1

How To Prepare For SSC CGL Exam

Making a schedule for the most effective study
If you are preparing for SSC Exams, it becomes very important that you follow a strict time schedule because of
competition. Yes, Competition is the key for the aspirants to follow plan. The competition is growing day by day and one
must not ignore the large number of candidates appearing for these exams every year. And this is one of the reasons to
follow proper study plan for SSC exams. However, here are a few tips which will help you to prepare for SSC exams
efficiently.
As the syllabus is huge and it can't be done randomly or studying 1 or 2 hours, thus to complete the syllabus, you must have
set targets for 6 days of the week, i.e., from Monday to Saturday. As for the last day, Sunday, you must do one mock test
or previous year's paper. Also, instead of solving the paper on any notebook or register, you must download a sample
OMR sheet and solve the paper in the prescribed time limit, NO CHEATING.
Since you are going to divide the time for all topics, here is a reference for how much amount of time you must devote to
each topic. Remember, THIS IS JUST A REFERENCE, you can devise your own time table depending on your
strengths and weaknesses.
1.

Quant (2 hours daily): Practice with pen and paper. Need both conceptual clarity and learning formulas. Practice
to get more accuracy and speed.

2.

Reasoning (1 hour daily): Again practice with pen and paper. Sometimes needs conceptual clarity but otherwise
practice of questions regularly. Not much of formulas.

3.

English (1 hour daily): Need conceptual clarity. Practice of questions. You need to improve your vocabulary. Try
to learn atleast 10 new words each day. Buy a good English Grammar and Vocabulary book and practice it. Also,
you must read an English newspaper daily. This will not only help you improve your vocabulary but also keep you
updated with the current topics.

4.

General Knowledge (2 to 3 hours daily): Feeding of facts of history, geography, polity, economics, science and
technology. Keep yourself updated about the national and international affairs.

Difficult topics and how to study them

When you know what your exam consists of you can fight well, so now we will focus on each section one by one. As
every person has his/her own caliber, strengths and weaknesses, he/she may be good in one section and might be lagging
in other one. Thus, we'll give you a brief suggestion on how to prepare different sections to score more.
REASONING / GENERAL INTELLIGENCE
First we talk about Reasoning Section, this consists of 50 Marks. Just focus on points mentioned below:
1.

This Section is usually very easy but you shouldn't underestimate this and must prepare to attempt about 45 questions
at least and it's not as tough as it sounds.

2.

Questions consist of:

Almost 5 Questions from Coding/Decoding

5 to 7 from Analogy

5 to 7 from Classification

5 from Series

2 from Blood Relations

1 to 2 from Calendar

1 or 2 from Puzzle Test

1 from Distance and Directions

2 from Syllogisms

In last of this Section 5 to 10 questions are from Non-verbal Reasoning, most easy part of this section is
generally put in the last 10 questions, so if you find Start is tough you must start from Last of this section, this will
really help you.

3.

Getting 35 marks is as easier in this Section.

4.

Remember, this section easy, but it is a part of your exam so, here race is about time, and if you waste more than 40
minutes in this section you are trapped, so Make a habit to solve 50 questions of Previous Paper in just 35 to 40
minutes also time to darken circles in Answer sheet is included in 40 minutes.
QUANTITATIVE APTITUDE

It is very important to plan how to attempt this section, as only this section can define your fate, so be attentive while
attempting this section. As a personal suggestion, you should attempt this section at last, and don't indulge in depth or don't
try to mess with any question in this section, just ignore the ones which are strange for you and in a quick reading find all
those which are most familiar with you to be attempted.
Don't be afraid of this section as many candidates have a horrible experience to face this section, you need not worry, let
us explain why?
1.

First thing you are not supposed to solve all these tough problems, just choose around 20 to 25 questions those are
much easier than others.

2.

Attempt them all 25 question correctly as only this section is the one in which either you get the correct answer
otherwise you will not get any answer.

3.

Focus on Trigonometry, Algebra section as these two topics are most easy part of this section and consists of 10 to
15 questions.

4.

Then attempt Percentage as it saves time to solve these questions, every year there are 2 or 3 questions on Percentage
have been observed and they are based on just successive discounts.

5.

1 to 2 easy questions on geometry are assured.

6.

Then Focus on Mensuration as this section will also help you in Tier II.

7.

Around 5 Questions on Data Interpretation (DI) are always fixed at last. Choose them to score more in much lesser
time.
ENGLISH

Never focus on Conversational English (means Spoken or Behavioral) as it is not related to Competitive English, here you
are supposed to have typical knowledge of Grammar, you must be able to identify Grammatical Errors in sentences. Just
follow these simple tips to attempt this section:
1.

Read Newspaper on daily basis: don't be afraid guys, you just need to read First Page and National Page, and if you
find anything interesting in any news, just read that in depth.

2.

Reading Newspaper will help you a lot in Preparing for SSC Tier I and Tier II, as many ERROR detection questions
are generally made on the basis of Grammar that is used in Newspaper.

3.

While Attempting English Section, Maintain your speed, don't get slow as normally it takes just 25 minutes to attempt
all 50 questions of English Section in Tier I.

4.

Read more and More Passages, this will improve your speed in reading and understanding English and will speed
you up to get at least 30 to 32 marks in English section in TIER I.
GENERAL AWARENESS:

First of all remember that you can't score very much in GK because it is a subject which is so vast to cover and it is
divided in many topics like history, geography, economics, political science, culture of INDIA, etc. and we know it is hard
to prepare all these simultaneously, so guys don't focus so seriously on general awareness. Here are few tips to improve
general awareness:
1.

When you are attempting GK Section in SSC CGL Exam never spend too much time for a single question. Read it
in a fluent manner and think for just 5 seconds and if you find the question strange for you just leave it right away.

2.

You have 50 questions to read and you must not spare more than 15 - 20 minutes for them.

3.

Answer only when you are at least 90% sure that you know the answer, don't just try to dark circle with half
knowledge, this could decide your fate.

4.

Never think of this section as an opportunity to attempt all, as generally we think that we know the answer for every
question but we are not 100% sure, please put your answer very carefully.

5.

Try to improve your general knowledge by reading newspaper daily, and discuss a new topic every day with your
friends to boost up your knowledge.

6.

Read Monthly Magazine of the previous month from the Examination, like if you are going to attempt exam in May,
read out a resourceful magazine for the Month of March.

7.

Attempting above 20 is a good score in General Awareness.

SOLVING PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTION PAPERS AND MOCK TESTS

Recruitment of the candidates for the different posts of SSC happens through the entrance examination. Thus previous
year question papers play an important role in the preparation and to have an idea about the question paper pattern. A
number of subjects are there that are included in the question paper including Reasoning, Numerical Ability and English
Comprehension. The previous question papers introduce the candidates about the general preview of the question paper
that they are going to be attempt. The question of Mathematics includes the major topics till the 10th standard including
the Geometry, Trigonometry, pie charts, histograms and polygons.
The questions of English in the question paper are based on Grammar, Vocabulary and to check the general proficiency
in English of the candidate. The previous question papers bring the candidates attention towards the chapters that comes
in the examination.
Nowadays not only Hard Work but Smart work Leads you to the Success in this fashion of Cut-throat competition. Thus
you need to be thoroughly prepared. Daily solve a previous year paper or a model test paper and try to do all 200 questions
correctly within 2 hrs. Practice more and more because practice makes a man perfect.
THE 4 ESSENTIAL TOOLS OF AN EFFECTIVE PREPARATION
Knowing the Exam : Get yourself acquainted with the pattern of the SSC exam you are taking up. This will help you
solve the paper better and be more confident in your approach, since you already have a taste of what's going to come
your way. Take mock tests and see how you fare in them. Take them seriously and improve upon your performance each
time. Get in touch with your seniors and take their valuable advice. Approach your teachers and mentors for their valuable
guidance. Also, have a look at the previous years' papers and try to solve them. You will get a very good idea of how your
paper will feel like.

Mastering the subjects : For this try the SWOT Analysis. SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and
Threats. It is a very effective technique that tells you your strengths and weaknesses. Through this technique, you will
know where your strengths lie and where exactly you go wrong. Work hard to overcome your weaknesses. Give extra
time to them. Analyze as to how you can minimize them. Do not hesitate to seek professional help if necessary. At the
same time, make sure that your strengths and plus points make you stand out. Polish your strengths and try to perfect
them.
Also it is imperative and demanding that you get your basics right! Brush up on your fundamentals. This should in fact be
the first step you take, lest you should find it too complex later on. Without getting the fundamentals right, it is difficult to
proceed with the later concepts of the subject. Therefore, work very hard if you are not very good at the basics. No
matter how hard it is or how much time it take, it is worth the effort! The rest of the journey becomes easy once you
accomplish this!
Make very sure that you adopt the right strategy to prepare and attend the exam. Many times, success eludes students
due to the incorrect approach.
Managing Oneself - mentally and emotionally - Time-Stress Management : It is natural to get tensed and anxious
during such times of stress. If you are not doing well in your mock tests, you get all the more worried. However, for your
utmost and optimum performance, try to remain calm and composed. Only then can you figure out where your mistake
lies. Do not lose your cool. Your mind will work its best when you are calm. Try and practice meditation on a regular basis.
Not only does it calm you down, but it also boosts your memory and reasoning skills.
One overlooked aspect of preparation is healthy eating habits and exercise. Your diet and health takes a backseat, amidst
all the chaos! Do not compromise on your diet and sleep pattern. A balanced diet is the most important thing to follow for
good health. You will also improve your immunity and not fall sick often, if you follow the right diet. Try and exercise
regularly, at least for four or five days a week, an hour each day. It boosts your metabolism (obviously!) and your energy
levels! You will then gain more stamina and this is sure to help you in your preparation.
Discipline is very important to achieve anything. Follow a strict routine and stick to it. Do not deviate from it. Follow a
regular sleep routine. Sleep the minimum number of hours required for it is necessary. About seven to eight hours
everyday. Do not sleep for too long, or it will be the only thing you do! Take power naps in between, during the day, but not
for too long. Make a timetable, work out a plan and execute it sincerely! Follow healthy habits. Very important: Do not
heed to distractions! Be focused!
While you prepare for the exam, it is reasonable that you are tempted to do other things more than to study. Consider
these tips:

Keep a 5 minute break after every 45 minutes so that you do not get bored of your study material and gain the
required energy to continue studying.

Do not try to make such a time table that it is all about studying the whole day. Keep slots for recreation and getting
rests. But even in that recreation, avoid watching television or playing video games.

Rather involve in fun activities, play outdoor or indoor games, take a walk around your place, take time out for your
hobby. Why hobby, because that will lighten up your mood and refresh your mind.

Generating the best Output - Attempting the question paper : Finally when you are appearing for the SSC exam,
the most important thing is that you read the question paper thoroughly. As a clear strategy to attempt the paper can be
framed only after reading it thoroughly. Its very important that you read question carefully and thoroughly because it is
seen that whenever a familiar word appears in the question, students don't read it carefully and continue answering with
what comes in their mind first. One of the reason is because their brain sees what it wants to see. As this is a competitive
exam, you get only one chance to answer the question, so answer wisely!

Time Management is the key to success. If you know how to manage your time, half of the work is already done. Time
Management is the most important aspect not just while you prepare for competitive exams but also while you give one.
Time is what you have now. So keep these things in mind:

Do NOT while away your time. Sometimes, you are thinking about the solution of a problem and you may get lost in
just another world. Do not let yourself do that.

While giving the examination, assign time slots to every question on the basis of its difficulty. Do not waste time in
searching for pen, pencil, rubber; keep everything handy.

Keep a watch on your table instead of tying it on your hand. It is better to just move your eyes than to look at your
hand as it is distracting.

Pay attention on your own exam. How much ever a good friend you may be with the person sitting ahead or behind
you, they all will go on their own paths and you on your own. That examination is going to be detrimental for your life,
so value that.
HOW TO PREPARE THE DIFFERENT SECTIONS

SSC Tier-1 Exam contains 4 sections which include Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, English Comprehension and General
Awareness. It is very important to make a preparation strategy for the exam. Time spent on preparation varies as per the
students. Maths and English are the two most important sections in the examination so it is required to prepare these two
subjects equally. The section of General Knowledge and Reasoning are asked only in Tier 1 examination so there is no
requirement to improve this section. So you should spend only limited time accordingly. You can give 25-30 % share of
time in Tier 1 Examination on which less than 15% time should be given to GK. You need to manage your mostly time in
two most important sections that are English and Maths. Now, Tips for cracking each section are:
Reasoning
Reasoning is a test of observing our mental and problem solving ability. Reasoning is not like numerical skill where you
learn some formula and solve question by applying that formula. You have to be very careful while answering these
questions. The most important questions from this section are on the topics such as Seating Arrangements, Syllogism,
Coding-Decoding, Statement and Conclusions, Directions, Blood Relations, Analogy, Classification, Series problems, Ranking,
Data sufficiency, Assumptions and Directions. Non-Verbal is the toughest of all. Also, deals with maximum number of
problems especially with problem figures and mirror images.
Quantitative Aptitude
Quantitative Aptitude section contains the basic mathematical questions. Before exercising such questions, it is better to
go through the basic mathematical formulae and learn some short cuts to solve the questions in lesser time. In this section,
the questions act as Calculation Instruments. This section is extremely scoring and the right understanding of the problem
can help the aspirants to sail through this section. The most important questions from this section are on the topics such as
Number Systems, Fractions, Ratio and Proportion, Time & Work, Percentage, Profit & Loss, Simple Interest & Compound
Interest, Average, Time & Distance, Mensuration, Partnership, Bar graph & Pie-chart and Geometry.
General English
This is the section where many aspirants are not able to score minimum cut off marks. As you all read English books, chat
with your friends in English and of course watch English movies. But you cannot get score good marks in English section.
Most of the students face difficulty in this section. This is a test principally to determine candidate's ability to remember
main ideas and significant details. The most important questions from this section are on the topics such as Grammar,
Comprehension, Error Correction, Vocabulary and Synonyms & Antonyms. Few tips to keep in mind:

Read English newspapers daily.

Improve your vocabulary by knowing 10 new words everyday along with its Synonyms and Antonyms.

Watch good English news channels.

General Awareness
General Awareness is the most important section of SSC Tier I Exam. This section acquires more importance because
this is the only section which can be attempted quickly and at the same time, very high marks can be scored in this section.
The most important questions from this section are on the topics such as basic General Knowledge, Important Days,
Important Persons, Award Winners, Books and Authors Games and Cups and Abbreviations.

Listen and read National and International news on daily basis

Study the last budget passed by the Central Government

Be aware of all changes around the world 6-7 months before the exam.

Disclaimer : Above articleprovides suggestions to the students for improving their productivity but in no way guarantees a
particular level of output. The students are advised to adopt any of the strategies given in the book, implement it and continue
only if they find it beneficial.