SSC Combined Higher Secondary Level Examination
Staff Selection Commission examination for recruitment to Lower Divisional Clerk, Junior Secretariat Assistant, Postal Assistant and Data Entry Operator posts.
Eligibility
Overview
SSC CHSL recruits candidates who have passed Class 12 into posts such as Lower Divisional Clerk (LDC) / Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA), Postal Assistant / Sorting Assistant, and Data Entry Operator across central government offices.
Conducting authority
Staff Selection Commission (SSC).
Nationality
Indian citizen; certain other categories (Nepal/Bhutan subjects, specified Tibetan refugees and migrants) may be eligible for particular posts as per that year's notification.
Educational qualification
Class 12 pass (10+2) or an equivalent qualification from a recognised board; Data Entry Operator posts additionally require the qualification to include a science/mathematics stream in some recruiting departments — check the specific post's requirement in the notification.
Age limit and relaxation
CategoryRelaxation on upper age limitGeneral18-27 years (no relaxation)OBC+3 yearsSC / ST+5 yearsPwBDUp to +15 years, depending on category
Age is calculated as on 1 August of the recruitment year.
Number of attempts
No cap on the number of attempts — only the age limit applies.
Exam Pattern
Stages
Tier I — Computer Based Examination
Tier II — Computer Based Examination (objective sections plus a skill/typing test module)
Tier I pattern
English Language: 25 questions
Quantitative Aptitude: 25 questions
General Intelligence (Reasoning): 25 questions
General Awareness: 25 questions
Total: 100 questions, 200 marks, 60 minutes, with 15-minute sectional timing per subject
Tier II pattern
Section I — Module I: Mathematical Abilities: 30 questions, 90 marks
Section I — Module II: Reasoning & General Intelligence: 30 questions, 90 marks
Section II — Module I: English Language & Comprehension: 40 questions, 120 marks
Section II — Module II: General Awareness: 20 questions, 60 marks
Section III — Module I: Computer Knowledge Test: 15 questions, 45 marks
Section III — Module II: Skill Test (DEO posts) / Typing Test (LDC/JSA and similar posts): qualifying, not scored
Total (objective): 135 questions, 405 marks
Section I, Section II and Section III Module I (Computer Knowledge Test) run together as Session I, 2 hours 15 minutes. Section III Module II (the Skill Test/Typing Test) runs separately as Session II — 15 minutes for the Data Entry Operator skill test, 10 minutes for the LDC/JSA typing test.
Marking scheme and negative marking
Tier I: 0.50 marks deducted per wrong answer. Tier II: each correct answer in Sections I, II and Section III Module I carries 3 marks, with 1 mark deducted per wrong answer in those objective sections; the Skill Test/Typing Test (Section III Module II) is qualifying only, with no negative marking.
Selection process
Tier I qualifies candidates for Tier II. Final merit is based on the Tier II objective sections (Sections I, II and III Module I), subject to qualifying the Skill Test/Typing Test where applicable to the post.
Preparation Guide
How to prepare
Because Tier I has no sectional time cap within the 60 minutes, practising to balance speed across all four sections matters more than specialising in just one. If you are targeting a typing-test post, start typing practice early — typing speed builds slowly and is easy to under-prepare for relative to the objective sections.
Important dates
SSC CHSL follows a similar annual cycle to other SSC exams — Tier I first, Tier II afterwards. Confirm exact dates against the current notification.
Frequently asked questions
Is the typing/skill test scored towards merit? No — it is qualifying only; final merit comes from the Tier II objective score.
Can Class 12 appearing candidates apply? Eligibility conditions for appearing candidates are specified in each year's notification — check it directly before applying.
Official website
ssc.gov.in — confirm this cycle's dates, post-wise vacancies and the applicable skill/typing test standard.