SSC Combined Higher Secondary Level (CHSL) Examination — Eligibility, Syllabus & Exam Pattern
The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) conducts the Combined Higher Secondary Level (CHSL) Examination to recruit candidates for various posts such as Lower Divisional Clerk (LDC), Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA), and Data Entry Operators (DEO) in different ministries and departments of the Government of India. This is a highly popular examination for candidates who have completed their 12th standard. The selection process involves a two-tier examination: a preliminary Tier-I Exam and a final Tier-II Exam which also includes a mandatory skill/typing test.
📌 Eligibility Criteria
Nationality
A candidate must be a citizen of India, or a subject of Nepal/Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962, to permanently settle here.
Age Limit
A candidate must be between 18 and 27 years old. Age relaxation is available for reserved categories (OBC, SC/ST, PwBD) as per government rules.
Educational Qualification
A candidate must have passed the 12th Standard or an equivalent examination from a recognized Board or University. This is the minimum qualification for all posts.
✍️ Exam Syllabus & Pattern
Tier-I Examination (Qualifying Nature)
This is a preliminary screening test. Its marks are not counted for the final merit list, but candidates must clear the cutoff to be eligible for Tier-II.
| Subject | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Total Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 25 | 50 | 1 Hour |
| General Awareness | 25 | 50 | |
| Quantitative Aptitude (Basic Arithmetic Skill) | 25 | 50 | |
| English Language (Basic Knowledge) | 25 | 50 | |
| Total | 100 | 200 | - |
Syllabus for Tier-I Exam
- General Intelligence & Reasoning: Includes topics like analogy, classification, coding-decoding, series, verbal and non-verbal reasoning.
- General Awareness: Covers current affairs, history, geography, culture, economic scene, general policy, and scientific research.
- Quantitative Aptitude: Focuses on basic arithmetic skills including number systems, percentages, profit and loss, time and distance, and basic algebra and geometry.
- English Language: Tests basic knowledge of vocabulary, grammar, sentence structure, synonyms, antonyms, and reading comprehension.
Tier-II Examination
This is the final and merit-deciding stage of the examination. It consists of one paper conducted in two sessions.
Structure of Tier-II Paper
- Session I:
- Section I: Module-I (Mathematical Abilities) and Module-II (Reasoning and General Intelligence).
- Section II: Module-I (English Language and Comprehension) and Module-II (General Awareness).
- Section III: Module-I (Computer Knowledge Test - Qualifying).
- Session II:
- Section III: Module-II (Skill Test / Typing Test - Qualifying).
- For Data Entry Operator (DEO): A Data Entry Speed Test with a speed of 8,000 Key Depressions per hour.
- For LDC/JSA: A Typing Test with a required speed of 35 words per minute (w.p.m.) in English or 30 w.p.m. in Hindi.
👉 Note
- The final merit list is prepared based on the overall performance in Session I of the Tier-II Examination.
- For full official syllabus & eligibility, refer to SSC official notification.
☞ Tip for Aspirants: Always refer to the latest official notification for syllabus and eligibility details as they may change year to year.