CHSL
The Combined Higher Secondary Level (CHSL) Examination is conducted by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) for recruitment into various clerical and data entry positions in government departments and ministries.
About CHSL
The SSC CHSL exam is a popular choice for candidates who have completed their 10+2 education and are looking to join the government sector. The posts offered include Lower Divisional Clerk (LDC), Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA), Postal Assistant (PA), Sorting Assistant (SA), and Data Entry Operator (DEO).
Exam Structure
The SSC CHSL exam consists of three tiers:
Tier I (Preliminary Exam):
- Type: Computer-Based Test (CBT)
- Sections:
- General Intelligence (Reasoning)
- General Awareness
- Quantitative Aptitude
- English Language
- Marks: 200 marks total (50 marks per section)
- Duration: 1 hour (60 minutes)
- Marking Scheme: +2 marks for each correct answer, -0.50 for each incorrect answer
Tier II (Descriptive Paper):
- Type: Offline (Pen and Paper)
- Content: Essay and Letter/Application Writing
- Marks: 100 marks
- Duration: 1 hour (60 minutes)
- Language: English/Hindi
- Purpose: Assesses written communication skills; minimum qualifying marks are 33%.
Tier III (Skill Test/Typing Test):
- Type: Skill Test or Typing Test
- Required for specific posts:
- Data Entry Operator (DEO): Data Entry Speed of 8,000 key depressions per hour on the computer.
- LDC/JSA/PA/SA: Typing test of 35 words per minute (wpm) in English or 30 wpm in Hindi on the computer.
- Purpose: Qualifying nature; required to assess typing skills for clerical posts.
Eligibility Criteria
Nationality: Indian citizens or subjects of Nepal, Bhutan, and other categories as per SSC norms.
Educational Qualification:
- Must have passed the 10+2 (Class 12) or equivalent examination from a recognized board or university.
- For DEO positions in the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, candidates need 10+2 with Science (Maths) stream.
Age Limit: 18–27 years (as of the application deadline). Age relaxations are provided as per government rules for reserved categories like SC/ST, OBC, PwD, etc.
Syllabus Overview
Tier I:
- General Intelligence (Reasoning): Includes topics like analogies, coding-decoding, puzzles, direction sense, blood relations, and visual memory.
- General Awareness: Covers current events, history, geography, economics, general science, static GK, and recent developments.
- Quantitative Aptitude: Includes number system, simplification, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, data interpretation, and mensuration.
- English Language: Grammar, vocabulary, synonyms, antonyms, spelling errors, sentence improvement, comprehension, and cloze test.
Tier II:
- Essay Writing: Topics include current affairs, social issues, and national and international events.
- Letter/Application Writing: Typically involves formal and informal letter formats.
Tier III:
- Skill or typing tests on computers; assesses typing accuracy and speed.
Selection Process
Step 1: Tier I Exam – Preliminary round. Only those who qualify proceed to Tier II.
- Step 2: Tier II Exam – Descriptive paper that assesses writing skills.
- Step 3: Tier III Exam – Skill/Typing test required for specific posts.
- Final Selection: Based on performance in Tier I and Tier II, with Tier III as a qualifying criterion. Document verification is conducted post-qualification for final selection.
Important Dates
- Notification Release: Typically around December/January each year.
- Application Period: Lasts for about a month after the notification.
- Exam Dates:
- Tier I: Generally conducted around March-April.
- Tier II: Conducted a few months after Tier I.
- Tier III: Conducted after Tier II results.
- Result Declaration: SSC announces results for each tier within a few weeks of the exam.