Complete SSC CHSL Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2026: Tier 1, Tier 2, and Skill Test Guide

Overview of SSC CHSL Exam Structure

The SSC CHSL exam consists of two major levels: Tier 1 and Tier 2. Both Tier 1 and Tier 2 are conducted online. While Tier 1 is a screening/qualifying test whose marks are NOT counted in the final merit list, Tier 2 determines the final merit. Selection is based solely on Tier 2 performance, followed by a qualifying Skill or Typing Test.

SSC CHSL Tier 1 Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme

Tier 1 consists of 100 objective-type questions (25 from each of the four subjects) making a maximum of 200 marks. General Intelligence (Reasoning) is considered the most scoring section in Tier 1. Negative marking applies to Tier 1, with 0.5 marks deducted for each wrong answer.

SSC CHSL Tier 1 Detailed Syllabus Checklists

SSC CHSL Tier 1 Syllabus - General Awareness

• History
• India and its neighbouring countries
• Culture
• Geography
• Economic Scene
• General Policy
• Scientific Research
• Awards and Honours
• Books and Authors
• Current Affairs
• Sports GK
• Indian GK
• Indian Polity

SSC CHSL Tier 1 Syllabus - General Intelligence

• Semantic Analogy
• Symbolic operations
• Symbolic/ Number Analogy
• Trends
• Figural Analogy
• Space Orientation
• Semantic Classification
• Venn Diagrams
• Number Series
• Embedded figures
• Figural Series
• Critical Thinking
• Problem Solving
• Symbolic/ Number Classification
• Drawing inferences
• Figural Classification
• Punched hole/ pattern folding & unfolding
• Semantic Series
• Figural Pattern-folding and completion
• Emotional Intelligence
• Word Building, Social Intelligence
• Coding and de-coding
• Other sub-topics if any Numerical operations.

SSC CHSL Tier 1 Syllabus - English Language

• Spot the Error
• Fill in the Blanks
• Synonyms/ Homonyms
• Antonyms
• Spellings/ Detecting misspelt words
• Idioms and Phrases
• One Word Substitution
• Improvement of Sentences
• Active and Passive Voice
• Conversion into Direct/Indirect narration
• Shuffling of Sentence parts
• Shuffling of Sentences in a passage
• Cloze Passage
• Comprehension Passage

SSC CHSL Tier 1 Syllabus - Quantitative Aptitude

• Number Systems: Computation of Whole Numbers, Decimals, and Fractions, Relationship between Numbers.
• Fundamental arithmetical operations: Percentages, Ratio and Proportion, Square roots, Averages, Interest (Simple and Compound), Profit and Loss, Discount, Partnership Business, Mixture and Allegation, Time and distance, Time and work.
• Mensuration: Triangle, Quadrilaterals, Regular Polygons, Circle, Right Prism, Right Circular Cone, Right Circular Cylinder, Sphere, Hemispheres, Rectangular Parallelepiped, Regular Right Pyramid with triangular or square Base.
• Algebra: Basic algebraic identities of School Algebra and Elementary surds (simple problems) and Graphs of Linear Equations.
• Geometry: Familiarity with elementary geometric figures and facts: Triangle and its various kinds of centres, Congruence and similarity of triangles, Circle and its chords, tangents, angles subtended by chords of a circle, common tangents to two or more circles.
• Trigonometry: Trigonometry, Trigonometric ratios, Complementary angles, Height and distances (simple problems only) Standard Identities like sin2 𝜃 + Cos2 𝜃=1 etc.
• Statistical Charts: Use of Tables and Graphs: Histogram, Frequency polygon, Bar-diagram, Pie-chart.

Tier 1 Topic-wise Weightage

SSC CHSL Tier 2 Exam Pattern & Structure

Tier 2 is divided into sessions and sections, featuring 135 questions for a maximum of 405 marks. Negative marking applies to Section 1, Section 2, and Module 1 of Section 3 in Tier 2, with 1 mark deducted for each wrong answer.

SSC CHSL Tier 2 Syllabus Detailed Checklists

SSC CHSL Tier 2 Syllabus - Module I of Session I (Mathematical Abilities)

• Number Systems: Computation of Whole Number, Decimal and Fractions, Relationship between numbers.
• Fundamental arithmetical operations: Percentages, Ratio and Proportion, Square roots, Averages, Interest (Simple and Compound), Profit and Loss, Discount, Partnership Business, Mixture and Alligation, Time and distance, Time and work.
• Algebra: Basic algebraic identities of School Algebra and Elementary surds (simple problems), Graphs of Linear Equations.
• Geometry: Familiarity with elementary geometric figures and facts: Triangle and its various kinds of centres, Congruence and similarity of triangles, Circle and its chords, Tangents, Angles subtended by chords of a circle, Common tangents to two or more circles.
• Mensuration: Triangle, Quadrilaterals, Regular Polygons, Circle, Right Prism, Right Circular Cone, Right Circular Cylinder, Sphere, Hemispheres, Rectangular Parallelepiped, Regular Right Pyramid with triangular or square Base.
• Trigonometry: Trigonometry, Trigonometric ratios, Complementary angles, Height and distances (simple problems only), Standard Identities like sin2𝜃 + Cos2𝜃=1 etc.
• Statistics and probability: Use of Tables and Graphs: Histogram, Frequency polygon, Bar-diagram, Pie-chart, Measures of central tendency: mean, median, mode, standard deviation, calculation of simple probabilities.

SSC CHSL Tier 2 Syllabus - Module II of Section I (Reasoning and General Intelligence)

• Verbal and non-verbal type
• Semantic Analogy
• Symbolic operations
• Symbolic/ Number Analogy
• Trends, Figural Analogy
• Space Orientation
• Semantic Classification
• Venn Diagrams
• Symbolic/ Number Classification
• Drawing inferences
• Figural Classification
• Punched hole/ pattern-folding & unfolding
• Semantic Series
• Figural Pattern-folding and completion
• Number Series
• Embedded figures
• Figural Series
• Critical Thinking
• Problem Solving
• Emotional Intelligence
• Word Building
• Social Intelligence
• Coding and de-coding
• Numerical operations

SSC CHSL Tier 2 Syllabus - Module I of Section-II (English Language And Comprehension)

• Vocabulary
• Grammar
• Sentence structure
• Synonyms/Homonyms
• Antonyms
• Spot the Error
• Fill in the Blanks
• Spellings/ Detecting mis-spelt words
• Idioms and Phrases
• One-word substitution
• Improvement of Sentences
• Active/ Passive Voice of Verbs
• Conversion into Direct/ Indirect narration
• Shuffling of Sentence parts
• Shuffling of Sentences in a passage
• Cloze Passage
• Comprehension Passage

SSC CHSL Tier 2 Syllabus - Module-II of Section-II (General Awareness)

• Questions are designed to test knowledge of current events and of such matters of everyday observation & experience in their scientific aspect as may be expected of an educated person.
• Questions relating to India and its neighbouring countries especially pertaining to History, Culture, Geography, Economic Scene, General policy, and Scientific research.

SSC CHSL Tier 2 Syllabus - Module-I of Section-III of Paper-I (Computer Proficiency)

• Computer Basics: Organization of a computer, Central Processing Unit (CPU), Input/ output devices, Computer memory, Memory organization, Back- up devices, PORTs, Windows Explorer, Keyboard shortcuts.
• Software: Windows Operating system including basics of Microsoft Office like MS word, MS Excel and Power Point etc.
• Working with Internet and e-mails: Web Browsing & Searching, Downloading & Uploading, Managing an E-mail Account, e-Banking.
• Basics of networking and cyber security: Networking devices and protocols, Network and information security threats (like hacking, virus, worms, Trojan etc.) and preventive measures.

Skill Test and Typing Test Specifications

The Skill/Typing Test is a qualifying stage and does not contribute marks to the merit list, with zero negative marking. Requirements differ based on the job post:

Minimum Qualifying Standards

Candidates must achieve the threshold category percentages in Tier-I, Section-I, Section-II & Module-I of Section-III of the Tier-II Examination:

• UR: 30%
• OBC/EWS: 25%
• All other categories: 20%

Preparation Strategy and Resources

Candidates can prepare for SSC CHSL without coaching using the official syllabus PDF and free online resources. Consistency and regular practice of previous year papers are key factors for self-preparation.

Study Resources & Tips for SSC CHSL

• Utilize SSC CHSL Previous Year Question Papers, previous year cut-offs, and mock tests.
• Reference the updated SSC CHSL Exam Pattern 2026.
• Gather all key resources before starting your preparation and calculate your timeframe using official calendars.
• Focus extra time on English and Quantitative Aptitude as they heavily impact final merit.
• Review performance after every practice mock test to correct recurring errors.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is the SSC CHSL Syllabus the same for all posts?

Yes, the written exam topics are the same for all posts like LDC, JSA, and DEO. However, the typing speed and skill test requirements vary depending on the specific job you've applied for.

How many questions are asked in SSC CHSL Tier I?

Tier I consists of 100 objective-type questions (25 from each of the four subjects) for a total of 200 marks.

Which is the highest-scoring section in Tier I?

General Intelligence (Reasoning) is generally considered the easiest and most scoring section compared to others.

Are Tier 1 marks counted in the SSC CHSL final merit list?

No. Tier 1 marks are only used to qualify you for Tier 2. Your final selection is based solely on your Tier 2 performance and the qualifying skill test.

Can I prepare for SSC CHSL without coaching?

Absolutely. Many candidates succeed using the official syllabus PDF and free online resources. Consistency and regular practice of previous year papers are the key factors.

Is there negative marking in SSC CHSL?

Yes. In Tier 1, each wrong answer deducts 0.5 marks. In Tier 2, the penalty is 1 mark per wrong answer in the objective modules.