SSC CHSL cut off 2026 Tier 1 marks will be released along with the Tier 1 result in November 2026 at ssc.gov.in. Based on previous year trends, the expected cut off for General category in Tier 1 is around 155 to 165 out of 200. Candidates who score above the cut off in Tier 1 are shortlisted for Tier 2. Remember that Tier 1 cut off is only for qualifying for Tier 2. Final selection and post allocation is based entirely on Tier 2 marks.
What is SSC CHSL Cut Off?
SSC CHSL cut off is the minimum marks that a candidate must score in Tier 1 to qualify for Tier 2. It is determined by SSC after the exam based on several factors including difficulty level, total vacancies, and number of candidates appearing. SSC releases separate cut off for each category (UR, OBC, SC, ST, EWS, PwD). There is also a Tier 2 cut off which is the minimum marks required in Tier 2 to be considered for final selection.
| SSC CHSL Result | SSC CHSL 2026 Notification |
| SSC CHSL Admit Card | SSC CHSL Tier 2 Exam Date |
SSC CHSL Cut Off 2026
The official SSC CHSL cut off 2026 Tier 1 marks will be released with the Tier 1 result in November 2026. Until then, candidates can refer to the previous year cut off trends to understand what score they should target. The cut off has remained relatively consistent over the last few years for each category.
Also Read: SSC CHSL Eligibility
SSC CHSL Previous Year Tier 1 Cut Off Marks
| Category | 2024 Cut Off (out of 200) | 2023 Cut Off (out of 200) | 2022 Cut Off (out of 200) | 2021 Cut Off (out of 200) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UR (General) | 158.00 | 157.36 | 159.06 | 161.20 |
| OBC | 154.00 | 156.62 | 154.35 | 158.40 |
| EWS | 150.00 | 150.52 | 152.78 | 154.80 |
| SC | 140.00 | 139.68 | 136.78 | 143.50 |
| ST | 128.00 | 129.45 | 126.36 | 133.90 |
| PwD (UR) | 115.00 | 112.45 | 110.12 | 118.50 |
SSC CHSL Cut Off 2026 Expected Tier 1
| Category | Expected Cut Off 2026 (out of 200) | Safe Score to Target |
|---|---|---|
| UR (General) | 155 to 165 | 170 and above |
| OBC | 152 to 160 | 165 and above |
| EWS | 148 to 156 | 162 and above |
| SC | 135 to 145 | 150 and above |
| ST | 125 to 135 | 140 and above |
| PwD | 108 to 120 | 125 and above |
Factors Affecting SSC CHSL Cut Off
Total Number of Vacancies
Higher vacancies generally result in a lower SSC CHSL cut off because more candidates can be shortlisted for Tier 2. If SSC releases 6,000 vacancies in 2026, the SSC CHSL cut off is likely to be lower compared to a year with only 3,000 vacancies.
Number of Candidates Appearing
More candidates appearing in the exam means higher competition and a higher cut off. SSC CHSL attracts 30 to 40 lakh applicants but only 15 to 20 lakh actually appear in the exam.
Difficulty Level of the Exam
An easier question paper results in higher scores across the board, pushing the cut off higher. A difficult paper brings scores down and lowers the cut off. SSC moderates difficulty across different exam shifts and applies normalization to ensure fairness.
Normalization Process
Since SSC CHSL Tier 1 is conducted across multiple shifts over several days, SSC uses a normalization formula to adjust scores based on the difficulty level of each shift. This means your actual score and your normalized score may be slightly different.
SSC CHSL Section-wise Safe Score Target for Tier 1
| Section | Maximum Marks | Safe Target for General Category |
|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence and Reasoning | 50 | 40 to 46 |
| General Awareness | 50 | 36 to 44 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 50 | 38 to 44 |
| English Language | 50 | 40 to 46 |
| Total | 200 | 170 and above |
SSC CHSL Cut Off Tier 2
The Tier 2 cut off is the minimum marks required in Tier 2 to be considered for final selection. Unlike Tier 1 cut off which is just qualifying, the Tier 2 merit list is the actual final selection list. Candidates are ranked based on their Tier 2 marks and the top ranked candidates as per available vacancies are selected.
SSC CHSL Tier 2 is out of 280 marks. The final selection cut off in Tier 2 varies each year based on difficulty and vacancies. Generally for LDC and JSA posts, the Tier 2 cut off is around 180 to 210 out of 280 for General category. For PA and SA posts, it is slightly higher around 200 to 220 out of 280.
How to Calculate Your Safe Score in SSC CHSL
To be safely above the cut off, target at least 15 to 20 marks more than the expected cut off for your category. For General category, if the expected cut off is 160, target 175 to 180. With 0.5 marks negative marking in Tier 1, every 2 wrong answers cancel 1 correct answer. Attempting 90 questions with 90% accuracy (81 correct, 9 wrong) gives you 81 x 2 minus 9 x 0.5 which equals 157.5 marks. Attempting 70 questions with 98% accuracy gives 70 x 2 minus 1 x 0.5 which equals 139.5 marks. So attempting more questions with reasonable accuracy is better than attempting few with perfect accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions on SSC CHSL Cut Off
Q1. What is the expected SSC CHSL 2026 cut off for General category?
Around 155 to 165 out of 200 for Tier 1. Target 170 or above for a safe margin.
Q2. Is Tier 1 cut off marks added to final merit?
No. Tier 1 is only qualifying. Final merit is entirely based on Tier 2 marks.
Q3. Why does cut off change every year?
Cut off changes because of variations in total vacancies, number of candidates, difficulty level of the exam, and normalization across multiple shifts.
Q4. Is there section-wise cut off in SSC CHSL?
No. There is only an overall cut off for Tier 1. There is no minimum section-wise score requirement.
Q5. Do all categories have the same cut off?
No. Each category has a different cut off. Reserved categories (SC, ST, PwD) have lower cut off marks compared to General and OBC categories.
Q6. When will SSC CHSL 2026 cut off be released?
With the Tier 1 result in November 2026 at ssc.gov.in.