SSC CHSL Cut Off: Tier 1 Previous Year Marks and 2026 Trend

Read this first: the SSC CHSL cut off 2026 has not been released, because the exam itself has not been held yet. SSC has not even announced the Tier 1 dates. Every number on this page comes from earlier cycles (2023, 2024 and 2025), as compiled by Mahendras and Careerpower; verify on ssc.gov.in. Rows that only one coaching site reported are marked as single source.

Why bother with old numbers, then? Because the SSC CHSL previous year cut off is the only honest benchmark you have while you prepare. It tells you roughly how many marks out of 200 separated the shortlisted candidates from the rest in your category.

For dates, eligibility and the full picture of this exam, start with the SSC CHSL complete guide.

SSC CHSL Cut Off 2026: Quick Status

We keep verified cut off data for Tier 1 and a separate verified cut off data page for Tier 2. Both pages will be updated when SSC releases the 2026 data.

Minimum Qualifying Marks vs Cut Off: Not the Same Thing

Many candidates mix these two up. The notice (para 17.1) sets minimum qualifying marks for Tier 1 and for Sections I, II and III of Tier 2. Crossing that line only makes you eligible to be considered. The cut off is the actual score of the last candidate shortlisted in your category, and it depends on vacancies and how everyone else performed.

See the gap? A UR candidate with 60 marks has technically qualified, yet last year the shortlist closed at 144.26. So plan around the cut off, not the qualifying mark. The qualifying percentage matters mostly in Tier 2, where you must clear every section.

SSC CHSL Cut Off 2025: Tier 1 Category Wise

LDC/JSA (2025)

Figures are normalised marks out of 200, as compiled by Mahendras and Careerpower; verify on ssc.gov.in. A row marked "only" appeared in one compilation (single source, verify on ssc.gov.in).

Look at how tight the top three are. UR, OBC and EWS sat within 2.84 marks of each other in 2025. For an OBC or EWS candidate, that means category relaxation bought very little at the Tier 1 stage.

DEO, Science Stream Group (2025)

This group covers DEO/DEO Grade A posts that need 12th Science with Mathematics.

DEO, Other Streams (2025)

SSC CHSL Previous Year Cut Off: 2024 and 2023

LDC/JSA (2024)

SSC declared this Tier 1 result on 6 September 2024 (as reported by Mahendras). Figures as compiled by Mahendras and Careerpower; verify on ssc.gov.in.

DEO/DEO Grade A (2024)

LDC/JSA (2023)

Every row in this table comes from one compilation (Careerpower) (single source, verify on ssc.gov.in).

SSC 10+2 Cut Off Trend: 2023 vs 2024 vs 2025

Here is the LDC/JSA Tier 1 cut off for the five main categories side by side. The last two columns show the change in marks. The 2023 figures are single source, so treat the first change column with a little caution.

The pattern is clear enough. Cut offs rose slightly from 2023 to 2024 in four of five categories, then fell sharply in 2025. UR went from 157.36 to 144.26, a drop of 13.10 marks. SC and ST fell by more than 14 marks each.

We do not know the exact reason for the 2025 fall, and neither does anyone outside SSC. A tougher paper, a larger vacancy count (the 2025 cycle went from 3,131 tentative to 3,522 final, as reported by Testbook) and normalisation across shifts could all have played a part. Treat any single explanation with suspicion.

Why the DEO Cut Off Runs Higher

In every year above, the DEO cut off sits well above LDC/JSA. In 2025 the UR gap was 25.28 marks (169.54 vs 144.26). Two likely reasons:

• Fewer seats. DEO posts are a much smaller slice of the CHSL vacancy than LDC/JSA, so the shortlist closes at a higher score.
• The science stream group. DEO posts in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, the Staff Selection Commission and the Ministry of Culture need 12th Science with Maths. SSC can set a separate cut off for this group (para 17.3), and candidates with a maths background tend to score well in Quant.

If DEO is your target, compare yourself against the DEO rows, not the LDC/JSA ones.

Tier 2 Cut Off and Final Selection

Tier 1 only shortlists you. The final merit comes from Tier 2, and it works differently.

• Merit is based on the aggregate of Section I (Maths and Reasoning, 180 marks) and Section II (English and GA, 180 marks), so 360 marks in total.
• Section III (Computer Knowledge, 45 marks) is qualifying but mandatory. You still need the minimum qualifying percentage in it.
• Section IV (Skill Test or Typing Test) is qualifying only.
• Ties are broken by Section I marks of Tier 2, then Tier 1 marks, then the older candidate.

There is no single final cut off. Allocation happens post by post, department by department and category by category, under the First Round of Tentative Allocation (FRTA) and the sliding mechanism. Your post preferences, filled in the Online Option Form before FRTA, decide where your score lands you. For the full Tier 2 structure, read our exam pattern page.

Will the Sectional Timer Change the 2026 Cut Off?

This is the big unknown. The CHSL 2025 Tier 1 had no sectional timer. The 2026 Tier 1 gives each of the four subjects a fixed 15 minutes, and unused time cannot move to another section. Here are the arguments on both sides.

Reasons the cut off could fall or stay flat

• No time borrowing. A strong Quant candidate used to finish GA in 6 or 7 minutes and spend the rest on arithmetic. That edge is gone. High scorers may lose a few marks.
• GA-strong candidates cannot bank time either. Their quick GA section no longer funds a slow English or Reasoning section.

Reasons the cut off could rise

• Fewer vacancies. The 2026 tentative figure is about 2,536, compared with 3,131 tentative last cycle. Fewer seats usually means a higher closing score, though the final number can change (last cycle it rose to 3,522).
• Last year's low base. After a 13.10-mark drop for UR, a rebound is plausible if the paper is easier.

Normalisation adds another layer

Tier 1 runs in many shifts, and SSC normalises scores using its notice dated 2 June 2025. The cut off is set on these normalised scores, so your raw score in a tough shift may move up or down. If this confuses you, here is how normalisation works.

Our honest view: nobody can give you a reliable number today. The exam date is not announced, the post-wise vacancy is not out, and the paper has not been set. Anyone quoting an exact SSC CHSL expected cut off 2026 right now is guessing, whatever the thumbnail says.

The one thing you can control is how you perform under the 15-minute limit. ExamAtlas has 7 free CHSL Tier 1 mocks that run the same sectional timer, so you can find out which section runs out of time for you.

What Score Should You Target in Mocks?

This is our practical suggestion, not an official figure. Aim to score comfortably above last year's cut off for your category and post, and do it in mocks that use the sectional timer. For a UR LDC/JSA aspirant, that means consistently clearing 144.26 with a margin, not just touching it once.

• Take your category row from the 2025 table as the floor, not the goal.
• If you want DEO, use the DEO rows. Last year's science stream UR figure was 169.54.
• Track section-wise scores. A total of 150 built on a weak 25 in one section is risky under a fixed timer.
• Remember the negative marking: 0.50 per wrong answer. Blind guessing in the last minute of a section costs you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the SSC CHSL cut off 2026 released?

No. The Tier 1 exam has not been held and SSC has not announced its dates. The cut off will come with the Tier 1 result.

What was the SSC CHSL Tier 1 cut off 2025 for UR?

For LDC/JSA, UR was 144.26 out of 200, as compiled by Mahendras and Careerpower. For DEO (science stream group), UR was 169.54. Verify on ssc.gov.in.

What are the minimum qualifying marks in SSC CHSL?

UR 30%, OBC/EWS 25% and all other categories 20%, for Tier 1 and for Sections I, II and III of Tier 2. In Tier 1 that works out to 60, 50 and 40 marks out of 200.

Why did the cut off drop in 2025?

UR fell by 13.10 marks compared with 2024. The exact reason is not official. Paper difficulty, a larger vacancy count and normalisation are all possible factors.

What is the SSC CHSL expected cut off 2026?

No one can give a reliable figure yet. The vacancy is lower (about 2,536 tentative), which may push it up, while the new sectional timer may pull scores down. Treat any exact prediction as a guess.

Is there a separate cut off for DEO and LDC/JSA?

Yes, SSC may set separate category-wise cut offs for three groups: DEO in the three listed departments, other DEO posts, and LDC/JSA.

Your Next Step

The application window closes on 7 October 2026 (11:00 PM), with fee payment allowed until 8 October 2026. If you have not applied, do that before worrying about cut offs. Then take one sectional-timed mock this week, note which of the four sections ran out of time, and fix that section first. When SSC publishes the result on ssc.gov.in, check the right group (LDC/JSA, DEO in the three listed departments, or other DEO) before comparing your score.