SSC CGL Typing Test 2026: DEST Practice (2,000 Key Depressions, 15 Minutes)
The SSC CGL Data Entry Speed Test (DEST) is Section-IV of Tier-II Paper-I: a passage of about 2,000 key depressions in 15 minutes, qualifying for every post. Practise it here on an exam-style screen, choose the normal or higher standard, and see your error % against the limit for your category.
Rules checked against the official SSC notices on 24 October 2026.
The SSC typing test is taken on a computer with a physical keyboard. You can read the rules and passages here, but connect a keyboard or open this page on a laptop or desktop for a realistic test.
Passage
SSC CGL DEST 2026 at a glance
| Where it sits | Section-IV of Tier-II Paper-I, held alone in Session-II after the written sections and the CKT (Para 13.9.4.4, 13.9.5.6) |
|---|---|
| Passage | About 2,000 key depressions (Para 13.9.10.2) |
| Time | 15 minutes; 20 minutes for scribe-eligible PwBD candidates (Para 13.9.10.7) |
| Nature | Mandatory for all posts, qualifying only (Para 13.9.10.3, 16.6) |
| Errors allowed (normal standard) | UR 20%, OBC/EWS 25%, all other categories 30% (Para 16.2) |
| Higher standard | Fixed by SSC for DEST and computer-proficiency posts (Para 13.9.10.4, 16.6). CGL 2025: UR 5%, OBC/SC/ST/EWS/ESM 7%, OH/HH/VH/PwD-Others 10% |
| Evaluation | SSC's guidelines for Typing Test/DEST scripts: full and half mistakes |
Sources: SSC CGL 2026 notice (PDF); CGL 2025 FRTA write-up, 08.04.2026 (PDF); SSC evaluation guidelines (PDF).
Normal vs higher DEST standard: which one applies to you?
Everyone who takes Tier-II must clear the DEST at the normal standard. If your post preferences include a post where DEST or computer proficiency is prescribed, you must also clear the higher standard to be considered for those posts. SSC prepares separate merit lists for them (Para 16.12).
Normal standard (20% / 25% / 30%)
All other CGL posts. On a 350-word passage, UR candidates can afford about 70 mistakes, OBC/EWS about 87 and others about 105, counted as full plus half ÷ 2.
Higher standard (5% / 7% / 10%, CGL 2025)
Tax Assistant (CBIC, CBDT), UDC/SSA in CBN, and the computer-proficiency posts: ASO (CSS, MEA, AFHQ), Assistant (SFIO, GSI, IMD), Inspector (CGST & Central Excise, Preventive Officer, Examiner), Executive Assistant (CBIC), Postal/Sorting Assistant. At 5%, a 350-word passage allows only about 17 mistakes.
SSC announces the higher-standard figure with each result; this tool uses the latest one published (CGL 2025) until the 2026 figure is out.
A 15-minute plan for the DEST
| Clock | Where you should be | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 0:00 to 0:30 | Read the first lines | Settle your hands on the home row; start with the Tab key |
| 5:00 | About 670 key depressions | Steady pace, about 134 per minute; don't chase speed |
| 10:00 | About 1,330 key depressions | Re-check you haven't skipped a line; keep figures and capitals exact |
| 13:00 to 15:00 | Finishing the passage | If you finish early, read back and fix mistakes; SSC says not to retype the passage |
Mistakes that cost the most in the DEST
- Skipping a line: every word in it is an omission, a full mistake each. Ten words skipped is ten mistakes.
- Leaving a word half-typed when time runs out: an incomplete word is a full mistake.
- Small letter for a capital: "india", "parliament" in a title, "Article" written as "article" are half mistakes each.
- Joined words: "ofthe" for "of the", "gover nment" with a space inside, or two spaces between words are spacing half mistakes.
- Changing figures: "1 July 2017" typed as "1st July 2017" is a substitution.
SSC CGL DEST error limits by category
| Test | Time | Passage / speed | Maximum errors | Source of the limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CGL DEST | 15 min | Passage of about 2,000 key depressions; no minimum speed | UR 20%, OBC/EWS 25%, all others 30% | CGL 2026 notice, Para 16.2 |
| CGL DEST higher standard | 15 min | Passage of about 2,000 key depressions; no minimum speed | UR 5%, OBC/SC/ST/EWS/ESM 7%, PwBD 10% | cut-off SSC fixed in the CGL 2025 FRTA write-up (08.04.2026); SSC fixes the 2026 figure with the result |
Times and passage sizes: SSC CGL 2026 notice Para 13.9.10 and SSC CHSL 2026 notice Para 13.9.13. Scribe-eligible candidates get 5 extra minutes in both. All typing tests are qualifying: they decide whether you can be selected, not your rank.
How SSC counts mistakes in the CGL DEST
From SSC's revised guidelines for evaluation of Typing Test/DEST scripts (English/Hindi), which the CGL and CHSL notices both refer to:
Full mistakes (count 1 each)
- Omission of a word or figure
- Substitution of a wrong word or figure
- Addition of a word or figure not in the passage
- Spelling error: a letter added, missed, repeated or changed
- Repetition of a word, e.g. "I shall shall be"
- Incomplete (half-typed) word, for any reason
Half mistakes (count ½ each)
- Spacing: "Ihope" or "I h ave"
- Wrong capitalisation (not applied to Hindi scripts)
- Punctuation mark missed, added or changed
- Transposition: "I hope" typed as "hope I"
- Paragraph started with spaces instead of the Tab key
The same guidelines tell candidates to type figures and years exactly as printed, use the Tab key to start every paragraph, leave one space after each punctuation mark, and not repeat the passage once it is finished (you may go back and correct mistakes within the time). Any irrelevant matter typed is a mistake.
DEST formulas: key depressions, speed and error %
Key depressions (KD)
Every key you press to put a character on screen, including the space bar and Enter, is one key depression. SSC treats 5 key depressions as one word.
1 word = 5 KD · wpm = KDPH ÷ 300
Gross speed
All key depressions you typed, right or wrong, divided by the time.
Gross wpm = (KD typed ÷ 5) ÷ minutes
Net speed and KDPH
Only the words typed exactly right count. The CHSL notice judges DEO speed "on the basis of the correct entry of words/key depressions" and LDC/JSA speed "on the accuracy of typing", so net KDPH is the figure to compare with 8,000, 15,000, 10,500 or 9,000.
Net KDPH = correct KD × 60 ÷ minutes
Error percentage
SSC's guidelines define the mistakes and the notices round errors to 2 decimals, but no notice prints the formula. This tool uses the form SSC applies in stenography transcription, on the part of the passage you reached.
Error % = (full + half ÷ 2) × 100 ÷ words covered
Worked example: in 10 minutes you type 1,900 key depressions and 1,780 of them are in correctly typed words, with 9 full and 6 half mistakes over 330 words. Gross speed = 1,900 ÷ 5 ÷ 10 = 38 wpm. Net KDPH = 1,780 × 6 = 10,680, which clears the CHSL 10,500 KDPH mark. Error % = (9 + 3) × 100 ÷ 330 = 3.64%, inside the 7% UR limit.
SSC CGL Tier-II preparation
Frequently asked questions
What is the SSC CGL typing test (DEST) in 2026?
It is the Data Entry Speed Test, Section-IV of Tier-II Paper-I. As per Para 13.9.10 of the SSC CGL 2026 notice you type a passage of about 2,000 key depressions in 15 minutes, in Session-II on the same day as the written sections. It is mandatory for all posts and qualifying in nature.
SSC CGL typing test kitne wpm ka hota hai?
CGL DEST me koi wpm fix nahi hai. Notice ke hisaab se 15 minute me lagbhag 2,000 key depressions ka passage type karna hota hai. Pura passage khatam karne ke liye about 27 wpm (133 key depressions per minute) chahiye, lekin qualify karna error limit par depend karta hai: UR 20%, OBC/EWS 25%, baaki 30%.
How many mistakes are allowed in the SSC CGL DEST?
Para 16.2 of the CGL 2026 notice allows a maximum of 20% errors for UR, 25% for OBC/EWS and 30% for all other categories. For posts where DEST or computer proficiency is prescribed, SSC fixes a higher standard; in the CGL 2025 allocation (08.04.2026) it was 5% for UR, 7% for OBC/SC/ST/EWS/ESM and 10% for OH/HH/VH/PwD-Others.
Which CGL posts need the higher DEST standard?
Para 13.9.10.4 names Tax Assistant in CBIC, Tax Assistant in CBDT and UDC/SSA in the Central Bureau of Narcotics, and adds the computer-proficiency posts in Para 13.9.9: Assistant Section Officer in CSS, MEA and AFHQ, Assistant in SFIO, GSI and IMD, Inspector (CGST & Central Excise), Inspector (Preventive Officer), Inspector (Examiner), Executive Assistant in CBIC and Postal/Sorting Assistant, among others.
CGL me typing test fail ho gaye to kya hoga?
DEST qualifying hai. Agar aap normal standard (UR 20%) par fail hote hain to aap un posts ke liye select nahi honge jinke liye DEST zaroori hai, aur notice ke anusaar DEST sabhi posts ke liye mandatory hai. Higher standard par fail hone par Tax Assistant, ASO, Inspector jaise posts nahi milenge, chahe aapke marks zyada hon.
Is the SSC CGL DEST in Hindi too?
The CGL 2026 notice does not mention a Hindi option for the DEST; it describes only a passage of about 2,000 key depressions. The Hindi typing option (30 wpm, Mangal font) is part of the CHSL LDC/JSA typing test.
Who is exempt from the CGL DEST?
Para 13.9.10.6 exempts PwBD-OH candidates certified by a Civil Surgeon (Annexure-XIV) as permanently unfit for typing, but not for posts needing computer proficiency or DEST, except Tax Assistant in CBDT. Scribe-eligible candidates get 5 extra minutes (20 minutes in all).
Does the DEST score add to my CGL marks?
No. Para 16.6 calls the CKT and DEST qualifying in nature. Your rank comes from Sections I and II of Paper-I (and Paper-II or III for JSO/AAO posts).