SSC CHSL 2026 Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme

From the official Staff Selection Commission (SSC), Government of India documents · last checked 8 October 2026

Tier-I (all posts)

Computer Based Examination (online, objective multiple-choice questions) · 1 hour. Each of the 4 sections has its own 15-minute timer. Candidates eligible for a scribe get 1 hour 20 minutes (20 minutes per section).

SectionQuestionsMarks
English Language (Basic Knowledge)2550
General Intelligence2550
Quantitative Aptitude (Basic Arithmetic Skill)2550
General Awareness2550
Total100200

Marking: 2 marks for each correct answer (50 marks for 25 questions). 0.50 mark is cut for each wrong answer.

  • The English Language section comes only in English. The other three sections come in English, Hindi and the language you chose in the form. The 13 other languages are Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu.
  • Minimum qualifying marks: UR 30%, OBC/EWS 25%, all other categories 20%.
  • Tier-I is for shortlisting only. Its marks are not added to the final merit list. They are used only to break a tie.
  • SSC may fix separate Tier-I cut-offs for (a) DEO/DEO Grade 'A' in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, SSC and the Ministry of Culture, (b) all other DEO/DEO Grade 'A' posts, and (c) LDC/JSA.
  • If the exam runs in many shifts, marks are normalized using SSC's method (notice of 2 June 2025).
  • Candidates with 40% or more visual disability get no maps, graphs, diagrams or statistical data in General Intelligence and Quantitative Aptitude.

Tier-II (all posts)

Computer Based Examination (objective MCQs in Session-I, plus a skill test or typing test in Session-II) · Session-I: 2 hours 15 minutes (Section-I 1 hour, Section-II 1 hour, Section-III 15 minutes). Session-II, on the same day: Skill Test for DEOs (15 minutes) or Typing Test for LDC/JSA (10 minutes). Scribe-eligible candidates get extra time.

SectionQuestionsMarks
Section-I A: Mathematical Abilities3090
Section-I B: Reasoning and General Intelligence3090
Section-II A: English Language and Comprehension40120
Section-II B: General Awareness2060
Section-III: Computer Knowledge Test (qualifying only)1545
Section-IV: Skill Test / Typing Test (qualifying only)——
Total135405

Marking: 3 marks for each correct answer. 1 mark is cut for each wrong answer in Sections I, II and III.

  • Section-I has a 30-minute timer for each subject. Section-II gives 40 minutes for English and 20 minutes for General Awareness.
  • You must qualify every section. Minimum marks in Sections I, II and III: UR 30%, OBC/EWS 25%, all other categories 20%.
  • Only Sections I and II (360 marks) count for merit. Sections III and IV are qualifying only.
  • DEO Skill Test, Part A (DEO posts in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, SSC and the Ministry of Culture): speed of 15,000 key depressions per hour. You type an English passage of about 3,700–4,000 key depressions in 15 minutes.
  • DEO Skill Test, Part B (all other DEO posts): speed of 8,000 key depressions per hour. You type an English passage of about 2,000–2,200 key depressions in 15 minutes.
  • Typing Test for LDC/JSA (Part C): 35 words per minute in English or 30 words per minute in Hindi, for 10 minutes. You choose the medium in the application form and cannot change it later. Hindi typing must be done in Mangal font only.
  • English Language and Comprehension comes only in English. The other parts come in English, Hindi and the language you chose.
  • If two candidates have the same Tier-II marks, SSC looks at Section-I marks first, then Tier-I marks, then date of birth (the older candidate ranks higher).
  • The final merit list is made from Tier-II Sections I and II only.

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