The SSC CHSL Exam Pattern 2026 consists of two stages, Tier 1 and Tier 2. SSC CHSL Tier 1 has 100 questions for 200 marks, with 25 questions from each of four subjects and a strict 15-minute sectional timer for every subject. Tier 2 includes Mathematical Abilities, Reasoning, English Language and Comprehension, General Awareness, Computer Knowledge, and a qualifying Skill Test or Typing Test.
The SSC CHSL 2026 exam pattern has introduced sectional timing, making speed and subject-wise time management more important. Tier 1 carries a negative marking of 0.50 mark per wrong answer, while the applicable objective modules of Tier 2 carry a penalty of 1 mark per incorrect answer.
The SSC CHSL Exam Pattern 2026 includes Tier 1 and Tier 2 examinations conducted by the Staff Selection Commission for recruitment to posts such as Lower Division Clerk (LDC), Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA) and Data Entry Operator (DEO).
Tier 1 is an objective Computer-Based Examination used for shortlisting candidates for Tier 2. Tier 2 includes merit-bearing objective sections along with mandatory qualifying Computer Knowledge and Skill/Typing Test components.
| Particular | SSC CHSL 2026 Details |
| Conducting Body | Staff Selection Commission |
| Examination | Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination |
| Selection Stages | Tier 1 and Tier 2 |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Examination |
| Tier 1 Questions | 100 |
| Tier 1 Marks | 200 |
| Tier 1 Duration | 60 minutes |
| Tier 1 Sectional Timing | 15 minutes per subject |
| Tier 2 Objective Questions | 135 |
| Tier 2 Objective Marks | 405 |
| Tier 2 Merit Marks | 360 |
| Tier 1 Negative Marking | 0.50 mark per wrong answer |
| Tier 2 Negative Marking | 1 mark per wrong answer in applicable objective modules |
| Final Merit | Based on merit-bearing Tier 2 sections |
| Official Website | ssc.gov.in |
The most important change in the SSC CHSL Exam Pattern 2026 is the introduction of sectional timing.
Candidates appearing in Tier 1 now receive 15 minutes for each of the four subjects instead of freely distributing the complete 60-minute duration across all sections.
This means:
The updated pattern makes section-wise speed, accuracy and question selection more important than before.
Tier 2 also follows separate timing for its modules, so candidates should practise according to the actual exam interface rather than relying only on untimed practice.
The SSC CHSL Tier 1 Exam Pattern 2026 consists of 100 objective multiple-choice questions carrying 200 marks. The examination contains four subjects, and each subject has 25 questions worth 50 marks.
Candidates get 15 minutes for each subject, making the total duration 60 minutes.
| Section | Subject | Questions | Maximum Marks | Sectional Time |
| 1 | English Language | 25 | 50 | 15 minutes |
| 2 | General Intelligence | 25 | 50 | 15 minutes |
| 3 | Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 | 15 minutes |
| 4 | General Awareness | 25 | 50 | 15 minutes |
| Total | — | 100 | 200 | 60 minutes |
Every Tier 1 subject therefore contributes 25% of the paper, so completely neglecting one subject can have a significant effect on the overall score.
Yes. SSC CHSL Tier 1 2026 has a 15-minute sectional timer for each subject.
| SSC CHSL Tier 1 Subject | Questions | Available Time |
| English Language | 25 | 15 minutes |
| General Intelligence | 25 | 15 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 15 minutes |
| General Awareness | 25 | 15 minutes |
This works out to an average of only 36 seconds per question if all 25 questions in a section are attempted.
Candidates do not necessarily need to spend exactly 36 seconds on every question, but this statistic shows why question selection and skipping difficult questions quickly are important.
Sectional timing changes the preparation strategy because candidates can no longer compensate for a slow Quantitative Aptitude section by saving extra time in General Awareness or English.
Candidates should practise:
The target should be maximum accurate attempts within the fixed sectional limit, rather than simply attempting every question.
In SSC CHSL Tier 1, 2 marks are awarded for every correct answer and 0.50 mark is deducted for every incorrect answer. No marks are awarded or deducted for unattempted questions.
| Response | Marks |
| Correct Answer | +2 |
| Incorrect Answer | -0.50 |
| Unattempted | 0 |
For example, 10 incorrect answers result in a deduction of 5 marks.
Candidates should therefore avoid blind guessing, especially when attempting questions under the 15-minute sectional timer.
SSC CHSL Tier 1 is used to shortlist candidates for Tier 2. Final merit is primarily determined through the merit-bearing components of Tier 2, subject to candidates qualifying the mandatory modules and satisfying the Commission’s eligibility and selection conditions.
This distinction is important because candidates often confuse the role of Tier 1 marks with final merit.
| SSC CHSL Stage | Role |
| Tier 1 | Shortlisting candidates for Tier 2 |
| Tier 2 Merit Sections | Used for final merit |
| Computer Knowledge Test | Mandatory qualifying |
| Skill/Typing Test | Mandatory qualifying |
| Document Verification | Required for appointment process |
The SSC CHSL Tier 2 Exam Pattern 2026 consists of objective modules followed by a qualifying Skill Test or Typing Test.
Tier 2 is conducted in two sessions on the same day.
Session I includes:
Session II includes the post-specific:
| Section | Module | Subject | Questions | Marks | Duration |
| Section I | Module I | Mathematical Abilities | 30 | 90 | 30 minutes |
| Section I | Module II | Reasoning & General Intelligence | 30 | 90 | 30 minutes |
| Section II | Module I | English Language & Comprehension | 40 | 120 | 40 minutes |
| Section II | Module II | General Awareness | 20 | 60 | 20 minutes |
| Section III | Module I | Computer Knowledge Test | 15 | 45 | 15 minutes |
| Total | — | — | 135 | 405 | 135 minutes |
The objective components therefore contain 135 questions carrying 405 marks.
However, the Computer Knowledge Test is qualifying, meaning the merit-bearing Section I and Section II together account for 360 marks.
SSC CHSL Tier 2 Section I consists of Mathematical Abilities and Reasoning & General Intelligence.
| Subject | Questions | Marks | Time |
| Mathematical Abilities | 30 | 90 | 30 minutes |
| Reasoning & General Intelligence | 30 | 90 | 30 minutes |
| Total | 60 | 180 | 60 minutes |
Section I contributes 180 marks toward the merit-bearing portion of Tier 2.
SSC CHSL Tier 2 Section II contains English Language & Comprehension and General Awareness.
| Subject | Questions | Marks | Time |
| English Language & Comprehension | 40 | 120 | 40 minutes |
| General Awareness | 20 | 60 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 60 | 180 | 60 minutes |
Section II also contributes 180 marks toward the merit-bearing portion of Tier 2.
Together, Section I and Section II carry 360 marks.
The SSC CHSL Computer Knowledge Test contains 15 questions for 45 marks and has a duration of 15 minutes.
| Particular | Details |
| Questions | 15 |
| Marks | 45 |
| Duration | 15 minutes |
| Marks per Question | 3 |
| Nature | Qualifying |
Candidates must qualify this module even though its marks are not included in the 360 merit-bearing marks.
The module generally evaluates basic computer knowledge relevant to the posts covered under SSC CHSL.
SSC CHSL Tier 2 has a negative marking of 1 mark for every incorrect answer in the applicable objective modules.
| Stage | Correct Answer | Incorrect Answer | Unattempted |
| Tier 1 | +2 | -0.50 | 0 |
| Tier 2 Merit Objective Modules | +3 | -1 | 0 |
| Computer Knowledge Module | +3 | -1 | 0 |
| Skill/Typing Test | Qualifying | Not applicable | Not applicable |
The Tier 2 penalty is twice the numerical deduction used in Tier 1, making accuracy especially important.
The post-specific SSC CHSL Skill Test or Typing Test is qualifying in nature and is conducted after the objective modules.
The required standard depends on the post.
| Post | Test | Required Speed | Duration |
| LDC/JSA | English Typing Test | 35 words per minute | 10 minutes |
| LDC/JSA | Hindi Typing Test | 30 words per minute | 10 minutes |
| Specified DEO/DEO Grade A Posts | Data Entry Skill Test | 15,000 KDPH | 15 minutes |
| Other applicable DEO/DEO Grade A Posts | Data Entry Skill Test | 8,000 KDPH | 15 minutes |
Candidates applying for LDC/JSA posts need:
The typing test lasts 10 minutes.
These speeds correspond approximately to:
The typing medium selected during the application process should therefore be chosen carefully.
The SSC CHSL DEO Skill Test requirement differs according to the DEO post.
For specified DEO/DEO Grade A posts, candidates need a data-entry speed of 15,000 key depressions per hour.
For other applicable DEO posts, the required speed is 8,000 key depressions per hour.
Both tests normally have a duration of 15 minutes.
This distinction is important because 15,000 KDPH does not apply to every DEO vacancy.
Yes. The SSC CHSL Typing Test and Data Entry Skill Test are qualifying in nature.
However, qualifying these tests is mandatory for candidates applying for the respective posts.
Their marks are not added to final merit, but failing the required standard can prevent a candidate from proceeding to final selection.
The minimum qualifying marks prescribed for SSC CHSL are:
| Category | Minimum Qualifying Marks |
| UR | 30% |
| OBC/EWS | 25% |
| Other Categories | 20% |
These are minimum qualifying marks, not the SSC CHSL cut-off.
The actual SSC CHSL Cut Off can be higher depending on factors such as vacancies, category, post, exam difficulty and candidate performance.
The SSC CHSL final merit is based on 360 merit-bearing marks from Tier 2 Section I and Section II, subject to candidates qualifying the Computer Knowledge and Skill/Typing Test requirements.
| Component | Maximum Marks | Role |
| Tier 1 | 200 | Shortlisting |
| Tier 2 Section I | 180 | Final merit |
| Tier 2 Section II | 180 | Final merit |
| Computer Knowledge Test | 45 | Qualifying |
| Skill/Typing Test | — | Qualifying |
| Total Merit-Bearing Tier 2 Marks | 360 | Final merit |
This means Tier 2 performance has a direct impact on final selection, while candidates must simultaneously qualify the mandatory skill-related modules.
Candidates can read the complete SSC CHSL Selection Process for stage-wise details.
| Feature | Tier 1 | Tier 2 |
| Mode | Computer-Based | Computer-Based + Skill/Typing Test |
| Main Role | Shortlisting | Merit + qualifying stages |
| Objective Questions | 100 | 135 |
| Objective Marks | 200 | 405 |
| Merit-Bearing Marks | Not final-merit stage | 360 |
| Duration | 60 minutes | 135 minutes for objective modules |
| Sectional Timing | 15 minutes each | Separate module timings |
| Correct Answer | +2 | +3 |
| Negative Marking | -0.50 | -1 |
| Computer Knowledge | No | 15 questions, qualifying |
| Typing/Skill Test | No | Qualifying |
All four subjects have equal weightage in Tier 1.
| Subject | Questions | Marks | Weightage |
| English Language | 25 | 50 | 25% |
| General Intelligence | 25 | 50 | 25% |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 | 25% |
| General Awareness | 25 | 50 | 25% |
| Total | 100 | 200 | 100% |
Since every section carries one-fourth of the paper, candidates should maintain balanced preparation rather than depending heavily on only one or two subjects.
Preparation should mirror the actual examination structure.
For Tier 1, regularly attempt:
This creates exam-like time pressure during preparation.
Previous-year papers help candidates understand:
Check SSC CHSL Previous Year Question Papers for additional practice.
After each mock, check:
Take A Free Mock Test of SSC CHSL
Candidates targeting LDC/JSA should practise typing consistently instead of waiting until Tier 1 is completed.
Similarly, DEO candidates should practise according to their applicable 8,000 or 15,000 KDPH standard.
Since the Computer Knowledge Test is mandatory, candidates should cover it alongside the Tier 2 merit subjects instead of treating it as a last-minute topic.
The SSC CHSL Exam Pattern 2026 consists of Tier 1 and Tier 2, but the most significant feature candidates need to adapt to is sectional timing. Tier 1 contains 100 questions for 200 marks with only 15 minutes available for each subject, while Tier 2 includes merit-bearing objective sections, Computer Knowledge and a qualifying Skill/Typing Test.
Candidates should therefore prepare according to the actual examination environment. Regular sectional tests, previous-year papers, full-length mocks, accuracy analysis and consistent typing/data-entry practice can help candidates adapt to both the speed requirements of Tier 1 and the merit-focused structure of Tier 2.
| SSC CHSL Resources | SSC CHSL Resources |
| SSC CHSL Notification | SSC CHSL Study Plan |
| SSC CHSL Previous Year Question Paper | SSC CHSL Salary |
| SSC CHSL Cut Off | SSC CHSL Selection Process |
| SSC CHSL Syllabus | — |
The SSC CHSL Exam Pattern 2026 consists of Tier 1 and Tier 2. Tier 1 has 100 questions for 200 marks with four 15-minute sectional timers. Tier 2 contains objective modules, Computer Knowledge and a qualifying Skill/Typing Test.
SSC CHSL Tier 1 contains 100 questions, with 25 questions each from English Language, General Intelligence, Quantitative Aptitude and General Awareness.
SSC CHSL Tier 1 carries 200 marks, with each of the four subjects carrying 50 marks.
Yes. Candidates get 15 minutes for each Tier 1 subject. The complete Tier 1 duration is 60 minutes.
Candidates should prepare on the basis of the fixed sectional limits. The 2026 pattern provides 15 minutes for each individual Tier 1 section, rather than unrestricted use of the full 60 minutes across subjects.
0.50 mark is deducted for every incorrect answer in SSC CHSL Tier 1. Each correct answer carries 2 marks.
Tier 1 is used to shortlist candidates for Tier 2. The merit-bearing components used toward final selection are contained in Tier 2, subject to qualifying the mandatory modules.
SSC CHSL Tier 2 contains 135 objective questions carrying 405 marks, including the Computer Knowledge module.
The merit-bearing components of Tier 2 Section I and Section II together carry 360 marks.
There is a 1-mark deduction for every incorrect response in the applicable objective modules of Tier 2.
Yes. The Computer Knowledge Test is mandatory and qualifying in nature.
Candidates need 35 words per minute in English or 30 words per minute in Hindi for LDC/JSA posts.
The required data-entry speed is 15,000 KDPH for specified DEO/DEO Grade A posts and 8,000 KDPH for other applicable DEO posts.
Yes. The Skill Test/Typing Test is qualifying in nature, but candidates applying for the relevant posts must clear it.
SSC CHSL Tier 1 has a total duration of 60 minutes, divided into four sections of 15 minutes each.
Tier 1 primarily shortlists candidates for Tier 2, while Tier 2 contains the merit-bearing objective sections plus mandatory Computer Knowledge and Skill/Typing Test components.
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