SSC CGL
1. What is SSC CGL?
Staff Selection Commission – Combined Graduate Level Examination, often referred to as SSC CGL, is an examination conducted to recruit staff to various posts in ministries, departments and organizations of the Government of India. It is conducted by the Staff Selection Commission for selecting staff for various Group B and Group C posts. The Staff Selection Commission was established in 1975.
SSC (Staff Selection Commission) is an organization under Government of India conducts CGL (Combined Graduate Level) examination for the recruitment of Grade “B” and “C” categories posts in various Government Ministries, Departments and Offices. Every year, around 30-40 lakh applications are received for CGL Exam. Every year, a huge number of applicants appear in this exam to become a part of this immense recruitment procedure.
2. Why SSC CGL?
1. Job safety: Central government jobs are secure and recession proof. The Indian government is seen as a stable employer, unlike many private sector establishments, where hire and fire work culture is there. Job prospects in the public sector are relatively unaffected by the demand and supply forces prevailing in the job market.
2. Financial stability: Working in a government job comes with complete financial stability. The government is not expected to default on salary payments that are due to its employees. The payments are made on time and one does not have to worry about the salary not getting credited into the account.
3. Salary increments: Pay commissions regularly review the salary structure offered to the Central Government workforce. Salaries in the public sector go up, whenever the recommendations of a pay commission are implemented. In the recent past, these recommendations have been employee-friendly, thereby making Central Government jobs even more lucrative.
4. Timely promotions: Seniority is a crucial factor in Central Government promotion policy. Due importance is given to the time that one has spent in the job. Employees get fairly rewarded on the basis of the experience they possess.
5. Work-Life balance: Cracking SSC CGL ensures that you will get into a job which offers a wonderful work-life balance. Unlike the private sector, wherein performance on the job is of utmost importance, a Central Government job gives you ample time for personal enrichment.
6. Equal opportunities: The Central Government is an equal opportunity employer in the real sense. It does not discriminate on the basis of caste, creed religion, ethnicity or any other parameter. The recruitments made are seen to be by and large transparent. One has to prove one’s merit in a competitive exam in order to get selected.
7. Social status: A person employed in Central Government enjoys a dignified standing in society. A lot of candidates attempt SSC CGL as they are not just after a well-paying job but after the social esteem associated with the post. For many candidates taking SSC CGL is the first step towards their dream of becoming a gazetted officer someday.
8. Career progression: SSC keeps conducting grade-wise departmental competitive exams for existing Central Government staff members. This provides them with ample growth prospects. Superior performance in these exams can set a person on a path of accelerated career progression.
3. How to prepare?
- Work on your Basics: When you are beginning your preparation, don’t look for shortcuts first. Try to learn the basics of all the topics and gain in-depth knowledge. Once you have developed a command over these topics, then you can switch to shortcuts or tricks for quick calculations.
- Time Management: You are required to allot proper time to important topics covered in the exam. First try to focus on your weak areas and spend more time solving them. Do practice those topics in which are your strength areas but allocate little less time for that. Try not to give more than one minute to any question while solving them.
- Learn Short-cut Methods: For increasing calculation speed, students must focus on the short-cut methods and tricks which will help in saving time for solving tough questions in the exam. For gaining accuracy and speed try to practice tricks and remember tables, cubes, squares, and square roots, etc.
- Don’t use risky shortcuts: If you are not well-versed with any shortcut or trick, then avoid using them as it may lead to confusion and wrong answers.
- Improve your logical skills: As this section tests candidates’ ability to think and problem-solving skills, therefore it is required by the students to sharpen their logical and analytical skills.
- Command over concepts: Both Verbal and Non-Verbal Types of Concepts should be focused by the candidates. The understanding of Directions should be accurate, i.e., identifying which direction is West, North, East and South. Series is the most important topic, but it is also very difficult to master.
- Focus on one topic at a time: Take one topic at a given time, reasoning requires you to think in a certain way and doing 2-3 different types of topics in one go may not be fruitful.
- Don’t make unnecessary assumptions: Always Remember that the given question will be solved by the data given only, don’t make unnecessary assumptions or judgment while solving the problem. Use smart and appropriate tricks and methods for solving any problem.
- Remember Alphabetical Order: Always remember the sequencing of alphabets i.e. which alphabet comes after/before the particular alphabet and you should also remember their numerical position as per 1 to 26.
- Read to increase knowledge: Read magazines, newspapers, weekly GK Blog online and watch news channels for SSC General Knowledge.
- Always create notes: It will help you to revise all the topics which you have covered in SSC Current Affairs. Static GK mainly pertains to Culture, Indian History, Geography (India + World), Environment, Economy and Polity. Instead of cramming mindlessly, make notes and mind maps to remember facts, a chronology of events, cause and effect, etc.
- Revise the notes: Revision plays an important role in this section. Reading once won’t give you benefit. You have to memorize these points by revising frequently.
- Focus on Important topics first: The exam usually has more questions from Static GK than Current Affairs. Therefore, focus more on static GK and simultaneously stay in touch with Current Affairs. Also, try to prepare the subjects in the following order of priority.
4. Important materials:
Syllabus:
SSC CGL Syllabus for Tier-I
Different sections from which questions are asked in SSC CGL tier-I are:
| SSC CGL Tier-I Sections | SSC CGL Tier-I Section Descriptions |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | It includes questions of both verbal and non-verbal type. |
| General Awareness | Questions in this component are aimed at testing the candidates’ general awareness of the environment around him/her and its application to society. |
| Quantitative Aptitude | The questions are designed to test the ability of appropriate use of numbers and number sense of the candidate. |
| English Comprehension | Candidates’ ability to understand correct English, his/her basic comprehension and writing ability, etc. is tested. |
SSC CGL Syllabus for Tier-II
SSC CGL tier-II exam consists of four papers:
- Quantitative Abilities
- English Language and Comprehension
- Statistics
- General Studies – Finance and Economics
Given below is the syllabus for each SSC CGL tier-II paper:
| SSC CGL Tier-II Papers | SSC CGL Tier-II Paper Parts | SSC CGL Tier-II Paper Descriptions |
| Quantitative Abilities | – | The questions are designed to test the ability of appropriate use of numbers and number sense of the candidate. |
| English Language and Comprehension | – | Questions in this component are designed to test the candidate’s understanding and knowledge of English language. |
| Statistics | – | The paper includes subjects such as:
|
| General Studies – Finance and Economics | A (Finance & Accounts) | This part of paper-IV includes questions on fundamental principles and basic concepts of accounting. |
| B (Economics & Governance) | The paper include questions on subjects such as:
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a. E-books:
| Book Name | Author | Feature |
| SSC CGL English Books | ||
| Objective General English | S.P.Bakshi | This book helps in preparing for Grammar Related questions |
| High School English Grammar & Composition | Wren & Martin | This book is very useful for answering Grammar questions and vocabulary questions |
SSC CGL General Awareness Books
| Lucent’s General Knowledge | Binary Karn | One of the best books for the general knowledge section where everything is explained in a simple language. It provides all the basic information about history, geography, economy, science and Indian polity. |
| General Knowledge | Arihant Publications | Helps in answering any GK question easily |
SSC CGL Maths Books
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b.Videos:
How to prepare for SSC CGL:
SSC English preparation:
How to prepare for English exam:
SSC CGL preparation strategy:
SSC CGL exam pattern:
SSC CGL complete details:
5. Previous year question papers with answers:
SSC CGL 2019 tier 1 question paper:
https://gradeup.co/liveData/f/2020/3/3_march_shift_1_1_62.pdf
SSC CGL 2019 sample paper:
https://gradeup.co/liveData/f/2019/12/ssc_cgl_question_paper_4_june_2019_shift_3_71.pdf
SSC CGL 2017 question paper:
https://gradeup.co/liveData/f/2019/4/ssc-cgl-question-paper-2017-5th-aug.pdf-27.pdf
SSC CGL 2016 question paper:
https://gradeup.co/liveData/f/2019/4/ssc-cgl-question-paper-2016-1-september-1st-shift.pdf-98.pdf
SSC CGL 2015 question paper:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1umzLyqqVIJz_2c__mlJUE_mRfRy1at_1/view
6. Important tips:
- Begin your revision and ensure to give a quick glance to each topic
- Take up SSC CGL Mock Tests regularly and be exam ready
- Solve Previous Year Question Papers to know the difficulty level of the paper.
- Do not read any new topic in the last few days left for the exam.
- Read daily current affairs to be well versed with all the latest issues happening across the globe.
- Go through the SSC CGL Exam Day Instructions for being thorough with all rules and regulations to be followed on the day of the exam.
- Firstly, make a proper preparation plan and study all topics accordingly.
- Secondly, do not leave any topic unattended. Even if they have less time, they should at least go through those topics once roughly.
- If any candidate follows the SSC CGL preparation tips given in the article below, they can easily understand the strategy of how to prepare for the SSC exam at home.
- All candidates must make a proper time table for SSC CGL Preparation.
- Candidates must go through some powerful and the best SSC CGL English Preparation Tips
- Also, candidates should reduce the usage of cell phones. This can really enhance productivity and concentration levels.
- Learn tables up to 25 to increase your calculation speed; it will help you be more efficient.
- Practice questions from different types and Topics.
- Use Shortcut or Short tricks to solve the questions.
To get more information about the exam, check the given link: