The SSC CHSL 2026 (Combined Higher Secondary Level) is a national-level exam by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) for recruiting 12th-pass candidates to Group C posts like Lower Division Clerk (LDC), Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA), Postal Assistant/Sorting Assistant (PA/SA), and Data Entry Operator (DEO). Age limit: 18-27 years (relaxations apply).
Latest Key Highlights (as of Feb 2026):
- Notification Release: Expected April 2026 (official SSC calendar).
- Application Period: Likely April-May 2026.
- Tier 1 Exam: Tentatively July-September 2026.
- Tier 2 Exam: Expected late 2026 or early 2027 (post-Tier 1 results).
- Vacancies: Typically 3,000–5,000+ (exact in notification).
- Selection Process: Two tiers (both CBT) + Skill/Typing Test (qualifying) + Document Verification.
- No major pattern changes for 2026; follows the revised format (no descriptive paper, no interview).
The exam is fully objective (MCQs) with negative marking. Tier 1 is qualifying; Tier 2 decides merit.
| Stage | Mode | Duration | Questions | Marks | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Online CBT | 60 min (80 min PwD) | 100 | 200 | -0.50 per wrong answer |
| Tier 2 | Online CBT (2 sessions) | Session-I: ~2 hr 15 min total; Session-II: 15 min | 135 MCQs + Skill Test | 405 | -1 per wrong answer (MCQs) |
Tier 1 Exam Pattern (Screening/Qualifying)
Online CBT, 100 MCQs (4 options), bilingual (Hindi/English except English section). No sectional cut-offs; focus on overall score (normalized for shifts). Aim 120–140+ for safe qualification.
| Section | Subject | Questions | Marks | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | General Intelligence (Reasoning) | 25 | 50 | Analogies, series, coding-decoding, puzzles, blood relations, non-verbal |
| 2 | Quantitative Aptitude (Maths) | 25 | 50 | Numbers, percentages, ratio, algebra, geometry, trig, DI, simplification |
| 3 | English Language | 25 | 50 | RC, grammar (errors, fillers), vocab (synonyms/antonyms, idioms), cloze, jumbles |
| 4 | General Awareness | 25 | 50 | Current affairs (last 6-12 months), history, geography, polity, economy, science, static GK |
Pro Tip: +2 per correct; accuracy key due to negative marking.
Tier 2 Exam Pattern (Merit-Deciding)
Conducted in two sessions on the same day. Higher difficulty; marks normalized and used for final merit (after qualifying skill test).
Session-I (Objective MCQs): Three sections, modules combined for timing.
| Section | Module(s) | Subject(s) | Questions | Marks | Duration (combined) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I: Mathematical Abilities II: Reasoning & General Intelligence | Maths + Reasoning | 30 + 30 | 90 + 90 (180) | ~1 hour (Session-I total) |
| 2 | I: English Language & Comprehension II: General Awareness | English + GK | 40 + 20 | 120 + 60 (180) | – |
| 3 | I: Computer Knowledge Test | Computer Basics (MS Office, internet, shortcuts, etc.) | 15 | 45 | – |
| Total | – | – | 135 | 405 | ~2 hr 15 min |
- Negative: -1 per wrong in Sections 1-3.
- Bilingual (except English).
Session-II (Skill Test/Typing Test – Qualifying):
- Duration: 15 minutes.
- For LDC/JSA/PA/SA: Typing – 35 wpm (English) or 30 wpm (Hindi).
- For DEO: Data Entry – 8,000 key depressions/hour.
- Qualifying only (no marks added); mandatory to pass.
Syllabus Highlights & Preparation Tips (Updated)
- Reasoning/Quant: Practice puzzles, advanced arithmetic, geometry/trig (use RS Aggarwal).
- English: Focus on comprehension, grammar rules (Wren & Martin).
- GK/Current Affairs: Last 6-12 months priority (newspapers, Lucent GK, monthly compilations from mid-2025).
- Computer: Basics only (Tier 2 Module-I).
- Daily Plan: 2 hrs each subject; weekly revision + mocks.
- Mocks: Full-length bi-weekly (Adda247, Testbook, Oliveboard); analyze for speed (1 min/question Tier 1).
- Strategy: Accuracy > attempts; guess wisely. Track current affairs from Jan 2026 onward for Tier 1.
Marking Scheme Reminder:
- Tier 1: +2 correct, -0.50 wrong.
- Tier 2 MCQs: +3 correct (most), -1 wrong.
- No penalty for unattempted.
FAQs (Updated):
- Negative marking? Yes—0.50 (Tier 1), 1 (Tier 2 MCQs).
- Stages? Two tiers + skill/typing (qualifying).
- Tier 2 difficulty? Moderate-high; deeper concepts + computer test.
- Official source? Check ssc.gov.in for notification (April 2026) and syllabus PDF.
Master the pattern early—consistent prep can get you 150+ in Tier 1 and 300+ in Tier 2. Bookmark for updates, join SSC communities, and download official syllabus when released. Best of luck for SSC CHSL 2026!
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