SSC CHSL syllabus covers two tiers. Tier 1 has four subjects: English, Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude and General Awareness. Tier 2 has Session I (Maths, Reasoning, English, General Awareness and Computer Knowledge) and Session II (a qualifying Skill/Typing Test, depending on your post). This page has the exam pattern, the full topic list for each tier and some practical tips to prepare. For new Job Notifications, join our Instagram, WhatsApp and YouTube.
SSC CHSL Exam at a Glance
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Stages | Tier 1 and Tier 2 (Session I and Session II) |
| Tier 1 | 100 questions, 200 marks, 60 minutes |
| Tier 1 subjects | English, Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, General Awareness |
| Tier 1 marking | 2 marks for each correct answer. 0.50 mark is cut for each wrong answer |
| Tier 2 Session I | Main CBT for all posts, 135 questions, 405 marks |
| Tier 2 Session II | Skill Test or Typing Test, depending on your post (qualifying) |
| Tier 2 marking | 3 marks for each correct answer in Session I. 1 mark is cut for each wrong answer |
| Sectional timing | Yes, in both tiers. You cannot move time from one section to another |
SSC CHSL Tier 1 Exam Pattern
Tier 1 is an online test, objective (MCQ) type. Each subject has the same number of questions, marks and time.
| Subject | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning | 25 | 50 | 15 minutes |
| General Awareness | 25 | 50 | 15 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 | 15 minutes |
| English | 25 | 50 | 15 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 200 | 60 minutes |
- Each question carries 2 marks.
- 0.50 mark is cut for each wrong answer.
- Sectional timing: 15 minutes per section, you cannot move time from one section to another.
- Qualifying stage for Tier 2.
SSC CHSL Tier 2 Exam Pattern: Two Sessions On The Same Day
Tier 2 is one stage held in two sessions. Session I is the main CBT that every candidate writes. Session II is a short qualifying skill or typing test, and which one you write depends on your post.
Session I: Main CBT (All Posts), 405 marks.
| Subject | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematical Abilities | 30 | 90 | 30 minutes |
| Reasoning | 30 | 90 | 30 minutes |
| English | 40 | 120 | 40 minutes |
| General Awareness | 20 | 60 | 20 minutes |
| Computer Knowledge | 15 | 45 | 15 minutes |
| Total | 135 | 405 | 135 minutes |
- Tier 2 has 2 sessions, both held on the same day.
- Session I is the main online CBT and decides your merit. Each question carries 3 marks.
- 1 mark is cut for each wrong answer in Session I.
- Sectional timing applies, so each subject must be solved in its own time.
- Session II (Skill/Typing Test) is only qualifying.
- The final merit list is made from Tier 2 performance only.
Session II test you write (qualifying), depending on the post you applied for:
| If you applied for | Session II test you write (qualifying) |
|---|---|
| DEO / DEO Grade A in a Department or Ministry | Skill Test: 15,000 key depressions per hour, 15 minutes |
| DEO / DEO Grade A (other than Department/Ministry) | Skill Test: 8,000 key depressions per hour, 15 minutes |
| LDC / JSA | Typing Test: 10 minutes. English: 35 w.p.m. (about 10,500 key depressions/hour). Hindi: 30 w.p.m. (about 9,000 key depressions/hour) |
Skill Test is a Data Entry Speed Test on a computer. Candidates eligible for a scribe get 5 extra minutes (total 20 minutes for the 15-minute test).
SSC CHSL Tier 1 Syllabus
| Subject | Topics |
|---|---|
| English Language 25 questions |
Reading comprehension, error detection, fill in the blanks, synonyms and antonyms, vocabulary, sentence improvement and rearrangement, idioms and phrases, one-word substitution, active and passive voice, direct and indirect speech, cloze test, spellings, sentence completion, comprehension-based grammar. |
| General Intelligence and Reasoning 25 questions |
Analogies, similarities and differences, coding and decoding, series, odd one out, blood relations, directions and distances, syllogism, Venn diagrams, statements and conclusions, statement and assumptions, statement and arguments, mathematical operations and reasoning, cube and dice problems, mirror and water images, paper folding and paper cutting, clocks and calendars, embedded figures, data sufficiency and logical puzzles. |
| Quantitative Aptitude 25 questions |
Number system, simplification and approximation, percentage, ratio and proportion, average, profit and loss, simple and compound interest, discount, partnership, time and work, time, speed and distance, algebra (basic equations, factorization), geometry (triangles, circles, quadrilaterals), mensuration (area, volume, perimeter), trigonometry (ratios, heights and distances), data interpretation (tables, charts, graphs), sequence and series, LCM and HCF, pipes and cisterns, probability and statistics. |
| General Awareness 25 questions |
History (ancient, medieval, modern India), geography (India and world), polity and Constitution of India, economics and banking awareness, science (physics, chemistry, biology), current affairs (national and international), awards and honors, sports and games, books and authors, important days and events, environment and ecology, inventions and discoveries, cultural heritage of India, abbreviations and terminology. |
SSC CHSL Tier 2 Syllabus (Session I)
| Subject | Topics |
|---|---|
| Mathematical Abilities 30 questions |
Number systems: whole numbers, decimals, fractions, relationship between numbers, fundamental operations. Arithmetic: 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: triangle and its centres, congruence and similarity, circle and its chords, tangents, angles subtended by chords, common tangents. Mensuration: triangle, quadrilaterals, regular polygons, circle, right prism, right circular cone, right circular cylinder, sphere, hemispheres, rectangular parallelepiped, regular right pyramid. Trigonometry: trigonometric ratios, complementary angles, heights and distances, standard identities. Statistics and probability: tables and graphs, histogram, frequency polygon, bar diagram, pie chart, mean, median, mode, standard deviation, simple probability. |
| Reasoning and General Intelligence 30 questions |
Verbal and non-verbal reasoning: semantic analogy, symbolic operations, symbolic/number analogy, trends, figural analogy, space orientation. Classification and inference: semantic classification, Venn diagrams, symbolic/number classification, figural classification, drawing inferences. Series and patterns: semantic series, figural pattern-folding and completion, number series, embedded figures, figural series, punched hole / pattern-folding and unfolding. Critical and social intelligence: problem solving, critical thinking, emotional intelligence, word building, social intelligence. Coding and numerical operations: coding and decoding, basic numerical operations. |
| English Language and Comprehension 40 questions |
Vocabulary and grammar: synonyms, antonyms, homonyms, one-word substitution, idioms and phrases, spelling, sentence improvement. Sentence structure and usage: spot the error, fill in the blanks, active/passive voice, direct/indirect narration, shuffling of sentence parts, shuffling of sentences in a passage. Comprehension: cloze passage, comprehension passage. |
| General Awareness 20 questions |
Current affairs and general knowledge: current events, everyday observation, scientific aspects. India and neighbouring countries: history, culture, geography, economic scene, general policy, scientific research. |
| Computer Knowledge 15 questions |
Computer basics: organization of a computer, CPU, input/output devices, computer memory, memory organization, backup devices, ports, Windows Explorer, keyboard shortcuts. Software: Windows OS basics, MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), internet and emails. Internet and networking: web browsing and searching, downloading and uploading, managing email accounts, e-banking. Cyber security: networking devices and protocols, hacking, viruses, worms, trojan, preventive measures. |
Tips for the Exam
- First understand the full syllabus and pattern, and give equal importance to all subjects, dont leave any one.
- I suggest you to break the syllabus in small daily and weekly targets, and finish one topic before starting another.
- Time of each section is fixed so practice every subject in its own time limit, so that you dont waste time in the exam.
- Solve PYQs regularly to know the type and level of questions.
- Keep short notes of formulas, grammar rules and important events and revise them often.
- Give sectional, chapter wise and full length mocks, check your mistakes and work on weak areas. Keep last weeks for full length practice.
Common Questions
How many tiers are there in SSC CHSL?
There are 2 tiers. Tier 1 is a CBT, and Tier 2 has a CBT (Session I) followed by a Skill/Typing Test (Session II).
How many questions are there in Tier 1?
There are 100 questions of 2 marks each (200 marks) in 60 minutes. Each of the 4 subjects has 25 questions and 15 minutes.
Are Tier 1 marks counted in the final merit?
No. Tier 1 is a qualifying stage for Tier 2. The final merit list is made from Tier 2 performance only.
Is there sectional timing?
Yes. Tier 1 has 15 minutes per section. In Tier 2, Maths and Reasoning get 30 minutes each, English 40 minutes, General Awareness 20 minutes and Computer 15 minutes. You cannot use time from one section in another.
Is there negative marking?
Yes. Tier 1: 0.50 mark per wrong answer. Tier 2 Session I: 1 mark per wrong answer.
Does everyone write the same test in Session II?
No. DEO candidates write a Skill Test (Data Entry Speed Test) and LDC/JSA candidates write a Typing Test. Both are qualifying in nature.
