SSC CGL (Staff selection commission- combined graduate level [full form]) exams are conducted every year by the SSC and aspirants from across the country, aged between 18-32 (the eligibility criteria) can appear for the exam, given that the applicant had completed graduation.
However, preparing for it is an intimidating task and there are lots of material to cover. In this article, we will discuss the exam pattern of SSC CGL, books to prepare for the exam and how to prepare for the said exam.
Exam pattern:
You can check the previous years’ exam question paper on the official website. The SSC mentions the exam pattern in the official notification of when the exam is scheduled to commence. The selection process is divided into three tiers; the first 2 tiers will be conducted in online mode and 3 and 4 are conducted in offline mode. 1 and 2 tiers have multiple choice questions whereas 3 is descriptive.
Tier I- Computer-based examination – MCQ (Multiple choice questions) -60 minutes (duration)
Tier II- Computer-based examination- MCQ (Multiple choice questions) -120 minutes (duration)
Tier III- Offline- Descriptive paper in Hindi/English (essay, letter writing etc. – 120 minutes
Tier IV- Computer Proficiency Test Skill Test (Whenever and wherever applicable)
Books for preparation:
Tier 1 is comprised of four subjects namely English Comprehension, Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude and General Awareness. NCERT books are a great start but some topic-related books are needed to make good notes. The SSC CGL exam pattern can be referred to from, the construction of the previous years’ question papers.
Tier 2 has four papers containing English language and comprehension, statistics, general studies and Quantitative abilities. If the right books are used for preparation, then the aspirants can gain an in-depth knowledge of the topic and they also understand the concepts better.
For a good score in English, you need to have a good command of the language, in speaking, writing, listening and reading skills.
English preparation
Objective General English -SP Bakshi (Arihant)
Competitive General English - Kiran Prakashan
Perfect competitive English - V.K.Sinha
Quick learning objective general English – R. S. Agarwaal and Vikas Agarwaal
From Plinth to Paramount - Neetu Singh
A mirror of common errors -Dr. Ashok Kumar Singh
Objective English for competitive exams – H M Prasad
How to prepare for verbal ability and reading comprehension- Arun Sharma
High school English Grammar and composition- Wren & Martin
The book titles are on the left side and the publishers are on the right. These books help in better understanding of the language, strengthen your abilities and widen your vocabulary.
Note: Book titles are on the left side and the publishers are on the right, for the below topics.
Math preparation
Quantitative Aptitude – Dr. R.S. Agarwaal
NCERT maths from grade 6 to 11- NCERT
SSC Elementary and Advanced Maths – Kiran
Magical books on Quicker Maths – M Tyra
Advance Maths- Rakesh Yadav
Play with Advanced Maths- Abhinay Sharma
Quantum CAT- Sarvesh K Varma
Reasoning preparation
Modern approach to verbal and non-verbal reasoning – Dr. R.S. Agarwaal
Analytical Reasoning – M.K.Pandey
Logical and analytical reasoning- A K Gupta
How to prepare for logical reasoning – Arun Sharma
Perfect visual reasoning- Ajay Chauhan
Rakesh Yadav Reasoning- Rakesh Yadav
General awareness preparation
NCERT Books of class X, XII- History, geography, economics- NCERT
General Knowledge – Lucent Publication
Manorama Yearbook – Manorama
Disha-Disha Publication.
Important topics:
The important topics under General Intelligence and Reasoning:
1. Verbal and Non-verbal type
2. Analogies
3. Similarities and Differences.
4. Space visualization
5. Visual memory
Under general awareness, we have
1. Current affairs
2. Daily news analysis
Under quantitative aptitude, the important topics are:
1. Whole numbers
2. Decimals
3. Fractions
4. Relationship between numbers
5. Percentage
6. Ratio and Proportion
7. Square roots and averages
8.Interest
9. Profit & Loss
The important topics of English comprehension are:
1.Antonyms and synonyms
2. Word substitutions
3.Idioms and phrases
4.Passages
5. Grammar.
Cut-off:
The cut-off is according to the caste and it can be checked on the official website.
Preparing for the exam:
The preparation for the exam is a tough task, as the syllabus is intense and comprehensive. A lot of SSC books and materials are available in both online and offline and you can access or get them, respectively.
Choosing the right materials for your study and choosing topic-related books for better and deeper understanding of the subject is necessary. The aspirants can check the official website of the organizing board, SSC and update themselves on every detail of the exam before attempting it.
The SSC official notification for respective exams will inform about the commencement of the exam. The application process has to be done meticulously and the candidates should double-check all their personal details like name, address, caste, email etc. Candidates should refer to the syllabus while making notes for their subjects.
They should have a rigid study schedule and can have weekly or daily deadlines. For motivation, they can follow the reward system. SSC Admit cards for the exams will be issued online and it is better to have both soft copies and hard copies.
The exam dates can change and candidate has to keep themselves updated, so that they don’t miss the exam date because of its unpredictable nature. Making notes or flashcards for better understanding of a concept is a mandatory step in the preparation process.
You can download the question papers of previous years’ and the Answer key, for reference and self-evaluation. In objective type question answers, there will be 0.50 point negative marking, so be careful when attempting questions. Keep up with current events and analysis of every day news, for the General Awareness part of the paper
Lastly, it is best to not panic and study with a steady pace. Keep a schedule and maintain it. Try to complete the portions, at least two months before the exam, so that the last two months can be reserved, only for revision. The last revision can be done before the exam.
