SSC CHSL 2026 Syllabus & Exam Pattern – Tier I & Tier II Full Topic-wise Syllabus, Marks, Negative Marking | Official Notice
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SSC Combined Higher Secondary Level (CHSL) 2026 – Complete Syllabus & Exam Pattern
Compiled strictly from the official Notice of Advertisement, Staff Selection Commission, CHSL 2026. All topic lists, mark distribution, sectional timers and negative-marking rules below are taken from Sections 13.8, 13.9, 13.10 and 13.11 of the Commission notification.
Overview
| Conducting body | Staff Selection Commission (SSC) |
|---|---|
| Official notification | Notice of Advertisement for Combined Higher Secondary Level Examination 2026 |
| Official source link | ssc.gov.in → Notice_of_adv_chsl_2026.pdf |
| Tentative vacancies | Approx. 2,536. Final vacancies are subject to confirmation by the indenting Departments. Post-wise and category-wise vacancies are published at ssc.gov.in → For Candidates → Tentative Vacancy. |
| Structure | Computer Based Examination in two tiers – Tier-I and Tier-II. |
| Medium of exam | Tier-I Parts II, III and IV are set in English, Hindi and any language opted for by the candidate in the application form (Annexure-XV). |
| Score normalisation | Where the CBE is conducted in multiple shifts, scores are normalised using the procedure published by the Commission vide its Notice dated 02-06-2025. |
| Answer key challenge | Representations on the tentative answer key must be submitted online within the stipulated time on payment of ₹150 per question (non-refundable). Guidelines were published vide Notice dated 10.04.2026. |
Tier-I (Preliminary) – Para 13.8
Objective, multiple choice. 100 questions / 200 marks in 60 minutes, with a sectional timer of 15 minutes per subject (80 minutes with 15+5=20 minutes per subject for scribe-eligible candidates under Para 7.1, 7.2 and 7.3). Negative marking: 0.50 marks for each wrong answer.
| Part | Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | English Language (Basic Knowledge) | 25 | 50 |
| II | General Intelligence | 25 | 50 |
| III | Quantitative Aptitude (Basic Arithmetic Skill) | 25 | 50 |
| IV | General Awareness | 25 | 50 |
| Total | 100 | 200 |
13.10.5 Accessibility: for VH candidates with 40% and above visual disability, there will be no component of Maps / Graphs / Diagrams / Statistical Data in the General Intelligence and Quantitative Aptitude parts.
Tier-I – 13.10.1 English Language
Spot the Error · Fill in the Blanks · Synonyms / Homonyms · Antonyms · Spellings / detecting mis-spelt words · Idioms & 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.
Tier-I – 13.10.2 General Intelligence
Verbal and non-verbal questions on: 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 · other sub-topics if any.
Tier-I – 13.10.3 Quantitative Aptitude
- i. Number Systems: computation of Whole Number, Decimal and Fractions; relationship between numbers.
- ii. 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.
- iii. Algebra: basic algebraic identities of School Algebra and Elementary surds (simple problems); Graphs of Linear Equations.
- iv. 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.
- v. 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.
- vi. Trigonometry: trigonometric ratios; complementary angles; height and distances (simple problems only); standard identities such as sin²θ + cos²θ = 1.
- vii. Statistical Charts: use of tables and graphs – histogram, frequency polygon, bar-diagram, pie-chart.
Tier-I – 13.10.4 General Awareness
General awareness of the environment and its application to society; current events; everyday observation and experience in their scientific aspect. Also India and its neighbouring countries, especially History, Culture, Geography, Economic Scene, General Policy and scientific research.
Tier-II (Mains) – Para 13.9
Tier-II is conducted as Paper-I and Paper-II in separate sessions.
| Session | Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Session-I (2 hours 15 minutes) | Section-I Part A: Mathematical Abilities | 30 | 60 × 3 = 180 | 1 hour (sectional timer 30 minutes each) |
| Section-I Part B: Reasoning and General Intelligence | 30 | |||
| Section-II Part A: English Language and Comprehension Section-II Part B: General Awareness | 40 20 | 60 × 3 = 180 | 1 hour (sectional timer 40 minutes English, 20 minutes GA) | |
| Session-II | Section-III: Computer Knowledge Section-IV: Skill Test | As specified in Para 13.9 of the official notice | ||
13.11.1 Mathematical Abilities: Number Systems · Fundamental arithmetical operations · Algebra · Geometry · Mensuration · Trigonometry · 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). Full topic detail is identical to the Tier-I Quantitative Aptitude list at 13.10.3.
13.11.2 Reasoning and General Intelligence: verbal and non-verbal questions covering 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, and other sub-topics if any.
13.11.3 English Language and Comprehension: Vocabulary, grammar, sentence structure, synonyms, antonyms and their correct usage; Spot the Error; Fill in the Blanks; Synonyms/Homonyms; Antonyms; Spellings / detecting mis-spelt words; Idioms & 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. Three or more paragraphs are given, of which at least one is a simple narrative and the others relate to current affairs, a report or an editorial.
13.11.4 General Awareness: general awareness of the environment and its application to society; current events; India and its neighbouring countries – History, Culture, Geography, Economic Scene, General Policy and scientific research.
Negative Marking Summary
| Section | Deduction per wrong answer |
|---|---|
| Tier-I (Parts I–IV) | 0.50 marks |
Metric system of weights and measures is used wherever necessary in the question papers (Para 13.6). There is no provision for re-evaluation or re-checking of scores.
Official Source Links
- Official Notice of Advertisement (CHSL 2026): https://ssc.gov.in/api/attachment/uploads/masterData/NoticeBoards/Notice_of_adv_chsl_2026.pdf
- Staff Selection Commission homepage: https://ssc.gov.in
- Commission syllabus hub: https://ssc.gov.in/syllabus
All content on this page is derived from the official Staff Selection Commission notification linked above.
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What is SSC CHSL 2026 Syllabus & Exam Pattern – Tier I & Tier II Full Topic-wise Syllabus, Marks, Negative Marking | Official Notice?
SSC CHSL 2026 Syllabus & Exam Pattern – Tier I & Tier II Full Topic-wise Syllabus, Marks, Negative Marking | Official Notice is a government recruitment notification published by Staff Selection Commission. Apply before the last date to be considered for the post.
When do applications open for Staff Selection Commission Recruitment 2026?
Online applications for Staff Selection Commission Recruitment 2026 start on 08 September 2026.
What is the qualification required for Staff Selection Commission Recruitment 2026?
Matriculation (Class 10) or equivalent for Lower Division Clerk and Junior Secretariat Assistant posts. Higher Secondary (12th) or equivalent for Data Entry Operator, Departmental Clerks, Assistant Section Officer and Stenographer posts. Post-wise requirements are given in the official advertisement.