and wrong answers, and apply the marking scheme:
| Response | Marks |
|---|---|
| Correct answer | +2 |
| Wrong answer | −0.50 |
| Unattempted | 0 |
Example: if you got 85 correct and 10 wrong, your raw score is (85 × 2) − (10 × 0.50) = 170 − 5 = 165.
This is a raw score, not your final one. Because Tier-1 runs in multiple shifts, SSC normalises marks across shifts, so your final normalised score can differ slightly from this raw figure. Use this only to gauge whether you’re comfortably above the cut-off.
How to raise an objection (step by step)
If you find a question where SSC’s key is genuinely wrong, you can challenge it during the objection window:
- Log in to the challenge/objection portal linked with the answer key.
- Select the question(s) you dispute and choose the option you believe is correct.
- Attach a clear reason and supporting proof (a standard reference or authoritative source).
- Pay the fee — ₹50 per question in the recent cycle (reduced from ₹100 earlier; the exact fee for 2026 will be in the official notice).
- Submit and save the confirmation receipt for your records.
Objections received after the deadline are not entertained under any circumstances, so don’t leave it to the last minute.
When is an objection actually worth it?
Be honest with yourself here, because every challenge costs money. Raise an objection only when you have solid, authoritative proof that SSC’s answer is wrong — not on a hunch or because an answer “felt” different. A well-supported challenge that SSC accepts revises the key for everyone who marked that answer, so a genuinely wrong key is worth fighting. But challenging a doubtful question you can’t prove usually just costs the fee for nothing.
What happens after objections
Once the window closes, SSC reviews every valid challenge. If a challenge is upheld, the answer key is corrected. SSC then publishes the final answer key, applies normalisation across shifts, and declares the Tier-1 result. Candidates who clear the cut-off move on to Tier-2. Tier-1 is only qualifying — your final selection is decided by Tier-2 — so treat the result as a gateway, not the finish line.
Preparing for the next stage? 🎯
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Quick checklist
- ✅ Download your response sheet, answer key and question paper the day they go live.
- ✅ Save all PDFs — they vanish after the window.
- ✅ Calculate your raw score (+2 / −0.50) and compare with the expected cut-off.
- ✅ Note down any answer you can genuinely prove is wrong.
- ✅ Raise objections only with solid proof, before the deadline.
- ✅ Keep your objection receipt and wait for the final answer key.
Frequently asked questions
When will the SSC CGL 2026 answer key be released?
SSC usually releases the tentative answer key, response sheet and question paper within about a week of the Tier-1 exam. The exact date is announced through an official notice on ssc.gov.in.
How do I download my SSC CGL response sheet?
Go to ssc.gov.in, open the answer-key link for CGL 2026 Tier-1, log in with your registration number and password, and download the PDF of your response sheet, answer key and question paper. Save them before the window closes.
How much is the objection fee for the SSC CGL answer key?
In the recent cycle SSC charged ₹50 per question challenged, reduced from ₹100 earlier. The exact fee for 2026 will be confirmed in the official answer-key notice.
How do I calculate my SSC CGL marks from the answer key?
Count your correct and wrong answers from the response sheet, then apply +2 for each correct answer and −0.50 for each wrong one. Unattempted questions score zero. The result is a raw score before normalisation.
Is the SSC CGL response sheet available permanently?
No. It is available only during the objection window. Once the window closes, SSC removes it, so download and save it as soon as it is released.
What happens after the objection window closes?
SSC reviews all valid challenges, corrects the key where needed, and then releases the final answer key, applies normalisation across shifts, and declares the Tier-1 result. Qualifiers move on to Tier-2.
Should I raise an objection if I’m unsure about an answer?
Only raise objections you can back with solid, authoritative proof, since every challenge carries a fee. A doubtful challenge you can’t prove usually just costs the fee without changing the key.
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