SSC uploaded the SSC CHSL 2026 notification on 7 September 2026, and the syllabus sits in paras 13.10 (Tier 1) and 13.11 (Tier 2). The bigger story this year is the clock, not the topic list. Every Tier 1 subject now has a fixed 15-minute sectional timer, so one slow topic can wreck a whole section.
Below is the complete SSC CHSL syllabus for both tiers, grouped into study clusters, with a suggested way to spend each 15-minute block. For dates, fee and eligibility, see the SSC CHSL complete guide.
SSC CHSL Syllabus 2026 at a Glance
| Stage | Subject | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | English Language (Basic Knowledge) | 25 | 50 | 15 min |
| Tier 1 | General Intelligence | 25 | 50 | 15 min |
| Tier 1 | Quantitative Aptitude (Basic Arithmetic Skill) | 25 | 50 | 15 min |
| Tier 1 | General Awareness | 25 | 50 | 15 min |
| Tier 2, Section I | Mathematical Abilities (30) + Reasoning (30) | 60 | 180 | 30 + 30 min |
| Tier 2, Section II | English and Comprehension (40) + General Awareness (20) | 60 | 180 | 40 + 20 min |
| Tier 2, Section III | Computer Knowledge (qualifying) | 15 | 45 | 15 min |
| Tier 2, Section IV | Skill Test / Typing Test (qualifying) | None | Qualifying | 15 min DEO, 10 min LDC/JSA |
Tier 1 gives 2 marks per right answer and cuts 0.50 per wrong one, for 200 marks in 60 minutes. Tier 2 gives 3 marks with a 1 mark penalty. The full marking rules are in our exam pattern guide.
Where to get the SSC CHSL syllabus PDF
The official SSC CHSL syllabus PDF is the notification itself on ssc.gov.in, pages 21 to 23. SSC calls it an "indicative" syllabus, so related sub-topics can also appear. Topic names on this page follow the notice wording, so you can use it as a checklist.
SSC CHSL Tier 1 Syllabus 2026: Why the Timer Matters
The notice marks the subject order as "not in sequence", so do not expect a fixed order. Each subject gets its own 15 minutes, and time saved in one section cannot move to another.
CHSL 2025 Tier 1 had no sectional timer, so many students finished GA early and spent the extra minutes on Quant. That trick is gone. You now get about 36 seconds per question in each box. The splits below are our coaching-style suggestions, not SSC rules, so test them in mocks first.
SSC CHSL Tier 1 Syllabus: English Language
The official list has 14 topics, which fall into four clusters.
| Cluster | Official topics |
|---|---|
| Grammar | Spot the Error, Improvement of Sentences, Active/Passive Voice of Verbs, Conversion into Direct/Indirect narration |
| Vocabulary | Synonyms/Homonyms, Antonyms, Spellings/Detecting mis-spelt words, Idioms and Phrases, One word substitution |
| Sentence usage | Fill in the Blanks, Shuffling of Sentence parts, Shuffling of Sentences in a passage |
| Passages | Cloze Passage, Comprehension Passage |
How to split your 15 minutes in English (suggestion)
- First 4 to 5 minutes: vocabulary. Answer in seconds or skip.
- Next 4 to 5 minutes: error spotting, blanks, voice, narration, sentence improvement.
- Last 5 to 6 minutes: cloze and comprehension, since a passage needs one unbroken block of reading.
Honest caveat: some fast readers score better doing the passage first. Try both orders in two mocks and keep the one with higher accuracy.
SSC CHSL Tier 1 Syllabus: General Intelligence
This section has verbal and non-verbal questions. The long official list is easier to study in five groups.
| Cluster | Official topics |
|---|---|
| Verbal | Semantic Analogy, Semantic Classification, Semantic Series, Word Building |
| Number and symbol | Symbolic operations, Symbolic/Number Analogy, Symbolic/Number Classification, Number Series, Numerical operations, Trends, Coding and de-coding |
| Non-verbal (figures) | Figural Analogy, Figural Classification, Figural Series, Space Orientation, Punched hole/pattern-folding and unfolding, Figural Pattern-folding and completion, Embedded figures |
| Logic | Venn Diagrams, Drawing inferences, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving |
| Behavioural | Emotional Intelligence, Social Intelligence |
The list ends with "Other sub-topics, if any". Coaching books often place blood relations, directions and seating order here; treat them as possible, not certain.
How to split your 15 minutes in General Intelligence (suggestion)
- Start fast: coding-decoding, analogy, classification, number series.
- Then logic: Venn diagrams, inferences, symbolic operations.
- Figures last: embedded figures and paper folding can eat time when two options look alike.
- Cap any single question at about 60 seconds, then mark it and move on.
SSC CHSL Tier 1 Syllabus: Quantitative Aptitude
The notice calls it "Basic Arithmetic Skill", yet geometry, mensuration and trigonometry are all in the list.
| Area | Official topics |
|---|---|
| Number Systems | Whole numbers, decimals, fractions, relationship between numbers |
| Arithmetic | Percentages, Ratio and Proportion, Square roots, Averages, Simple and Compound Interest, Profit and Loss, Discount, Partnership, Mixture and Alligation, Time and distance, Time and work |
| Algebra | Basic school algebra identities, elementary surds, graphs of linear equations |
| Geometry | Triangle and its centres, congruence and similarity, circle chords, tangents, angles subtended by chords, common tangents |
| Mensuration | Triangle, quadrilaterals, regular polygons, circle, right prism, cone, cylinder, sphere, hemisphere, rectangular parallelepiped, regular right pyramid |
| Trigonometry | Ratios, complementary angles, simple heights and distances, identities such as sin²θ + cos²θ = 1 |
| Statistical Charts | Histogram, frequency polygon, bar diagram, pie chart |
How to split your 15 minutes in Quant (suggestion)
- Arithmetic first, 7 to 8 minutes: the most predictable questions in the section.
- Identity questions next, 3 to 4 minutes: quick if the formulas are solid.
- Charts and short geometry last. Skip long geometry and 3D mensuration on the first pass.
Most students will not finish all 25 questions, and that is fine. Four wrong answers wipe out one right answer, so blind guessing rarely pays.
SSC CHSL Tier 1 Syllabus: General Awareness
GA is written as a description, not a list: environment and society, current events, everyday science, and India and its neighbouring countries.
| Official wording | What to study (our suggestion) |
|---|---|
| Current events | News, awards, sports, schemes of the last 6 to 8 months |
| Everyday science | NCERT physics, chemistry, biology basics |
| Environment and society | Ecology, pollution, conservation |
| History and Culture | Ancient, medieval, modern India; dances, festivals, monuments |
| Geography | Indian and world physical geography, neighbouring countries |
| Economic Scene and General policy | Budget and banking basics, polity, Constitution, key policies |
| Scientific research | Space and defence missions, new technology |
How to split your 15 minutes in GA (suggestion)
Spend 8 to 10 minutes on a first pass, answering what you know and marking doubtful ones. Use the rest to review marked questions calmly. Rushing GA gains nothing now, because saved minutes cannot go to Quant.
SSC CHSL Tier 1: High, Medium and Low Priority Topics
SSC does not publish topic-wise weightage. This table is our own suggestion, based on how wide each topic is in the syllabus. Use it to order your study, not to drop topics.
| Subject | High | Medium | Low |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | Error spotting, blanks, synonyms, antonyms, idioms, one word substitution | Cloze, comprehension, improvement, voice, narration | Spellings, sentence part shuffling |
| General Intelligence | Coding-decoding, analogy, classification, number series | Venn diagrams, inferences, figure series, symbolic operations | Embedded figures, pattern folding, emotional and social intelligence |
| Quant | Percentages, ratio, profit and loss, interest, averages, identities | Time and work, distance, 2D mensuration, triangles, charts | Alligation, heights and distances, pyramids, surds |
| General Awareness | Current events, polity, history, everyday science | Geography, economy, culture | Deep research details |
Low does not mean skip; it means later. In our view, a student solid on the High column in all four subjects is better placed than one who has skimmed everything once.
Practise Tier 1 Under the Real Timer
ExamAtlas has a free mock test series with 7 CHSL Tier 1 mocks that run the same 15-minute sectional timer, so you can see which section runs out of time for you. For notes on common Tier 1 topics, see the study material section below.
SSC CHSL Tier 2 Syllabus 2026
Tier 2 is held on one day in two sessions. Session I (2 hours 15 minutes) covers Sections I to III, and Session II is the skill or typing test. There are 135 questions for 405 marks.
You must clear every section. Qualifying marks in Sections I, II and III are 30% for UR, 25% for OBC and EWS, and 20% for others. Final merit counts only Sections I and II (360 marks).
Section I, Module A: Mathematical Abilities (30 questions, 30 minutes)
The first six areas match Tier 1. The seventh changes from "Statistical Charts" to "Statistics and probability".
| Tier 1: Statistical Charts | Tier 2: Statistics and probability |
|---|---|
| Histogram, frequency polygon, bar diagram, pie chart | Same charts and tables |
| Not included | Mean, median, mode |
| Not included | Standard deviation |
| Not included | Simple probability |
Many students have not touched standard deviation since school, so start it early. You also get 60 seconds per question here, which leaves room for multi-step problems.
Section I, Module B: Reasoning and General Intelligence (30 questions, 30 minutes)
The topic list is identical to Tier 1. With 60 seconds per question, expect room for longer items, so practise puzzles and multi-condition questions as well as quick analogies.
Section II, Module A: English Language and Comprehension (40 questions, 40 minutes)
It covers all Tier 1 English topics plus vocabulary, grammar, sentence structure, and synonym and antonym usage. Comprehension gives two or more paragraphs: at least one simple passage from a book or story, and one based on a current affairs editorial or report. Reading one editorial a day is the cheapest fix for the second type.
Section II, Module B: General Awareness (20 questions, 20 minutes)
The description is the same as Tier 1, but each question now carries 3 marks and a 1 mark penalty. Keep current affairs updated up to the Tier 2 date.
Section III: SSC CHSL Computer Knowledge Syllabus (15 questions, 15 minutes)
| Block | Official topics |
|---|---|
| Computer Basics | Organisation of a computer, CPU, input/output devices, memory and its organisation, back-up devices, PORTs, Windows Explorer, keyboard shortcuts |
| Software | Windows OS, MS Word, MS Excel, PowerPoint basics |
| Internet and e-mail | Browsing and searching, downloading and uploading, managing e-mail, e-Banking |
| Networking and cyber security | Networking devices and protocols, threats such as hacking, virus, worms, Trojan, preventive measures |
This section is qualifying but mandatory: its 45 marks do not count in merit, yet failing it ends your candidature. A UR candidate needs 13.5 marks, which means 5 correct answers with no wrong ones. OBC and EWS need 11.25 (4 clean correct answers), and all others need 9 (3 clean correct answers). Two hours a week on computer basics for a month is usually enough to clear this bar comfortably.
Section IV: Skill Test and Typing Test
| Part | Who | Speed | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part A | DEO / DEO Grade A in the 3 departments of para 8.1 | 15,000 key depressions per hour | 15 min |
| Part B | Other DEO / DEO Grade A | 8,000 key depressions per hour | 15 min |
| Part C | LDC / JSA | English 35 wpm or Hindi 30 wpm | 10 min |
Hindi typing for LDC/JSA must be done in Mangal font only; any other font means you do not qualify. The typing medium chosen in the form is final. Errors are counted up to 2 decimal places, and scribe-eligible candidates get 5 extra minutes.
The Part A passage has about 3,700 to 4,000 key depressions and the Part B passage about 2,000 to 2,200, both in English. For LDC/JSA, 35 wpm and 30 wpm work out to about 10,500 and 9,000 key depressions per hour. A PwD candidate certified by the competent medical authority as unable to type may be exempted through Annexure XIII, but this does not cover visually or hearing handicapped candidates.
Syllabus Adjustments for VH Candidates
Candidates with 40% or more visual disability get no maps, graphs, diagrams or statistical data questions in General Intelligence and Quant (Tier 1), or in Maths and Reasoning (Tier 2).
- Scribe-eligible candidates get 20 minutes per Tier 1 subject.
- Tier 2 timers become 40 + 40, 55 + 25 and 20 minutes.
- VH candidates who opted for a scribe get a passage dictator in the typing test.
What Changes from Tier 1 to Tier 2
| Aspect | Tier 1 | Tier 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Questions | 100 | 135 |
| Marks per question / negative | 2 / 0.50 | 3 / 1 |
| Time | 60 min | 2 h 15 min, plus skill test |
| Maths statistics | Charts only | Adds mean, median, mode, SD, probability |
| English | 25 Q in 15 min | 40 Q in 40 min, editorial passage |
| GA | 25 Q in 15 min | 20 Q in 20 min |
| Computer and typing | Not tested | Both tested, qualifying |
| Role in merit | Shortlisting and tie-break | Sections I + II decide merit |
Do not wait for the Tier 1 result to start computer basics and typing. A daily 15-minute typing drill builds speed steadily.
SSC CHSL Study Material on ExamAtlas
ExamAtlas doesn't have CHSL-specific notes yet; these SSC CGL Tier 1 notes cover topics common with CHSL Tier 1.
- SSC CGL General Awareness book
- SSC CGL Reasoning book
- SSC CGL English book
- SSC CGL Quantitative Aptitude book
For a sample GA page, see Vedic and Mauryan Age under History. One caveat: these notes may go slightly beyond CHSL in places, and they do not cover Computer Knowledge or typing.
Your Next Step with This Syllabus
Turn the tables above into a tracker: not started, learnt, tested in a mock. Then use our preparation strategy to fit them into a weekly plan.
Applications close on 7 October 2026 at 11:00 PM. The Tier 1 date is not out yet; coaching estimates say between December 2026 and February 2027, which is not official, so plan for the earlier end.
SSC CHSL Syllabus 2026: FAQs
What is the SSC CHSL syllabus 2026 for Tier 1?
English, General Intelligence, Quantitative Aptitude and General Awareness, each with 25 questions, 50 marks and a 15-minute timer.
Has the SSC CHSL 2026 syllabus changed?
The headline change is the sectional timer. If you use an older book, match its contents with paras 13.10 and 13.11 of the 2026 notice.
Where can I download the SSC CHSL syllabus PDF?
From the official notification on ssc.gov.in, pages 21 to 23.
Are Computer Knowledge marks added to merit?
No. Section III is qualifying but mandatory. Merit uses only Sections I and II.
What typing speed is needed for LDC/JSA?
35 wpm in English or 30 wpm in Hindi, in 10 minutes. Hindi must be in Mangal font.
Are mean, median and probability in Tier 1?
No. Tier 1 has only statistical charts. These topics appear in Tier 2 Maths.
Can I use leftover GA time in Quant?
No. Each Tier 1 subject has a fixed 15-minute timer, and unused time does not carry over.
Before your next study session, take one timed mock from the free mock test series and note which subject hit the 15-minute limit first. That subject gets your extra hours this week.