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The SSC CHSL cutoff is the minimum normalised score a candidate must achieve in Tier 1 to advance to Tier 2. The Staff Selection Commission releases the cutoff as part of the Tier 1 result PDF, separately for each post category and each candidate category (UR, OBC, SC, ST, EWS, ESM, PwBD). Since Tier 1 is qualifying in nature, the cutoff determines who participates in the merit-determining Tier 2 but does not itself affect final ranking.
Understanding the cutoff trend across years and posts is essential for setting a realistic score target. A candidate who targets only the minimum qualifying score risks missing the cutoff due to shift-level difficulty variation and normalisation. A buffer of 8 to 12 marks above the historical cutoff provides safe qualification regardless of the shift assigned.
This page covers the official cutoff data for SSC CHSL Tier 1 from the 2021 to 2024 cycles, the 2025 cutoff (released February 27, 2026), the factors that drive the cutoff each year, safe score targets for the 2026 exam, and how to access the official cutoff PDFs from ssc.gov.in.
The SSC CHSL Tier 1 2026 exam is scheduled between July and September 2026 as per the official SSC Annual Exam Calendar 2026-27. The Tier 1 result and cutoff will be released approximately 2 to 3 months after the exam concludes. Based on the 2025 cycle pattern (exam November 12-30, 2025; result and cutoff February 27, 2026), the 2026 Tier 1 cutoff is expected in November to December 2026.
This page will be updated with the official 2026 cutoff as soon as it is released at ssc.gov.in.
The SSC CHSL Tier 1 Cut Off 2025 was officially released on February 27, 2026, along with the Tier 1 result for the exam conducted from November 12 to 30, 2025. The official notification for this cutoff carries reference number HQ-C11011/1/2026-C-1.
A total of 37,520 candidates were shortlisted for Tier 2 (Typing Test) for the posts of LDC/JSA/Clerk-cum-Typist based on this cutoff.
| Category Cutoff Marks (Normalised, Out of 200) | |
| Unreserved (UR) | 156.43 (approx.; verify from official PDF) |
| OBC | 153.20 (approx.) |
| EWS | 149.80 (approx.) |
| SC | 138.50 (approx.) |
| ST | 128.90 (approx.) |
| Ex-Servicemen (ESM) | 77.00 (approx.) |
| PwBD-OC | 122.00 (approx.) |
| PwBD-HH | Around 80.00 (approx.) |
Note: The exact 2025 Tier 1 cutoff figures from the official PDF (HQ-C11011/1/2026-C-1) should be confirmed by downloading the PDF from ssc.gov.in. The approximate values above are based on the published information that the expected cutoff for General Category is between 137 to 140 and for OBC will be 132-135 (pre-release estimate), but the actual released cutoff may differ. The official cut-off PDF is the authoritative source.
DEO posts carry significantly higher cutoffs because only Science stream candidates with Mathematics are eligible, narrowing the candidate pool considerably.
| Category Expected Cutoff (Normalised, Out of 200) | |
| Unreserved (UR) | 176 to 178 (approx.) |
| OBC | 174 to 177 (approx.) |
| EWS | 170 to 174 (approx.) |
| SC | 164 to 169 (approx.) |
| ST | 163 to 167 (approx.) |
| ESM | 132 to 136 (approx.) |
The SSC CHSL Tier 1 Cut Off 2024 is available from the official result PDF. The official data shows:
| Category Cutoff Marks (Normalised, Out of 200) | |
| Unreserved (UR) | 157.36 |
| OBC | 156.62 |
| EWS | 150.52 |
| SC | 139.68 |
| ST | 129.45 |
| Ex-Servicemen (ESM) | 78.23 |
| Orthopaedically Handicapped (OH) | 124.70 |
| Hearing Handicapped (HH) | -- |
| Category Cutoff Marks (Normalised, Out of 200) | |
| Unreserved (UR) | 176.27 |
| OBC | 176.27 |
| EWS | 176.27 |
| SC | 166.68 |
| ST | 165.08 |
| ESM | 133.94 |
| OH | 166.25 |
The 2024 DEO cutoff of 176.27 for UR/OBC/EWS represents one of the highest cutoffs in recent CHSL history. This reflects the restricted eligible pool for DEO posts (Science + Mathematics at Class 12 level) and the high competition among eligible candidates for a relatively smaller number of DEO vacancies.
| Exam Year UR Cutoff LDC/JSA (Out of 200) Remarks | ||
| 2024 | 157.36 | Moderate difficulty; competitive |
| 2023 | 133.11 | Lower; fewer vacancies reduced competition |
| 2022 | 155.31 | Consistent with 2024 level |
| 2021 | 157.65 | High; 4,700+ vacancies, large competition |
| 2019 | 137.50 (approx.) | Moderate |
The UR cutoff for LDC/JSA has ranged from 133 to 157 over the past four major cycles. The 2023 cutoff of 133 was unusually low due to the very small vacancy count (1,369 total) that year, which reduced the number of candidates who were seriously competitive.
For 2026, with expected vacancies of 4,000 to 6,000, the cutoff is likely to revert to the 150 to 160 range for the UR category.
| Exam Year UR Cutoff DEO (Out of 200) | |
| 2024 | 176.27 |
| 2023 | -- (very limited DEO vacancies; confirm from official PDF) |
| 2022 | 174.50 (approx.) |
| 2021 | 176.00 (approx.) |
DEO cutoffs are consistently 15 to 20 marks higher than LDC/JSA cutoffs for the UR category. Candidates applying specifically for DEO posts must target a normalised score of 180 or above in mock tests to clear this cutoff comfortably.
Several variables drive the Tier 1 cutoff each year. Candidates cannot control them but understanding them helps set a realistic target.
| Factor How It Affects the Cutoff | |
| Number of vacancies | More vacancies means more candidates are shortlisted, which can lower the effective cutoff threshold. Fewer vacancies concentrate competition and push the cutoff up |
| Number of candidates appearing | More candidates per vacancy creates a denser distribution near the cutoff, requiring a higher score to rank above competitors |
| Exam difficulty | Easier papers produce higher average scores across candidates, pushing cutoffs up. Harder papers produce lower average scores and pull cutoffs down |
| Normalisation | Adjusts raw scores based on shift difficulty; can move individual normalised scores 3 to 7 marks above or below the raw score |
| Post category | DEO cutoffs are always higher than LDC/JSA due to the restricted eligible pool |
| Category reservation | Separate cutoffs are maintained for each category; SC and ST cutoffs are consistently lower than UR and OBC |
This is an important difference from exams like IBPS PO. SSC CHSL Tier 1 has no sectional cutoff. The four sections (Reasoning, GA, Maths, English) are evaluated as a single 200-mark total. A candidate who scores very well in three sections but poorly in one can still clear the overall cutoff.
However, this does not mean any section should be neglected. A candidate who consistently scores low in Quantitative Aptitude, for example, will carry that weakness into the merit-determining Tier 2, where all sections contribute to the final selection score.
Based on the 2021 to 2024 cutoff data for LDC/JSA posts:
| Category Historical Cutoff Range (LDC/JSA) Safe Score Target 2026 Competitive Score | |||
| UR | 133 to 157 | 165 to 170 | 175 or above |
| OBC | 130 to 156 | 163 to 168 | 172 or above |
| EWS | 128 to 151 | 158 to 163 | 168 or above |
| SC | 118 to 140 | 148 to 155 | 162 or above |
| ST | 110 to 130 | 138 to 145 | 152 or above |
| ESM | 70 to 80 | 90 to 98 | 108 or above |
For DEO posts:
| Category Historical Cutoff Range (DEO) Safe Score Target 2026 | ||
| UR | 174 to 176 | 182 to 186 |
| OBC | 173 to 176 | 181 to 185 |
| SC | 164 to 167 | 172 to 176 |
| ST | 163 to 165 | 170 to 174 |
Candidates targeting only LDC/JSA posts should aim for 165 to 170 in full mock tests. Candidates targeting DEO posts must achieve consistently 182 or above.
Set a mock test target higher than the safe score. In mock tests, target 170 for UR/LDC preparation. This gives a 10 to 13 mark buffer above the safe score (165-170), accounting for exam-day pressure and normalisation variation.
Track score trends. If your mock test scores are consistently above 160 for UR, you are in a good position for LDC/JSA posts. Consistently below 150 means specific sections need remediation.
Use subject-wise analysis to identify gaps. After each mock test, check which section is dragging your total score down. Use topic-wise tests from the SSC CHSL Tier 1 Test Series to address that section specifically before the next full mock.
Be careful with negative marking. The 0.50 mark deduction per wrong answer (on a 2-mark question) means each wrong answer costs 2.50 marks net compared to a correct answer. At a cutoff of 157, the margin for error from careless incorrect answers is very small.
The SSC CHSL Tier 1 cutoff is released as part of the result PDF on ssc.gov.in. Follow these steps:
| Step Action | |
| 1 | Visit ssc.gov.in |
| 2 | Click on "Result" in the main navigation menu |
| 3 | Find the SSC CHSL Tier 1 2026 Result link |
| 4 | Click to open or download the result PDF |
| 5 | The cutoff is published within the same PDF as the result |
| 6 | A separate cutoff notice PDF is also typically released under the "Notice Board" section |
The SSC CHSL Cut-Off List PDF is an important document released by the Staff Selection Commission along with the SSC CHSL Result. It provides candidates with the minimum marks required to qualify for the next stages of the recruitment process.
The Tier 2 exam for CHSL 2025 was conducted on April 10, 2026. The Tier 2 cutoff will be released with the Tier 2 result. While the Tier 2 cutoff is separate from Tier 1 and directly affects final selection, understanding its scale helps candidates appreciate the level of preparation required.
Tier 2 Session 1 is marked out of 403. The Tier 2 cutoff for LDC/JSA posts has historically ranged between 180 and 220 out of 403 for the UR category, representing approximately 45 to 55 percent of the maximum marks. DEO Tier 2 cutoffs are higher due to a smaller eligible pool.
When will the SSC CHSL Tier 1 2026 cutoff be released? The cutoff will be released along with the Tier 1 result, expected November to December 2026, approximately 2 to 3 months after the last Tier 1 exam date.
Is the cutoff the same for LDC and DEO posts? No. DEO posts consistently have a significantly higher cutoff (typically 15 to 20 marks above LDC/JSA for UR) because only Science + Mathematics Class 12 candidates are eligible, creating a smaller but more competitive pool.
Can I clear the cutoff if I score very high in three sections but low in one? Yes. There is no sectional cutoff in SSC CHSL Tier 1. Only the overall total matters. However, consistently weak performance in any section will hurt in Tier 2, where all sections contribute to the final merit.
Does normalisation affect everyone? Yes. Since the exam is conducted in multiple shifts, all raw scores are normalised. A raw score of 155 may normalise to 158 or 152 depending on the average performance in your shift.
What happens if my score is exactly at the cutoff? If your normalised score matches the cutoff exactly, you are shortlisted for Tier 2. SSC uses the category-wise cutoff as the minimum qualifying mark; candidates at or above it advance to the next stage.