SSC CHSL Syllabus 2026 — check the complete Tier-I and Tier-II syllabus, exam pattern, marking scheme, negative marking, Skill Test and Typing Test details as per the official SSC notification dated 7 September 2026.
The SSC CHSL Syllabus is built around English Language, General Intelligence, Quantitative Aptitude and General Awareness in Tier-I, with Computer Knowledge and a Skill or Typing Test added in Tier-II. The trick to clearing it is to strike a balance between the raw speed the 200-mark Tier-I demands under a 15-minute sectional timer, and the depth of accuracy the 405-mark Tier-II expects across five different sections.
The Staff Selection Commission’s Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination is one of the largest entry-level Central Government recruitment drives in the country, with approximately 2,536 tentative vacancies notified for 2026. Yet a large number of aspirants lose the exam not to difficulty but to structure — they prepare for Tier-I, clear it, and then discover that Tier-II is a different animal altogether, with double negative marking, a mandatory Computer Knowledge Test, and a Skill or Typing Test on the very same day.
SSC CHSL Exam Pattern 2026: An Overview
The recruitment process consists of two Computer Based Examinations. Both tiers enforce strict sectional timing, and unlike many banking exams, SSC applies negative marking at two different rates across the two tiers.
Tier-I: Computer Based Examination
The SSC CHSL Tier-I syllabus 2026 is designed to test speed, accuracy and basic conceptual clarity.
| Subject | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language (Basic Knowledge) | 25 | 50 | |
| General Intelligence | 25 | 50 | 60 Minutes total |
| Quantitative Aptitude (Basic Arithmetic Skill) | 25 | 50 | (15-minute sectional timer per subject) |
| General Awareness | 25 | 50 | |
| Total | 100 | 200 | 60 Minutes |
Note: There is a negative marking of 0.50 marks for every incorrect answer in Tier-I. Candidates eligible for a scribe under Paras 7.1, 7.2 and 7.3 of the notification get 80 minutes, with a sectional timer of 20 minutes per subject.
The parts are not asked in the sequence listed — SSC explicitly states the order may vary.
Tier-II: Computer Based Examination
The SSC CHSL Mains syllabus 2026 is far more comprehensive and is conducted in two sessions on the same day.
Session-I (2 hours 15 minutes)
| Section | Subject | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section-I | A: Mathematical Abilities<br>B: Reasoning and General Intelligence | 30<br>30<br>(Total 60) | 180<br>(60 × 3) | 1 Hour<br>(30 min sectional timer each) |
| Section-II | A: English Language and Comprehension<br>B: General Awareness | 40<br>20<br>(Total 60) | 180<br>(60 × 3) | 1 Hour<br>(40 min for A, 20 min for B) |
| Section-III | Computer Knowledge Test | 15 | 45 | 15 Minutes |
| Total (Session-I) | 135 | 405 | 2 Hrs 15 Mins |
Session-II
| Section | Test | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Section-IV (Part A) | Skill Test for DEOs in Ministry of Consumer Affairs Food & Public Distribution, SSC and Ministry of Culture | 15 Minutes |
| Section-IV (Part B) | Skill Test for all other DEO/DEO Grade ‘A’ posts | 15 Minutes |
| Section-IV (Part C) | Typing Test for LDC/JSA | 10 Minutes |
Note: There is a negative marking of 1 mark for every incorrect answer in Section-I, Section-II and Section-III of Tier-II.
Marking and Merit Rules You Must Know
- Section-III (Computer Knowledge Test) is mandatory but qualifying in nature.
- Section-IV (Skill Test/Typing Test) is also mandatory but qualifying in nature.
- It is compulsory to qualify all four sections of Tier-II.
- The final merit list is prepared on the basis of aggregate marks in Section-I and Section-II of Tier-II only.
- Tier-I marks do not count in the final merit — Tier-I is purely a shortlisting stage.
- Minimum qualifying marks: UR 30%, OBC/EWS 25%, all other categories 20%.
- If the exam is held in multiple shifts, scores will be normalised as per SSC’s notice dated 02.06.2025.
- Tie-break order: marks in Section-I of Tier-II → marks in Tier-I → date of birth, with the older candidate ranked higher.
Medium of the Examination
Tier-I Parts II, III and IV (General Intelligence, Quantitative Aptitude, General Awareness) are set in English, Hindi and any regional language opted by the candidate from the list at Annexure-XV. In Tier-II, the same applies to all sections except English Language and Comprehension, which is available only in English.
Detailed SSC CHSL Tier-I Syllabus 2026
Tier-I rewards fundamentals and speed. With only 15 minutes per section and 25 questions to attempt, you get roughly 36 seconds per question — there is no room for lengthy calculation.
English Language
Twenty-five questions on basic knowledge of the language. Vocabulary and grammar carry most of the weight.
- Spot the Error
- Fill in the Blanks
- Synonyms and Homonyms
- Antonyms
- Spellings and detection of mis-spelt words
- Idioms and Phrases
- One Word Substitution
- Improvement of Sentences
- Active and Passive Voice of Verbs
- Conversion into Direct and Indirect Narration
- Shuffling of Sentence Parts (Para Jumbles)
- Shuffling of Sentences in a Passage
- Cloze Passage
- Comprehension Passage
General Intelligence
This section covers both verbal and non-verbal reasoning, and the non-verbal portion is where most candidates lose time.
- Semantic Analogy, Symbolic/Number Analogy, Figural Analogy
- Semantic Classification, Symbolic/Number Classification, Figural Classification
- Semantic Series, Number Series, Figural Series
- Symbolic Operations and Numerical Operations
- Trends and Space Orientation
- Venn Diagrams
- Drawing Inferences
- Punched Hole / Pattern Folding and Unfolding
- Figural Pattern Folding and Completion
- Embedded Figures
- Coding and Decoding
- Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
- Word Building
- Emotional Intelligence and Social Intelligence
Quantitative Aptitude
Twenty-five questions testing basic arithmetic skill. The syllabus is broad but the difficulty stays at school level.
- Number Systems: Computation of whole numbers, decimals and fractions; relationship between numbers
- Fundamental Arithmetical Operations: Percentages, Ratio and Proportion, Square Roots, Averages, Simple and Compound Interest, Profit and Loss, Discount, Partnership Business, Mixture and Alligation, Time and Distance, Time and Work
- Algebra: Basic algebraic identities of school algebra, elementary surds (simple problems), graphs of linear equations
- Geometry: Elementary geometric figures and facts — triangles and their various centres, congruence and similarity of triangles, circles and their chords, tangents, angles subtended by chords, common tangents to two or more circles
- Mensuration: Triangle, Quadrilaterals, Regular Polygons, Circle, Right Prism, Right Circular Cone, Right Circular Cylinder, Sphere, Hemispheres, Rectangular Parallelepiped, Regular Right Pyramid with triangular or square base
- Trigonometry: Trigonometric ratios, complementary angles, heights and distances (simple problems), standard identities such as sin²θ + cos²θ = 1
- Statistical Charts: Use of tables and graphs — Histogram, Frequency Polygon, Bar Diagram, Pie Chart
General Awareness
Questions are framed to test your awareness of the environment around you and its application to society, along with knowledge of current events and matters of everyday observation in their scientific aspect.
Current events of national and international importance
India and its neighbouring countries, particularly:
- History
- Culture
- Geography
- Economic Scene
- General Policy
- Scientific Research
Everyday Science and general observation
Concession for VH candidates: For visually handicapped candidates with 40% or more visual disability, there will be no component of Maps, Graphs, Diagrams or Statistical Data in the General Intelligence and Quantitative Aptitude parts.
Detailed SSC CHSL Tier-II Syllabus 2026
Tier-II is the real battleground. Each question carries 3 marks and each wrong answer costs 1 mark, so blind guessing is far more expensive here than in Tier-I.
Mathematical Abilities (30 Questions, 90 Marks)
The topic list largely mirrors Tier-I Quantitative Aptitude, but with one significant addition — Statistics and Probability replaces the simple statistical charts topic.
- Number Systems: Whole numbers, decimals, fractions, relationship between numbers
- Fundamental Arithmetical Operations: Percentages, Ratio and Proportion, Square Roots, Averages, Simple and Compound Interest, Profit and Loss, Discount, Partnership Business, Mixture and Alligation, Time and Distance, Time and Work
- Algebra: Basic algebraic identities, elementary surds, graphs of linear equations
- Geometry: Triangles and centres, congruence and similarity, circles, chords, tangents
- Mensuration: All 2D and 3D figures as listed in Tier-I
- Trigonometry: Ratios, complementary angles, heights and distances, standard identities
- Statistics and Probability: Histogram, Frequency Polygon, Bar Diagram, Pie Chart; Measures of central tendency — mean, median, mode, standard deviation; calculation of simple probabilities
Reasoning and General Intelligence (30 Questions, 90 Marks)
The topic list is identical to Tier-I General Intelligence, but the questions are set at a noticeably higher difficulty level, with more multi-step and non-verbal problems.
- Semantic, Symbolic/Number and Figural Analogy
- Semantic, Symbolic/Number and Figural Classification
- Semantic, Number and Figural Series
- Symbolic and Numerical Operations
- Trends, Space Orientation, Venn Diagrams, Drawing Inferences
- Punched Hole / Pattern Folding and Unfolding
- Figural Pattern Folding and Completion, Embedded Figures
- Coding and Decoding, Word Building
- Critical Thinking, Problem Solving
- Emotional Intelligence and Social Intelligence
English Language and Comprehension (40 Questions, 120 Marks)
This is the single largest sub-section in Tier-II, and comprehension carries substantial weight.
- Vocabulary, grammar, sentence structure, synonyms, antonyms and their correct usage
- Spot the Error, Fill in the Blanks
- Synonyms/Homonyms, Antonyms
- Spellings and detecting mis-spelt words
- Idioms and Phrases, One Word Substitution
- Improvement of Sentences
- Active/Passive Voice, Direct/Indirect Narration
- Shuffling of Sentence Parts and Shuffling of Sentences in a Passage
- Cloze Passage and Comprehension Passage
Important structural note: To test comprehension, two or more paragraphs will be given. At least one paragraph will be a simple one based on a book or a story, and another will be based on a current affairs editorial or a report. This is the clearest hint SSC gives about what to read while preparing.
General Awareness (20 Questions, 60 Marks)
Same scope as Tier-I — awareness of the environment and its application to society, current events, everyday observation in its scientific aspect, and India and its neighbouring countries with special reference to History, Culture, Geography, Economic Scene, General Policy and Scientific Research.
Twenty questions worth 60 marks in a 20-minute window makes this the highest-scoring-per-minute section in the entire exam. It is entirely recall-based and carries no calculation risk.
Computer Knowledge Test (15 Questions, 45 Marks) — Qualifying
Mandatory for all candidates, but qualifying in nature. The syllabus is precisely defined:
i. Computer Basics
- Organisation of a computer
- Central Processing Unit (CPU)
- Input and output devices
- Computer memory and memory organisation
- Back-up devices
- PORTs
- Windows Explorer
- Keyboard shortcuts
ii. Software
- Windows Operating System
- Basics of Microsoft Office — MS Word, MS Excel, PowerPoint
iii. Working with Internet and E-mails
- Web browsing and searching
- Downloading and uploading
- Managing an e-mail account
- e-Banking
iv. Basics of Networking and Cyber Security
- Networking devices and protocols
- Network and information security threats — hacking, virus, worms, Trojan
- Preventive measures
Concession for VH candidates: For candidates with 40% or more visual disability, there will be no Maps, Graphs, Diagrams or Statistical Data component in the Mathematical Abilities and Reasoning and General Intelligence modules.
Section-IV: Skill Test and Typing Test in Detail
Conducted in Session-II on the same day as Session-I, after a break for re-registration. Both are qualifying in nature and errors are calculated up to two decimal places.
Skill Test for Data Entry Operators
Skill Test is mandatory for all DEO candidates — no candidate is exempted.
| Parameter | Part A (Consumer Affairs, SSC, Culture) | Part B (All other departments) |
|---|---|---|
| Required Speed | 15,000 key depressions per hour | 8,000 key depressions per hour |
| Duration | 15 Minutes | 15 Minutes |
| Passage Length | About 3,700–4,000 key depressions | About 2,000–2,200 key depressions |
| Language | English | English |
Candidates eligible for a scribe get 5 minutes of compensatory time, taking the test to 20 minutes.
Typing Test for LDC/JSA
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Medium | Hindi or English — chosen in the online Application Form, final and unchangeable |
| Required Speed | 35 wpm in English (about 10,500 key depressions per hour)<br>30 wpm in Hindi (about 9,000 key depressions per hour) |
| Duration | 10 Minutes (15 minutes for scribe-eligible candidates) |
| Font for Hindi | Mangal font only |
Critical warning: Candidates opting for Hindi must type in Mangal font. Use of any other font will lead to non-qualification in the Typing/Skill Test for LDC/JSA.
Visually handicapped candidates who opted for a scribe will be provided a Passage Dictator who reads out the passage within the allotted time. PwD candidates certified by a Civil Surgeon of a Government Health Care Institution as permanently unable to type may be exempted, on submission of the certificate in the Annexure-XIII format — this exemption does not cover visually or hearing handicapped candidates.
Subject-Wise Preparation Strategy
For English: Read one editorial daily from a national newspaper. This serves double duty — it builds the comprehension speed Tier-II demands, and SSC has confirmed that one Tier-II comprehension passage will be based on a current affairs editorial or report. Maintain a running vocabulary notebook for synonyms, antonyms, idioms and one-word substitutions, which together account for a large chunk of both tiers.
For Quantitative Aptitude: Memorise squares up to 40, cubes up to 20 and fraction-percentage equivalents. With 36 seconds per question in Tier-I, mental calculation is not optional. In Tier-II, add Statistics and Probability to your plan early — mean, median, mode and standard deviation are easy scoring topics that many candidates skip because they were absent from Tier-I.
For General Intelligence: Split your practice between verbal and non-verbal. Non-verbal topics — paper folding, punched hole, embedded figures, mirror images — are pattern-based and improve rapidly with daily practice, but never improve if left untouched. Set a two-minute ceiling per question and move on.
For General Awareness: This is the highest return-on-time section in the exam — 20 questions worth 60 marks in Tier-II with zero calculation. Give it one hour every day from Day 1. Cover the last 8 to 10 months of current affairs, plus static topics on Indian History, Culture, Geography, Polity, Economy and Science.
For Computer Knowledge: It is qualifying, so you do not need mastery — but you do need to clear it, and failing it disqualifies you regardless of your Tier-II score. Two weeks of focused revision on MS Office basics, hardware, memory, internet and cyber security terms is sufficient.
For Typing and Skill Test: Start typing practice from Day 1, not after Tier-I results. Fifteen minutes of daily practice on a standard keyboard is enough to reach 35 wpm over a few months. If you are opting for Hindi, install and practise on Mangal font from the beginning — switching later is a common and costly mistake.
On negative marking: In Tier-I, a wrong answer costs 0.50 while a correct one earns 2 — a favourable ratio that permits educated guessing. In Tier-II, a wrong answer costs 1 while a correct one earns 3. Guess only when you have eliminated at least two options.
FAQs
Q1: Is there a descriptive paper in SSC CHSL 2026?
No. Unlike some other SSC examinations, the SSC CHSL syllabus consists entirely of objective-type multiple-choice questions, except for Section-IV of Tier-II, which is a practical Skill Test or Typing Test. There is no essay or letter-writing paper.
Q2: Do Tier-I marks count in the final merit list?
No. Tier-I is only a shortlisting stage. The merit list is prepared on the basis of aggregate marks scored in Section-I and Section-II of Tier-II only, subject to qualifying Section-III and Section-IV.
Q3: Is there sectional cut-off in SSC CHSL 2026?
There are minimum qualifying marks — 30% for UR, 25% for OBC/EWS and 20% for all other categories — applicable to Tier-I and to Sections I, II and III of Tier-II. It is mandatory to qualify all four sections of Tier-II.
Q4: What is the negative marking in SSC CHSL 2026?
0.50 marks per wrong answer in Tier-I, and 1 mark per wrong answer in Section-I, Section-II and Section-III of Tier-II.
Q5: Which section has the highest weightage in SSC CHSL Tier-II?
English Language and Comprehension is the largest single sub-section with 40 questions worth 120 marks. Section-I and Section-II each total 180 marks, making them jointly worth 360 of the 405 marks in Session-I.
Q6: Is the Computer Knowledge Test counted in merit?
No. Section-III is mandatory and must be qualified, but it is qualifying in nature and its marks are not added to the merit score.
Q7: Which font is required for the Hindi Typing Test?
Mangal font only. Using any other font will result in non-qualification in the Typing or Skill Test for LDC/JSA.
Q8: Can Tier-I be attempted in a regional language?
Yes. Parts II, III and IV of Tier-I are set in English, Hindi and any language opted by the candidate from the list at Annexure-XV. In Tier-II, the same applies to all sections except English Language and Comprehension.
Q9: What happens if scores are tied in Tier-II?
The tie is resolved in this order: marks in Section-I of Tier-II, then marks in Tier-I, then date of birth, with the older candidate placed higher.
