The Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination, usually called SSC CHSL, is the exam the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) uses to recruit Group C staff for central government ministries, departments and offices. It fills three kinds of post: Lower Division Clerk (LDC) or Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA), Data Entry Operator (DEO) and Data Entry Operator Grade 'A'. You only need to have passed Class 12 to apply, which makes it one of the main routes into a central government job for school leavers. This guide uses the SSC CHSL 2026 notice, published on ssc.gov.in on 7 September 2026, which lists about 2,536 tentative vacancies.
At a glance
| Conducted by | Staff Selection Commission (SSC), Government of India |
| Mode | Computer-based examination (CBE) in two tiers, plus a skill or typing test in Tier-II |
| Tiers | Tier-I (shortlisting); Tier-II (merit, computer knowledge test and skill or typing test) |
| Tier-I | 100 questions, 200 marks, 60 minutes with a 15-minute timer for each of the four subjects |
| Tier-II | Sections I and II: 120 questions, 360 marks, 2 hours; Computer Knowledge: 15 questions, 15 minutes; then a skill or typing test |
| Negative marking | 0.50 per wrong answer in Tier-I; 1 mark per wrong answer in Tier-II Sections I to III |
| Usually held | Tier-I for 2026 is proposed for 30 November to 31 December 2026; Tier-II dates not yet announced |
| Eligibility | Class 12 pass by 7 October 2026; age 18–27 on 1 August 2026, with relaxations |
| Fee | INR 100; women, SC, ST, PwBD and eligible ex-servicemen candidates pay no fee |
| Vacancies (2026) | About 2,536 (tentative) |
| Official website | ssc.gov.in |
Exam pattern
The tables below are taken from the SSC CHSL 2026 notice. Applications closed on 7 October 2026 and the correction window ran from 14 to 16 October 2026. SSC's notice of 1 October 2026 lists Tier-I as proposed for 30 November to 31 December 2026.
Tier-I (computer-based)
| Part | Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | English Language (Basic Knowledge) | 25 | 50 |
| II | General Intelligence | 25 | 50 |
| III | Quantitative Aptitude (Basic Arithmetic Skill) | 25 | 50 |
| IV | General Awareness | 25 | 50 |
| Total | 100 | 200 |
Tier-I lasts 60 minutes, with a sectional timer of 15 minutes for each subject. Candidates eligible for a scribe get 80 minutes (20 minutes per subject).
Tier-II, Session I (2 hours 15 minutes)
| Section | Subject | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section I | A: Mathematical Abilities | 30 | 90 | 30 minutes |
| B: Reasoning and General Intelligence | 30 | 90 | 30 minutes | |
| Section II | A: English Language and Comprehension | 40 | 120 | 40 minutes |
| B: General Awareness | 20 | 60 | 20 minutes | |
| Section III | Computer Knowledge Test | 15 | 45 | 15 minutes |
Each Tier-II question carries 3 marks, so Sections I and II are worth 180 marks each.
Tier-II, Session II: Section IV (skill or typing test)
| Part | Post | Requirement | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | DEO / DEO Grade 'A' in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, SSC and the Ministry of Culture | 15,000 key depressions per hour (passage of about 3,700–4,000 key depressions) | 15 minutes |
| B | DEO / DEO Grade 'A' in other departments | 8,000 key depressions per hour (passage of about 2,000–2,200 key depressions) | 15 minutes |
| C | LDC / JSA | Typing at 35 words per minute in English or 30 words per minute in Hindi | 10 minutes |
Notes on the pattern:
- Marking. All tiers are objective multiple choice, except the skill or typing test. Tier-I deducts 0.50 marks for each wrong answer. Tier-II deducts 1 mark for each wrong answer in Sections I, II and III, where a correct answer earns 3.
- What counts for merit. Tier-I is used only to shortlist candidates for Tier-II. The final merit list is based on the total of Tier-II Sections I and II. You must also qualify in the Computer Knowledge Test and the skill or typing test, but their marks do not count towards merit.
- Normalisation. Where an exam runs in several shifts, scores are normalised using the procedure SSC published on 2 June 2025.
- Language. Tier-I questions are set in English, Hindi and the regional language you choose in the application (except the English part). Tier-II questions follow the same rule, except English Language and Comprehension.
- Same-day Tier-II. Both Tier-II sessions take place on the same day: Sections I to III in Session I, then the skill or typing test in Session II.
- Changes in the 2026 cycle. The CHSL 2025 notice gave 60 minutes for all four Tier-I parts together. The 2026 notice adds a 15-minute timer for each part, so you can no longer move time between subjects. In Tier-II, the 2025 notice gave one hour per section, whereas 2026 sets fixed times for each subject within a section (for example, 40 minutes for English and 20 for General Awareness). The age cut-off date has also moved from 1 January (2025 cycle) to 1 August (2026 cycle), and the fee to challenge an answer key has fallen from INR 100 to INR 50 per question. Vacancies are lower too: about 2,536, against about 3,131 in 2025.
SSC says the exam schedule in the notice is tentative, so check ssc.gov.in for updates.
What each section tests
SSC publishes an indicative syllabus in the notice. The summaries below follow it.
Quantitative Aptitude (Tier-I) and Mathematical Abilities (Tier-II)
Number systems and arithmetic (percentages, ratio and proportion, averages, simple and compound interest, profit and loss, discount, partnership, mixtures and alligation, time and distance, time and work), school algebra and surds, elementary geometry (triangles and their centres, congruence and similarity, circles, chords and tangents), mensuration of 2D and 3D shapes, basic trigonometry including heights and distances, and reading tables and charts (histograms, frequency polygons, bar charts, pie charts). Tier-II adds statistics and probability: mean, median, mode, standard deviation and simple probability.
General Intelligence (Tier-I) and Reasoning and General Intelligence (Tier-II)
Verbal and non-verbal reasoning in short, one-question formats: analogies, classification, series (number, semantic and figural), coding and decoding, Venn diagrams, symbolic operations, space orientation, embedded figures, paper folding and punched holes, drawing inferences, critical thinking, problem solving, emotional and social intelligence, and word building.
English Language
Spotting errors, fill in the blanks, synonyms and antonyms, spellings, idioms and phrases, one-word substitution, sentence improvement, active and passive voice, direct and indirect speech, rearranging sentence parts and sentences, cloze passages and comprehension. In Tier-II, comprehension uses two or more passages: at least one simple passage based on a book or story, and one based on a current-affairs editorial or report.
General Awareness
Current events, everyday science, and India and its neighbouring countries: history, culture, geography, the economy, general policy and scientific research.
Computer Knowledge (Tier-II, qualifying)
Computer basics (CPU, memory, input and output devices, ports, keyboard shortcuts), Windows and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), the internet and email, and basics of networking and cyber security.
Skill or typing test (Tier-II, qualifying)
A data-entry speed test for DEOs and a typing test for LDC/JSA, as set out in the pattern above. Candidates who choose Hindi for the typing test must type in the Mangal font.
How it compares with SSC CGL
| SSC CHSL 2026 | SSC CGL 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum qualification | Class 12 | Graduation |
| Posts | LDC/JSA, DEO, DEO Grade 'A' (Pay Levels 2, 4 and 5) | A wider range of Group B and C posts (Pay Levels 4 to 8) |
| Tentative vacancies | About 2,536 | About 12,256 |
| Tier-I | 100 questions, 200 marks, 60 minutes with 15-minute sectional timers | Same structure |
| Tier-II English and GA | 40 + 20 questions | 45 + 25 questions |
| Tier-II computer section | 15 questions | 20 questions |
| Skill test | Data entry (DEO) or typing (LDC/JSA) | Data Entry Speed Test, plus extra papers in Statistics or Finance and Economics for some posts |
In general terms:
- The papers look alike. Both exams use the same four Tier-I subjects, the same marking and the same sectional timers in 2026. Preparing for one covers much of the other.
- CGL goes further. CGL Tier-II has a longer English and General Awareness section, and some posts need extra graduation-level papers. CHSL has no additional papers.
- Age rules differ. CHSL uses 18–27 for all posts; CGL limits vary by post.
See our SSC CGL guide for its full pattern.
How Pareto Academy helps
Pareto Academy is built around CAT, not SSC exams, so be clear about what transfers. The arithmetic, algebra, geometry and data interpretation in CHSL overlap with CAT Quant and DI. But CHSL rewards speed on short, single-step questions (Tier-I gives you about 36 seconds per question), whereas CAT questions are longer and take several steps. Use our material to build understanding, then drill for speed elsewhere.
| CHSL section | Covered by Pareto? | What to use |
|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Aptitude / Mathematical Abilities | Partly | Quant questions, formula sheet and improve your Quant score for arithmetic, algebra, geometry and mensuration; trigonometry, statistics and probability get little coverage, and our questions are longer than CHSL ones |
| Charts and tables (within Quant) | Yes | DILR questions |
| General Intelligence / Reasoning | Limited | DILR questions and puzzle strategies help with logic; short-format types such as coding-decoding, series, analogies and figural reasoning are not covered |
| English Language | Partly | VARC questions, reading comprehension strategy and daily reading for comprehension; grammar, error spotting, idioms and vocabulary drills are not covered |
| General Awareness | Not yet | Official SSC material and a daily newspaper |
| Computer Knowledge | Not yet | Official SSC syllabus |
| Skill or typing test | Not yet | Regular typing practice |
| CHSL-pattern mocks | Not yet | Our mocks follow the CAT pattern; the mock analysis guide still applies to any mock you take |
Selection process and posts
- Tier-I. A computer-based test used to shortlist candidates for Tier-II. The minimum qualifying marks are 30% for UR, 25% for OBC and EWS, and 20% for all other categories. These minimums also apply to Sections I, II and III of Tier-II.
- Tier-II. Everyone who qualifies in Tier-I takes all four sections. You must qualify in each one. Merit is based on the total of Sections I and II.
- Post preferences. You give your order of preference for posts and departments online before the result. If you miss the deadline, you will not be considered for any post. Once you are given your highest available preference on merit, you are not considered for others.
- Document verification. The departments you are allocated to carry this out after the final result.
SSC may set separate cut-offs for three groups: DEOs in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, SSC and the Ministry of Culture; DEOs elsewhere; and LDC/JSA. If candidates tie on Tier-II marks, Section I marks decide first, then Tier-I marks.
Posts and pay (2026 notice)
| Post | Pay level |
|---|---|
| Lower Division Clerk / Junior Secretariat Assistant | Level 2 (INR 19,900–63,200) |
| Data Entry Operator | Level 4 (INR 25,500–81,100) and Level 5 (INR 29,200–92,300) |
| Data Entry Operator Grade 'A' | Level 4 (INR 25,500–81,100) |
DEO posts in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, SSC and the Ministry of Culture need Class 12 in the science stream with Mathematics. All other posts need a Class 12 pass in any stream. Post-wise and category-wise vacancies will be published on ssc.gov.in under Candidate's Corner, Tentative Vacancy.
Preparation tips
- Plan for each section's timer. With 15 minutes for each Tier-I subject, you cannot borrow time from a section you find easy. Practise each subject in 15-minute timed blocks.
- Be careful with guesses, especially in Tier-II. A wrong answer costs a quarter of a correct one in Tier-I, but a third in Tier-II (minus 1 against plus 3).
- Build speed in arithmetic. Tier-I gives you about 36 seconds per question. Learn standard shortcuts for percentages, ratios, interest and time and work until you can apply them without thinking.
- Treat reasoning as a separate skill. The short CHSL types (series, analogies, coding, figures) need their own practice. Puzzle-solving skill alone will not cover them.
- Read every day for English and General Awareness. Tier-II comprehension includes a passage based on a current-affairs editorial or report, so a daily newspaper helps both sections.
- Start typing practice early. The typing or skill test is on the same day as Tier-II. It is qualifying only, but if you fail it you cannot be selected, however well you score.
- Do not neglect computer knowledge. It is a qualifying section with negative marking, and the syllabus is short.
Frequently asked questions
When is SSC CHSL 2026 Tier-I?
SSC's notice of 1 October 2026 lists Tier-I as proposed for 30 November to 31 December 2026. Tier-II dates have not been announced. Check ssc.gov.in for your admit card and any changes.
Is there negative marking in SSC CHSL?
Yes. Tier-I deducts 0.50 marks for each wrong answer (each question carries 2 marks). Tier-II deducts 1 mark for each wrong answer in Sections I to III (each question carries 3 marks).
What changed in SSC CHSL 2026?
Tier-I now has a 15-minute timer for each of its four subjects instead of 60 minutes for all four together. Tier-II now sets fixed times for each subject within a section. Age is now counted on 1 August 2026 rather than on 1 January, and the answer-key challenge fee has fallen to INR 50 per question.
Do Tier-I marks count in the final merit list?
No. Tier-I is used only to shortlist candidates for Tier-II. The final merit list is based on Sections I and II of Tier-II, as long as you also qualify in the Computer Knowledge Test and the skill or typing test.
What is the age limit for SSC CHSL 2026?
18 to 27 years on 1 August 2026. This means you must have been born between 2 August 1999 and 1 August 2008. The upper limit is relaxed by 5 years for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC and 10 years for PwBD candidates, among other categories.
Sources
- SSC CHSL 2026 notice (ssc.gov.in): posts and pay levels, tentative vacancies, age limit and relaxations, educational qualifications, fee, application and correction dates, Tier-I and Tier-II scheme, negative marking, skill and typing test standards, syllabus, qualifying marks, selection and tie-breaking rules (accessed 24 October 2026)
- SSC important notice on examination schedule, 1 October 2026 (ssc.gov.in): proposed Tier-I dates of 30 November to 31 December 2026 (accessed 24 October 2026)
- SSC CHSL 2025 notice (ssc.gov.in): the 2025 pattern, age cut-off date, answer-key fee and vacancies, used to identify the 2026 changes (accessed 24 October 2026)
- SSC CGL 2026 notice (ssc.gov.in): CGL qualification, pay levels, vacancies and Tier-I and Tier-II pattern for the comparison (accessed 24 October 2026)
- Major changes in SSC CHSL 2026, as reported by Adda247 (2026): corroboration of the new Tier-I sectional timing and the lower vacancy count (accessed 24 October 2026)
- SSC CHSL 2026 notification, as reported by Careers360 (2026): corroboration of the 7 September 2026 notification date, the application window and the vacancy figure (accessed 24 October 2026)
Researched from official sources on 24 October 2026. Exam patterns change from year to year: always confirm the latest details on the official website before you apply.