SSC MTS Numerical & Mathematical Ability Syllabus
Twenty questions, sixty marks, Session 1, no negative marking. This is the shortest maths syllabus of any SSC examination and it sits in the half of the paper where a wrong answer costs nothing.
Both facts matter for how you prepare. The topic list is genuinely small, and the marking rules mean every question is worth attempting.
Where it sits in the exam
Detail | Value |
Session | Session 1 |
Questions | 20 |
Marks | 60 |
Marks per question | 3 |
Negative marking | None |
Session duration | 45 minutes, shared with reasoning |
SSC MTS Numerical and Mathematical Ability syllabus, topic wise
Number system
Integers and whole numbers, LCM and HCF, decimals and fractions, relationships between numbers, squares and square roots.
Arithmetic operations
Fundamental arithmetic operations and BODMAS.
Commercial arithmetic
Percentage, ratio and proportion, averages, simple interest, profit and loss, discount.
Time based problems
Work and time, direct and inverse proportion, distance and time.
Geometry and mensuration
Lines and angles, area and perimeter of basic geometric figures.
Data handling
Interpretation of simple graphs and data.
What is not in the syllabus
This is as useful to know as what is in it, because candidates preparing from CHSL or CGL material spend weeks on topics that never appear.
There is no trigonometry. No coordinate geometry. No compound interest. No solid mensuration, so no cones, cylinders or spheres. No algebra beyond the arithmetic already listed. No probability or statistics.
The syllabus stops at Class 10 arithmetic and basic plane geometry, and the Commission does not go past it.
How to prepare
Learn the standard formulae and then practise arithmetic speed rather than technique. Twenty questions in a shared forty-five minute session is comfortable, so accuracy matters more than shortcuts.
Percentage, ratio and proportion, profit and loss, average and time and work between them account for the bulk of the section in most shifts. Build those five first.
Because there is no negative marking, attempt every question. Solve what you can, mark the rest and fill in every blank before the session closes.
Frequently asked questions
How many maths questions are asked in SSC MTS?
20 questions for 60 marks, in Session 1.
Is there negative marking for the maths section?
No. Session 1 has no negative marking.
Is trigonometry part of the SSC MTS syllabus?
No. The syllabus stops at Class 10 arithmetic and basic geometry.
What level is SSC MTS maths?
Matriculation, so Class 10 standard.
Is compound interest asked in SSC MTS?
The notified syllabus lists simple interest. Check the current notification before dropping compound interest from your preparation.
Topics, marks and marking scheme on this page follow the scheme of examination in the latest SSC MTS and Havaldar notification published on ssc.gov.in.