“The Combined Higher Secondary Level (CHSL) is an exam conducted by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) to recruit eligible candidates for various posts in the Government of India. In this blog, we will discuss in detail what CHSL is, its eligibility criteria, important dates, examination pattern, syllabus, and everything else you need to know about this exam.
What is CHSL?
The CHSL exam is conducted for the recruitment of Lower Division Clerk (LDC), Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA), Postal Assistant (PA), Sorting Assistant (SA), and Data Entry Operator (DEO) in various government departments and offices. This exam is a great opportunity for individuals who want to make a career in the government sector. The SSC CHSL exam is conducted twice a year, and the results are declared on the official website of the SSC.
Eligibility Criteria for CHSL Exam
To be eligible for the CHSL exam, candidates must meet the following criteria:
- Age: Candidates must be between 18 and 27 years of age as on January 1st of the examination year. Relaxation in age is provided to reserved category candidates as per the government norms.
- Educational Qualification: Candidates must have passed their Class 12th examination from a recognized board.
- Nationality: Candidates must be Indian citizens or subjects of Nepal/ Bhutan/ Tibetan refugees who have migrated to India before January 1st, 1962, with the intention of permanently settling in India.
Important Dates for CHSL Exam
The SSC CHSL exam is conducted twice a year, and the important dates for the same are released on the official website of the SSC. Some of the important dates for the CHSL exam are:
- Release of official notification
- Start date of online application
- Last date to submit the online application
- Admit card release date
- Exam date
- Result declaration date
- Examination Pattern for CHSL Exam
The CHSL exam consists of three tiers:
Objective type multiple choice questions (MCQs)
- General Intelligence & Reasoning: 50 questions
- General Awareness: 50 questions
- Quantitative Aptitude: 50 questions
- English Comprehension: 50 questions
- Total: 200 questions
- Time duration: 60 minutes (80 minutes for candidates belonging to PWD category)
- Negative marking: 0.50 marks for each incorrect answer
Descriptive Paper
- Essay Writing: 200-250 words
- Letter/Application Writing: 150-200 words
- Time duration: 60 minutes (80 minutes for candidates belonging to PWD category)
- Total marks: 100
Skill Test/Typing Test
- Skill Test: Data Entry Speed Test on a Computer
- Typing Test: English Typing Test/ Hindi Typing Test
- Time duration: 15 minutes
- Total marks: 100
Syllabus for CHSL Exam
The CHSL syllabus covers the following topics:
General Intelligence & Reasoning: Analogies, Similarities, Differences, Space visualization, Problem-solving, Analysis, Judgment, Decision making, Visual memory, Discrimination, Observation, Relationship concepts, Arithmetical reasoning, Verbal and figure classification, Arithmetical number series, Non-verbal series, etc.
- General Awareness: Knowledge of current events, History, Geography, Economics, Politics, and Science, etc.
- Quantitative Aptitude: Number Systems, Computation”