The SSC CHSL (Combined Higher Secondary Level) Exam, conducted by the Staff Selection Commission, is a two-tiered examination process for recruiting Lower Divisional Clerks (LDC)/ Junior Secretariat Assistants (JSA) and Data Entry Operators (DEO). The Tier-I Computer Based Examination (CBE) includes sections on General Intelligence, English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and General Awareness. Tier-II is a Descriptive Paper consisting of essay and letter/application writing. DEOs undergo a Skill Test, demonstrating typing speed and accuracy, while LDC/JSA candidates take a Typing Test in English or Hindi. Visual handicapped candidates with 40% or more disability receive concessions, and those with permanent disabilities can be exempted from the typing test with a medical certificate.
Syllabus:
Computer Based Examination (Tier-I):
I. General Intelligence: This section assesses your ability in both verbal and non-verbal reasoning. You can expect questions on Semantic Analogy, Symbolic operations, Trends, Figural Analogy, and more. The test will also evaluate your skills in areas like Space Orientation, Venn Diagrams, Drawing inferences, and Emotional Intelligence.
II. English Language: This part of the exam focuses on your understanding of English. You will encounter questions that test your ability to spot errors, fill in blanks, and identify synonyms, antonyms, and homonyms. Additionally, you’ll be evaluated on your knowledge of idioms, phrases, and sentence structure. The section includes tasks such as improving sentences, transforming sentences between active and passive voice, and rearranging sentence parts and passages.
III. Quantitative Aptitude:
- Number Systems: This includes computation of Whole Numbers, Decimals, and Fractions, as well as understanding the relationships between different numbers.
- Fundamental Arithmetical Operations: This covers Percentages, Ratio and Proportion, Square Roots, Averages, Interest (Simple and Compound), Profit and Loss, Discount, Partnership Business, Mixture and Allegation, Time and Distance, and Time and Work.
- Algebra: Basic algebraic identities of School Algebra, Elementary Surds (simple problems), and Graphs of Linear Equations.
- Geometry: Understanding elementary geometric figures and facts, such as Triangles and its various kinds of centers, Congruence and similarity of Triangles, Circles and its chords, tangents, and angles subtended by chords of a circle, common tangents to two or more circles.
- Mensuration: This involves the calculation of areas and volumes of various shapes and figures including Triangles, Quadrilaterals, Regular Polygons, Circles, Right Prism, Right Circular Cone, Right Circular Cylinder, Sphere, Hemispheres, and Rectangular Parallelepiped, Regular Right Pyramid with triangular or square Base.
- Trigonometry: Basic Trigonometry concepts, Trigonometric Ratios, Complementary Angles, Height and Distances (simple problems), and Standard Identities like sin²θ + cos²θ = 1.
- Statistical Charts: Interpretation and use of Tables and Graphs, including Histograms, Frequency Polygons, Bar Diagrams, and Pie Charts.
IV. General Awareness: This section evaluates a candidate’s understanding of the environment and its societal applications. It also tests knowledge of current events and everyday observations from a scientific perspective, as expected of an educated individual. The questions may cover topics related to India and its neighboring countries, focusing on History, Culture, Geography, Economic Scene, General Policy, and Scientific Research.
Note: For visually impaired candidates with a visual disability of 40% and above, there will be no questions involving Maps, Graphs, Diagrams, or Statistical Data in the General Intelligence and Quantitative Aptitude parts.
Computer Based Examination (Tier-II):
Session-I Module-I (Mathematical Abilities) covers various mathematical concepts:
- Number Systems: Computation involving Whole Numbers, Decimals, and Fractions, along with understanding the Relationships between numbers.
- Fundamental Arithmetical Operations: This includes Percentages, Ratio and Proportion, Square Roots, Averages, Interest (Simple and Compound), Profit and Loss, Discount, Partnership Business, Mixture and Alligation, Time and Distance, and Time and Work.
- Algebra: Basic algebraic identities of School Algebra, Elementary Surds (simple problems), and Graphs of Linear Equations.
- Geometry: Familiarity with elementary geometric figures and facts, including Triangles and its various kinds of centres, Congruence and similarity of Triangles, Circles and its chords, tangents, and angles subtended by chords of a circle, common tangents to two or more circles.
- Mensuration: Understanding of measurement concepts related to Triangle, Quadrilaterals, Regular Polygons, Circle, Right Prism, Right Circular Cone, Right Circular Cylinder, Sphere, Hemispheres, Rectangular Parallelepiped, Regular Right Pyramid with triangular or square Base.
- Trigonometry: Basic Trigonometry concepts, Trigonometric Ratios, Complementary Angles, Height and Distances (simple problems), and Standard Identities like sin²𝜃 + cos²𝜃 = 1.
- Statistics and Probability: Use of Tables and Graphs for representation such as Histogram, Frequency Polygon, Bar Diagram, Pie Chart; Measures of central tendency like mean, median, mode, standard deviation; Calculation of simple probabilities.
Module-II of Section-I (Reasoning and General Intelligence) includes questions of both verbal and non-verbal types. The questions cover a wide range of topics including:
- 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 and completion
- Number Series
- Embedded figures
- Figural Series
- Critical Thinking
- Problem Solving
- Emotional Intelligence
- Word Building
- Social Intelligence
- Coding and decoding
- Numerical operations
Additionally, there may be other subtopics included in this module as deemed necessary.
Module-I of Section-II (English Language and Comprehension) evaluates the candidate’s proficiency in English through various aspects:
- Vocabulary: This includes knowledge of words, their meanings, and correct usage.
- Grammar: Understanding of grammar rules and their application in sentences.
- Sentence Structure: Knowledge of how to construct grammatically correct sentences.
- Synonyms and Antonyms: Ability to identify words with similar or opposite meanings.
- Spot the Error: Identifying and correcting errors in sentences.
- Fill in the Blanks: Completing sentences with the appropriate words.
- Idioms & Phrases: Understanding and using common idiomatic expressions.
- One-word Substitution: Ability to replace a phrase with a single word.
- Improvement of Sentences: Making sentences more effective or correct.
- Active/Passive Voice of Verbs: Understanding and converting between active and passive voice.
- Conversion into Direct/Indirect Narration: Changing the form of a sentence from direct to indirect speech, and vice versa.
- Shuffling of Sentence Parts: Rearranging parts of sentences to form a coherent paragraph.
- Shuffling of Sentences in a Passage: Rearranging sentences within a paragraph or passage.
- Cloze Passage: Completing a passage with the appropriate words.
- Comprehension Passage: Understanding and answering questions based on given passages. The passages may include one based on a book or a story, and another based on current affairs editorial or a report.
Module-II of Section-II (General Awareness) assesses the candidate’s understanding of the environment and its societal applications. It tests knowledge of current events and everyday observations from a scientific perspective, as expected of an educated individual. The questions may cover topics related to India and its neighboring countries, focusing on History, Culture, Geography, Economic Scene, General Policy, and Scientific Research.
Module-I of Section-III of Paper-I (Computer Proficiency) covers the following topics:
- Computer Basics: Understanding the organization of a computer system, components such as Central Processing Unit (CPU), input/output devices, computer memory, memory organization, backup devices, PORTs, Windows Explorer, and common keyboard shortcuts.
- Software: Familiarity with the Windows Operating System, including basics of Microsoft Office applications like MS Word, MS Excel, and Power Point.
- Working with Internet and E-mails: Skills related to web browsing and searching, downloading and uploading files, managing an e-mail account, and basics of e-Banking.
- Basics of Networking and Cyber Security: Understanding networking devices and protocols, as well as common network and information security threats such as hacking, viruses, worms, Trojans, and preventive measures against them.
Note: For visually impaired (VH) candidates with a visual disability of 40% and above, there will be no questions involving Maps, Graphs, Diagrams, or Statistical Data in the Mathematical Abilities and Reasoning and General Intelligence modules.
Skill Test for Data Entry Operator:
Skill Test is mandatory for Data Entry Operators. No candidate is exempted from appearing in the Skill Test.
Part A – Skill Test for the post of DEO/ DEO Grade ‘A’ in Department/ Ministry mentioned at Para 8.1:
The candidate’s speed of 15,000 (Fifteen Thousand) Key Depressions per hour on Computer will be assessed based on the correct entry of words/ key depressions from a given passage. The test duration will be 15 (Fifteen) minutes, and candidates will be provided with printed matter in English containing about 3700-4000 key depressions to enter into the computer. The passage may also be displayed on the computer screen.
Part B – Skill Test for the post of DEO/ DEO Grade ‘A’ except in Department/ Ministry mentioned at Para 8.1:
The candidate’s Data Entry Speed of 8,000 (Eight Thousand) Key Depressions per hour on Computer will be assessed based on the correct entry of words/ key depressions from a given passage. The test duration will be 15 (Fifteen) minutes, and candidates will be provided with printed matter in English containing about 2000-2200 key depressions to enter into the computer. The passage may also be displayed on the computer screen.
Candidates eligible for a scribe as per Para 7.1, 7.2, and 7.3 will be given compensatory time of 5 minutes. Therefore, the duration of the Skill Test for such candidates will be 20 minutes.
Typing Test for LDC/JSA:
The Typing Test for LDC/JSA candidates will be conducted in either Hindi or English. Candidates must select their preferred language (Hindi or English) for the Typing Test during the online Application process. Once selected, the choice of language for the Typing Test cannot be changed later.
Candidates opting for the English medium should have a typing speed of 35 words per minute (w.p.m.), while those opting for the Hindi medium should have a typing speed of 30 words per minute (w.p.m.). This corresponds to about 10,500 key depressions per hour for English and about 9,000 key depressions per hour for Hindi.
The typing speed will be assessed based on the accuracy of typing a given text passage on the computer within 10 minutes.
Candidates eligible for a scribe as per Para 7.1, 7.2, and 7.3 will be given compensatory time of 5 minutes. Therefore, the duration of the Typing Test for such candidates will be 15 minutes.
For VH candidates who have opted for a scribe in the online Application Form, Passage Dictators will be provided. The Passage Dictator will read out the passage to the VH candidate within the allotted time period.
Candidates with Disabilities who claim to be permanently unfit to take the Typing Test due to a physical disability may be exempted from the test with prior approval from the Commission. To seek exemption, such candidates must submit a Certificate in the prescribed format (Annexure-XIV) from the competent Medical Authority, i.e., the Civil Surgeon of a Government Health Care Institution, declaring them permanently unfit for the Typing Test. Additionally, they must provide a relevant Medical Certificate in the prescribed format as per Annexure-XI to Annexure-XIII of the Notice of Examination at the time of the Typing Test. Failure to do so will result in their claim for exemption not being entertained by the Commission.