Is the SSC CHSL typing test mandatory?

Yes, it is mandatory for posts that require typing skill — LDC, JSA, Postal Assistant, Sorting Assistant. You cannot be selected without passing it.

How many minutes for the SSC CHSL typing test?

10 minutes. In those 10 minutes you type approximately 1,750 characters from a given passage.

Which font is used for the Hindi typing test?

Primarily Mangal font (Unicode, InScript layout). Some exam centers may also offer Krutidev — confirm in the official notification for your exam.

Can I use the backspace key during the test?

Yes, you can use backspace to correct mistakes. But every backspace eats into your time — reducing mistakes upfront and typing forward is the more efficient strategy.

What happens if I fail the typing test?

Your selection for that particular CHSL cycle is cancelled, even if you scored excellently on Tier-I and Tier-II. You would need to apply for the next year's SSC CHSL.

How many days of practice is enough?

If you're already at 20-25 WPM, 4-6 weeks of daily 30-45 minute practice gets most candidates across the threshold. Complete beginners should plan for 8-12 weeks.

Does Typetera offer the exact SSC CHSL format?

Yes. Typetera's SSC CHSL exam-mode runs the real 10-minute window, with exam-style passages, and supports both English (35 WPM) and Hindi (30 WPM) thresholds. Free, no account, no ads on the test page.

Can I take the test on mobile?

You can practice on mobile, but the actual SSC CHSL typing test happens only on desktop/laptop in exam centers. Always practice on a physical keyboard — touch-typing on mobile glass keyboards doesn't transfer.

ANSWER

Does SSC CHSL have a typing test? Complete 2026 guide

Yes. SSC CHSL (Combined Higher Secondary Level) has a typing test — conducted after Tier-II as a Skill Test. The minimum requirement is 35 words per minute for English and 30 WPM for Hindi. It is qualifying in nature, but you cannot be selected without passing it.

Start free SSC CHSL practice →

When in the SSC CHSL process does the typing test happen?

The SSC CHSL selection has three stages: Tier-I (Computer Based Examination), Tier-II (Descriptive Paper), and then the Skill Test (Typing Test or Data Entry Skill Test). The Typing Test applies to candidates who applied for posts like Lower Division Clerk (LDC), Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA), Postal Assistant, or Sorting Assistant. Candidates for Data Entry Operator (DEO) take the DEST (Data Entry Skill Test), which is structured slightly differently. Both are qualifying in nature, meaning they don't add to your final merit ranking, but failing them ends your selection for that cycle. Many candidates who clear Tier-I and Tier-II with excellent scores still get filtered out at the typing stage — the test is taken too lightly until exam day.

What is the test format?

The SSC CHSL Typing Test is a computer-based test where you type a given passage within a 10-minute window. You can choose either English or Hindi as your test language — the option you selected on the application form is what you'll see on exam day. For English typing, the approximate requirement is 10,500 key depressions per hour, which works out to about 35 WPM. For Hindi typing the requirement is 9,000 key depressions per hour, or roughly 30 WPM. The passage is typically around 1,750 characters. Exam centers provide a standard QWERTY keyboard; for Hindi typing the layout is InScript or Krutidev/Mangal depending on the latest notification — always confirm in your specific exam's official notification.

Hindi typing test — Mangal or Krutidev font?

The SSC CHSL Hindi typing test now uses primarily Mangal font (Unicode-based), which uses the InScript keyboard layout. Krutidev font (legacy Remington layout) was popular earlier but SSC standardized on Mangal post-2017. A few exam centers still offer Krutidev as an option in some recruitments — read your notification carefully. If you're learning Hindi typing for the first time, start with InScript layout because it's future-proof and the de-facto standard across Indian government systems. You can practice both Krutidev and Mangal on Typetera — we built a dedicated practice page covering both font conventions.

How to prepare for the typing test

Start by measuring your current typing speed honestly — take any 10-minute exam-style passage test (Typetera's SSC CHSL exam mode is free and matches the exact format). If you're below 30 WPM (Hindi) or 35 WPM (English), practice 30 minutes daily, focused on accuracy first. Don't try to type fast and sloppy — exam scoring deducts heavily for errors above 5%. Practice with real prose passages (not random word drills), because the actual CHSL test uses long passages on government, education, or general administration topics. Past-year passages and Typetera's exam-mode are the most effective practice surfaces. A typical candidate who practices consistently for 4-6 weeks gains 15-20 WPM.

Pass marks and re-attempt policy

There's no maximum mark in the SSC CHSL typing test — you simply need to cross the minimum threshold. 35 WPM for English, 30 WPM for Hindi. If you fail on the first attempt, SSC sometimes allows one re-test within the same selection cycle, depending on the year's policy. Read the official notification for your specific exam year. If you fail the typing test in the final reckoning, your selection for that particular CHSL cycle ends — even with strong Tier-I and Tier-II scores — and you'd need to apply again next year. This is why typing prep deserves the same seriousness as the written stages.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is the SSC CHSL typing test mandatory?
+
Yes, it is mandatory for posts that require typing skill — LDC, JSA, Postal Assistant, Sorting Assistant. You cannot be selected without passing it.
How many minutes for the SSC CHSL typing test?
+
10 minutes. In those 10 minutes you type approximately 1,750 characters from a given passage.
Which font is used for the Hindi typing test?
+
Primarily Mangal font (Unicode, InScript layout). Some exam centers may also offer Krutidev — confirm in the official notification for your exam.
Can I use the backspace key during the test?
+
Yes, you can use backspace to correct mistakes. But every backspace eats into your time — reducing mistakes upfront and typing forward is the more efficient strategy.
What happens if I fail the typing test?
+
Your selection for that particular CHSL cycle is cancelled, even if you scored excellently on Tier-I and Tier-II. You would need to apply for the next year's SSC CHSL.
How many days of practice is enough?
+
If you're already at 20-25 WPM, 4-6 weeks of daily 30-45 minute practice gets most candidates across the threshold. Complete beginners should plan for 8-12 weeks.
Does Typetera offer the exact SSC CHSL format?
+
Yes. Typetera's SSC CHSL exam-mode runs the real 10-minute window, with exam-style passages, and supports both English (35 WPM) and Hindi (30 WPM) thresholds. Free, no account, no ads on the test page.
Can I take the test on mobile?
+
You can practice on mobile, but the actual SSC CHSL typing test happens only on desktop/laptop in exam centers. Always practice on a physical keyboard — touch-typing on mobile glass keyboards doesn't transfer.

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