English comprehension skills

The Staff Selection Commission - Combined Graduate Level exam or the SSC - CGL[/b], is an exam that is conducted by the government of India to recruit staff for various ministries and offices that come under its purview.

Even though lakhs of candidates attempt this exam every year, with the right mindset and preparation you will be able to crack this exam easily. In this write-up, we will provide you with a brief summary of different levels (tiers) of this exam.

(Please note that the SSC CGL 2020 Tier 1 round was conducted from 3rd to 9th March 2020. The tier 2 and 3 exams will be held from 22nd June to 25th June 2020.)

Tier 1

The time allotted will be 60 minutes.

You will be quizzed on your General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, English Comprehension, and Reasoning. A total of 25 questions will be asked from each section and the maximum marks that you can score in each section 50 which brings our total to 200 marks. Do remember that there is a negative marking of .50 marks so select your answers carefully.

To improve your English comprehension skills, it is important to read voraciously. To improve your General awareness, you should read the newspapers regularly and should also keep abreast of all the developments that are happening around the world. To excel at topics based on reasoning and quantitative aptitude you should practice regularly and study from NCERT and other prescribed study material.

Tier 2

Statistics, General Studies (Finance and Economics), English and Quantitative Ability are the topics on which you will be quizzed when you will attempt the Tier 2 exam. The English Language section will consist of 200 questions while the other three sections will contain about 100 questions each.

You will get a total of two hours for each section. If you want to ace this Tier then you should practice finishing this section in the allotted time. A large number of questions tend to overwhelm some students who are not used to answering 100-200 questions in two hours. If you have studied the NCERT books thoroughly then you should have no difficulty in answering questions on quantitative ability and Statistics.

When it comes to the statistics part, people gave very high reviews to S.C Gupta while for Quantitative Ability, books by Mr. R. S Agarwal stole the top spot. As mentioned earlier, to have a thorough understanding of the Finance and economics section, NCERT books will help you immensely.

You can refer to other books and material as well and stick to the ones that suit you the best. You should refer to SSC CGL Syllabus if you are not sure about the topics that are bound to come in the exam.

Tier 3

This exam is descriptive and is designed to test your writing skills. You have the option of writing this exam in either English or Hindi and the total time allotted is 60 minutes. In this section, you will be asked to write an essay, application, letter, precis, and other things. To pass this exam with flying colors, your writing skills should be impeccable. If you struggle with writing then you should make it a habit to read a lot. You should also write a couple of pages every day to improve your skills. Do remember that this exam will be conducted in offline mode(pen and paper) and the maximum marks that you can score in this section are 100.

Tier 4

To crack the tier 4 round, you should be computer-literate. The CPT and DEST test is designed to test your computer knowledge and typing speed.

For the Data Entry Skill Test, You will have to type a 2000 keystroke matter in 15 minutes.

The Computer Proficiency Test or CPT is designed to check your word processing and slide making skills. You will also be asked to show how adept you are at processing and making spreadsheets. You can learn all these skills by joining a computer class or by using online/offline resources. Remember practice is the key to cracking this section.

Some useful tips that will help you prepare for SSC CGL 2020:-

? Make a schedule and stick to it.

? Read Newspapers.

? Identify and work on your weak areas.

? Solve Mock Tests

? Work on your speed and accuracy

? Revise regularly

? Attempt previous year question papers

? Believe in yourself

We are hopeful that after reading this article on SSC CGL 2020, you will have some clarity about the exam. However, if you need more information or are confused about this exam then feel free reach out to the study 24x7 team. Syllabus Of SSC CGL

All The best To All The SSC CGL Aspirants
 
The Staff Selection Commission - Combined Graduate Level (SSC CGL) exam is a highly competitive examination conducted by the Government of India for recruitment to various ministries and departments. Despite the large number of candidates, proper preparation can lead to success. This article outlines the different tiers of the SSC CGL exam and provides useful preparation tips.


SSC CGL Exam Tiers​

The SSC CGL exam is typically conducted in four tiers, each testing different skills:

Tier 1: Computer-Based Examination

  • Format: Online, Multiple Choice Questions.
  • Duration: 60 minutes.
  • Sections: General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, English Comprehension, and Reasoning.
  • Questions: 25 questions from each section, totaling 100 questions.
  • Marks: 50 marks per section, totaling 200 marks.
  • Negative Marking: 0.50 marks for each incorrect answer.
  • Preparation Tips:
    • English Comprehension: Read extensively to improve.
    • General Awareness: Read newspapers regularly and stay updated on current global developments.
    • Reasoning & Quantitative Aptitude: Practice consistently and study from NCERT books and other prescribed materials.
Tier 2: Computer-Based Examination

  • Format: Online, Multiple Choice Questions.
  • Duration: 2 hours for each section.
  • Sections:
    • Statistics (for specific posts)
    • General Studies (Finance and Economics) (for specific posts)
    • English Language and Comprehension
    • Quantitative Ability
  • Questions:
    • English Language: 200 questions.
    • Other sections: Approximately 100 questions each.
  • Preparation Tips:
    • Focus on time management to complete a large number of questions within the allotted time.
    • Thoroughly study NCERT books for Quantitative Ability and Statistics.
    • Recommended Books: S.C. Gupta for Statistics, R.S. Aggarwal for Quantitative Ability. NCERT books are highly recommended for the Finance and Economics section.
    • Refer to the official SSC CGL Syllabus for detailed topics.
Tier 3: Descriptive Paper

  • Format: Offline (pen and paper), descriptive.
  • Duration: 60 minutes.
  • Language: Can be attempted in either English or Hindi.
  • Marks: 100 marks.
  • Content: Tests writing skills through tasks like essay writing, application writing, letter writing, precis writing, and other similar assignments.
  • Preparation Tips:
    • Develop impeccable writing skills.
    • Read extensively to improve comprehension and expression.
    • Practice writing a couple of pages daily to enhance writing proficiency.
Tier 4: Skill Tests

  • Purpose: To assess computer literacy and typing speed, applicable for certain posts.
  • Tests:
    • Data Entry Skill Test (DEST): Candidates are required to type a passage of approximately 2000 keystrokes in 15 minutes.
    • Computer Proficiency Test (CPT): Designed to check proficiency in word processing, spreadsheet creation, and slide making.
  • Preparation Tips: Join computer classes or utilize online/offline resources to learn and practice these skills. Consistent practice is crucial for success in this section.

General Preparation Tips for SSC CGL​

Regardless of the tier, consistent and strategic preparation is key. Here are some useful tips:

  • Create and Adhere to a Schedule: Develop a disciplined study plan and stick to it.
  • Read Newspapers Regularly: Essential for General Awareness and improving English comprehension.
  • Identify and Work on Weak Areas: Focus extra effort on subjects or topics where you struggle.
  • Solve Mock Tests: Regularly take full-length mock tests to simulate exam conditions and assess your progress.
  • Work on Speed and Accuracy: Practice to improve both the speed at which you answer questions and the accuracy of your responses.
  • Revise Regularly: Consistent revision helps solidify concepts and improves retention.
  • Attempt Previous Year Question Papers: This helps in understanding the exam pattern, question types, and important topics.
  • Believe in Yourself: Maintain a positive mindset and confidence throughout your preparation journey.
For more detailed information and guidance, candidates can reach out to the Study24x7 team, which provides resources and support for SSC CGL aspirants.
 
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