Complete Guide to SSC CGL Typing Test (DEST)

Hello, dear aspirants. We are here to discuss the “SSC CGL typing test (DEST)”and queries related to this typing test examination. In this article, you will learn about this important examination conducted by the Official Staff Selection Commission (ssc.gov.in), its qualifying criteria, how to prepare for this exam, common mistakes to avoid on exam day, and the free SSC typing test resources.

In this article, we tried our best to provide you with adequate information in the simplest possible words to clear all the doubts asked regarding this examination. Let's start now.

What is the SSC CGL Typing Test (DEST)

In simple words, DEST is known for the “Data Entry Speed Test”. We all want to obtain a good white-collar job in the central government, but for that, we have to qualify for the SSC CGL exam. You can fill out the application form for this examination after graduation on the official SSC website. The exam is conducted in two stages. When you qualify for the first tier, then with the second tier exam, there is a mandatory typing skill test exam, which is known as the DEST. In this skill test, you have to type 2000 keystrokes in 15 minutes (approx 30 WPM) with a permissible error range. DEST exam is qualifying in nature, but if you fail this exam, you are disqualified.

SSC CGL Typing Test (DEST) Rules

Some of the main rules of a timed typing test are as follows

• No marks from this test are included in the result of the main exam. This test is qualifying in nature.
• In this test, a paragraph is given which is approximately 2000 keystrokes.
• The candidate who writes the given paragraph, approx 2000 keystrokes in 15 minutes, and also maintains accuracy, passes this test.
• About 30 wpm speed is required to pass this exam.

With consistent touch-typing practice, you can easily pass this exam.

DEST Criteria for Error Exemptions

There is no fixed qualifying marks for the SSC CGL typing test (DEST), and the exemptions are described as follows. You can understand it better by looking at the following table.

How Accuracy is Evaluated By SSC

There are two types of error evaluation in the SSC CGL typing test, mainly divided into two categories, detailed below.

Full Mistake

A 'full mistake' is treated as a 100% error. The types are:

• leaving out a word completely (omission),
• inserting an extra word into the message (addition),
• misspelling a letter (spelling error), and
• substituting one word for another (substitution)

Half Mistake

A 'half-mistake' is considered a 50% error. This includes types such as leaving too much space between two words, known as a spacing error. It also includes using a small letter instead of a capital letter, or vice versa, within words. Furthermore, it involves leaving punctuation marks like commas, semicolons, or full stops blank, or using the wrong symbol, which is called a punctuation error.

Official Accuracy & Error Formula

The total errors are determined by the following formula:

Total Mistakes=Full Mistakes + Half Mistakes/2

To explain this formula, let's take an example. This example will help you understand the formula's meaning correctly. Suppose you made five full mistakes and eight half mistakes in a typing test. According to the formula, your total mistakes are 5 + 8/2=9. Therefore, your total mistakes will be counted as nine.

The error percentage plays a crucial role in the SSC typing test, and the formula for calculating it,  it is provided below.

Error Percentage={(Total Mistakes)}/Total  words in Master Passage} * 100

Let us assume a typing test scenario involving a passage of approximately 450 words, where the calculation based on the aforementioned formula reveals a total of 9 errors—comprising five full errors and eight half-errors. To determine the error percentage, we apply the formula: (9 ÷ 450) × 100=2%. In this case, the error rate is 2%, which falls well within the maximum permissible error limits—20% for the General (UR) category and 25% for OBC/EWS categories—meaning you would easily qualify.

How To Prepare for the SSC CGL Typing Test (DEST)

As we know, passing the SSC CGL typing test requires a speed of approximately 30 words per minute. For exam preparation, one should aim for a speed of over 35-40 words per minute. This is because exam centers often provide older keyboards with stiff keys that are difficult to press, which can negatively affect your performance. For preparing for the SSC CGL, focus on these points.

• Focus on touch typing fundamentals.
• Build muscle memory
• Avoid making typing mistakes.
• Practice daily
• Analyze your performance using online typing tools.

How to Increase Typing Speed

Here are some strategies to improve your typing speed and pass typing tests.

If you want to unlock your true typing speed potential, learn touch typing, because if you keep looking between the screen and the keyboard, it will reduce your typing speed.

Practice typing continuously for at least 30 minutes daily. This may cause some pain in your fingers and wrists at first, but you are able to counter typing fatigue by practice.

Try to make fewer mistakes, as each correction takes time and reduces your speed.

Take daily online mock tests on websites like FreeTypingTest.inbecause they provide the analysis report by which you can understand where to improve in your typing.

How to Reduce Typing Mistakes in DEST

You can reduce typing mistakes and increase your typing speed in just 30 daysby doing the following:

As you know, the SSC CGL typing (DEST) time is limited — you get only 15 minutes. In those 15 minutes, you must type words at the rate of 30 words per minute while maintaining good accuracy and minimising mistakes, ideally to zero. For mistake exemptions, the Central Commission allows 20 to 30% errors depending on category. Before the test begins, some time is given to check the keyboard and computer screen, during which you can verify that all keys are working properly, the screen is clearly visible, and the brightness is eye-friendly. If you face any problem with the keyboard or screen, immediately inform the exam room invigilator, who will replace the keyboard or PC so you can sit comfortably during the test.

During the exam: use backspace as little as possible; do not look at the keyboard; maintain a steady pace for the first 1–2 minutes before increasing speed; keep your posture correct — sit with your backbone straight, neither slouched nor too tense. Believe me, typing 2,000 keystrokes in 15 minutes is very achievable. With a calm mind and a good strategy, you will definitely qualify for DEST. All the best!

By adopting these two rules, you can see a significant increase in your typing speed. The  golden rules for reducing mistakes and increasing speed are

1. Avoid looking at the keyboard (Touch Typing)
2. To avoid using the backspace button at all.

Common Mistakes to Avoid on SSC CGL Typing Exam Day

As you all know, after the written exam, the SSC CGL typing test (DEST) is conducted in SSC CGL. Now let us discuss this type to know about the common mistakes that happen in it, which we should not make. What type of common mistakes can there be?

SSC CGL Typing (DEST) common mistakes to avoid in the exam are as follows:

• Dear candidates should not rush at the beginning of the examination. When the SSC CGL typing starts.
• Initially, maintain a steady pace; after 1–2 minutes, gradually increase your speed as much as you can.
• During typing, we must ensure the accuracy and must not make any mistakes.
• The fewer the mistakes, the better the result.
• Even if a mistake happens, do not panic at all.
• One important rule of typing is that you should not look at the keyboard while you are typing.
• While typing, keep your posture correct and sit properly with your back straight at a 90° angle. Do not sit with tension in your waist.

Best Free Websites for Free SSC CGL Typing Test Practice

To pass the SSC CGL typing or DEST Exam with good marks, there are many free websites available on the internet.

Here we provide you with links to the online SSC free typing test, which has 100+ SSC CGL practice tests. We also provide links to the 10- and 15-minute typing tests. These tests provide a complete and detailed analytic report with your speed and mistake graph so that you can understand where to improve in your typing.

Conclusion

We hope we have cleared almost all doubts related to the SSC CGL typing test. For the typing exam, you have to learn touch typing because looking between the keyboard and the screen wastes time. Make sure you do not skip any line from the given paragraph, as doing so may result in disqualification. On the exam day, stay relaxed and trust your typing practice.

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ARTICLE AUTHORTyping Exam Researcher

S. K. Sharma

S. K. Sharma is a dedicated typing exam researcher and content writer with over 5 years of experience helping candidates excel in SSC, RRB, and state government typing speed tests.

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