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SSC CGL Preparation Strategy Tier Wise for All Subjects

An effective SSC CGL preparation strategy can help you score qualifying marks in the upcoming SSC CGL examination. In this article, you will get vital information about how you can clear the exam with flying colours. It holds information on the quality books required for the preparation of the SSC CGL examination. If you are searching for the best tips and tricks to prepare for every subject then this article is your one-stop destination. 

This particular exam is one of the most sought-after exams for all the candidates who aspire to avail recruitment into a wide range of organizations, ministries and departments under the government of India. For gaining the meticulous information read this article with full concentration. 

Step by step guide to prepare SSC CGL exam is given below:

  • Firstly, get familiar with the exam syllabus and pattern. 

  • Choose appropriate study material before starting your exam preparation.

  • Create a time table to manage and divide your time properly for each tier.

  • Go through previous year papers to analyse the type of questions asked in the exam.

  • Then start with the scoring topics of each tier and section. 

  • Solve maximum mock tests to reduce the risk of negative marking.

Bank and SSC Material

SSC CGL Preparation Strategy for Tier-I Exam

The first two phases of the SSC CGL exams are computer-based objective tests. The first phase of the exam consists of 100 multiple choice questions, each question carrying 2 marks. The time duration for the exam is a maximum of 1 hour.

Let us discuss the SSC CGL tier-I exam pattern before starting the preparation. Knowing the pattern will help you to make a better preparation strategy.

SSC CGL Tier-I exam pattern is explained below:

Serial No.

Name of the Section

No. of MCQs/Questions

Total Marks Allotted

Maximum Time Allowed

1

General Intelligence and Reasoning

25

50

A cumulative time of 60 minutes

2

General Awareness

25

50

3

Quantitative Aptitude

25

50

4

English Comprehension 

25

50

Total

100

200

 

General Intelligence & Reasoning tips and tricks for SSC CGL exam 2020-21 tier-I

  • The candidates are advised to make a routine to get meticulous information about the SSC guide and go for solving SSC CGL practice set previous year question papers as much as possible.

  • They should devote one or two hours practicing reasoning and GI questions everyday.

  • The aspiring candidate should focus on topics like figure based questions, coding, decoding, series, analogy and particularly scoring. After solving these types of questions you need to move on to more versatile questions. After practicing those topics on a daily basis you will notice a significant improvement in the accuracy of your questions.

  • When the candidate is practicing they should aim at attempting more and more questions. They can make a strategy of attempting at least 15 to 20 questions in 20 minutes with proper reasonable accuracy.

  • The candidate should also focus on non-verbal reasoning topics such as figure counting, image assembling etc. This topic highly demands the candidate to employ their visual imagination in the given question. Initially, these questions may seem time-consuming scenes but the candidate should not ignore them and solve them with proper concentration. Practising them regularly by applying proper time management skills will surely help the candidate grab a greater hand on these types of questions.

  • If as an aspiring student you experience any type of difficulty in solving any type of question on the exam day or if you got stuck on one question then we would highly recommend you to move forward without wasting much time. As time management is one of the essential mantra to clear the SSC CGL exam, you need to divide your time accurately to crack the SSC CGL exam in the coming future.  

All SSC Exam Material

General Awareness tips and tricks for SSC CGL exam 2020-21 tier-I

  • The students should know that it will take you no more than 10 minutes to complete this portion if you start studying for it two months before the exam. They can apply their saved time for solving difficult questions of Quantitative Aptitude.

  •  The students should attentively grab the fact that this section comprises primarily questions from static GK rather than current events. As a result, concentrate on static GK while keeping up with current events.

  •  If you are preparing for the upcoming SSC CGL exam, then you must commence preparing the subjects in the perfect order such as it is in accordance with the latest trend noticed in the last few years. Science, Polity, History, Geography, Economy, Miscellaneous.

  • The aspirant should make a note that static GK is concerned with geography, politics, economy, Indian history, (India and the rest of the world), culture and the environment.

  • As an aspiring candidate you should make a target of solving at least 75 GA questions in 30 minutes. This will help you grab a greater hand over every type of subject in a limited amount of time.

  •   You should always try to avoid cramming as much as possible. Make notes and mind maps to help you remember facts and dates from history.

  •  The aspiring candidates can consider studying from the best current affairs app. For SSC CGL preparation advice, you can go over the well-structured notes and capsules in the apps throughout your revision period. It provides applicants with high-quality daily, weekly, and monthly quizzes.

Quantitative Aptitude tips and tricks for SSC CGL exam 2020-21 tier-I

  • The aspiring candidate should start preparing quantitative aptitude by concentrating on topics such as profit & loss, distance & time, speed & percentages, boat & stream, ratio & proportion, data interpretation etc. These topics are often suggested by the professionals as they contribute a large number of marks in the exam.

  • It is highly advised to focus on the topics such as age, problems, interest simplification, percentage, ratio and proportion. These topics are often considered as one of the simplest ones and they also increase the probability of scoring good.

  • The aspiring candidate should pen down all the formulae, concepts, shortcuts and magical tips to perform better in the SSC CGL examination. Learning a wide variety of strategies and all shortcut tricks can surely help the candidate to save a lot of time in quantitative aptitude.

  • Most of the mentors often suggest students to memorize all the essential formulae by heart. Always try to solve myriads of questions so that you can have proper knowledge about your strongest and weak areas.

  • All the candidates are advised to work more on the basics and should always try to learn the short techniques to enhance the calculation speed so that they can efficiently work on time management.

  • Make a proper timetable and allot at least two hours daily to practice questions from quantitative aptitude. Practising mock test series and previous year question papers will help you to grab topics more effectively.

  • In the SSC CGL exam do not devote more than 25 minutes to the quantitative aptitude section. If you devote more time then your entire time management will be imbalanced.

English Comprehension tips and tricks for SSC CGL exam 2020-21 tier-I

  • The appearing candidate should keep in mind that vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension are the three most important factors to consider when preparing for the SSC CGL Tier-I English exam. 

  • Students should make a habit of reading featured articles and opinion pieces in editorials and magazines as this might help applicants improve their comprehension. If students master vocabulary and grammar, then they have already won half the battle.

  • The SSC CGL English exam's pattern and questions are repeated over and over. 

  •  As a result, proper preparation can enable the candidates to finish this particular section in less than 20 minutes.

  • They should daily, practise at least two comprehension pieces. 

  •  Make a routine to look up the definition, synonyms, and antonyms of any new words you come across.

  • For better performance the student should make a habit of skimming over the newspapers.

SSC CGL Preparation Strategy for Tier-II Exam

The second phase comprises four papers Quantitative Aptitude, English Language, Statistics and General Knowledge. Each exam is of maximum 200 marks and time duration is 2 hours.  

Let us discuss the SSC CGL tier-II exam pattern before starting the preparation. Knowing the pattern will help you to make a better preparation strategy.

SSC CGL Tier-II exam pattern is explained below:

Serial No.

Name of the Papers

No. of MCQs

Total Marks Allotted

Maximum Time Allotted

1

Quantitative Aptitude

100

200

2 hours

2

English Language and Comprehension

200

200

2 hours

3

Statistics Section

100

200

2 hours

4

 General Studies (Finance and Economics)

100

200

2 hours

Quantitative Aptitude tips and tricks for SSC CGL exam 2020-21 tier-II

  • The aspiring candidate should start preparing quantitative aptitude by concentrating on topics such as profit & loss, distance & time, speed & percentages, boat & stream, ratio & proportion, data interpretation etc. These topics are often suggested by the professionals as they contribute a large number of marks in the exam.

  • It is highly advised to focus on the topics such as age, problems, interest simplification, percentage, ratio and proportion. These topics are often considered as one of the simplest ones and they also increase the probability of scoring good.

  • The aspiring candidate should pen down all the formulae, concepts, shortcuts and magical tips to perform better in the SSC CGL examination. Learning a wide variety of strategies and all shortcut tricks can surely help the candidate to save a lot of time in quantitative aptitude.

  • Most of the mentors often suggest students to memorize all the essential formulae by heart. Always try to solve myriads of questions so that you can have proper knowledge about your strongest and weak areas.

  • All the candidates are advised to work more on the basics and should always try to learn the short techniques to enhance the calculation speed so that they can efficiently work on time management.

  • Make a proper timetable and allot at least two hours daily to practice questions from quantitative aptitude. Practising mock test series and previous year question papers will help you to grab topics more effectively.

  • In the SSC CGL exam do not devote more than 25 minutes to the quantitative aptitude section. If you devote more time then your entire time management will be imbalanced.

SSC Online Course

English Section tips and tricks for SSC CGL exam 2020-21 tier-II

  • For performing remarkably in this particular exam students should know that there are 200 questions in the SSC CGL Tier-II English Language Paper, each worth one mark. 

  • They should have complete knowledge that this paper will take 2 hours to complete. 

  • For each wrong response, 0.25 points will be deducted. 

  • It is therefore advisable not to attempt a question if you are unsure about it. 

  • This particular segment follows the same pattern as tier I, but the difficulty level is substantially higher.

  • Grammar accounts for around 40% to 50% of the question. 

  • As a result, if you are fluent in the language, you will have no trouble completing this work.

  • The aspiring candidates should pay close attention to the details in newspapers.

  • Candidates should practice the questions from grammar books and previous year's exam papers.  

Statistics Section  tips and tricks for SSC CGL exam 2020-21 tier-II 

  • The students should be well versed with the fact that SSC CGL Tier-II Statistics Paper contains 100 questions, each worth one mark. This paper will take 2 hours to complete. Each correct response is worth two points, whereas each erroneous answer is worth one-twelfth of a point.

  • For surpassing the phase 2 of the SSC CGL - Statistics Paper. The students should also consider reading from the quality books. These types of books follow the new format and include solved papers from exams held in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013.

  • The students should concentrate on important issues such as skewness and kurtosis, correlation and regression, probability theory, time series analysis, sampling theory, statistical inference, and so on.

General Studies (Finance and Economics) section tips and tricks for SSC CGL exam 2020-21 tier-II

  • Paper four has been introduced to the CGL Tier II exam with the advent of the new position of Assistant Audit Officer (AAO). 

  • The student will be allotted 120 minutes to complete this particular set of papers. There will be 100 questions, each worth two points. For each erroneous response, 0.5 points will be deducted.

  • Students are informed that this paper does not necessitate the use of formulas and techniques, nor does it necessitate the use of time-consuming vocabulary. As this paper is simple to understand and students will have the opportunity to score accurately in Economics and Finance.

  • Students should focus on preparing comprehensive definitions and concepts for the Indian and global economy. Answering questions based on them takes only 2-3 seconds.

  • All aspiring aspirants should be familiar with core XI and XII topics such as national income and aggregates, foreign exchange, demand & supply, economic development, the balance of payments, and national and international financial institutions.

  • Students are to focus on the general awareness part because in that segment this paper has a huge weightage. This section has around 3-5 questions.

  •  We have presented the list of certain topics that a student should cover at all costs because typically 7-10 questions of the SSC test are based on them. These are Economic Reforms in India, Money and Banking, Indian Tax Structure, Five Year Plans and Economic Terms. For qualifying the exam in limited time the  students can also consider seeking help from SSC CGL online coaching platform. 

Preparation Strategy for SSC CGL 2020-21 Tier-III Descriptive Paper 

The third phase is a pen and paper-based descriptive test. This particular set of exams is basically conducted in both languages such as English and Hindi. This phase of SSC CGL exam is conducted in the offline mode. 

SSC CGL Tier-III exam pattern is explained below:

Name of the Subject

Marks Allotted

Maximum Time Allotted

Descriptive Paper in English/Hindi (Writing of Essay, Precis, Letter, Application etc.)

100 marks

1 hour or 60 minutes


SSC CGL Tier-III is a new tier that replaces the interview procedures that were held for various positions till last year. It also assesses applicants' abilities to manage official conversions and correspondence. In the test, candidates must write an Essay/Precis/Letter/Application Writing. This section is designed to select the potential candidates to sit in the prominent positions of the government sector.

Check out the below-mentioned Preparation Tips of SSC CGL 2020-21 Tier-III 

  • If you also strive to clear the upcoming SSC CGL tier-III exam then these tips can work wonders for you. Read the tips attentively to clear this exam with flying colors. The students should know that this particular test was introduced to evaluate applicants' writing abilities. 

  • The students should keep in mind that practice is the greatest method for this paper. The more you write, the more proficient you become in solving this paper. 

  • When writing an essay or a letter, good material and the ability to format it properly are critical. Both of these talents may be developed over time if you practice.

  • The students should consider opting for the right SSC CGL study material to know that this particular test will include an essay, letter, application, or precise writing. As a result, practice writing essays to boost your confidence.

  • For SSC preparation the students should make a routine of reading the newspaper to learn about the effective writing style and to keep up with the current important events. 

  • The students should examine how the paragraphs are related to one another, as well as the editor's approach. The student can consider reading newspapers such as The Hindustan Times, The Telegraph, The Hindustan Times, The Indian Express and The Hindu. 

  • Students should always make a habit of reading an established newspaper's editorial section and try to come up with their own arguments about the issues. As this will keep them stay informed and also present them with an opportunity to perform better in the upcoming SSC CGL exam.

  • They can also consider buying an excellent book with a lot of essays in it since it will provide you solid information on relevant themes and will help you expand your vocabulary. The students can also consider taking assistance from SSC CGL online coaching platform. 

Preparation Strategy for SSC CGL Tier-IV Exam 

The fourth phase consists of a data entry skill test (DEST) and computer proficiency test (CPT) for particular types of positions. Candidates who successfully go through the three phases will be allowed to sit to appear for the fourth phase of the exam. 

SSC CGL Tier-IV is a computer-based test that is held in two phases: DEST Test & CPT Test. Here are the details of these two exams:

Computer Proficiency Test

Data Entry Speed Test

 

  • The appearing students should know that after the Combined Graduate Level Test Tier-III results are announced and the SSC CGL Tier-IV exam is held by SSC. 

  • Candidates who pass the tier-III test are eligible to take the tier-IV test. As a result, in order to sit for the tier-IV test, candidates must get the basic SSC CGL Cutoff score.

  • There are two sorts of tests: the CPT (Computer Proficiency Test) and the DEST (Data Entry Speed Test). 

  • The prime motive of conducting this exam is to assess your ability to do basic activities such as typing accurately and quickly, as well as your understanding of basic office applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint.

SSC Tier -I Material

Preparation Strategy for  Computer Proficiency Test (CPT)

For clearing this module the candidate should keep in mind that they need to have adequate information about the below-given modules that will come in the exam: 

Spreadsheet: In this unit, students will be required to execute fundamental mathematical operations on a Microsoft Excel sheet, such as subtraction, addition, multiplication, and division. They should be familiar with the fundamentals of Microsoft Excel for this. 

Word Processing: The aspiring candidate will be given an English paragraph and must make 2000 key depressions in 15 minutes. We advise you that this particular segment is not at all difficult if you practise typing on a regular basis.

Slide Creation: Aspirants will be requested to design slides on Microsoft Powerpoint. To do well, you must comprehend headers, footers, entering dates and times, and have basic Microsoft Powerpoint capabilities.

After qualifying all these modules the aspirant opens up their way to get a prominent position in the upcoming SSC CGL exam.

Preparation Strategy for Data Entry Speed Test (DEST)

The aspirant should know that the DEST is just a typing examination in which pupils must produce 2000 key depressions in 15 minutes. It is a speed test that can be easily passed with consistent practice.

Important books for SSC CGL Preparation

Remarkable books and SSC CGL study material that students can consider for the preparation of the SSC CGL exam: 

There is no denying the fact that books are the greatest way to study for tests. It enables applicants to get in-depth knowledge prior to taking the test. To pass the SSC CGL test in one sitting, candidates should make a proper SSC CGL study plan and must choose the proper books to study from. We have enlisted some prominent books that can help you clear the upcoming SSC CGL exam. 

English Books

Maths Books

Reasoning Books

General Awareness Books

Objective General English by SPBakshi (Arihant), Quick Learning Objective General English by RS Aggarwal & Vikas Aggarwal, Objective English for Competitive Examinations by H M Prasad, How to Prepare for the SSC CGL Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension – By Arun Sharma, Wren & Martin – High School English Grammar and Composition, Perfect Competitive English V.K. Sinha, Competitive General English Kiran Prakashan, From Plinth to Paramount- Neetu Singh, A Mirror of Common Errors- Dr Ashok Kumar Singh

Advance Maths by Rakesh Yadav, Magical Book on Quicker Maths by M Tyra, SSC Elementary and Advanced Maths BY Kiran, NCERT Maths from Grade 6 to Grade 11, Quantitative Aptitude by Dr R.S Agarwal is also one of the best books for SSC CGL Maths

Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning by Dr R.S. Aggarwal, Analytical Reasoning by M.K. Pandey, Logical and Analytical Reasoning by A.K. Gupta, How to Prepare for SSC CGL Logical Reasoning by Arun Sharma

Manorama Yearbook, General Knowledge- Lucent Publication, NCERT Books of Class X, XII- History, Geography, Economics

How to crack SSC CGL in the first attempt?

Is it feasible to pass the SSC CGL exam on the first try? This is a question that many folks are troubled by and which makes them feel insecure. The answer to this question is within your heart and mind, and it is determined by how much effort and attention you can devote to your preparation. In this article, we will discuss some crucial ideas and techniques that can assist you in passing the SSC CGL exam in the first try. To succeed in this test, you must plan ahead and keep to it, as well as fill your mind with the belief that no matter what occurs, you can also consider approaching the best platform for SSC CGL online coaching. 

The Staff Selection Commission conducts SSC CGL exam every year for the recruitment of potential candidates for various vacant Grade ‘B’ and ‘C’ positions present in the different departments and ministries under the government of India. The SSC CGL exam is on the top list of all the students who aim to secure a successful position in the Indian government sector. Is this your 3rd attempt of SSC CGL and still you feel that you are not fully prepared for the exam? If yes, then read this article as this will offer you all the essential information regarding SSC CGL 2021. Moreover, this will assist you to formulate a proper strategy that can help you crack the exam with flying colours.

Let’s straight away jump on the fact of how to prepare for SSC CGL to achieve success? 

Previous Year Papers and Mock Tests: In the SSC CGL preparation, both previous year papers and mock test series are equally crucial. Solving prior-year papers is essential since it will give you a good understanding of the kind of questions that will be offered and their difficulty level. Aside from that, the SSC will offer some of the same questions in the next SSC CGL test as they did in prior years' examinations. Aside from that, online practise examinations offer you a taste of the real exam since the SSC has been conducting the CGL exam online on computers since 2016. You will enhance your solution speed, accuracy, and knowledge with the SSC online exam by taking more mock exams.

Register for Mock Exams: Aspire candidates should be well versed with the fact that mock tests are quite helpful in preparing for competitive examinations. This is due to the fact that these examinations are similar in difficulty to the actual exam. There will come a period when you are under the same strain as you were during the admission exam. As a result, you'll have a sense of what the real test will be like. So you can see how well you perform under pressure and how much time each phase takes. You may adjust your plan and focus on the areas that are bothering you based on the results and feedback. 

Carefully read the syllabus of the SSC CGL exam: It might be possible that you'll have a rough sense of how to prepare for the test after reading the curriculum for all three tiers. Check the pattern and syllabus online on a regular basis because small modifications are routinely made. You will not study excessively and deviate from the course if you are familiar with the curriculum. You'll be able to identify where your strengths and weaknesses are just by looking at the curriculum. Make a mental note of their names. For taking assistance from a reliable source you can opt for SSC CGL coaching.

Stress Management: You may feel drowsy, agitated, and bored while preparing. It's a common indicator that you're putting in a lot of effort into SSC CGL preparation. There are a variety of stress management strategies available to help you get rid of your tension. The student can try being present in the moment, mindfulness meditation, do some physical activity, take a few deep breaths, taking up a new activity and instrumental music. During your preparation phase, we highly recommend that you engage in at least one of the above-mentioned stress-relieving activities. These exercises will undoubtedly aid in the maintenance of your physical and emotional well-being. If you successfully manage your stress then there is no denying the fact that you can surely clear the SSC CGL exam on the first attempt.

Do proper revision: It's also important to go over the material we've already covered. Revision is an essential component of a successful preparation approach and the key to achieving high grades. It's nearly impossible to remember anything if you read it all at once. Now comes the question of how to revise. The ‘Notes' are the answer. Revise the important facts using the notes you made during your studying time. The revision clears out any uncertainties you may have and enhances your accuracy and speed, resulting in more confidence and better outcomes.

All Tiers-Material & Video

Pick the appropriate books: Books are one of the essential study materials and are often known as the best SSC guide for students. Unlike in school, you will not be given certain books to read. You'll have to apply your judgment while selecting the greatest study books. There are several publishers that have published books about the SSC CGL. All the students are advised to use the internet to figure out which books you'll need so you don't waste money on the wrong ones. You may also get fantastic study material by connecting to a reliable source for SSC CGL online coaching.
 

SSC CGL FAQ’s 

Ques1. Is there a negative marking in the SSC CGL examination?

Ans: Yes, there is a possibility of negative marking in the examination. Your ranking would suffer as a result of your failed effort.

Ques2. What are other important topics for Tier-I that I need to study?

Ans: Students should concentrate on riddles, analogies, coding-decoding, sequence, and figure-based problems, but you should also study the remaining areas.

Ques3. How many times a year does the CGL Exam take place?

Ans: The student should be well versed with the fact that SSC CGL is conducted once a year.

Ques4. How many SSC CGL phases will I have to go through?

Ans: The four steps in the SSC CGL must be followed, so that each stage and sectional cut-off may be apparent.

Ques5. Can I ask the SSC to modify the date of the exam?

Ans: No, it does not. The Staff Selection Commission's dates are definitive, and no other dates will be considered by the examination authority.

Ques6. What is the time restriction for the SSC CGL Tier-I examination?

Ans: Each part takes a total of 2 hours to complete.

Ques7. How much time should be allotted for practice tests?

 Ans: This to inform that students should take as many Practice Questions as they can in the last 15-ten days.

Ques8.  Is it possible to pass the SSC CGL with no training?

Ans: It is quite feasible to pass the SSC CGL examination without guidance. You would only have to maintain your concentration, have a well-thought-out research approach, and the appropriate collection of books and sample papers.

Ques9.  What are the essential textbooks for SSC CGL Quantitative Aptitude preparation?

Ans: For the Quantitative Aptitude part of the SSC CGL test, you can study books including Elementary & Advanced Mathematics by Kiran Prakashan and Advance Maths by Rakesh Yadav.

Ques10.  How long would it take me to prepare for the SSC CGL exam?

Ans: 6 months is a decent amount of time to prepare for the SSC CGL examination. However, it is dependent on the number of your efforts, passion and determination.