SSC CHSL 2026 · Syllabus & exam pattern
SSC CHSL Syllabus 2026 and Exam Pattern: Subject-wise Topics
SSC CHSL selection: Tier-I (60 minutes); Tier-II (Session-I 2 h 15 min, Session-II same day), as per the official notice published 7 September 2026.
Subjects, number of questions, marks, duration and negative marking for every stage, as printed in the official notice.
SSC CHSL exam pattern 2026
Stages of selection
- 1Tier-I: computer-based test
- 2Tier-II: computer-based test (Session-I) and skill/typing test (Session-II)
- 3Document verification
Tier-I
60 minutes (15-minute sectional timer)
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| English Language (Basic Knowledge) | 25 | 50 |
| General Intelligence | 25 | 50 |
| Quantitative Aptitude (Basic Arithmetic Skill) | 25 | 50 |
| General Awareness | 25 | 50 |
Tier-II
Session-I 2 h 15 min, Session-II same day
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Section I: Mathematical Abilities + Reasoning | 30 + 30 | 180 |
| Section II: English Language + General Awareness | as per notice | as per notice |
| Section III: Computer Knowledge Test | as per notice | as per notice |
| Section IV: Skill Test / Typing Test | — | Qualifying |
Negative marking: 1 mark per wrong answer in Sections I–III.
Source: Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination, 2026 — Notice (published 7 September 2026). Confirm in the official notice before applying.
Exam pattern details, qualifying marks and tie-break
Tier-I has four parts — English Language, General Intelligence, Quantitative Aptitude and General Awareness — each with 25 questions for 50 marks, in 60 minutes with a 15-minute sectional timer. Wrong answers in Tier-I cost 0.50 marks.
Tier-II Session-I lasts 2 hours 15 minutes. Section-I (Mathematical Abilities and Reasoning, 30 questions each, 180 marks) and Section-II (English Language and Comprehension 40 questions, General Awareness 20 questions, 180 marks) each run for one hour; Section-III is a 15-question, 45-mark Computer Knowledge Test of 15 minutes. Each wrong answer in Sections I–III costs 1 mark. Session-II, the same day, is the skill or typing test.
You must reach the minimum qualifying marks in Tier-I and in each of Sections I, II and III of Tier-II: 30% for UR, 25% for OBC and EWS, and 20% for all other categories. The Computer Knowledge Test and the skill/typing test are qualifying only. Normalised scores are used for merit and final selection, and there may be separate cut-offs for DEOs in the four ministries named above, other DEOs, and LDC/JSA.
If candidates tie in Tier-II, merit is decided in this order: marks in Section-I of Tier-II, then marks in Tier-I, then date of birth (older candidates first).
SSC CHSL syllabus: Tier-I and Tier-II (indicative, as printed)
The notice prints an indicative syllabus (para 13.10 for Tier-I and 13.11 for Tier-II). Candidates with 40% or more visual disability get no maps, graphs, diagrams or statistical-data questions in the reasoning and quantitative parts.
- Tier-I English Language: spot the error, fill in the blanks, synonyms/homonyms, antonyms, spellings, idioms and phrases, one-word substitution, sentence improvement, active/passive voice, direct/indirect narration, shuffling of sentence parts and sentences, cloze passage, comprehension passage.
- Tier-I General Intelligence: verbal and non-verbal questions — semantic, symbolic and figural analogy, classification and series, space orientation, Venn diagrams, drawing inferences, punched hole and pattern folding, embedded figures, critical thinking, problem solving, emotional and social intelligence, word building, coding-decoding, numerical operations.
- Tier-I Quantitative Aptitude: number systems; percentages, ratio and proportion, square roots, averages, simple and compound interest, profit and loss, discount, partnership, mixture and alligation, time and distance, time and work; basic algebra and linear graphs; geometry (triangles and their centres, congruence and similarity, circles, chords and tangents); mensuration; trigonometry and heights and distances; tables and graphs (histogram, frequency polygon, bar diagram, pie chart).
- Tier-I General Awareness: current events, everyday science, and India and its neighbours — history, culture, geography, economic scene, general policy and scientific research.
- Tier-II Mathematical Abilities: the Tier-I arithmetic, algebra, geometry, mensuration and trigonometry topics, plus statistics and probability (mean, median, mode, standard deviation, simple probability).
- Tier-II Reasoning and General Intelligence: the same verbal and non-verbal topics as Tier-I.
- Tier-II English Language and Comprehension: vocabulary, grammar, sentence structure and the Tier-I topics; two or more comprehension passages, at least one simple (from a book or story) and one from a current-affairs editorial or report.
- Tier-II General Awareness: as in Tier-I.
- Tier-II Computer Knowledge: computer basics (CPU, input/output devices, memory, back-up devices, ports, Windows Explorer, keyboard shortcuts); Windows and MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint); internet, e-mail and e-banking; networking and cyber security basics (hacking, viruses, worms, Trojans and prevention).
Skill test and typing test standards
Session-II of Tier-II
| Test | Post | Standard | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part A — skill test | DEO / DEO Grade 'A' in Consumer Affairs, SSC and Culture | 15,000 key depressions per hour on a passage of about 3,700–4,000 key depressions | 15 minutes |
| Part B — skill test | DEO / DEO Grade 'A' in other departments | 8,000 key depressions per hour | 15 minutes |
| Part C — typing test | LDC / JSA | 35 words per minute in English or 30 words per minute in Hindi (about 10,500 / 9,000 key depressions per hour) | 10 minutes |
Candidates eligible for a scribe get extra time (20 minutes for skill tests, 15 minutes for the typing test). The skill test is compulsory for all qualified DEO candidates; the typing test is compulsory except for candidates exempted under the notice's PwBD provision.
Frequently asked questions
What is the SSC CHSL exam pattern?
Tier-I: English Language (Basic Knowledge), General Intelligence, Quantitative Aptitude (Basic Arithmetic Skill), General Awareness (60 minutes (15-minute sectional timer)) Tier-II: Section I: Mathematical Abilities + Reasoning, Section II: English Language + General Awareness, Section III: Computer Knowledge Test, Section IV: Skill Test / Typing Test (Session-I 2 h 15 min, Session-II same day). Negative marking: 1 mark per wrong answer in Sections I–III.
What is the typing speed for SSC CHSL LDC?
35 words per minute in English or 30 words per minute in Hindi, tested for 10 minutes.
What is the DEO skill test speed?
15,000 key depressions per hour for DEOs in the four named ministries and 8,000 key depressions per hour for other DEO posts, each over 15 minutes.
Is there negative marking in SSC CHSL?
Yes: 0.50 marks per wrong answer in Tier-I and 1 mark per wrong answer in Sections I, II and III of Tier-II.
What are the qualifying marks in SSC CHSL?
30% for UR, 25% for OBC and EWS and 20% for others, in Tier-I and in each of Sections I–III of Tier-II.