SSC CHSL Exam Pattern 2026
Tier 1's new 15-minute sectional locks, the full Tier 2 marks breakdown, the marking scheme for both tiers, and exactly how the typing/skill test works.
At a Glance
- Tier 1: 4 sections × 15-min sectional lock
- Tier 2 merit: Sections I + II = 360 marks
- Computer Knowledge module: qualifying only
- Skill/typing test: same day as Tier 2
Sectional timing is the single biggest change this cycle. Tier 1 no longer gives you one free-flowing 60-minute block — each of the 4 subjects locks at exactly 15 minutes, and you're moved on automatically whether you've finished or not. Unused time from an easy section can't be spent on a harder one anymore.
Tier 1 — Computer Based Examination
Screening only — does not count to final merit (except as a tie-breaker)
Qualifying100
Questions
200
Marks
15×4
Min / Subject
+2 / -0.5
Per Answer
25 Q | 50 M | 15 min
25 Q | 50 M | 15 min
25 Q | 50 M | 15 min
25 Q | 50 M | 15 min
Candidates with visual disability, cerebral palsy or those using a scribe get 80 minutes total — 20 minutes per section.
Tier 2 — Session I (Objective)
Both sessions run on the same day. Session I has 135 questions across three sections — but only Sections I and II (360 marks) feed into your final merit.
Section I — Mathematical Abilities + Reasoning
60 Q | 180 Marks
30 Maths (90M, 30 min) + 30 Reasoning & GI (90M, 30 min) · +3 / -1 per answer
Section II — English + General Awareness
60 Q | 180 Marks
40 English & Comprehension (120M, 40 min) + 20 GA (60M, 20 min) · +3 / -1 per answer
Section III — Computer Knowledge
15 Q | 45 Marks
15 minutes · +3 / -1 per answer · marks don't count toward merit, but you must clear it
135
Total Questions
405
Total Marks
360
Merit Marks
2h 15m
Duration
Tier 2 — Session II: Skill / Typing Test
Held the same day as Session I. Qualifying only — missing the required speed disqualifies you regardless of your Section I/II score. The medium you choose on the application form is final and can't be changed later.
| Post | Test | Standard | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| LDC / JSA | English Typing | 35 WPM (~10,500 KDPH) | 10 min |
| LDC / JSA | Hindi Typing (Mangal font) | 30 WPM (~9,000 KDPH) | 10 min |
| DEO (most departments) | Data Entry Skill Test | 8,000 KDPH (~2,000–2,200 strokes) | 15 min |
| DEO Grade 'A' (C&AG, select depts) | Data Entry Skill Test | 15,000 KDPH (~3,700–4,000 strokes) | 15 min |
KDPH = key depressions per hour. Both typing and data-entry tests are evaluated on accuracy of the entered passage, not speed alone.
Minimum Qualifying Marks
30%
UR
25%
OBC / EWS
20%
All Other Categories
Clearing this floor only makes you eligible for consideration — actual selection depends on your category's cut-off, which moves every year with vacancy count and paper difficulty.
How Ties Are Broken
- 1Higher marks in Tier 2 Section I (Mathematical Abilities + Reasoning).
- 2If still tied, higher marks in Tier 1.
- 3If still tied, the older candidate (by date of birth) ranks higher.
Tier 1 doesn't count toward merit directly, but it re-enters the picture here as a tie-breaker.
Frequently Asked Questions
100 questions, 200 marks, 60 minutes total — split into four 15-minute sectional locks (new for 2026) for English, Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude and General Awareness, 25 questions and 50 marks each.
Marking is +2 per correct answer and -0.50 per wrong answer.
Each of Tier 1's four subjects gets its own fixed 15-minute block instead of one shared 60-minute timer.
Once a subject's 15 minutes are up, you move to the next section automatically — you can't return to it or carry over unused time.
Session I has 135 questions across Section I (Maths + Reasoning, 180 marks), Section II (English + GA, 180 marks) and Section III (Computer Knowledge, 45 marks, qualifying only). Only Sections I and II — 360 marks — count toward merit.
Marking is +3 per correct answer and -1 per wrong answer across all three sections.
Yes — Session II runs the same day as Session I.
LDC/JSA take a 10-minute typing test; DEO candidates take a 15-minute data entry skill test.
30% for UR, 25% for OBC/EWS, and 20% for all other categories.
Clearing this floor doesn't guarantee selection — your category's cut-off (set by vacancies and competition) still applies on top.
First by higher Tier 2 Section I marks, then by higher Tier 1 marks, then by the older candidate's date of birth.
Tier 1 doesn't count toward merit directly, but it re-enters the picture as a tie-breaker.
No — it's mandatory and qualifying (15 questions, 45 marks), but its marks don't add to your final merit score.
You must clear it to stay in contention, even though it doesn't boost your rank.
Practice the
Exact 2026 Pattern
A mock that doesn't lock each Tier 1 section to 15 minutes teaches you the wrong habits. PrepGrind's mocks replicate the real sectional-timing format, plus a typing-speed tool for the skill test.
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