SSC CHSL Syllabus 2026 – Complete Tier I & Tier II Guide
SSC CHSL — the Combined Higher Secondary Level exam — is the most important central government recruitment for 12th pass candidates in India. Every year, millions of students appear for it hoping to land a government job as an LDC, PA, SA, or DEO. But a surprising number of those students are preparing from the wrong syllabus. SSC revised the CHSL pattern in 2023, cutting it from three tiers to two. If you're still reading old syllabuses with a separate Tier II written descriptive paper, stop right now — it doesn't exist anymore.
This guide covers the complete, accurate SSC CHSL 2026 syllabus — Tier I and Tier II, the new Paper I pattern, the skill test, the typing test requirements, and the topic list for every subject. Read this once carefully and you'll know exactly what is on the paper and what you can safely skip.
SSC CHSL 2026 — Selection Process Overview
One of the most common myths among aspirants is that SSC CHSL is a three-stage exam. That was true before 2023. The current structure has two tiers:
- Tier I — Computer Based Test (CBT). Qualifying and shortlisting round. Your Tier I marks do not count toward final merit.
- Tier II — Computer Based Test (Paper I) + Skill Test or Typing Test (as applicable to the post). Final merit is based on Tier II Paper I marks only.
This is a major shift that changes your preparation strategy. A student who barely clears Tier I cutoff has exactly the same chance at merit as someone who topped it — because only Tier II marks matter. Do not obsess over Tier I rank. Clear the cutoff, then pour everything into Tier II.
Tier I — Exam Pattern 2026
Tier I is a 60-minute, 100-question, 200-mark objective test with four sections of 25 questions each. There is a negative marking of 0.50 marks per wrong answer. The exam is conducted online (Computer Based Test).
| Section | Subject | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | General Intelligence & Reasoning | 25 | 50 | 60 min (combined) |
| 2 | English Language (Basic Knowledge) | 25 | 50 | |
| 3 | Quantitative Aptitude (Basic Arithmetic) | 25 | 50 | |
| 4 | General Awareness | 25 | 50 | |
| Total | — | 100 | 200 | 60 min |
Important note on Tier I: The marks you score here do NOT appear in your final merit list. SSC uses Tier I only to shortlist candidates for Tier II. Clearing the cutoff — typically 100–130 out of 200 depending on category and year — is the only goal here. After that, forget about Tier I.
Tier II — Exam Pattern 2026 (New Structure)
Tier II under the revised pattern has three Papers, but only Paper I is for all candidates and counts toward merit. Papers II and III are skill/typing qualifying tests for specific posts.
| Paper | Section / Subject | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I (All posts) |
Section I — Mathematical Abilities (20Q) + Reasoning & GI (20Q) | 40 | 120 | 2 hr 15 min |
| Section II — English Language & Comprehension (40Q) + General Awareness (20Q) | 60 | 180 | ||
| Section III — Computer Knowledge Module (15Q) | 15 | 45 | ||
| Paper I Total | 115 | 345 | ||
| Paper II (DEO posts only) |
Skill Test in Data Entry — 8,000 key depressions/hour | — | Qualifying | 15 min |
| Paper III (PA/SA/LDC only) |
Typing Test — English 35 WPM or Hindi 30 WPM | — | Qualifying | 10 min |
Negative marking in Tier II Paper I: −1 mark per wrong answer (double the Tier I penalty). This means the exam rewards precision over speed. Never guess randomly in Tier II.
Skill Test and Typing Test are qualifying in nature — they do not add to your merit score. You either pass them or you don't. Clearing Paper I at a high score is what actually determines your rank and allocation.
Tier II Skill Test & Typing Test — Detailed Requirements
DEO Skill Test (Paper II)
The Data Entry Operator Skill Test checks speed and accuracy on a computer keyboard. Here's what you need to know:
- Speed required: 8,000 key depressions per hour (approximately 133 keystrokes per minute)
- Duration: 15 minutes — you are given printed matter to type
- Nature: Qualifying only — pass or fail, no score counted in merit
- Platform: On a computer at the exam centre
- Accuracy: Errors reduce your effective KDPH — clean typing matters as much as speed
Practical tip: 8,000 KDPH sounds intimidating. Break it down: 133 keystrokes per minute. Practice on any free typing tutor app (TypingMaster, 10FastFingers, etc.) for 20 minutes daily. Most students reach this target within 4–6 weeks of consistent practice.
Typing Test (Paper III) — PA, SA, LDC
| Language | Speed Required | Equivalent KDPH | Keyboard Layout Allowed |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 35 WPM | Approx. 10,500 KDPH | QWERTY |
| Hindi | 30 WPM | Approx. 9,000 KDPH | Inscript or Unicode only |
You choose English or Hindi — SSC does not force a language on you. English typing at 35 WPM is achievable in 5–6 weeks of daily 30-minute practice for most students starting from zero. Hindi typing on Inscript takes slightly longer to learn because of the keyboard layout, but 30 WPM is very achievable with 6–8 weeks of consistent practice.
For Hindi typing, SSC allows only Inscript or Unicode keyboard — not Remington GAIL or Mangal font shortcuts. Make sure you practice on the correct layout. Do not wait until after your Tier II result to start; begin typing practice 3 months before the expected result date.
Tier I Syllabus — Subject-Wise Topics
General Intelligence & Reasoning
CHSL Reasoning is based on 10+2 level — conceptually simpler than SSC CGL but still requires practice for speed. Topics asked:
- Analogies (both verbal and non-verbal)
- Similarities and Differences
- Spatial Orientation and Visualization
- Problem Solving, Analysis and Judgment
- Visual Memory and Discrimination
- Observation and Relationship Concepts
- Arithmetical Reasoning and Figural Classification
- Arithmetic Number Series and Non-Verbal Series
- Coding-Decoding
- Statement and Conclusion
- Seating Arrangement (basic, not complex)
- Blood Relations
- Directions and Distance
- Mirror Images and Water Images
- Embedded Figures and Paper Folding/Cutting