The Staff Selection Commission has released the tentative answer key for the Junior Engineer (Paper-II) examination, opening a short window for candidates to flag discrepancies before the final key is locked. Response sheets and question papers attempted by each candidate have also been hosted on the official portal.
Brief Information
The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) conducted the Junior Engineer (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical & Quantity Surveying and Contracts) Paper-II examination as part of the JE 2025–26 recruitment cycle. The Paper-II is a descriptive-style, 300-mark, technical paper meant only for candidates who cleared the objective Paper-I. Those who appeared in Tier-II can now download the tentative answer key, the question paper attempted, and their personal response sheet from the official SSC portal. The window to raise objections is short — typically open for a few days — and each challenge carries a non-refundable processing fee per question.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Paper-I (Tier-I) Conducted | As per official calendar (2025) |
| Paper-I Result Declared | Earlier in the cycle |
| Paper-II (Tier-II) Examination Date | As notified in the latest SSC notice |
| Tentative Answer Key Release | Out — check official portal |
| Objection Window | Limited days — refer notice |
| Final Answer Key | To be released after objection review |
| Result Declaration | To be announced |
Examination Details
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Staff Selection Commission (SSC) |
| Post Name | Junior Engineer (Civil / Mechanical / Electrical / QS & Contracts) |
| Examination | Paper-II (Tier-II) — Technical Descriptive |
| Mode | Computer-Based Examination (CBE) |
| Total Marks | 300 |
| Duration | 2 Hours (120 minutes); 2 hours 40 minutes for PwBD candidates eligible for scribe |
| Negative Marking | 1 mark deducted for each wrong answer |
| Language of Paper | English |
Subject-wise Paper Pattern
| Paper | Subject | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper-II | Part-A: General Engineering (Civil & Structural) | 300 |
| Part-B: General Engineering (Electrical) | 300 | |
| Part-C: General Engineering (Mechanical) | 300 |
Candidates appear in only one part (A, B or C) corresponding to the post they have applied for.
How to Download Answer Key
- Open the official SSC website — ssc.gov.in.
- Click on the Candidate Login section on the homepage.
- Enter your registered Login ID and Password (the same credentials used at the time of application).
- On the dashboard, navigate to the Answer Key / Response Sheet tab for the JE 2025 (Paper-II) examination.
- Click on View / Download Answer Key, Question Paper and Response Sheet.
- Verify each response, save the PDF on your device, and take a printout for record.
- If any answer appears doubtful, proceed to the objection window before the deadline.
Objection / Challenge Process
SSC permits candidates to raise objections against any answer or question they consider incorrect. The challenge has to be backed by valid published references — standard textbooks, official codes, IS specifications, recognised handbooks or peer-reviewed journals. Vague claims without proof are usually rejected at the review stage.
After the objection window closes, the Commission’s expert committee examines every challenge. Accepted objections lead to revisions in the final answer key, which is then used for evaluating the response sheets.
Marking Scheme & Score Calculation
| Action | Marks Awarded |
|---|---|
| Correct Answer | + Full marks for that question |
| Wrong Answer | − 1 mark |
| Unattempted Question | 0 mark (no deduction) |
| Multiple Options Marked | Treated as wrong → − 1 mark |
To estimate your probable score, count the questions you have correctly attempted, multiply by the marks per question, then deduct one mark for each incorrect attempt. The score arrived at is only indicative — the official score will be published only after the final answer key and normalisation, if any, is applied.
Cut-Off Expectation
Cut-off marks for SSC JE Paper-II depend on multiple variables — the number of vacancies released, total candidates qualified in Paper-I, paper difficulty, and category-wise reservation. Going by the trend of the last several recruitment years, the technical Paper-II cut-off has stayed in the broad range of 250–290 marks (out of 600 in combined Tier-I + Tier-II) for the unreserved category, with category-wise relaxations as per rules. Aspirants are advised to wait for the official cut-off rather than rely on coaching estimates.
Result & Next Stage
Once the final answer key is published, SSC processes the response sheets and prepares a merit list. The result is hosted on the official portal in PDF form, listing the roll numbers of provisionally selected candidates. Selected candidates are then called for Document Verification (DV) at the regional SSC office. Final allotment of post and department is made by the Commission on the basis of merit, post preference and vacancy position communicated by the user departments — CPWD, MES, Border Roads Organisation, Central Water Commission, and others.
Important Links
Download Answer Key: Available at official portal — ssc.gov.in
Response Sheet: Login required (Candidate Dashboard)
Raise Objection: Online challenge window — ssc.gov.in
Official Notice: SSC Notice Board
Official Website: https://ssc.gov.in/