The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) conducts the Combined Higher Secondary Level (CHSL) 10+2 Exam every year to recruit candidates for various posts, including Postal Assistant, Lower Divisional Clerk (LDC), Court Clerk, Sorting Assistant, and Data Entry Operator (DEO).
The SSC CHSL exam has two tiers—Tier 1 and Tier 2. Both exams mainly include four subjects:
- English Language
- Quantitative Aptitude (Mathematics)
- Logical Reasoning (General Intelligence)
- General Awareness (Current Affairs and General Knowledge)
SSC CHSL English Preparation Tips
The English section is one of the most scoring areas in the SSC CHSL exam. With a well-structured preparation strategy, candidates can efficiently score 40-45 marks within 10-15 minutes. This article provides top 10 preparation tips, recommended books, topic-wise question distribution, and proven strategies to maximize scores in the SSC CHSL English section 2024.
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SSC CHSL 2025 Important Dates
The expected important dates for SSC CHSL 2025, based on the details provided in the released SSC Calendar 2025, are as follows:
Event | Date |
SSC CHSL Notification | 27th May 2025 (Tuesday) |
SSC CHSL Apply Starting Date | 27th May 2025 (Tuesday) |
SSC CHSL Last Date to Apply | 25th June 2025 (Wednesday) |
Last Date to Pay Fees | 26th June 2025 (Thursday) |
Application Form Correction | July 2025 (Expected) |
SSC CHSL 2025 Tier-1 Exam Date | July to August 2025 |
SSC CHSL Tier 1 Exam Pattern
The SSC CHSL Tier-I Exam will include multiple-choice questions, which will be provided in both English and Hindi language. The details of the SSC CHSL Tier 1 exam are as follows:
- Total Time: The exam duration is 60 minutes.
- Type of Questions: The exam consists of Objective Type, Multiple-choice questions. Questions will be available in both English and Hindi for Parts II, III, and IV.
- Negative Marking: There is a negative marking of 0.50 marks for each wrong answer. Candidates should be careful while answering to avoid losing marks.
Subjects | Questions | Total Marks |
General Awareness | 25 | 50 |
General Intelligence | 25 | 50 |
Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 |
English Language | 25 | 50 |
Total | 100 | 200 |
SSC CHSL Tier 2 Exam Pattern
The SSC CHSL Tier-II Exam is a crucial stage for candidates applying for Lower Division Clerk (LDC), Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA), and Data Entry Operator (DEO) posts. It includes a Computer-Based Test (CBT) and a Skill or Typing Test, based on the post.
1. SSC CHSL Tier-II Exam
- Mode: Computer-Based Test (CBT)
- Total Questions: 135
- Total Marks: 405
- Marking Scheme: +3 for correct answers, -1 for incorrect answers
2. Post-Specific Skill & Typing Tests
- For DEO: Skill Test required
- For LDC & JSA: Typing Test required
Session | Subject | Number of Questions |
Session-I (2 hours & 15 minutes) | Section-I: (1 hour) Module-I: Mathematical Abilities Module II: Reasoning and General Intelligence. | 30 30 60*3 = 180 |
Section II: (1 hour) Module-I: English Language & Comprehension Module II: General Awareness | 40 20 60*3 = 180 | |
Section-III: (15 Minutes) Module-I: Computer Knowledge Module | 15*3 = 45 | |
Session-II 15 Minutes | Section-III: Module-II: Skill Test/ Typing Test Module | Part A: Skill Test for DEOs. |
10 Minutes | Part B: Typing Test for LDC/ JSA. |
SSC CHSL Typing Test And Skill Test
Candidates had to appear for the skill test or typing test in Tier 2 of the examination. The details of the typing test are as follows:
Post | Key Depressions Required | Material Provided |
Skill Test For Data Entry Operator (DEO) | 8,000 per hour Test Duration: 15 minutes | English document with approx. 2000-2200 key depressions |
Skill Test For DEO in the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (C&AG) | 15,000 per hour Test Duration: 15 minutes | English passage with about 3700-4000 key depressions |
Typing Test For Lower Division Clerk/ Junior Secretariat Assistant (LDS/JSA) | 10,500 per hour Test Duration: 10 minutes | English passage with about 9000 key depressions |
SSC CHSL English Syllabus
The SSC CHSL English Syllabus for Tier 1 and 2 consists of the following basic topics as provided below:
- Vocabulary
- Synonyms & Antonyms/Homonyms
- Error Spotting
- Fill in the blanks
- Idioms & Phrases
- One word substitution
- Sentence Improvement
- Active & Passive Voice
- Narration
- Cloze Test
- Reading Comprehension
- Sentence Correction
- Word Swapping
- Sentence Rearrangement, etc.
SSC CHSL 2025 English Important Topics
To score full marks in the English section of the SSC CHSL exam 2024, candidates should focus on the three basic key areas:
Topics | Focus Topics |
Vocabulary | – Antonyms & Synonyms – Spelling Rules – One-word Substitutions – Idioms & Phrases |
Grammar | – Active/Passive Voice – Spotting Errors – Sentence Improvement – Narration |
Reading Skills | – Cloze Tests – Sequence of Sentences – Sentence Completion – Comprehension Passages |
SSC CHSL English Preparation Strategy
Preparing for the English section of the SSC CHSL exam requires a structured plan and focused study. This section tests candidates on reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, and the ability to use English correctly in different situations.
To score well in this section, candidates should follow effective strategies. Below are some important points to help in SSC CHSL English preparation.
- Reading Comprehension:
- Read passages in one attempt to grasp the tone and main idea.
- Focus on identifying key facts within the passage.
- Preview questions to understand what to look for while reading.
- Regular practice to improve comprehension speed and accuracy.
- Cloze Test:
- Choose appropriate options to fill in the blanks.
- Understand the context and meaning of words or phrases provided.
- Expand vocabulary and review grammar rules for better performance.
- Apply logic to determine suitable answers within the passage.
- Synonyms and Antonyms:
- Learn new words from diverse sources to enrich vocabulary.
- Keep a record of unfamiliar words for reference.
- Practice recognizing synonyms and antonyms in context to enhance understanding.
- Idioms and Phrases:
- Practice with mock tests and previous year’s questions.
- Utilize flashcards for easy memorization of idioms and phrases.
- Familiarize yourself with common idiomatic expressions and phrasal verbs to improve performance in this section.
SSC CHSL Number Of Questions Asked From Each Topic Of English
While appearing for the SSC CHSL examination candidates can expect the following number of questions from each topic while attending the English section:
Section | SSC CHSL English Language Topics | Difficulty Level | Average Number Of Questions |
Grammar | Direct Indirect | Easy-moderate | 1-2 |
Sentence Improvement | Easy-moderate | 1-2 | |
Error Detection | Easy-moderate | 1-2 | |
Active Passive | Easy-moderate | 2-3 | |
Vocabulary | Fill in the Blanks | Easy-moderate | 1-2 |
Antonyms | Easy-moderate | 1-2 | |
Spelling Correction | Easy-moderate | 1-2 | |
Idioms and Phrases | Easy-moderate | 2-3 | |
Synonyms | Easy-moderate | 1-2 | |
Phrase Substitution/One-word Substitution | Easy-moderate | 2-3 | |
Verbal Ability | Sentence Rearrangement | Easy-moderate | 2-3 |
Cloze Test Passage | Easy-moderate | 4-5 | |
Total Number of Questions | – | – | 25 |
SSC CHSL English Preparation Tips and Tricks
The best tips that will prove to be highly beneficial for the SSC CHSL aspirants in SSC CHSL English preparation:
- Choose a Good Reference Book
- Select a book that covers the complete syllabus as per SSC guidelines.
- Ensure it has ample practice questions and sample papers for better preparation.
- Read English Newspapers Daily
- Improve vocabulary and comprehension by reading top newspapers like The Hindu or Times of India.
- Focus on the editorial section for better language skills and general awareness.
- Ideal reading time: 45 minutes to 1 hour.
- Learn Basic Grammar Rules
- Study around 40-45 key grammar rules to improve accuracy in the exam.
- Helps in solving spot the error and sentence improvement questions.
- Daily revision is essential for long-term retention.
- Build a Strong Vocabulary
- Practice synonyms, antonyms, and difficult words regularly.
- Follow an alphabetical approach to learn new words systematically.
- Dedicate at least 30 minutes daily for vocabulary building.
- Revise Idioms, Phrases & One-Word Substitutions
- These topics require daily revision for better retention.
- Spend 15-20 minutes per day on these sections to avoid forgetting them.
- Solve Previous Years’ Question Papers
- Familiarize yourself with the exam pattern and question trends.
- SSC often repeats questions, making past papers valuable for preparation.
- Practice Cloze Tests
- Improve reading skills for better performance in Cloze Tests.
- Reading articles, newspapers, and magazines will help in sentence framing.
- Take Mock Tests Regularly
- Mock tests help in self-assessment and time management.
- Simulate real exam conditions for better confidence and performance.
- Join an Online Test Series
- Enrolling in a national-level test series provides structured practice.
- Helps in tracking progress and improving weak areas.
- Follow a Success Formula
SSC CHSL Success = Good study material + Concept clarity + Vocabulary practice + Solving past papers + Sectional tests + Full-length mock tests + Time management + Improving weak areas + Self-confidence.
SSC CHSL English Preparation Tips – FAQs
Candidates can appear for this exam after completing their class 12.
There are two stages of the exam i.e. tier-1 and tier-2.
A candidate must be 18-27 years.
The last date and time for the SSC CHSL 2024 online application is 18th September 2025.
SSC CHSL 2024 is scheduled to be conducted from 1st to 12th July 2024.
SSC CHSL Tier-2 Exam 2024 date will be announced later.
According to the official notification, the SSC CHSL exam will have 2 tiers rather than 3. Tier II will now be an objective test rather than a descriptive one. It will have a -1 negative marking for every wrong answer. It will also cover the skill test.
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