SSC CHSL 2026 Tier-I Syllabus: 100 questions, 200 marks, 60 minutes, 0.50 negative marking, and full topic-wise syllabus from the official notice.
SSC CHSL 2026 Tier-I Syllabus
Exam Pattern, Marks, Negative Marking & Complete Topic-wise Syllabus
The SSC CHSL 2026 Tier-I Syllabus is the first thing to sort out if you applied for LDC, JSA or DEO posts this year. SSC released the Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination, 2026 notice on 7 September 2026 with about 2,536 tentative vacancies, and Tier-I is the screening round that decides who moves ahead. Below I have put the exam pattern, marking scheme and the full topic-wise syllabus exactly as the official notice gives it, plus a few practical tips from how this paper usually plays out.
One good thing for Telugu-medium students: apart from English, you can take the General Intelligence, Quantitative Aptitude and General Awareness parts in Telugu if you chose it as your exam language in the application form. The English part, of course, stays in English.
SSC CHSL 2026 Tier-I Exam Pattern
| Part | Subject | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | English Language (Basic Knowledge) | 25 | 50 | 60 min (15 min each part) |
| II | General Intelligence | 25 | 50 | |
| III | Quantitative Aptitude (Basic Arithmetic Skill) | 25 | 50 | |
| IV | General Awareness | 25 | 50 | |
| Total | 100 | 200 | 60 min |
Scribe candidates: Candidates eligible for a scribe get 80 minutes, with a sectional timer of 20 minutes (15+5) for each part. The parts may not appear in the same order as listed above.
Negative Marking & Qualifying Marks
- Marks per question: 2 (25 questions carry 50 marks in each part).
- Negative marking: 0.50 mark is cut for every wrong answer. Unattempted questions carry no penalty.
- Question type: Objective, multiple choice only.
- Language: English and Hindi, plus the language you opted for (Telugu included) for Parts II, III and IV.
- Minimum qualifying marks: UR 30%, OBC/EWS 25%, all other categories 20%.
- Normalisation: If the exam runs in multiple shifts, normalised scores are used for cut-off and merit.
SSC CHSL 2026 Tier-I Syllabus: English Language
The English part checks basic grammar and vocabulary. These are the topics listed in the official notice:
- 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, Direct / Indirect Narration
- Shuffling of Sentence Parts, Shuffling of Sentences in a Passage, Cloze Passage, Comprehension Passage
SSC CHSL 2026 Tier-I Syllabus: General Intelligence
Expect both verbal and non-verbal questions. The notice lists these areas:
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 & Completion, Number Series, Embedded Figures, Figural Series, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, Emotional Intelligence, Word Building, Social Intelligence, Coding & Decoding, Numerical Operations, and other sub-topics, if any.
Quantitative Aptitude (Basic Arithmetic Skill) Syllabus
| Area | Topics |
|---|---|
| Number Systems | Computation of whole numbers, decimals and fractions; relationship between numbers. |
| Fundamental Arithmetic | Percentages, Ratio & Proportion, Square Roots, Averages, Simple & Compound Interest, Profit & Loss, Discount, Partnership Business, Mixture & Alligation, Time & Distance, Time & Work. |
| Algebra | Basic algebraic identities of school algebra, elementary surds (simple problems), graphs of linear equations. |
| Geometry | Elementary figures and facts: triangle and its centres, congruence and similarity of triangles, circle and its chords, tangents, angles subtended by chords, common tangents to two or more circles. |
| Mensuration | Triangle, Quadrilaterals, Regular Polygons, Circle, Right Prism, Right Circular Cone, Right Circular Cylinder, Sphere, Hemisphere, Rectangular Parallelepiped, Regular Right Pyramid with triangular or square base. |
| Trigonometry | Trigonometric ratios, complementary angles, heights & distances (simple problems only), standard identities like sin²θ + cos²θ = 1. |
| Statistical Charts | Use of tables and graphs: Histogram, Frequency Polygon, Bar Diagram, Pie Chart. |
General Awareness Syllabus
The official notice keeps GA broad: your awareness of the environment around you and how it applies to society, current events, and everyday matters seen from a scientific angle, at the level expected of an educated person. It specifically mentions India and its neighbouring countries, with focus on History, Culture, Geography, Economic Scene, General Policy and Scientific Research.
In practice that means Static GK (history, polity, geography, economy), basic science up to school level, and current affairs from roughly the last six to eight months. GA is the one part where you either know it or you don’t, so it is also the fastest part to finish if you have revised well.
VH candidates: For candidates with 40% or more visual disability, there will be no maps, graphs, diagrams or statistical data questions in General Intelligence and Quantitative Aptitude.
How to Prepare for SSC CHSL 2026 Tier-I
- English: Read one editorial a day and note 10 new words. Practise error spotting and cloze tests daily.
- Reasoning: Build speed with series, coding-decoding and analogies. Non-verbal (figures, paper folding, embedded figures) improves only with practice.
- Maths: Learn squares up to 30, cubes up to 20 and common fraction-percentage values. They save a lot of time.
- GA: Revise Static GK from one standard source and keep a short notebook for monthly current affairs.
- Previous papers: Solve the last few years of CHSL Tier-I papers to understand the level and repeated topics.
Once Tier-I is in good shape, start looking at the next stage. Tier-II has a much heavier weightage and a computer test plus typing/skill test. Read the full SSC CHSL 2026 Tier-II Syllabus here.
SSC CHSL 2026 Tier-I Syllabus – Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions are there in SSC CHSL 2026 Tier-I?
100 questions for 200 marks: 25 each from English, General Intelligence, Quantitative Aptitude and General Awareness.
What is the time limit for Tier-I?
60 minutes in total, with a 15-minute sectional timer for each part. Scribe-eligible candidates get 80 minutes.
Is there negative marking in SSC CHSL Tier-I?
Yes. 0.50 mark is deducted for every wrong answer.
Can I write SSC CHSL 2026 Tier-I in Telugu?
Yes, for General Intelligence, Quantitative Aptitude and General Awareness, if you chose Telugu as your exam language. The English Language part is in English only.
Are Tier-I marks counted in the final merit list?
No. Tier-I is for shortlisting. The final merit is based on Section-I and Section-II marks of Tier-II.
What are the minimum qualifying marks in Tier-I?
UR 30%, OBC/EWS 25% and 20% for all other categories.
Quick Summary
| Exam | SSC CHSL 2026 Tier-I (Computer Based Examination) |
| Posts | LDC, JSA, DEO, DEO Grade ‘A’ |
| Tentative Vacancies | About 2,536 |
| Questions / Marks | 100 / 200 |
| Duration | 60 minutes (15 min per part) |
| Negative Marking | 0.50 per wrong answer |
| Exam Date | As announced on ssc.gov.in |
| Official Website | ssc.gov.in |
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