How to Crack SSC CGL TIER 1(Getting Started)

CGL 16 , Tier 1 will be from 27Aug 16 to 11 Sept 16, keep preparing. Strategy and book list will be same.

Edit: 1 July 16:  SSC has changed its pattern, visit Here  and Here for official Notice.

Tier 1 and Tier 2 will be online. Tier 3 will be descriptive , Tier 1 will consist 100 questions of 2 Marks each and there will be negative marking. Time duration of Tier 1 will be 75 Minutes.

 SSC CGL 16 Notification out, Download Notice and Read carefully. Major Points: Tier 1 will held Online on 27 Aug 16 , A new post category added and No interviews for Group B posts.  Age limit increased for few categories.

I will discuss only the strategy that must be followed by a candidate who is appearing for the SSC exam.

Before you start reading my blog ,it is recommended that you  should read official SSC Notification, Which will tell you  about exam structure and other eligibility criteria.Candidates are also advised to visit SSC official site regularly for latest news and notifications. Click Here to Visit

Now coming back to the point:-  It is assumed that you have read SSC notification for CGL 2016 and know about syllabus for TIER 1.

1. General Intelligence:  50 Marks

2. Numerical Aptiude:   50 Marks

3. General Knowledge: 50 Marks

4. English Language:     50 Marks

But Remember: Tier II : English Language and Comprehension- 200 Marks

Numerical Aptitude: 200 Marks

So out of 600 Marks; 500(250+250) Marks will be of Numerical Aptitude and English Language. So when you start preparing, think twice, how much time should be given to these subjects as compared to GK.

I am not saying, not to prepare for GK but don't spend too much time on GK. It is of 50 marks and if you have a good command on GK, then you can lead in TIER I exam.

Remember: If you study 8 hours daily, then you must give 5-6 hours to Mathematics and English.

Tier 3 : Descriptive Paper in English/Hindi

It will be of 100 marks , you will have to practice Essay/Precis/Letter/Application writing You can do these practices after Tier 2,

Choose the language you are most comfortable with. I recommend WREN& Martin Book   for English Tier 3.

Before you start  further preparations : You must have good books. Don't purchase too many books. Don't make your home a library. Read books mentioned below  2 -3 times instead of purchasing different books.

Please note that these books are not only for SSC exams, these books are reference books for almost all exams except IAS Mains or some other exam which is subject specific.

In this post I will tell you only which book to buy. In my next post, i will tell you, how to approach these books and why not to buy other books. Their merits and demerits.

For Reasoning:  

1. A Modern Approach to verbal and Non Verbal Reasoning By R.S. Aggarwaal Click Here

2. Analytical Reasoning  By M.K. Pandey Click to purchase

For reasoning section, these two books are more than enough and do not waste your money on purchasing more books for reasoning. 

Books For English:

1. A Mirror of Common Errors - By Dr. Ashok Kumar Singh (Anglo-Hindi) Now available ONLINE.

Note: It is highly recommended for those who have hard times with English.

2. Objective General English by S.P. BAKSHI (Arihant Publication) Click Here

3.  For Vocabulary Word Power Made Easy Click Here   (Best Book of Vocabulary)

4. For Descriptive English Paper  WREN and Martin, Prepare and Practice from It after Tier 2 exam.

If you are more comfortable with Hindi, then Go with Hindi Descriptive Paper. You need to prepare for Precis, Essay Writing, Application Writing etc. 

We will discuss more about it later.

Books for Mathematics: 

1. If you don't have your doubt clear, than first go through NCERT Mathematics books which can be downloaded for free from NCERT official website. Click here 

2. Now Mathematics depend only on practice and do not just read it. It requires just only practice and it is not a difficult subject.  To have a good practice and short cut tricks to save time in competitive exams, I recommend  Quantam CAT By Sarvesh Kumar Verma Buy From Here 

This book starts from basics and will lead you to success. You will be delighted after reading this book.

4. Books for General Knowledge:

Remember Don't give too much time to GK. No matter how good you are, you will hardly get above 35 out of 50.

1. One and Only answer: NCERT BOOKS free download from here  + Lucent's GK for quick Revision.

2. For Polity: M. LAXMIKANTH (Both Hindi and English editions are available ) Click Here

3. Lucent General Knowledge for Quick Revision of facts. For Hindi  & For English

4. Download Current affairs App from Google Play Store. Select CGL from Exam Categories. Select apps with High Rating. 

I will discuss in more details about current affairs , what to read, what not to read and how to get best of above mentioned books.

So first purchase some or all of above mentioned books and start preparing. If you have purchased , then see my other articles, how to get best of above mentioned books.

Best of luck for competitive exams.

Edit : Post Genuine Comments and Queries,  Spam comments will be Deleted. 

How to prepare for English ( SSC & other competitive examination)

Edit: Tier 1 & 2 will be online. Click here for Exam structure.
Hi Everyone

In today's post, i will tell how to  get best result in less time?

A proper strategy is necessary for any competition exam. Just follow steps given below.

Don't take English part lightly and Don't think that You can't crack it. Many students from village background & many from states like UP, find it hard. Nothing is impossible and don´t underestimate yourself and think that all of the peoples have 24 hours and you also have  exactly the same.

If you haven´t purchased  recommended books then purchase them because they are necessary . These books are Standard Books and will help you to prepare for LIC, BANK PO, Various State LeveBooks for Mathematics: l Exam. Don´t go for copy paste material in JHOOLACHAP Books, printed with just a change in name on the cover page.

Except GK and some vocabulary nothing can be asked outside these books. 
Click here for recommended books.

Now For CGL Tier 1:  From CGL 16 Onwards Tier 1 English is of 50 Marks consisting 25 Questions, and English Section in Tier 2 will be of 200 Marks consisting 200 Questions.

There will be negative marking of 0.5 in Tier1 and 0.25 in Tier 2 (English Section)

Question will be asked from Vocabulary  which include Antonym, Synonym, Idioms,  spelling check , fill in the blanks, idioms etc , English Grammar and Comprehension, which include a unseen passage, Error correction, sentence improvement. There is no hard and fast rule , how many questions will come from a specific topic but Vocabulary section will contain 25-30 questions and passage will be of 5 marks , there might be a clause test of 5 marks, Distribution of marks in various years is given below.

These graphs are outdated and SSC has changed its Scheme of Examination but these graphs still hold valid for CGL 2016.

Tier 1:

Now see the pictures given below,  you will get a idea, how many questions are being asked from which section, although there is no hard and fast rule, but you will get a rough idea, 

Grammar Section:

Now Category wise analysis is given below: These charts are self understood and will help you indirectly in solving questions in Mathematics. HAHAHA

Now you have rough idea about number of questions being asked from a particular section. Well how to prepare for Vocabulary and Grammar?

For Vocabulary:

Read  Word Power Made Easy By Norman Lewis, This book is a real gem, if you don't have this, then you must purchase it,  because this book will tell you about origin of words and you will hardly forget the words learnt from this book.

Remember Cramming will not help you anyway in Vocabulary. You will have to understand the meaning of the words.

Moreover many times SSC has directly asked question from this book. This book will help you guess the meaning of the words, even if you see the word for the first time.

There are also other books with same name but they are not recommended. Now how to approach NORMAN LEWIS and prepare for vocabulary. :)

There are about 40 chapters.  You may study with your own pace. Try to do one or two chapters daily. You will be able to complete it in one month. Practice from practice exercise at-least 2-3 times and mark words you forgot with red pen. Next time your attention will be there and you will remember that word forever.

Now after completing this book, make a habit of reading  English newspaper like THE HINDU or Indian Express  and take a  big notebook and write down meaning of new words (Use Dictionary or Online)you come across while reading.

Don't forget to revise your notebook and use learnt words in your conversation and make memory link up with words you know. It depends on you, how you link up your memory to recall.

For example:  Retch with Fetch and Difference between Retch and Puke or Vomit.

The notebook should be with you with constant updates until you clear some exam of your choice.

GRAMMAR ( Tier1 and Tier2) 

Now, Move on to Grammar Section, there are lot of books on Grammar and Comprehension, but you are in a competitive exam not in Board exams. It is always better to revise 2-3 times from the same book instead of purchasing new books and lost your time and money.

My recommended book for Error Correction is A Mirror to Common Error BY ASHOK KUMAR SINGH Click Here 

For rest of Part: Objective General English By SP BAKSHI,

For Tier 3, Students who opted for English , WREN & Martin

Now How to Approach for Grammar:

One answer  practice and only practice so that rules of grammar can get trapped in your mind. Your practice should be like that you see the question and you should be able to find out the error within seconds.

How to approach SP BAKSHI's  and ASHOK KUMAR's books.

Do error corrections and practice (All 14 chapters )from Ashok Kumar's books.

Rest of Grammar portion must be revised 2-3 times from SP Bakshi's book.

Don't do double mazdoori like revising of Voices and Narrations from SP Bakshi also, when you have already done with them in Ashok Kumar's.

When you revise SP Bakshi, you will notice that the words you have learned from NORMAN LEWIS are repeated here but in Bakshi's book they are not explained in the right way. That's why Norman Lewis and your own hand made notes are preferred over them.

Comprehension and Passages:

Read English Newspaper daily, it will help sharpen your reading skills, fast and effective reading is necessary for any competitive exams otherwise your time will be over.

So make a habit of fast reading. Normally, first few lines of the passage, give you idea , what author is talking about. So, pay greater attention to first few lines.

So this concludes strategy for ENGLISH, Strategy will also remain same for Tier 2 , the major change is that questions are being asked in bulk, like 25 no. of Narration, 25 no. of Active-Passive. See charts given below for in depth analysis.

So to have merit, have special emphasis on these topics from the day you start preparing for competition exams and try to do things first which are static in nature like Error Correction , Voices, Narrations etc.

Some Final words,  there is no shortcut to success and  you can buy books with money but  you will have to read them. No body will read them for you  if you want to clear exam honestly.

 Best of luck for competition exams and have a nice day ahead!!