March 26, 20267 min read

SSC CHSL Exam Pattern 2024-25: Tier I, Tier II and Skill Test Details

Complete SSC CHSL exam pattern covering Tier I MCQ structure, Tier II Papers I and II, marking scheme, typing test and DEO skill test requirements.

SSC CHSL exam pattern syllabus Tier I Tier II skill test

SSC CHSL (Combined Higher Secondary Level) examination is conducted for posts like LDC, DEO, Postal Assistant, and Sorting Assistant in various central government departments. The exam pattern was restructured in 2023, and understanding the new structure clearly will help you plan your preparation without wasting effort on scrapped sections.

Posts Covered Under SSC CHSL

Post	Grade Pay / Pay Level
Lower Division Clerk (LDC)	Level 2 (₹19,900 - ₹63,200)
Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA)	Level 2
Postal Assistant (PA)	Level 4 (₹25,500 - ₹81,100)
Sorting Assistant (SA)	Level 4
Data Entry Operator (DEO) — Grade A	Level 4
DEO — Grade A (CAG offices)	Level 4

Tier I — Screening Stage

Total: 100 questions | 200 marks | 60 minutes

No sectional time limits in Tier I. All sections can be attempted in any order within the 60-minute window.

Section	Questions	Marks
General Intelligence	25	50
General Awareness	25	50
Quantitative Aptitude (Basic Arithmetic Skill)	25	50
English Language (Basic Knowledge)	25	50

Negative marking: -0.50 marks for each wrong answer (each question is worth 2 marks).

Tier I is a screening stage only. The marks scored here are not counted for final merit. You need to clear the cutoff to qualify for Tier II.

Tier I Syllabus

General Intelligence

Semantic and figural analogies
Symbolic operations, symbolic/number analogies
Trends, figural patterns (folding and completion)
Space orientation, space visualization
Venn diagrams, drawing inferences
Punched hole/pattern (folding and unfolding)
Figural pattern (folding and completion)
Indexing, address matching, date & city matching
Classification of center codes/roll numbers
Small & capital letters/numbers coding, decoding, and classification
Critical thinking, emotional & social intelligence

General Awareness

Current events, India and its neighboring countries
History — ancient, medieval, modern
Indian polity and constitution
Geography (physical, Indian, world)
Indian economy, science and technology
Static GK: important dates, famous personalities, sports, books

Quantitative Aptitude

Number systems
Computation of whole numbers, decimals, fractions
Relationship between numbers, BODMAS
Percentages, ratio and proportion, square roots
Averages, interest (simple and compound)
Profit and loss, discount
Partnership, mixture and alligation
Time and distance, time and work
Algebra: basic algebraic identities
Geometry: triangles, circles, polygons
Mensuration: 2D and 3D figures
Trigonometry: basic ratios, identities, heights and distances
Statistics: bar graphs, pie charts, histograms, frequency polygon

English Language

Spot the error, fill in the blanks
Synonyms, antonyms
Spelling/detecting misspelt words
Idioms and phrases, one-word substitution
Improvement of sentences, active/passive voice
Direct/indirect speech, shuffling of sentence parts
Shuffling of sentences in a passage, close passage
Reading comprehension

Tier II — Merit Stage

Tier II has two papers, conducted on two separate days.

Paper I — Objective (Mandatory for All)

Total: 100 questions | 200 marks | 1 hour

Each question carries 2 marks. Negative marking of 0.50 marks per wrong answer.

Module	Questions	Marks	Time
Mathematical Abilities	30	60	15 min (approx.)
Reasoning and General Intelligence	30	60	15 min (approx.)
English Language and Comprehension	40	80	30 min (approx.)

Wait — Paper I is structured in two sessions: Session I (Module I + Module II): 60 questions, 1 hour

Mathematical Abilities: 30 questions, 60 marks
Reasoning & General Intelligence: 30 questions, 60 marks

Session II (Module III + Module IV): 40 questions, 15 min + 15 min

English Language and Comprehension: 40 questions, 80 marks
General Awareness: 20 questions, 40 marks

Session III (Module V): 15 minutes

Computer Knowledge: 15 questions, 45 marks

Total Paper I: 165 questions, 285 marks (across all modules)

Paper II — Descriptive (Qualifying)

Total: 100 marks | 1 hour

Essay Writing: 200-250 words on given topic (50 marks)
Letter/Application Writing: Formal or informal letter (50 marks)

Paper II is qualifying in nature — you must secure a minimum score to qualify, but it doesn't add to your merit ranking. Minimum qualifying marks: 33% for all categories.

Paper II is evaluated only for candidates who clear Paper I cutoffs.

Skill Test / Typing Test — Post-Specific

After Tier II, candidates shortlisted for specific posts have to clear a skill test. This is qualifying — it does NOT add marks to your merit.

Typing Test (LDC / JSA posts)

Medium	Required Speed
English	35 words per minute (10500 key depressions/hour)
Hindi	30 words per minute (9000 key depressions/hour)

Candidates choose their typing medium at the time of applying. The typing test is conducted on a computer keyboard.

Data Entry Speed Test (DEO posts)

Required speed: 8,000 key depressions per hour

The DEO skill test involves entering numerical data from a printed source document. Accuracy and speed both matter — errors reduce effective speed.

For DEO posts in CAG offices: The speed requirement is 15,000 key depressions per hour, which is significantly higher. If you're applying for CAG DEO posts specifically, practice accordingly.

Postal Assistant / Sorting Assistant

No separate skill test. Selection is based on Tier I + Tier II marks only.

How Final Merit is Calculated

Tier I marks: Not counted in final merit (screening only)
Tier II Paper I marks: Counted for final merit
Tier II Paper II: Qualifying only (minimum 33%)
Skill Test: Qualifying only
Final merit = Tier II Paper I normalized score

Post allotment is done based on merit rank, post preferences, and vacancy distribution.

SSC CHSL vs SSC CGL — The Key Difference

Many aspirants wonder whether to go for CHSL or CGL or both.

Factor	SSC CHSL	SSC CGL
Educational qualification	Class 12 pass	Graduation
Pay scale	Level 2–4	Level 4–8
Posts	LDC, DEO, PA, SA	IG, SI, Inspector, AAO
Tier structure	Tier I + Tier II	Tier I + Tier II
Skill test	Typing / DEO speed test	Computer proficiency (built into exam)

If you have a graduation degree and are eligible for CGL, it's generally worth attempting both simultaneously since preparation overlaps significantly.

FAQ

How many attempts are there for SSC CHSL?

SSC CHSL has no attempt limit. You can appear as long as you are within the age limit. Age limit is typically 18-27 years (with relaxation for reserved categories).

Is Tier I conducted in multiple sittings?

Yes. Tier I is conducted online across multiple shifts and days. Normalization is applied across all sessions.

What happens if I fail the skill test?

If you fail the skill test, you are not eligible for appointment for that particular post. You may still be in the merit list for other posts that don't require a skill test (like PA/SA), depending on your application choices.

Is there any difference between LDC and JSA posts?

The pay scale is the same (Level 2). The difference is in the parent organization: LDC posts are in central government ministries/departments, while JSA posts are in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha secretariats, which have somewhat different working environments.

Check the latest SSC CHSL vacancies, exam schedule, and result notifications at SarkariNaukriHub.