SSC CGL Typing Test — pick your language
The SSC CGL DEST (Data Entry Speed Test) is Tier 2 for Assistant Audit Officer (AAO), Assistant Section Officer (ASO), and a few other cadres. Test runs 15 minutes; the target is 2,000-2,500 key depressions in English. Hindi is rare but allowed for some posts. Pick your language, then practise.
- Test duration
- 15 minutes
- English cutoff
- 8,000 KDPH
- Equivalent
- 26.67 WPM
- Backspace
- Allowed
Choose your typing test
Each card below links to a practice page with that exact language and font preloaded. Start with the one matching your application form.
English DEST
- QWERTY keyboard, Unicode font
- ~95% of CGL DEST applicants take this
- 15-min test, target 2,000–2,500 keystrokes
- Required for AAO, ASO, Inspector Income Tax cadres
- Backspace allowed; errors deducted from score
हिंदी टाइपिंग
- मंगल (इनस्क्रिप्ट) और कृति देव (रेमिंगटन) — दोनों लेआउट एक ही पेज पर
- अपना लेआउट चुनें और उसी फॉन्ट में सीधे DEST अभ्यास शुरू करें
- इ-मात्रा का क्रम — मंगल में व्यंजन के बाद, कृति देव में पहले
- KDPH-आधारित DEST स्कोरिंग, 15-मिनट — दोनों लेआउट के लिए समान
- हर हिंदी-माध्यम CGL पद (MEA/गृह मंत्रालय ASO) के अभ्यर्थियों के लिए
Which one fits you
If you are still deciding at the application stage, run through this checklist before submitting. Once submitted, your choice cannot be changed.
The honest decision tree
CGL DEST has a different shape from CHSL — longer time, KDPH-based scoring, fewer candidates take Hindi. Use the table below to confirm what fits your application before submitting.
Rules that apply across all formats
The language changes the keyboard layout and the cutoff. Everything below stays consistent across versions.
15 minutes, one passage
CGL DEST runs 15 minutes with a single passage of 2,000–2,500 keystrokes. Longer than CHSL because CGL targets a higher-volume data-entry skill required by tax and accounts cadres.
Backspace allowed
Backspace works the same way as CHSL — every keystroke including corrections counts toward the KDPH total. Use sparingly for obvious typos.
KDPH scoring (not Net WPM)
CGL DEST scores you on raw Key Depressions Per Hour, not Net WPM. 8,000 KDPH = ~26.67 WPM. Use our WPM ↔ KDPH converter to compare against your practice scores.
Qualifying only
Like CHSL typing, CGL DEST is qualifying. Missing the cutoff drops you from the cycle. Exceeding it adds nothing to your final rank. Aim 10% above the cutoff for safety.
5 keystrokes = 1 word
The 5-keystroke convention applies. 2,000 correct keystrokes in 15 minutes = 400 words = 26.67 WPM = 8,000 KDPH. Same maths as every other SSC test.
Errors are deducted
Every wrong keystroke is subtracted from the KDPH total. 8,200 keystrokes with 250 errors = 7,950 KDPH net = below cutoff. Accuracy first.
What this typing test actually feels like
CGL DEST does not feel like CHSL. The 15-minute window is long enough to settle into rhythm but also long enough to fatigue. Most aspirants who fail this test do so in the last 4 minutes — the same pattern as CHSL but more pronounced because the test is longer.
The other thing to notice: CGL DEST cares about raw keystrokes, not "words". There is no Net WPM. There is no shorthand penalty calculation. Your score is total correct keystrokes minus errors, scaled to per-hour rate. This makes accuracy training even more critical than for CHSL — a candidate at 9,000 KDPH gross with 1,500 errors will end up below cutoff, while a candidate at 8,200 KDPH gross with 100 errors clears comfortably.
About the language choice: the overwhelming majority of CGL aspirants pick English. The cadres that this DEST screens for — AAO (CAG), ASO (CSS, MEA, AFHQ), Inspector Income Tax, Inspector CBI — are English-medium roles. Hindi DEST is rare and usually only offered when the notification specifies a Hindi-medium post. Confirm before applying. Picking Hindi for an English-medium post means you cannot take the test in the language you trained in.
Common preparation mistake: aspirants treat CGL DEST like a sprint and burn out at minute 10. Practise the full 15-minute session every day in your last 3 weeks. Pacing matters more than peak speed.
Frequently asked questions
If your question is not answered below, email contact@typeforexam.com. We update this section based on what aspirants ask us.
What is SSC CGL DEST?
The Data Entry Speed Test is Tier 2 of SSC CGL for specific cadres — AAO, ASO, Inspector cadres, and a few others. It runs 15 minutes with a passage of 2,000–2,500 keystrokes. The cutoff is 8,000 KDPH in English (about 26.67 WPM). Hindi is available for select Hindi-medium posts.
How is CGL DEST different from CHSL typing test?
Three differences. First, duration — CGL DEST is 15 minutes while CHSL is 10 minutes. Second, scoring — CGL DEST scores raw KDPH (Key Depressions Per Hour), while CHSL scores Net WPM. Third, target — CGL is for higher-cadre data-entry-heavy posts (AAO, ASO, Inspector Income Tax) while CHSL is for clerical posts (LDC, JSA, PA/SA). The keyboard mechanics are identical but the standards differ.
What is the CGL DEST cutoff in WPM?
Convert 8,000 KDPH ÷ 300 = 26.67 WPM. That is the equivalent. The notification cites the KDPH figure because the testing system at SSC centres counts raw keystrokes. For your own practice, hitting 30 WPM Net comfortably is a safe target — gives you a buffer above the 26.67 line.
Which SSC CGL posts have the DEST?
AAO (Assistant Audit Officer in CAG), ASO (Assistant Section Officer in CSS, MEA, AFHQ, Ministry of Railways), Inspector Income Tax, Inspector CBI, Inspector Examiner under CBIC, Inspector Posts, and Inspector Central Excise. Each notification lists which post requires DEST and which does not — check before applying.
Is the SSC CGL DEST qualifying or merit-based?
Qualifying only. Final CGL merit is decided on Tier 1 + Tier 2 + Tier 3 (descriptive paper). DEST removes candidates who fail but adds nothing to the score of those who clear. Aim to clear by 10-15% — exam day jitters are a real factor at 15 minutes.
Can I switch language between English and Hindi DEST?
No. The language is locked to your application form. SSC does not allow language change at the test centre. Make the choice carefully at the application stage.
How long should I prepare for CGL DEST?
A candidate already at 20 WPM with good English can reach the 26.67 WPM CGL DEST cutoff in 3-4 weeks with daily 15-minute sessions. Below 15 WPM, plan 8-10 weeks. The longer test duration (15 min vs CHSL's 10) makes stamina the differentiator more than raw speed.
Does CGL DEST measure typing speed or data-entry speed?
Mechanically, they are the same thing — keystrokes per unit time. But the passage style differs. CGL DEST passages are economic/administrative prose with a high density of numbers, percentages, and short technical phrases (typical of tax and accounts work). Practise on passages with similar density — generic typing tutors will under-prepare you for the numeric segments.