SSC CHSL Syllabus 2026: Tier 1, Tier 2 & Skill Test + PDF

The SSC CHSL syllabus for 2026 is divided into three stages: Tier 1 (a 100-question objective Computer Based Test covering General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude and English), Tier 2 (a higher-level objective paper across Mathematical Abilities, Reasoning & General Intelligence, English and General Awareness, plus a Computer Knowledge module) and a Skill/Typing Test (DEST or typing speed). Tier 1 carries 200 marks with 0.50 negative marking and is qualifying in nature; Tier 2 carries 405 marks and is the stage that decides your final merit. This guide breaks down every topic, the full exam pattern, real topic-wise weightage from previous-year papers, the typing-test speed requirements, and how to get the syllabus PDF — so you can plan your preparation from start to finish.

SSC CHSL (Combined Higher Secondary Level, 10+2) is conducted by the Staff Selection Commission to recruit Lower Division Clerk/Junior Secretariat Assistant (LDC/JSA), Data Entry Operators (DEO) and Postal Assistant/Sorting Assistant (PA/SA) across central government departments and ministries. Whether you are starting fresh or revising, understanding the SSC CHSL syllabus 2026 in full is the single most important first step — so let us go stage by stage.

How this guide was prepared: every topic list, mark, duration and speed requirement below mirrors the structure published in the official SSC CHSL notification on ssc.gov.in, and the weightage tables are compiled from the last three years of Tier 1 question papers. Exam patterns can change from one cycle to the next, so always confirm the final details against the current-year notification before your exam. Last reviewed: June 2026.

SSC CHSL Syllabus 2026: Quick Overview

Before the topic lists, here is a snapshot of the exam so you know exactly what you are preparing for. These quick facts are also the details AI assistants and recruiters reference most often.

SSC CHSL Selection Process 2026

The SSC CHSL 2026 selection process follows a clear three-stage flow. You must clear each stage to move to the next, and only Tier 2 marks count towards the final merit list.

• Tier 1 – Objective CBT: A qualifying screening test of 100 questions (200 marks) across four sections. You must score above the cut-off to be shortlisted for Tier 2.
• Tier 2 – Objective CBT (two sessions, same day): Session I covers Mathematical Abilities, Reasoning & General Intelligence, English and General Awareness (with a Computer Knowledge module); Session II is the Skill Test / Typing Test. This tier decides your rank.
• Document Verification (DV): Final-stage verification of eligibility, category and identity documents before appointment.

Understanding this flow matters because it tells you where to invest effort: Tier 1 only needs to be cleared comfortably, while Tier 2 is where the competition is won. We will weight our study plan accordingly later in this guide.

SSC CHSL Exam Pattern 2026 (Tier 1 & Tier 2)

The SSC CHSL exam pattern 2026 is identical in structure to recent cycles. Knowing the marks, timing and negative-marking rules for each tier lets you build an accurate scoring strategy.

SSC CHSL Tier 1 Exam Pattern

Tier 1 has four sections of 25 questions each. Every question is worth 2 marks, and 0.50 marks are deducted for each wrong answer. There is no sectional timing and no sectional cut-off in Tier 1 — you get 60 minutes for the whole paper (80 minutes for PwD candidates eligible for a scribe), and you are free to move between sections in any order during that time.

Tier 1 is qualifying in nature — your marks here are used only to shortlist candidates for Tier 2 and do not add to the final merit. Aim to clear it with a healthy margin, not to maximise it.

SSC CHSL Tier 2 Exam Pattern

The SSC CHSL Tier 2 syllabus is delivered through a structured paper split into sections and modules. Tier 2 is conducted in two sessions on the same day. Session I is the objective paper; Session II is the skill/typing test. Negative marking in the objective sections is 1 mark per wrong answer, and sectional timing is enforced (you cannot carry leftover time from one module into another).

In total the objective part of Tier 2 has about 135 questions for 405 marks, with sectional timing enforced. The Computer Knowledge module is qualifying for most posts, while the Skill Test / Typing Test in Session II is qualifying but mandatory — you must clear it to be appointed even though it adds no marks to your merit.

SSC CHSL Tier 1 Syllabus 2026 (Subject-Wise)

The SSC CHSL Tier 1 syllabus spans four subjects. Below is the complete, topic-by-topic list for each so nothing on the official notification catches you off guard.

General Intelligence & Reasoning

This section tests both verbal and non-verbal reasoning. The full topic list includes:

• Analogies, similarities and differences
• Semantic, symbolic/number and figural classification
• Space visualisation and spatial orientation
• Problem solving and analysis
• Coding-decoding
• Number, figural and word series
• Venn diagrams and syllogistic reasoning
• Blood relations and directions
• Seating arrangement and ordering
• Non-verbal reasoning: paper folding/cutting, mirror & water images, embedded figures, dice and cube
• Statement-conclusion and critical thinking

General Awareness

General Awareness measures your knowledge of the environment and current events. Topics span:

• Static GK: History, Geography, Indian Polity & Constitution, Economy
• General Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology basics)
• Current affairs of national and international importance
• Books and authors, awards and honours
• Sports, important days and schemes
• Art and culture, science and technology developments

Because current affairs carries real marks here, candidates often pair static GK with a monthly current affairs resource — many use a magazine such as the Vision IAS Current Affairs Magazine (January 2026) to keep up with the last few months of national and international events.

Quantitative Aptitude

This is arithmetic-heavy and the highest-scoring section if practised well. The syllabus covers:

• Number systems, simplification, LCM/HCF
• Percentage, ratio & proportion, average
• Profit & loss, discount, partnership
• Simple & compound interest
• Time, speed & distance; time & work; pipes & cisterns
• Mensuration (2D & 3D)
• Algebra (basic identities and linear equations)
• Geometry (triangles, circles, lines & angles)
• Trigonometry and heights & distances
• Data Interpretation (bar graph, pie chart, tables)

English Language & Comprehension

The English section blends grammar, vocabulary and comprehension:

• Spotting errors and sentence improvement
• Fill in the blanks
• Synonyms & antonyms
• Spelling and idioms & phrases
• One-word substitution
• Active/passive voice and direct/indirect narration
• Para jumbles (sentence rearrangement)
• Cloze test and reading comprehension

SSC CHSL Tier 2 Syllabus 2026 (Subject-Wise)

The SSC CHSL Tier 2 syllabus covers the same broad subjects as Tier 1 but at a noticeably higher difficulty, with an additional dedicated Computer Knowledge module. Here is the module-by-module breakdown.

Mathematical Abilities (Section I, Module I)

An advanced version of Tier 1 Quant. Topics include number systems and computation; fundamental arithmetic operations; percentage, ratio & proportion, average; interest, profit & loss, discount, partnership business, mixture & alligation; time & distance, time & work; algebra (basic algebraic identities and elementary surds, graphs of linear equations); geometry (triangles, congruence & similarity, circles, tangents); mensuration (triangle, quadrilaterals, polygons, circle, prism, sphere, hemisphere, cone, cylinder); trigonometry (ratios, identities, complementary angles, heights & distances); and statistics & probability (frequency, mean, median, mode, standard deviation).

Reasoning & General Intelligence (Section I, Module II)

Covers semantic, symbolic and figural analogy & classification; number, figural and word series; coding-decoding; problem solving; word building; numerical operations; Venn diagrams; drawing inferences; punched hole/pattern folding & unfolding; embedded figures; critical thinking; emotional and social intelligence.

English Language & Comprehension (Section II, Module I)

Vocabulary, grammar, sentence structure, synonyms/antonyms, error spotting, fill in the blanks, idioms & phrases, one-word substitution, sentence improvement, active/passive voice, conversion (direct/indirect), shuffling of sentence parts, cloze passage and comprehension passages. With 40 questions for 120 marks, English is the single biggest scoring block in Tier 2.

General Awareness (Section II, Module II)

India and its neighbouring countries, especially History, Culture, Geography, Economic Scene, General Polity, Indian Constitution, scientific research and current affairs. No specialised study is expected beyond a well-educated person’s general knowledge.

Computer Knowledge Module (Section III, Module I)

This module is shallow on most competitor pages — here is the exhaustive list of what to actually study:

• Computer Basics: organisation of a computer, CPU, input/output devices, memory (RAM, ROM, cache), computer hardware & software
• Software: operating systems, application vs system software, MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) basics, shortcuts and functions
• Internet & WWW: web browsers, search engines, websites, e-mail, instant messaging
• Networking: LAN/WAN, networking devices, protocols, communication concepts
• Cyber Security: viruses, trojans, worms, anti-virus, firewalls, password & data protection
• Digital & e-Governance: digital banking, UPI, NEFT/RTGS, digital signatures, e-governance services

Because Computer Knowledge is largely conceptual and high-return for the hours invested, it is one of the easiest modules to qualify with focused revision.

SSC CHSL Skill Test & Typing Test Syllabus

The SSC CHSL typing test / skill test syllabus differs by post. For Data Entry Operators it is a Data Entry Speed Test (DEST) measured in key depressions per hour; for LDC/JSA and PA/SA it is a typing test measured in words per minute (wpm). The test is qualifying, but you must clear it to be appointed.

For reference, 35 wpm in English corresponds to roughly 10,500 key depressions per hour, and 30 wpm in Hindi to about 9,000 key depressions per hour. The typing test is generally conducted on a passage of about 10 minutes, and candidates with eligible disabilities are granted relaxed speeds and extra time per SSC norms. Practising 15–20 minutes of typing daily for a month is usually enough to comfortably cross these thresholds.

SSC CHSL Topic-Wise Weightage (Real PYQ Data)

Most pages mention weightage generically. Below is an honest, approximate distribution based on the last three years of Tier 1 papers — average number of questions per topic across each section. Treat these as planning estimates rather than guarantees, and use them to decide where your practice hours go.

The takeaway is clear: arithmetic dominates Quant, vocabulary and grammar dominate English, and static GK plus science carry General Awareness. Master these clusters and you cover the majority of marks. Topic-wise previous-year practice is the fastest way to internalise this distribution — a structured PYQ resource such as the Forum IAS Topic-Wise PYQ Toolkit demonstrates how PYQ-led revision compounds, a method that transfers directly to SSC CHSL.

High-ROI vs Low-Yield Topics: An Honest Priority Guide

If you are short on time, not every topic deserves equal effort. Here is a candid split of must-do versus skip-if-needed topics.

The rule of thumb: never sacrifice arithmetic, vocabulary or grammar accuracy to chase one or two hard trigonometry questions. Banking the easy marks first is how toppers protect their score.

Tier 1 vs Tier 2: How Much Harder Is It?

Competitor pages say Tier 2 is “harder” but rarely show how. The difficulty delta is real and lies mainly in depth of calculation and multi-step reasoning. Here is a concrete illustration.

In short, Tier 2 rewards conceptual depth and speed under sectional timing. The syllabus is the same family of topics — but you must be able to solve faster and handle questions with more moving parts.

SSC CHSL Syllabus PDF Download

You can get the SSC CHSL syllabus PDF download from two places. First, the official and authoritative source is the SSC CHSL notification published on ssc.gov.in, which contains the complete tier-wise syllabus and exam pattern in its annexure — this is the version you should treat as final, since the Commission can revise details between cycles. Second, you can save or print this guide as your own consolidated PDF — it already maps every Tier 1, Tier 2 and skill-test topic into one place, plus the weightage and priority tables you will not find in the official notification.

For exam planning, we recommend keeping a printed syllabus checklist beside your study table and ticking off each topic as you complete it. This simple topic tracker turns an overwhelming syllabus into a finite, visible to-do list.

Best Books & Study Material for SSC CHSL 2026

The right material covers each part of the syllabus without overwhelming you. Here is a practical, subject-mapped booklist.

For the General Awareness current-affairs component, a dated monthly magazine like the Vision IAS January 2026 Current Affairs Magazine keeps your revision tied to the latest national and international events. And since SSC quant and reasoning overlap heavily with aptitude tested in other competitive exams, a comprehensive aptitude resource such as the Vajiram CSAT Complete Notes is a strong companion for sharpening arithmetic, reasoning and comprehension speed. Pairing the right material to the right syllabus section is exactly how you avoid wasted study hours.

SSC CHSL Study Plan: 30/60/90-Day Roadmap

A syllabus is only useful if it maps to a timeline. Here is a roadmap tied directly to the syllabus sections, scalable to the time you have before the exam.

If you only have 30 days, compress this into concepts in week 1, sectional tests in weeks 2–3, and full mocks in week 4 — always reserving 15 minutes a day for typing practice so the skill test never becomes a surprise.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in SSC CHSL Preparation

• Over-investing in Tier 1: It is only qualifying. Clear it comfortably, then shift energy to Tier 2, which decides merit.
• Ignoring negative marking: At 0.50 (Tier 1) and 1.00 (Tier 2) per wrong answer, blind guessing destroys scores. Attempt only when you can eliminate options.
• Skipping the Computer Knowledge module: It is high-return and conceptual — a few revision sessions can secure easy qualifying marks.
• Leaving typing practice for the end: Speed builds gradually; start early and it is effortless by exam day.
• Studying without PYQ analysis: Previous-year questions reveal the exact weightage and patterns you saw in the tables above.

Avoid these five and you are already ahead of most aspirants who simply “study the syllabus” without strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the syllabus of SSC CHSL?

The SSC CHSL syllabus covers four subjects in Tier 1 — General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude and English Language & Comprehension. Tier 2 covers the same subjects at a higher level plus a Computer Knowledge module, followed by a qualifying skill/typing test.

What is the SSC CHSL Tier 1 and Tier 2 exam pattern?

Tier 1 is a 60-minute objective CBT with 100 questions for 200 marks across four sections (25 questions each) and 0.50 negative marking. Tier 2 is held in two sessions on one day: Session I is an objective paper of about 135 questions for 405 marks (Mathematical Abilities, Reasoning, English, General Awareness and Computer Knowledge) with 1 mark negative marking and sectional timing, while Session II is the qualifying skill/typing test.

How many subjects or sections are there in SSC CHSL?

SSC CHSL Tier 1 has four sections: General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude and English. Tier 2 has the same four subjects organised into sections and modules, plus an additional Computer Knowledge module and the skill/typing test — making it broader than Tier 1.

Is there negative marking in SSC CHSL Tier 1 and Tier 2?

Yes. In Tier 1, 0.50 marks are deducted for each wrong answer. In the Tier 2 objective sections, 1 mark is deducted for each wrong answer. There is no negative marking in the skill/typing test.

Is SSC CHSL Tier 1 qualifying in nature?

Yes. Tier 1 is qualifying — its marks are used only to shortlist candidates for Tier 2 and do not count towards the final merit. Your rank is decided entirely by your Tier 2 performance.

What is the typing speed required for the SSC CHSL skill test?

For LDC/JSA and PA/SA posts, the typing test requires 35 words per minute in English or 30 wpm in Hindi. For DEO posts, the Data Entry Speed Test requires 8,000 to 15,000 key depressions per hour depending on the department.

Which is the best book to cover the SSC CHSL syllabus?

No single book covers everything. Use a quant practice book, a reasoning workbook, an objective English grammar & vocabulary book, a static GK compendium with a monthly current affairs magazine, and a computer awareness handbook — each mapped to its syllabus section for efficient coverage.

What are the most important high-weightage topics in SSC CHSL?

The highest-weightage topics are arithmetic (percentage, ratio, profit/loss, interest, time-work, speed-distance) in Quant; vocabulary and grammar in English; analogy, series and coding-decoding in Reasoning; and static GK plus general science in General Awareness. These clusters carry the majority of marks.

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