
The Staff Selection Commission Combined Higher Secondary Level (SSC CHSL) exam is one of the most sought-after government exams for the candidates looking for clerical and data entry jobs in various ministries. The selection process comprises various stages, with Tier 1 and Tier 2 being important for qualification. In this blog, we will lay down differences between these two and how you can prepare strategically for both to enhance your chances of success and secure a job in your desired ministry.
Aspect |
Tier 1 |
Tier 2 |
Type |
MCQs |
Descriptive and Skill Based |
Mode |
Computer Based Test (Online) |
Offline for Descriptive and Online for Skill Test |
Subjects |
General Intelligence, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, English Language |
Essay Writing, Letter/Application Writing, Skill/Typing Test |
Marks |
200 |
150 |
Duration |
1 hour |
1 hour for Descriptive and 15 minutes for Typing Test |
Language |
English and Hindi |
English/Hindi for Writing and English for Skill Test |
Negative Marking |
Yes (0.5 per wrong answer) |
No |
Purpose |
Shortlisting candidates for Tier 2 Exam |
Testing Writing Skills and Data Entry Proficiency |
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HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE TIER 1 EXAM
1. Understand the exam pattern:
While studying for the TIER 1 exam, you will have to study the following subjects thoroughly:
- General Intelligence and Reasoning
- General Awareness
- Quantitative aptitude
- English Language
All these four sections carry equal marks.
2. Identify weak areas.
After understanding the exam pattern, now is the time to work on your weak areas and study according to your needs. All the 4 subjects are very difficult, so you should take your time to examine your current knowledge and work on yourself accordingly. You can also take an online SSC mock test to learn and get an idea of your weak areas to work on them.
3. Attempt mock tests regularly.
The best way to prepare for the exam is to simulate the exam day experience and record how you performed. You must attempt SSC CHSL mock tests for practice and to improve your accuracy.
Recommended Books:
SSC Previous Year Question Papers for 2025 Exam
SSC CHSL Books | For 2025 Exam
HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE TIER 2 EXAM
1. Improve Vocabulary and Writing Skills:
The TIER 2 exam consists mainly of writing and typing, so it is important for you to learn English thoroughly. This will help you to perform better in the exam.
2. Improve your Typing Speed and Efficiency:
Your typing skills will determine how much you can score in the typing test, so it is important that you practice efficient typing. You can take an online typing test to improve yourself further.
3. Learn to Avoid Typing and Grammatical Errors:
You must learn how to avoid grammatical and spelling errors in the exam to score well. You can use various online resources for the same.
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Conclusion
Preparing for TIER 1 and TIER 2 exams can be complicated. Hence, it is better to take a hybrid approach rather than just studying from textbooks. You must use online resources to study, practice, and solve online mock tests.