- Home
- Exam typing tests
- SSC CHSL
SSC CHSL Typing Test: 10 Minute Simulator at 35 WPM
The CHSL typing test is the last gate before appointment as an LDC or Junior Secretariat Assistant, and it is purely qualifying — you either clear the speed norm or you are out. This simulator runs the same ten minute format: one continuous passage, English at 35 WPM or Hindi at 30 WPM, with net speed and mistakes worked out in front of you.
Exam format at a glance
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Post | LDC / Junior Secretariat Assistant (CHSL) |
| Nature of test | Qualifying only — no marks added to the merit list |
| Duration | 10 minutes (15 minutes for candidates eligible for a scribe) |
| Required speed — English | 35 words per minute, about 10,500 key depressions per hour |
| Required speed — Hindi | 30 words per minute, about 9,000 key depressions per hour |
| Word definition | 1 word = 5 key depressions, including spaces |
| Hindi font | Mangal (Unicode); layout chosen at application stage |
| Language choice | Locked when you fill the application — it cannot be changed later |
What "35 words per minute" actually means
The Commission does not count words the way a school teacher would. It counts key depressions and treats five depressions — letters, digits, punctuation and spaces — as one word. Thirty-five words a minute therefore works out to 10,500 depressions in an hour, and thirty words a minute in Hindi to 9,000. The practical consequence is that a long word does not hurt you and a short word does not help you; total volume of correct keystrokes is everything.
It also means you cannot game the passage by skipping difficult words. Every omission shifts the alignment of everything after it, so the software reads a whole run of words as wrong. Typing the passage strictly in order, even when a word is unfamiliar, is always cheaper than jumping ahead.
How mistakes are counted in this simulator
SSC evaluates the typed file against the original passage word by word. We use the same logic: a word that matches exactly is correct, a word that differs only in capitalisation or in one punctuation mark is treated as a half mistake, and anything else — wrong spelling, wrong word, missing word, extra word — is a full mistake. Net speed is then the number of words you typed minus full mistakes minus half of the half mistakes, divided by the minutes used.
The exact permissible error limit varies by notice, so treat the net WPM number as your real score and keep it comfortably above the requirement rather than scraping past it.
A four week plan that fits around the written paper
Most candidates reach the skill test with about a month of warning, which is enough if the time is spent correctly.
- Week 1 — accuracy only. Type at roughly 70% of your top speed and do not stop until you can hold 98% accuracy over ten minutes. Use the plain practice test rather than the exam simulator.
- Week 2 — full length runs. One ten minute simulator run a day, no more. Ten minutes of continuous typing is an endurance problem as much as a speed problem, and the last three minutes are where most candidates fall apart.
- Week 3 — punctuation and capitals. Official passages are full of commas, hyphens and proper nouns. Day 16-18 of the course drills exactly this.
- Week 4 — exam conditions. Same time of day as your slot, unfamiliar keyboard if you can arrange one, no music, no breaks.
Mistakes that cost candidates the post
- Choosing Hindi without practising InScript. The language you picked in the application is final. If you selected Hindi, practise on the Mangal InScript test from day one, not on a phonetic keyboard.
- Backspace addiction. Corrections are allowed but each one costs two or three keystrokes. Finish the word, then decide.
- Starting fast. Candidates who sprint for the first minute almost always lose more than they gained in minutes six to ten.
- Ignoring the mock window. Use the trial time at the centre to confirm the keyboard and font actually work the way you expect.
Frequently asked questions
Is the CHSL typing test qualifying or does it add marks?
It is purely qualifying. Clearing the speed norm makes you eligible for appointment to LDC/JSA; the typing result adds nothing to your merit position.
Can I change my typing language from Hindi to English later?
No. The medium is chosen while filling the application form and cannot be changed at the test centre, so decide early and practise in that language only.
Is backspace allowed in the SSC CHSL typing test?
Corrections are generally permitted in the CHSL typing test, but every correction eats into your ten minutes. Train yourself to type clean rather than to repair.
How many words should I type in ten minutes?
At 35 WPM you need roughly 350 correct words in English, and at 30 WPM roughly 300 words in Hindi. Aim for about 10% above that in practice so that exam-day nerves do not push you below the line.
Does DEST for CHSL Data Entry Operator use the same rules?
No. The Data Entry Operator posts are tested through DEST, which counts key depressions over 15 minutes. Use our separate DEST simulator for that format.
Where these numbers come from
We keep this page matched to the official notice. Always confirm the figures in the notification for your own recruitment year before you rely on them — boards do change speed norms and error limits between cycles.