Launch your career@18

Getting a good job and that too well on time is everyone’s dream. Most of the competitive exams for jobs, be it UPSC Civil Services, state civil services, banking or SSC (CGL) exam, have graduation as the minimum qualification. Though lot of competitive exams are conducted when we pass out from schools after completing Class XII, but those are mostly for admission to various courses like engineering, medical or commerce and not for getting a job.

But if you want to start your career early, here is an opportunity knocking at your door. The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) conducts the Combined Higher Secondary Level (CHSL, 10+2) Exam to recruit persons at various posts like lower division clerk (LDC) / junior secretariat assistant (JSA), postal assistant (PA) / sorting assistant (SA), data entry operator (DEO) and data entry operator Grade A. They are employed at various ministries/ departments/ offices of the Government of India.

The minimum age to apply for this exam is just 18 years and it is the most attended government job exam among all Plus II level exams.

Moreover, the number of vacancies is quite high as compared to other exams. Seeing the trend in previous years, we can say that every year over 5,000 posts are filled by the SSC through Combined Higher Secondary Level Exam.

Pattern of the exam

The CHSL exam is a three-step process — a computer -based examination (Tier I), descriptive paper (Tier II) and skill test/typing test (Tier III).

The first stage (Tier I) is an online exam of 200 marks comprising 100 MCQs. The time duration for this test is 60 minutes.

There are four sections — quantitative aptitude (basic arithmetic skill), general intelligence & reasoning, English language & comprehension and general awareness.

There are 25 questions from each section and 0.5 marks are deducted for every wrong answer.

Second stage exam (Tier II) is conducted in pen-and-paper mode and is of 100 marks. The duration of this exam is also 60 minutes. The paper will comprise writing an essay of 200-250 words and a letter/application of approximately 150-200 words.

The minimum qualifying marks in Tier II are 33 per cent.

The final merit list is prepared after adding marks scored in first two phases of the exam.

Third stage exam (skill test/computer efficiency) is of qualifying nature and it is mandatory for data entry operators.

Data entry speed of 8,000 key depressions per hour on computer will be adjudged on the basis of the correct entry of words/key depressions as per the given passage.

The duration of the test is 15 minutes and printed matter in English containing about 2,000-2,200 key depressions would be given to each candidate who would enter the same in the computer.

For the post of data entry operator Grade A in the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (C&AG), the speed of 15,000 key depressions per hour on computer will be adjudged on the basis of the correct entry of words/key depressions as per the given passage. The duration of the test is also 15 minutes and printed matter in English containing about 3700-4000 key depressions is given to each candidate.

Age and educational qualifications

In order to fulfil SSC CHSL 2019 eligibility criteria, candidates must be aged between 18 and 27 years as on January 1, 2020. This means that candidates should be born not before January 2, 1993 and not later than January 1, 2002. The Staff Selection Commission provides relaxation in the upper age limit to candidates belonging to different reserved categories.

Educational qualifications

For Lower Divisional Clerk (LDC)/Junior Secretariat Assistant (JSA), Postal Assistant (PA)/Sorting Assistant (SA), Data Entry Operator (DEO) the candidates should clear Class XII or possess an equivalent qualification from a recognised board or university.

However, for DEO (Grade A) in the office of Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), candidates should have passed Class XII in science stream with maths as a subject from a recognised board or equivalent.

Syllabus overview

Well begun is half done. Tier I is the backbone of the entire scheme of examination. It consists of objective type multiple questions only. But avoid guess work here because every wrong answer will bring your marks tally down by 0.5 marks.

All four portions in this stage of examination have equal weightage (50 marks each).

• To excel in English portion, one needs to cover spot the error, synonyms/homonyms, antonyms, idioms and phrases, active and passive voice, narration etc.
• General intelligence section tests your both verbal and non-verbal skills. It includes questions on semantic analogy, space orientation, drawing inferences, problem solving, emotional intelligence, word building, social intelligence etc.
• Third section tests your quantitative aptitude. To excel in this section, you need to master fundamental arithmetical operations, algebra, geometry, menstruation trigonometry, number systems and statistical charts.
• Fourth section is designed to test the candidate's general awareness of the environment around him and its application to society. Questions are also designed to test knowledge of current events and of such matters of everyday observation and experience in their scientific aspect. The test will also include questions relating to India and its neighbouring countries, especially pertaining to history, culture, geography, economics and scientific research.