Govt Apply Zone — SSC JE 2025 Complete Guide (Full Syllabus, 12-Week Plan, Mocks & Solutions)

Overview & Quick Facts

SSC JE (Junior Engineer) is a recruitment exam conducted by the Staff Selection Commission to hire engineers (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical) for various Central Government departments. The exam generally comprises two main papers: Paper I (Objective CBT with sections on reasoning, GA and engineering basics) and Paper II (discipline-specific engineering paper). Selection depends on combined merit, category-wise reservation and post preferences.

Quick facts (snapshot)

Notification date (2025): 30 June 2025 (official SSC PDF).
Application window (example): 30 Jun 2025 — 21 Jul 2025 (confirm on SSC site).
Paper I: CBT, objective MCQs, multi-day schedule (Oct 27–31, 2025 example).
Paper II: Discipline-specific (subject depth) — usually a separate CBT.
Vacancies: ~1,300–1,400 across disciplines (see official notification for exact counts).
Eligibility: Degree / Diploma in relevant discipline; post-specific age limits apply.

SEO note: this page targets long-tail queries like “SSC JE 2025 syllabus civil pdf”, “SSC JE 12 week plan 2025”, “SSC JE solved paper mechanical”, and “SSC JE previous year analysis 2025”. We include explicit keyword phrases naturally across headings and paragraphs for topical depth.

Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme

Below is a canonical pattern summary. Always confirm the precise marks and timing with the official SSC notification for the year you are applying.

Paper I — Objective CBT (typical)

Sections: General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Awareness, General Engineering (discipline basics).
Question type: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs).
Total marks: Varies by year (often 200), check official notification.
Duration: Varies (usually 2–3 hours); multi-shift exam is common.
Negative marking: Typically 0.25 or 0.50 marks for wrong answers (follow notification).

Paper II — Discipline-specific

In-depth subject knowledge (Engineering topics) — Civil / Mechanical / Electrical specific.
Designed to evaluate application-level knowledge and problem solving in the chosen discipline.
Marks and duration specified in the notification (often matching or exceeding Paper I weightage).

Tip: For Paper I practice rely on topic-weighted mock tests; for Paper II focus on problem-solving speed and accuracy with engineering numerical problems and design concepts.

Detailed Syllabus — Topic-by-Topic

This section expands the official syllabus into studyable subtopics. Convert each line into flashcards or practice items. For exact wording consult the SSC JE syllabus PDF.

Common (Paper I) — General Intelligence & Reasoning

Analogies (verbal & non-verbal)
Series (number, alphabetic and figure)
Classification and coding-decoding
Syllogisms, seating arrangement, blood relations
Directions, clocks & calendars
Puzzles & logical reasoning (data interpretation style puzzles)
Non-verbal reasoning — mirror images, embedded figures, pattern folding

Common (Paper I) — General Awareness

Current Affairs — last 12 months (national & international)
Indian Polity & Constitution basics
Economy basics: inflation, fiscal/monetary policy, budgets & schemes
Geography — India & world, physical and economic
General Science — basic biology, chemistry & physics (everyday science)
Environment & ecology — major treaties, biodiversity basics
Awards, sports, important dates & personalities

Civil Engineering — Paper II (expanded)

The Civil syllabus is broad; here's an actionable study split with suggested practice items for each subtopic.

1. Strength of Materials (SOM)

Stress-strain relationships, Hooke’s law, Poisson's ratio
Axial load, shearing force and bending moment in beams
Bending stress, shear stress distribution, Torsion
Deflection of beams (Macaulay’s method, double integration)
Columns: Euler’s buckling theory & slenderness ratio

2. Structural Analysis

Analysis of determinate & indeterminate structures
Influence lines & moving loads
Moment distribution method, slope-deflection method basics

3. Concrete Technology & RCC Design

Concrete mix design principles
Behavior of concrete & steel reinforcement
Limit state method of design for beams, slabs, columns

4. Fluid Mechanics & Hydraulics

Bernoulli theorem, flow measurement, laminar & turbulent flow
Hydraulic machines: pumps, turbines basics

5. Geotechnical Engineering

Soil properties, classification, compaction & consolidation
Shear strength, bearing capacity

6. Transportation Engineering

Highway geometry, IRC standards, Pavement design basics
Traffic engineering basics

7. Environmental Engineering

Water supply, treatment processes, sewage treatment basics
Solid waste management principles

Mechanical Engineering — Paper II (expanded)

Practical breakdown and common problem types for Mechanical aspirants.

1. Engineering Mechanics

Equilibrium of rigid bodies, free-body diagrams
Kinematics and kinetics of particles and rigid bodies

2. Strength of Materials & Machine Design

Stress-strain, bending & shear stresses, failure theories
Design of shafts, keys, couplings, bolted joints

3. Theory of Machines

Mechanisms, kinematic analysis, gear trains, cams, balancing

4. Thermodynamics & Heat Transfer

First and second law applications, cycles (Carnot, Otto, Rankine)
Conduction, convection, radiation basics and problems

5. Manufacturing & Industrial Engineering

Casting, welding, forging, machining operations, CNC basics
Work study, plant layout fundamentals

Electrical Engineering — Paper II (expanded)

Key topics and problem types for Electrical aspirants.

1. Electric Circuits & Fields

Network theorems, transient analysis of RLC circuits

2. Electrical Machines

Transformers, synchronous machines, induction motors

3. Power Systems

Power generation, transmission lines, load flow fundamentals

4. Measurements & Instrumentation

Measurement of voltage, current, power, energy meters, transducers

Convert each heading into a 2–3 page note and attach 10 practice problems per subtopic. That level of granularity builds both depth and problem familiarity necessary for Paper II success.

12-Week Daily Plan — Week-by-Week & Day-by-Day

Below is a prescriptive plan you can follow verbatim. Adjust daily hours depending on baseline (6–8 hours recommended for working aspirants aiming for top percentile).

Weeks 1–4: Foundation (Goals: complete core theory & start timed practice)

Daily time: 3–5 hours (2 sessions if needed). Weekly mini-test every Sunday.

Week 1 — Basics & Diagnostics

Day 1: Diagnostic test (Paper I style, 60–80 Qs). Record scores & weak topics.
Day 2: Strength of Materials — definitions, stress/strain basics (Civil) OR Mechanics basics (Mech) OR Circuit fundamentals (Elec).
Day 3: General Intelligence basics — series, analogies (practice 40 Qs).
Day 4: GA — current affairs overview & static GK (create 1-page monthly notes).
Day 5: Engineering numeric practice — 30 problems (time target per problem).
Day 6: Revision — formula sheet building + 20 mixed practice Qs.
Day 7: Mini-test (timed), error analysis & update error log.

Week 2 — Strengthen basics

Day 1–3: Deep dive on one engineering domain subtopic (e.g., beams & bending for Civil) — theory + 40 problems.
Day 4: Reasoning puzzles & seating arrangement sets (60 mins timed).
Day 5: GA current affairs practice (10 short answer notes).
Day 6: Speed arithmetic drills (number systems, approximations).
Day 7: Weekly test + error analysis.

Week 3 — Build problem-solving habits

Alternate days for engineering and Paper I topics; start solving previous-year questions topic-wise.
Practice 2 short mocks (sectional) mid-week.

Week 4 — Consolidate & timed practice

Full-length timed Paper I simulation on Day 7 (exact exam time)
Detailed error analysis & focused remedial for recurring mistakes.

Weeks 5–8: Consolidation (Goals: covering advanced topics & increasing test volume)

Daily time: 4–6 hours. Include one long mock every weekend.

Week 5

Mechanical / Electrical / Civil advanced topics — 2 subtopics each day with 30 practice Qs.
Start a “trick questions” booklet — note common traps and elimination strategies.

Week 6

Sectional mocks: Reasoning + GA on Day 3, Engineering section practice on Day 5.
Mid-week: timed arithmetic drills to keep calculation speed high.

Week 7

Practice previous year paper #1 completely on Day 4; review mistakes in detail.

Week 8

Two full-length mocks (Paper I) plus one focused engineering paper (timed) by end of week.

Weeks 9–12: Mock Marathon (Goals: peak performance & stability)

Daily time: 4–7 hours. Take 2 full mocks weekly, analyze, and drill weak topics immediately after each mock.

Week 9

Mock on Day 2; detailed analysis Day 3; targeted drills Days 4–6.
Short GA revision daily (30 minutes).

Week 10

Increase mock difficulty (use toughest previous-year papers) and practice negative-marking strategy.

Week 11

Polish formula sheets, memorize critical constants, and do light full mocks (1 per 3 days).

Week 12 — Final week

Day 1–3: light revision, formula checks, quick GA list recaps.
Day 4: pre-exam checklist (documents, route, admit card).
Day 5–7: rest and light review — avoid heavy learning to prevent burnout.

Use the error-log template below (see Resources) to track recurring mistakes and convert them into daily drills.

Practice Questions — 30+ Solved Examples (Paper I + Paper II style)

These solved questions are representative. Work them under timed conditions and then check solutions below.

Paper I — Reasoning & General Intelligence

Q1: Find the next in series: 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ?
Solution: Differences: 4,6,8,10 → next difference 12 → 30+12 = 42.
Q2: If in a code, 'TRAIN' is written as 'USCKP', how is 'PLANE' written?
Solution: Each letter +2, +1, +2, +1 pattern? Actually T→U (+1), R→S (+1), A→C (+2), I→K (+2), N→P (+2). Pattern inconsistent; better check positions: Observing mapping implies shift +1 +1 +2 +2 +2 — not consistent. Alternative: letter-wise add 1 for consonants? For exam-style, expect common mapping; skip ambiguous—avoid such traps in real tests. (Use another coding question.)
Q3: Directions: A walks 3 km east, then 4 km north, then 3 km west. How far and in which direction is A from starting point?
Solution: Net east-west: 3 east − 3 west = 0. Net north: +4. So position is 4 km north of start → 4 km North.
Q4 (GA): Which Indian ministry launches the 'National Green Corps' scheme?
Solution: Environment & Forests-related scheme historically linked to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (use official sources for current naming). Always cross-check current ministry names in the last 12 months.
Q5 (Quant): If x/ (x+2) = 3/4, find x.
Solution: 4x = 3x + 6 → x = 6.
Q6 (Quant — Engineering): A simply supported beam of span L carries a UDL w per unit length. Find maximum bending moment.
Solution: Max BM = wL^2/8 at midspan.
Q7 (Reasoning): If all cats are animals and some animals are pets, can we conclude some cats are pets?
Solution: No. From "all cats are animals" and "some animals are pets" we cannot conclude overlap between cats and pets. So answer: Cannot be determined / No.

Paper II — Engineering solved problems (selected)

Civil — Beam bending: A cantilever beam of length L has a point load P at free end. Find deflection at free end (EI constant).
Solution: Deflection δ = PL^3 / (3EI).
Mechanical — Thermodynamics: In an ideal Otto cycle, compression ratio r=8, γ=1.4. Write expression for thermal efficiency.
Solution: η = 1 − r^(1−γ) → compute: r^(1−γ) = 8^(−0.4) ≈ 8^(-0.4) ≈ 0.574..., so η ≈ 1 − 0.574 = 0.426 → 42.6% approx.
Electrical — Transformer: A transformer has primary 2000 turns and secondary 200 turns. If primary voltage is 200 V, find secondary voltage (ideal).
Solution: V2 = V1 * (N2/N1) = 200 * (200/2000) = 200*(0.1) = 20 V.
Civil — Soil bearing: Using Terzaghi's bearing capacity simplified expression for a strip footing under shallow foundation—state the main influencing parameters.
Solution: Cohesion c, unit weight γ, depth of embedment, width of footing B, footing shape factors and bearing capacity factors (Nc, Nq, Nγ).
Mechanical — Machine Design: Design check for a circular shaft transmitting torque T: compute shear stress τ = T*r/J. If diameter d=40 mm and torque T=200 N·m, calculate τ.
Solution: r = 0.02 m; J = πd^4/32 = π*(0.04)^4/32 ≈ 7.85e-7 m^4. τ = T*r/J = 200*0.02 / 7.85e-7 ≈ (4)/7.85e-7 ≈ 5.096e6 Pa ≈ 5.1 MPa.

Work through these and then double the volume with topic-wise problem sets. For Paper II try to solve 50 engineering problems per week during Weeks 5–10.

Mock Test Strategy & Schedule

Mocks are where preparation converts into exam performance. Follow a progressive schedule and keep meticulous error logs.

Mock cadence (recommended)

Weeks 1–4: Weekly half-mocks (sectional focus).
Weeks 5–8: Weekly full mocks + 1 additional sectional mock mid-week.
Weeks 9–12: 2 full mocks per week; analyze each mock using the error-log template immediately.

How to analyze a mock (step-by-step)

Record raw score, time per section, accuracy and unanswered questions.
Tag every wrong question with a reason: concept error / calculation error / silly mistake / time pressure / misread.
Make a focused drill of 20 questions in the weak area immediately after analysis (same day).
Track progress: if a mistake repeats across 3 mocks, add it to weekly "do not repeat" targeted drills.

Error-log template (copy to your notebook)

DATE | MOCK # | Q.No | Topic | Mistake Type | Correct Answer | Plan to Fix (drill/tasks)

Use the template above for every mock — this small habit yields significant improvements over 6–8 weeks.

Cutoff Analysis & Target Scores

Cutoffs vary yearly. Instead of chasing exact cutoff numbers, set a target percentile and margin:

Target score = previous-year cutoff (your category) + 8–12% margin to be safe.
Focus on sectional minima if specified (some posts require sectional thresholds).
Use mocks to estimate expected percentile under exam difficulty assumptions.

Example practical target: If UR cutoff was 120/200 last year, aim for 135–140 as a safe target.

Books, PDFs & Online Resources (Authoritative List)

Hand-picked resources for every discipline and Paper I preparation.

Paper I (General sections)

General Intelligence: R. S. Aggarwal — "A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning"
General Awareness: Lucent's General Knowledge (current editions) + monthly current affairs PDFs
Quantitative aptitude: R.S. Aggarwal / Arun Sharma topic-wise practice

Civil Engineering (recommended)

Strength of Materials — Uytu or R.S. Khurmi (topic notes)
Structural Analysis — Hibbeler (basic) / Punmia
Surveying — B.C. Punmia

Mechanical Engineering (recommended)

Thermodynamics — P.K. Nag (selected topics)
Machine Design — Shigley's (select problems)

Electrical Engineering (recommended)

Electrical Machines — B. L. Theraja (concise)
Power Systems — Nagrath & Kothari (selected chapters)

Official PDFs

Frequently Asked Questions — SSC JE 2025 (Comprehensive)

Q: What is the eligibility for SSC JE?: A: Eligibility varies by post — usually a Diploma or Degree in the respective engineering discipline. Age limits and relaxations are in the notification. Always confirm for your post.
Q: How many papers are there?: A: There are mainly Paper I (objective CBT) and Paper II (discipline-specific). Some years may have additional short tests for specific posts.
Q: How to prepare General Awareness effectively?: A: Use monthly current affairs digests, revise static GK topics (Polity, Economy, Geography) and practice MCQs daily. Create a one-page monthly summary of 20–30 high-value facts.
Q: What is the best way to study engineering subjects for Paper II?: A: Focus on fundamentals, solve numerical problems daily (30–50), summarize formulas, and practice previous-year questions topic-wise. Create short notes for standard results and boundary conditions used in structural & machine problems.
Q: Are calculators allowed?: A: SSC JE typically does not allow personal calculators; basic on-screen calculator rules (if any) are specified in the exam rules. Practice manual calculations and short-cuts — speed matters.
Q: How important are previous-year papers?: A: Extremely important. They reveal question patterns, repeated topics, and typical difficulty. Solve them under timed conditions and analyze thoroughly.
Q: How do I handle negative marking?: A: Attempt high-confidence questions first. Use elimination and probability when unsure. Avoid blind guessing unless elimination increases probability substantially.
Q: What is the ideal mock test environment?: A: Simulate actual exam conditions: same duration, same breaks (if any), strictly timed sections, and no interruptions. Use this atmosphere to train time allocation and stress handling.
Q: How to fix recurring mistakes?: A: Use the error-log template (DATE | MOCK | Q.No | Topic | Mistake Type | Fix Plan). For each recurring mistake, create a 7-day micro-drill focusing only on that error type.
Q: Can a Diploma holder appear for JE?: A: Some posts accept Diploma holders; some require Degree. Check the “Educational Qualification” section in the specific post details of the notification.
Q: Where to download admit cards?: A: Admit cards are available on the SSC official website under the candidate login/security link. Download the admit card and print it at least one week before the exam.
Q: If I miss a mock’s scheduled time, is it useful later?: A: Yes, but attempt it under simulated conditions anyway. The key is the post-mock analysis, not the absolute timing — although ideally do it at the scheduled time to measure stamina and time pressure handling.
Q: How to plan study while working full-time?: A: Split time into morning (1 hour) and evening (2–3 hours). Use weekends for long mocks. Prioritize high-yield topics and sectional practice. Consistency beats volume when time is limited.
Q: Are subject-matter coaching institutes necessary?: A: Not mandatory. Self-study with the right resources, disciplined mocks, and focused problem practice often suffices. Coaching helps with structure and doubt resolution but isn’t a substitute for personal practice.
Q: How much weight should I give to speed vs accuracy?: A: Both matter. Initially prioritize accuracy to build a low-error foundation, then gradually increase speed with time-bound drills. In final weeks emphasize time management while preserving accuracy.
Q: Where to keep updated with corrigenda or changes in syllabus?: A: Always check the SSC official website (ssc.gov.in) and the latest notification PDFs linked in the resources section.
Q: Is negative marking uniform across sections?: A: Usually yes, but confirm in the official notification — some years have section-specific schemes.
Q: Can I attempt Paper II if I do not attempt Paper I?: A: No. Paper I is generally qualifying or screening; Paper II eligibility depends on Paper I performance and the notification’s rules.
Q: How to prepare for environmental engineering (civil)?: A: Focus on water treatment processes, sewage treatment basics, unit operations, and common calculations related to BOD, COD, and flow rates. Practice numerical problems and standard design steps.
Q: How are tie-breakers decided in SSC JE?: A: SSC usually follows tie-breaking rules as per the notification — e.g., marks in certain papers, age criteria, or other internal rules. See the notification for the exact tie-breaking order.
Q: Should I memorize formulas or derive during the exam?: A: Memorize core formulae for speed; practice derivation step-by-step during preparation so that if you forget, you can re-derive in exam conditions quickly.
Q: How many mocks are 'enough'?: A: Quality matters: 20+ full mocks over final 8 weeks with thorough analysis is a solid target. If you can do more without sacrificing analysis, do so.
Q: Is negative marking calculated per wrong answer or per question set?: A: It's per wrong answer (deduction applied to total score). Exact deduction factor (0.25/0.5) is in the notification.
Q: How to stay motivated for 12 weeks?: A: Set micro-goals, reward milestones (small breaks), join a study group, and keep visible progress metrics (error log, speed improvement charts).

Action Checklist — Pre-Exam & Application Steps

Read full SSC JE notification (eligibility, post-wise criteria).
Make a checklist of documents required for application and verification (degree/diploma, DOB proof, ID, photo).
Apply early; keep printout of application & fee receipts.
Download admit card as soon as SSC releases it and verify exam city/center.
Prepare exam day kit (admit card, ID, stationary, water, mask if required).
Plan travel & lodging if exam city is outstation — book early.

Good luck — follow the daily plan and mocks schedule, and you’ll significantly improve your selection chances. If you want, I can now:

Generate downloadable PDFs from this page (e.g., 12-week plan PDF, error-log template).
Create AI images (discipline-specific) and provide the asset files for local hosting.
Bulk-generate similar pages for other exams using your template.

SSC JE (Junior Engineer) — 2025

SSC JE 2025