Introduction
- One of the most desirable organizations, Staff Selection Commission (SSC) conducts Government exams in India.
- SSC Combined Grade Level (CGL) is the exam that SSC conducts annually for the recruitment of non-technical Group B and Group C.
- Candidates who pass this exam become eligible for non-gazetted posts in various departments, ministries, and organizations under the Government of India.
- Since government jobs are a preferable career choice in India, the candidates thrive on preparing well for every selection of the exam.
English
Before candidates begin to prepare for the English language section, here are a few things to keep in mind about this section.
- Experts believe that English Language and Comprehension Section is one of the essential sections. Candidates require utter diligence to score high in the English section.
- The questions in this section examine the candidate's ability to understand the English language and have knowledge of the same.
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Broadly, the section comprises of four parts:
- Vocabulary
- Grammar
- Reading comprehension, and
- Verbal ability
- If the candidates develop a good command over the English Grammar Rules and usage of vocabulary, this section takes lesser time than other parts of the exam.
- Moreover, excellent comprehension skills can help candidates gain strength in the entire SSC CGL exam.
- English as a subject is a game-changer in the SSC CGL exam. This subject is a separate paper that consists of 200 marks in Tier-II and 50 marks in Tier I.
- The figure given below shall help candidates follow a strategy to begin the practice of this section. This strategy shall further help to build a candidate's confidence in scoring high in the exam.
- Candidates can note down syllabus topics in a notebook and leave enough space beside each topic name.
- Candidates can then classify the topics based on their strengths and weaknesses.
- Candidates can begin with weaknesses first, and then correspondingly improve hold on each topic.
- Further, appear for mocks to work on the weaknesses till the time they turn up to be strengths.
- Make a separate notebook to note down the Grammar rules. Relevant examples must support each rule.
- Solving the previous year’s papers can help to gain an insight into the type of questions in the SSC CGL exam.
- Candidates must revise all notes at least weekly.
- Topics like error correction, sentence improvement, para jumbles, and voice narrations require practice on a regular basis.
English
- This section is a crucial part of the SSC CGL Tier-II exam as the maximum number of questions are from this section.
- Despite being a crucial part, the candidates do not require any extraordinary efforts to build vocabulary. A piece of feasible advice is that whenever a candidate comes across a new word, one should note it with its meaning, synonyms, antonyms, and usage.
- Candidates must prepare idioms and phrases well as it has proper weightage in the exam.
- Solving the vocabulary sections from the previous year's exam paper can be an excellent method to take care of the time.
- Moreover, reading English for Competitive Exam Modules can help candidates get a better understanding of the contextual usage of vocabulary.
- Questions shall mostly test candidates' basic Grammar rules. However, these types of questions are common in all competitive exams.
- The most common topics include; error spotting, fill in the blanks, active and passive voice, sentence improvement, direct-indirect speech, and phrase replacement.
- Candidates must avoid guesswork for grammar questions as it may lead to wrong answers. It may also increase the chances of receiving negative marking.
- Candidates can use the method of elimination in confusing options and try to get a correct answer. At the same time, do not waste much time on one question.
- The easiest and scoring part of the English Language Section is reading comprehension. Questions are based on the content given in the passage.
- Options given to choose the correct answer may sometimes be similar. Candidates should remain alert while selecting the right choice.
- It is crucial to develop a habit of reading fast. Equally essential is to understand the intent of the passage. This habit shall help to minimize the time taken by the candidate to answer the questions and maximize the output.
- Candidates can practice one Comprehension passage daily to achieve accuracy while minimizing the time required for the same.
- This part of the English Language Section consists of a group of jumbled up sentences. The candidates receive the task to rearrange the different parts of sentences according to the original sequence.
- Candidates have to answer in the form of various sentences and paragraphs.
Books
SSC releases a notification to announce the schedule for the Prelim exam. Candidates get ample time to prepare and crack the SSC CGL exam.
Candidates require to refer to good reference books to prepare well for the exam. Here are a few books that shall help candidates kick start exam preparation.
| Name of the Book | Author | About the Book |
|---|---|---|
| From Plinth to Paramount | Neetu Singh | It acts as an invaluable guide for candidates whoa re preparing for entrance examinations. The book comprises chapters on subject-verb agreement, and parts of speech. |
| Objective General English | SP Bakshi | It is an essential book that can brush up the language skills of candidates. The content of the book is suitable for candidates who aspire to clear competitive examination of the most prestigious institutions of India. |
| Competitive General English | Kiran Prakashan | The book is known for practice exercises that help candidates get a thorough revision of all the topics. |
| A Mirror of Common Errors | Dr. Ashok Kumar Singh | The book is known to prepare candidates for the grammar questions in a very constructive manner. |
| High School English Grammar and Composition | Wren & Martin | This book is a handy book that helps candidates prepare for vocabulary and grammar questions. Particular emphasis is on reading the grammar rules. |
Note: Candidates must note that there is no end for the preparation process. Candidates may face ambiguity if candidates use multiple books and resource materials for a single concept. Therefore, candidates shall pick only one quality book and begin reading the concepts.
SSC CGL - Related Information
SSC CGL - English Language Images - Basics of English
SSC CGL - English Language Mock Tests PDF - Competitive Recruitment Exams
SSC CGL - English Language PDF Notes - Quizzes - Topic Wise
SSC CGL Tier-II English Language
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