SSC MTS Exam Pattern 2024: Check Havaldar & Negative Marking

Staff Selection Commission Multi Tasking (Non-Technical) Staff Examination 2024 ( SSC MTS )

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Registration: 26 Jun '25 - 25 Jul '25

Rachit Kumar Saxena

Rachit Kumar SaxenaManager-Editorial

Updated on Aug 30, 2024 18:04 IST

The Staff Selection Commission released the SSC MTS exam pattern in the official notification. The candidates should note that the SSC MTS 2024 will be conducted based on the official exam pattern. The SSC MTS 2024 was conducted from September 30 to November 14, 2024. The candidates are suggested to practice with the previous year's question papers and mock test papers. The candidates should note that the SSC MTS syllabus and exam pattern are the two most important components for the preparation.

The Staff Selection Commission released the SSC MTS notification 2024 on June 27, 2024. The candidates must read and internalise the exam pattern to leverage their preparation for the SSC MTS Havaldar 2024 exam.  The candidates should carefully check the SSC MTS 2024 exam pattern to score better in the exam. The candidates are suggested to prepare all the topics mentioned in the SSC MTS Havaldar 2024 syllabus to ensure their selection in the exam.

Q:   What will be the total marks in the SSC MTS 2024 exam?

A:

The candidates should note that the Staff Selection Commission changed the SSC MTS exam pattern in 2022. The Commission dropped the tier 2 exam from the exam process and now there is only one online exam which decides the selection of the candidate.  The total marks of the SSC MTS 2024 Tier 1 exam will be 270. There will be 90 questions and each question will be 3 marks. The total duration of the SSC MTS 2024 Tier 1 exam will be 90 minutes. 

The SSC introduced sections in the SSC MTS Tier 1 exam in 2022. The SSC MTS paper 1 is divided into two sections. One section employs the negative marking for the candidates. There is a partial negative marking in the paper.

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Q:   How many questions are there in each section of the SSC MTS exam?

A:

The Staff Selection Commission changed the SSC MTS Tier 1 exam pattern and introduced partial negative markings in the SSC MTS Tier 1 exam. The Commission also changed the number of questions asked in the exam. The Commission divided the paper into two parts and fixed a separate timeline for each session. The Commission can see below the SSC MTS Tier 1 paper sections and the questions associated with each session:

SSC MTS Paper-I Subjects

Number of Questions/Maximum Marks

Session 1 (No-Negative Marking)

 

Numerical and Mathematical Ability

20/60

Reasoning Ability and Problem-Solving

20/60

Session 2 (Negative Marking)

 

General Awareness

25/75

English Language and Comprehension

25/75

Total

90/270

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Q:   How to download SSC MTS 2024 exam pattern?

A:

The Staff Selection Commission will mention the SSC MTS exam pattern in the official notification. The Commission will mention the paper structure and the marks assigned to each question. The candidates should note that there is only one paper in the SSC MTS exam that will be Tier 1 (paper 1) only. The Commission changed its exam pattern in 2022 and removed the tier 2 from the exam process. 

The candidates can download the SSC MTS exam pattern with the official notification PDF.

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SSC MTS and Havaldar Exam Pattern 2024

A clear understanding of the SSC MTS exam pattern will boost the confidence of the candidates and help them score in a better way. Understanding the SSC MTS exam pattern is the first step in the SSC MTS preparation. As per the new exam pattern, the Commission removed Tier 2 and document verification from the recruitment process. Besides the exam pattern, the Commission also changed the SSC MTS and Havaldar 2024 syllabus to compensate for the removal of paper 2. The Commission divided the paper into two sections having a sectional time limit of 45 minutes.

The Staff Selection Commission will notify the SSC MTS exam pattern 2024 in the official notification. The candidates will be required to check the official notification to know the exam pattern. As per the current exam pattern, the Commission removed the SSC MTS Paper 2 from the selection process. So the SSC MTS exam has only two stages as mentioned below:

1. SSC MTS Paper 1 - Objective Type (CBE)

SSC MTS Paper 2 - Descriptive Type {Offline)

2. SSC MTS PET/PST - Physical Efficiency/Standard Test (for Havaldar post)

SSC MTS Paper 1 Exam Pattern

The Commission changed the SSC MTS Paper 1 exam pattern altogether. The Commission removed the negative marking from 2 sections and assigned 3 marks to each question. Consequently, the negative marking dedication is also changed. The total number of questions is also changed. For further clarification, candidates can refer the table below:

SSC MTS Paper-I Subjects

Number of Questions/Maximum Marks

Time Duration

Session 1 (No-Negative Marking)

 

 

Numerical and Mathematical Ability

20/60

45 Minutes (60 Minutes for candidates eligible for scribes as per para 8)

Reasoning Ability and Problem-Solving

20/60

Session 2 (Negative Marking)

 

 

General Awareness

25/75

45 Minutes (60 Minutes for candidates eligible for scribes as
per para 8)

English Language and Comprehension

25/75

Total

90/270

1.5 hours

The SSC MTS paper 1 will be conducted as per the exam pattern shown above. The new exam pattern has increased the weightage of General Awareness and English in the whole selection process. The questions will be set in English, Hindi, and in 13 regional languages.

Also Read: SSC MTS 2024 Shift Timing

Q:   Was the SSC MTS paper 2 qualifying?

A:

The candidates should note that the Staff Selection Commission has removed the SSC MTS paper 2 from the exam process and made changes in the SSC MTS exam pattern. The Commission revised the SSC MTS syllabus for paper 1 to accommodate such changes. The SSC MTS result is prepared based on the marks obtained in paper 1 and subjec to clearing the PET/PST.

The Commission also removed the Document Verification process from the recruitment process and now the document verification will be carried out at the indented department. SSC MTS 2023 exam (Paper 1)is expected to be conducted from September 1 to 29.

The SSC MTS paper 2 was qualifying only when it existed in the exam process.

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Q:   How many stages are there in the SSC MTS exam recruitment?

A:

The Staff Selection Commission changed the SSC MTS exam pattern altogether. The Commission removed the Paper 2 (descriptive) from the selection process. Now there are only two stages in the SSC MTS exam. These are mentioned below:

  • SSC MTS Paper 1
  • PET/PST for Havaldar Posts

The Document Verification process will be carried out by the indenting user department. In addition to above, the Commission changed the SSC MTS Paper 1 exam pattern and removed negative marking from the Numerical and Mathematical Ability and Reasoning Ability and Problem-Solving section The SSC MTS Paper 1 was conducted as per the new exam pattern in April 2023.

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Q:   Will there be SSC MTS exam in 2024?

A:

Yes, the SSC MTS Havaldar exam 2024 will be conducted from September 30 to November 14, 2024. Staff Selection Commission conducts the SSC MTS 2024 every year to recruit candidates for the Group C posts in the Central Government offices located across the nation. The Staff Selection Commission released its official exam calendar for 2024-25 and the SSC MTS 2024 dates. The Commission released the SSC MTS 2024 notification on June 27, 2024. The Commission conducted the SSC MTS exam to recruit candidates for the following posts:

  • Havaldar
  • Safaiwala 
  • Daftary
  • Junior Gestetner Operator
  • Peon
  • Jamadar
  • Chowkidar
  • Mali
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Negative Marking in SSC MTS and Havaldar Exam 2024

The Commission changed the SSC MTS paper 1 exam pattern and removed the negative marking from the Numerical and Mathematical Ability and Reasoning Ability and Problem-Solving sections and reduced the number of questions from 25 to 20. The Commission increased the marks assigned to each question in the SSC MTS Paper 1 from 1 to 3 marks. Similarly, the dedication for the incorrect answer is now 1 mark. The candidates should note that there is a negative marking in the SSC MTS Paper-I. For each correct answer, the candidates will be awarded 3 marks and for each incorrect answer, 1 mark will be deducted.

Marking Scheme in SSC MTS and Havaldar Exam 2024
Marks allotted for each correct answer 3 marks
Marks to be deducted for incorrect answer 1 mark

The candidates should note that the negative marking will play a key role in the final section of the candidate. Three incorrect answers will nullify the marks secured in one correct answer and the resultant of those four questions will be zero. 

Q:   What is the minimum percentage required to qualify in the SSC MTS Tier 1 Exam?

A:

The Staff Selection Commission mentioned the minimum qualifying marks that will render the candidates eligible for selection in the SSC MTS exam. These minimum marks are required to get eligible for the selection. The Commission released the percentage required to get eligible for selection:

  •  

Category

Minimum Percentage

Unreserved

30%

OBC/EWS

25%

All Other Categories

20%

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Q:   What is the passing marks of SSC MTS?

A:

The candidates are required to score marks equal to or more than their category cutoff to get selected for the exam. There are no such passing marks which can ensure selection. SSC MTS exam is a competitive exam and the candidates can be selected even when they score low marks if the overall cutoff is decreased.

The Commission prescribes the minimum qualifying marks for the candidates. The Commission prescribes certain minimum marks required for a candidate which make them eligible to get selected in the exam.
The minimum qualifying marks for the SSC MTS exam are defined for each category separately which are summarised below:

  •  

Category

Minimum Percentage

Minimum Marks

Unreserved

30%

81 Marks

OBC/EWS

25%

67.5 Marks

All Other Categories

20%

54 Marks

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Q:   How negative marking in SSC MTS exam impact the overall cutoff?

A:

The Staff Selection Commission changed the quantum of negative marking recently in the SSC MTS paper. Negative marking in the SSC MTS exam can significantly impact the overall cutoff score. With each incorrect answer, 1 mark is deducted in the SSC MTS paper. 

The impact of negative marking on the overall cutoff score depends on the number of incorrect answers and the difficulty level of the questions. Candidates should aim to minimize the number of incorrect answers to maximize their chances of qualifying for the exam.

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SSC MTS and Havaldar PET/PST Exam Pattern

The Commission informed in the official result notice that the SSC MTS PET/PST for the 2022 session was conducted by hte CBIC. The Physical Efficiency Test (PET)/ Physical Standard Test (PST) is conducted for the post of Havaldar only. It is of a qualifying nature and the candidates opting for the Havaldar position must qualify as per the requirements. The followings are the PET/ PST standards for the post of Havaldar in CBIC and CBN:

SSC MTS Exam Pattern: Physical Efficiency Test (PET)

  Male Female
Walking 1600 meters in 15 minutes. 1 Km in 20 minutes
Cycling 8 Kms. in 30 minutes 3 Kms. in 25 minutes

The Commission removed the Cycling from the SSC MTS PET/PST in the new notification.

A woman candidate, who as a result of tests is found to be pregnant of 12 weeks standing or over, shall be declared temporarily unfit and her candidature will be held in abeyance until the confinement is over. Vacancies against temporary unfit candidates will be kept unfilled in the final result.

SSC MTS Exam Pattern: Physical Standard Test (PST):

The minimum physical standards for the post of Havaldar in CBIC and CBN are as follows:

For Male candidates:

Height  Chest
157.5 cms. (relaxable by 5 cm in the case of Garhwalis, Assamese, Gorkhas and members of Schedule Tribes) Chest-81 cms. (fully expanded with a minimum expansion of 5 cm)

The Commission removed the minimum chest measurement of 76 cm.

For Female Candidates

Height  Weight
152 cms. (relaxable by 2.5 Cms in the case of Garhwalis, Assamese, Gorkhas and members of Schedule Tribes) 48 kg (relaxable by 2 Kg in the case of Garhwalis,
Assamese, Gorkhas and members of Schedule Tribes)

PET/ PST will be conducted by CBIC / CBN at various centres finalized by them. The candidates may be called for PET/ PST to any centre across the country.

See Here: SSC MTS Job Profile

As per the official notification, “The exam is intended to test elementary language skills in view of categorisation of the post as Group-C and in view of job requirements.”

Q:   What is the quantum of Negative Marking in the SSC MTS paper 1?

A:

The candidates should note that there is a negative marking of one by four in the SSC MTS paper 1. It implies that 0.25 marks will be deducted from the aggregate marks for each incorrect answer. The candidates need to score well above the SSC MTS cutoff to get selected. 

The candidates can see below the SSC MTS quantum of negative marking:

Negative Marking in SSC MTS Tier 1 Exam

Marks to be deducted for each incorrect answer

1 mark

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Q:   When was the SSC MTS Mock Test released by the Commission?

A:

The Staff Selection Commission released the SSC MTS 2023 mock test for the candidates on May 4. The mock test was prepared in 13 regional languages and the candidates can opt for any of the desired languages. The candidates will see the questions in the opted languages in addition to Hindi and English .

The SSC MTS 2023 mock test is released amid the ongoing SSC MS 2023. This will help the candidates practise before the exam. The SSC MTS exam was started on May 2 and ended on May 19. In the second phase, the SSC MS exam 2023 will be conducted from June 13 to 20.

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Q:   Can I crack SSC MTS without coaching?

A:

The candidates can easily crack the SSC MTS exam without coaching. There is nothing in the SSC MTS syllabus which is difficult to prepare. It is not essential to join a coaching institute to prepare for the SSC MTS exam. SSC MTS Paper 1 has four sections, namely

  • English
  • General Intelligence & Reasoning
  • Numerical Aptitude
  • General Awareness

The candidates are suggested to practice with the previous year's question papers to know the difficulty level of the exam and the important topics from where the questions have been asked.

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SSC MTS and Havaldar Exam Pattern 2024 FAQs

The candidates can see here the most important questions related to the SSC MTS and Havaldar Exam Pattern 2024.

Q:   Is typing test compulsory for SSC MTS Exam?

A:

No, there is no typing test required in the SSC MTS exam. There is no skill test mentioned in the official SSC MTS notification. SSC MTS paper 2 was a descriptive test which is qualifying only.The candidates are required to undergo the PET/PST conducted by the designated authority.

The Staff Selection Commission removed the paper 2 from the exam process and there is no typing test included in the SSC MTS Exam Pattern.

 

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Q:   Are the SSC MTS exam centres present across the nation?

A:

Yes, the SSC MTS exam centres are present across the nation. The Staff Selection Commission releases the list of SSC MTS exam centres with the official notification. The list shows that the SSC MTS exam centres are spread across the nation.The SSC MTS exam centres can be changed by the Commission any time. The candidates should check the SSC MTS application form to get the final list of SSC MTS exam centres.

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Q:   Does the Commission releases the SSC MTS question papers?

A:

The SSC MTS question papers are made available on the official SSC website after the examination is conducted. Candidates can download the question papers and answer keys from the official website. The answer keys are also made available in the form of a PDF file, which can be downloaded and saved for future reference.

It's important to note that the SSC MTS question papers are only available for a limited time period, so candidates are advised to download them as soon as they are made available. Additionally, the answer keys are also subject to challenge within a specific time frame, so candidates should carefully review the answers and report any discrepancies before the challenge window closes.

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SSC MTS Exam

Student Forum

chatAnything you would want to ask experts?
Write here...

Answered 2 days ago

The Staff Selection Commission released the SSC MTS 2025 dates in its official exam calendar 2025-26. As per the SSC Exam Calendar, the SSC MTS 2025 notification will be released on June 26, 2025. Along with the Notification, the SSC MTS 2025 applications will also start. The last date for the SSC

...more

78438920
Rachit Kumar Saxena

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 days ago

The Staff Selection Commission is expected to release the SSC MTS Result 2024 soon on its official website - ssc.gov.in. The Commmission released the tentative answer key on November 29, 2024. The Commission will release the SSC MTS Havaldar result 2024 first to select the candidates for the PET/PS

...more

A

Akanksha

Beginner-Level 2

Answered a week ago

The Staff Selection Commission will release the SSC MTS 2025 notification on its officail website - ssc.gov.in. The Commission will release the number of vacancies, eligibility criteria, important dates and the rules for the exam. The candidates should read the official notification carefully to kno

...more

R

Raj Shukla

Beginner-Level 2

Answered a week ago

The Staff Selection Commission is expected to release the SSC MTS online applications on June 26, 2025, with the release of official notification. The Commission will provide 30 days to fill out the SSC MTS 2025 online applications.

The last date to apply online for the SSC MTS 2025 exam will be Jul

...more

S

Saakshi Kumar

Beginner-Level 2

Answered a week ago

You can download the SSC MTS admit card from the official SSC website:

  1. Go to the SSC website
  2. Click the Admit Card tab at the top of the page
  3. Click the link for the SSC regional or sub-regional website
  4. Click the link to download the admit card
  5. Enter the required login credentials
  6. Download the admit card
  7. Tak

...more

R

Rohit Bokade

Contributor-Level 8

Answered 2 weeks ago

It takes about 3 weeks to 4 weeks for getting the document verification dates after the declaration of the results of SSC MTS Exam. So, once you got selected after geeting good score in exam get ready with your documents for the verification process.

78406378
Yash Kumar

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 weeks ago

For each wrong response, the candidate loses 0.25 numbers of marks in the SSC MTS exam pattern. The exam follows a negative marking system only in Session II of the CBT that is Computer-Based Test covering areas of General Awareness and Reasoning Ability. Unsurprisingly, there is no negative marking

...more

K

Kunal Lalwani

Contributor-Level 9

Answered 3 weeks ago

Unfortunately No. You cannot pass the SSC MTS Medical test with this eye sight. You will be rejected as -4.3 eyesight is much more than the accepted eye sight limit. So, you cannot clear the SSC MTS Medical test is confirmed. 

73358731
Yash Kumar

Contributor-Level 10

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