SSC CGL 2023 – How to Tackle English

The SSC CGL (Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level) Exam is one of the most popular exams among graduates to embark on their career journey. With nearly only one month at hand for the preparation of prelims, we don’t have time to fiddle about. Now is the time to give it a good blow and most probably you will crack it in the first go.

The number of vacancies for SSC CGL Exam posts is roughly 7500.

The Pattern of English in the Syllabus

In ‌Tier I of the SSC CGL Exam, there are 25 questions of English comprehension of total 50 marks. While in Tier II the first Module of Section II of paper I comprises 45 questions of English Comprehension that total 135 Marks.

For the exam calendar and pattern click the link below:

SSC CGL Exam 2023- Calendar & Pattern – PracticeMock

English Comprehension Topics for SSC CGL Exam

English Comprehension is part of both Tier I and Tier II exams. Questions in both phases are objective-type with different difficulty levels. And what’s more, English gets the most weightage in both Tier I and Tier II exams. Here’s a list of topics covered in the SSC CGL English syllabus. 

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Tier I English Topics

• Spotting Error – 2-3 questions (4-6 Marks)
• Reading Comprehension/ Cloze Test – 5 questions (10 marks)
• Synonyms/ Antonyms – 4 questions (8 Marks)
• Idioms/Phrases – 2 questions (4 Marks)
• One Word Substitution – 2 questions (4 Marks)
• Spelling Mistakes – 2 questions (4 Marks)
• Sentence Correction – 2 questions (4 Marks)
• Active Passive/ Direct Indirect – 2 Questions (4 Marks)
• Para Jumbles – 2 questions (4 Marks)
• Fill in the Banks – 2 questions (4 Marks)

Tier II English Topics

• Reading Comprehension
• Para jumbles
• Direct/ Indirect Speech
• Synonyms/ Antonyms
• Idiom & Phrases
• Sentence Improvement
• Active Passive
• Cloze Test
• One Word Substitution
• Error Spotting
• Correct Spelling
• Fill in the Blanks
• Miscellaneous

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Here are some nifty ideas to smash the English comprehension section of the SSC CGL Tier 1 exam:

1. Make daily, weekly, and monthly study plans:

Divide the topics into sections. Make study plans. Incorporate all the sections into your plan at your convenience. Cover all topics in the plan and portion time for reading, writing, practice & evaluation as you see fit.

2. Do a lot of reading:

Read stories, news and magazines. Have a go at the online resources. List down the most common words and phrases you come across and watch our stock of vocabulary grow. Reading will also speed up the pace of your reading and comprehension skills.

3. Improve your grammar:

 Divide grammar into sections and arrange them in your study plan. Practice grammar exercises and take online quizzes to improve your grammar.

4. Practice previous years’ questions.

Solving previous years hammers the pattern into your mind. Practice, practice, practice. Find practice resources online and/or offline and practice. Try to cover all the topics during the practice sessions. 

5. Take online Mock Tests:

Online mock tests greatly benefit in evaluating your preparation level and identifying your strengths and weaknesses. After giving the mock tests your educated guesses help you prepare in the right direction.

6. Evaluate your preparation:

Take time to evaluate your preparation on a regular basis, reflect on your preparation and plan ahead accordingly.

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7. Improve Your Writing Skills:

 Writing skills are essential for the descriptive paper of the SSC CGL Tier 3 exam. Practice writing essays, letters, and other forms of writing to improve your writing skills.

Takeaways

In SSC CGL Exam English has the most weightage hence slacking is not an option. Having said that, with regular practice and persistence, you can crack it in the first go. Have a go at our FREE Mock Tests or give it a call. We are here to help you out.