- Introduction
- SSC CGL General Awareness (Tier I)
- Topicwise Analysis: 2010, 11, 12
- Indian Polity
- Indian History + Culture
- Geography+Biodiversity+Environment
- Economy
- Science
- CRAP (Misc.GK, Sports, PIN etc.)
- Final Touch to preparation
- Summary: Plan for SSC-CGL (GK)
- Free Download material for SSC General Awareness
- SSC CGL Tier 1 Cutoffs (2011, 2012)
- SSC CGL Tier-2 Cutoffs (2011, 2012)
Introduction
Notification for SSC-Combined Graduate Level exam was released on 19th Jan 2013. Click ME to read it
SSC-CGL exam is made up of three stages: Tier 1, 2 and 3.
Tier I (prelims)
Subject | |
General Awareness | 50 |
Reasoning | 50 |
Maths | 50 |
English | 50 |
Total | 200 |
- Time-2 hours. No. of question =200
- Negative marking: 0.25 marks
Tier II (mains)
Those who qualify in the Tier-I, have to appear for Tier-II. But unlike the UPSC mains, the SSC tier-II doesn’t have descriptive paper. You just have to face Multichoie Questions (MCQ).
Total | Duration | Negative marking? | |
Paper I (Maths) | 200 marks | 2 hrs | – 0.50 |
Paper II (English) | 200 marks | 2 hrs | – 0.25 |
Total | 400 marks |
- These two papers are compulsory for all candidates.
- But If you’re applying for Statistical Investigator Grade-II, then you’ve to appear for one more paper, that is Paper III for Statistics, worth 200 marks.
Tier III (interview/CPT)
Those who qualify in Tier II (Mains), are called up for third stage (Tier III)
- For some posts you’ve to appear for Interview worth 100 marks.
- For some posts, you’ve to give computer proficiency test or Skill Test.
- For example, Candidate for Tax Assistant job, will have to give test for data entry speed.
What’s the reform/change?
candidates qualifying in Tier-II of the Examination, will be subjected to a short descriptive paper of not more than one hour’s duration, with questions drawn from
- English Language and Comprehension
- Quantitative Abilities
- General Awareness
- Please note: The main objective of above “Descriptive-Paper” reform is to prevent cheaters and dummy candidates.
- So there is no need “fear” the descriptive paper. If you’ve the guts and brains to clear Tier II (Mains), then you can handle this descriptive paper without much trouble.
- And SSC chairman says if possible, they’ll conduct this descriptive paper via computer.
Anyways, let’s start. The studyplan is divided into four articles.
General Awareness Tier I | Explained here in this article. |
Maths / Quantitative Aptitude for Tier I and II | Click me |
Reasoning / General Intelligence for Tier I | Click me |
English Grammar, Vocabulary, Comprehension for Tier I and II | Click me |
Job profiles of various posts offered under SSC-CGL | Click me |
Tier I (Prelims)
- Here you’ve to face Multichoice questions on General Awareness, English, Maths and Reasoning. (50 questions each).
- This article only deals with how approach General Awareness.
- How to approach Maths, Reasoning and English= will be explained later, in separate articles.
General Awareness (Tier I)
First of all, throw away Manorama Yearbook from your study-desk. That book doesn’t have much use for competitive exams.
Topicwise Analysis: 2010, 11, 12
Topic | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | |
Static | Polity | 7 | 5 | 8 |
Indian History+Culture | 5 | 6 | 5 | |
Geograhpy (Physical+Indian)+Biodiversity | 6 | 11 | 6 | |
Economy | 11 | 7 | 4 | |
Subtotal (Static) | 29 | 29 | 23 | |
Science | Biology | 6 | 4 | 8 |
Chemistry | 4 | 4 | 3 | |
Physics+Space | 7 | 6 | 4 | |
Computer | 1 | 2 | 2 | |
Subtotal (Science) | 18 | 16 | 17 | |
Crap | Misc.GK, Sports, PIN, Books, Current Affairs | 3 | 3 | 6 |
Yearbook (institutes, schemes, dates etc.) | 0 | 2 | 4 | |
Subtotal (Crap) | 3 | 5 | 10 | |
Grand Total | 50 | 50 | 50 |
- I’ve divided the General awareness portion of SSC-CGL exam, into
“S+S+C”= Static + Science + Crap.
(^in decreasing order of priority and importance.)
- In the SSC exams, new players tend to pay too much attention to the ‘crap’ part. They keep buying books and magazines all the time as if there is nothing else to prepare except current-affairs.
- But you must keep in mind that the Cost-benefit ratio is not really great for crap questions = “no. of data entries to be mugged up vs probability of getting a question vs probability of recalling the correct answer in actual exam.”
- I’m not saying ignore current affairs, all I’m saying is, “don’t invest too much time and energy in them”.
- On the other hand, If you look at “bigger picture”, almost 80% of General awareness questions come from Static + Science portion alone. Hence they should form the priority.
- The “Action-Plan” of SSC General awareness, rests on three pillars
|
Static + Science. |
Filling up any missing details in Static + Science Part | |
|
For crap current affairs. |
Indian Polity
- If you’re simultaneously preparing for UPSC or State PSC exams, then just go with Indian Polity by M.Laxmikanth.
- Same book available in Hindi, under the name “Bharat Ki Rajya Vyavastha”
- So, if you’ve Laxmikanth, don’t bother much with NCERT/NIOS/Lucent etc.
- But If you don’t have Laxmikanth there is no need to specifically buy/borrow Laxmikanth for SSC Exam alone, because the questions are very rudimentary in nature and can be solved via NIOS zip files (given @Bottom), in combination with Lucent.
- Also prepare current affairs associated with polity. But “major” current affairs only.
- For example Shree-Krishna Committee =Telengana. Who is the chairman of new Finance Commission, who is the new CJI etc.etc.etc.
Indian History + Culture
- In SSC exam, History means Indian History only.
- So donot waste time preparing World History.
- Sometimes one question may comes, but that is not worth the Cost-benefit.
Approach Indian History?
Indian History is subdivided into three parts
Ancient | Harappa, Vedic Age, Maurya, Sangam etc. |
Medieval | Delhi Sultanate, Mughals etc. |
Modern | 1857 Sepoy Mutiny + Freedom struggle. |
- Start with TN State education board books class 11 and 12 (they’re better than NCERT for the history portion, free download at bottom).
- Then use Lucent to fill up the missing details.
- SSC questions on History, are mostly from the important personalities and events. So, Please donot waste too much time in mugging up trivial names, dates etc.
Approach Culture?
- Culture= art, painting, dances, temples, mosques, Architecture etc.
- Most of the “Culture” happened during Ancient + medieval. So, you’ll simultaneously prepare it while going through NCERT Textbooks.
- Also use the NIOS ZIP file. Given @Bottom of this article.
- Lastly Lucent to fill up the missing details.
- +Winner of Gyanpith award, Sangeet Natak etc. (ONLY IF you’ve time, else don’t bother much.)
- That pretty much sums up History + culture. Although revision =essential.
Geography+Biodiversity+Environment
- For SSC exam, we’ve to prepare only Physical Geography + Indian Geography.
- World Geography doesn’t come into picture. (sometimes a question or two, but that’s again not worth our trouble, remember the “Cost-benefit”.)
- Lately SSC too has started asking questions on Biodiversity and environment. Although they overlap with biology/science portion.
Source?
- NCERT textbooks: Social Science Class 7 to 10
- NCERT Geography Class 11, 12.
- Environment and biodiversity ZIP file of NIOS.
(^free download links given @bottom of this article)
Finally Lucent to fill up any missing details, such as names of multipurpose river valley projects. But here again, don’t waste time with numbers.
- Hirakud=Mahanadi River in Odisha=important.
- Hirakud=4800m long = useless.
Economy
- Generally very straightforward questions based on definition and concepts of Economy.
- NCERT Economy book Class 11. (India’s economy and Development.)
- NIOS Zip file given @bottom.
- Only major “current affairs”. Usually SSC’s Economy questions are based on budget. (if at all they ask from current affairs.)
This concludes reading sources for “Static.” Moving to the next important portion for SSC-General Awareness.
Science
Physics | Chem | Bio |
|
|
|
- By and large the science questions come from ^above topics. (it doesn’t mean other topics are not important though!)
- Best way to prepare science=NCERTs.
- Science tech related current affairs are usually not asked in SSC exam.
- At most sometimes current-affairs question on NASA satellite launch etc. So just keep an eye on major events, without doing any Ph.D.
- Candidates from science background shouldnot ride with overconfidence. Because whatever you have learned in college = not asked here. And whatever you had prepared in highschool= long evaporated from your memory.
- Hence start with the basic NCERT Science textbooks of Class 7 to 10, irrespective of graduation.
Source
- NCERT Science Text books from Class 7 to 10
- NIOS material almost overlaps with whatever science is discussed in NCERTs. So not much point in doing “double-majoori”, unless you’ve time and mood.
- Finally Lucent to fill up any missing details Big inventions/inventors, applications of various chemicals, computer related terms etc. (again don’t go in trivial details, for example Lucent has even given long chemical reaction formulas= useless.)
This concludes science. Now the final part
CRAP (Misc.GK, Sports, PIN etc.)
“Duration”
Based on SSC-CGL Tier I conducted in July 2012.
- They had asked question on Shree Krishna Committee report. (which was released somewhere in Jan 2011)
- Author of book Kurukshetra to Kargil. (again launched in Jan 2011)
- Santosh Football trophy (somewhere in May 2011)
So, Duration of Current affairs for SSC-CGL, is last one calendar year. (i.e. if you’re preparing for 2013, then prepare major events starting from Jan 2012.)
- PIN=persons in news, like xyz person won ICC cricketer of the year award, new CJI, new army chief, sports winners etc. There is no dearth of magazines and books circulating this garbage.
- But always remember, your mind has a limited memory capacity. So prepare the big personas, major events, avoid the small timers.
- Same for books and authors.
- Same for places in news.
- Same for [Yearbook]: Government schemes, location of various Government institutes etc. (you’ll find them in Lucent.)
- Most importantly: these things don’t stay in long term memory. Hence frequent revision essential.
Source?
Competitionmaster.com (they release monthly updates) OR Pratiyogita Darpan (PD).
Extra-preparation
- Once you’ve sufficiently prepared Maths+English+Reasoning+General Awareness, solve the as many old question papers of SSC exam as you can. (Blank answersheets given @bottom)
Why should you practice old papers?
- SSC recycles questions. You solve 10 papers, then 11th paper has hardly anything new, surprizing or challanging for you.
- Trains Your Brain For Negative Marking
- Improves Your Speed.
- Google search will lead you to many download links for SSC papersets.
- Problem?
- 1) scanned PDF files are in very poor quality. + the half mile long watermark only blocks the view= very tiresome for the eyes to read.
- 2) most of the time, they don’t contain solutions. Hence makes the whole exercise frustrating. Because you can’t evaluate your performance without going wasting another hour and so in searching the answers manually (for GK etc.)
- So if you can afford, just go for the Paperset of Kiran Prakashan.
- Good thing: they give detailed solution of each and every question.
- Same way, if you can afford, buy the NCERT textbooks from market (even second hand-used books will work).
Summary: Plan for SSC-CGL (GK)
Revise minimum three times, practice a few old papers. General awareness shouldn’t give much trouble. |
This concludes how to approach General Awareness for SSC-CGL Exam. In the upcoming articles, we’ll see how to approach
- English vocabulary, Grammar and Comprehension (Tier I and II)
- Maths (Tier I and II) (update: article published-CLICK ME)
- Reasoning (Tier-I)
Free Download material for SSC General Awareness
NCERTs (English) Free download
TN State edu Books (for History) https://files.secureserver.net/0fnzZYT7SDNuC9
NIOS (for Culture) https://files.secureserver.net/0fdAWETp4sONW5
NCERT files: topicwise: https://mrunal.org/download
NCERT file: classwise (they’ve same pdfs as above)
Science Class 7 | Download |
Our Pasts Part 2 – Class 7 | Download |
Social and Political Life Part 2 – Class 7 | Download |
Our Environment Class 7 | Download |
Science Class 8 | Download |
Our Pasts Part 3 – Class 8 | Download |
Resource and Development Class 8 | Download |
Social and Political Life – Class 8 | Download |
Science Class 9 | Download |
Contemporary India Social Science for Class 9 | Download |
Economics for Class 9 | Download |
India and Contemporary World 1 for Class 9 | Download |
Science Class X | Download |
India and the Contemporary World 2 Class X Social Science | Download |
Democratic Politics Part 2 for Class X Social Science | Download |
Contemporary India Part 2 for Class X Social Science | Download |
Understanding Economic Development Class X Social Science | Download |
Fundamentals of Physical Geography Class 11 | Download |
India Physical Environment Geography Class 11 | Download |
Indian Economic Development Economics Class 11 | Download |
Themes in World History Class 11 | Download |
India People and Economy Class 12 | Download |
Introductory Microeconomics Class 12 | Download |
Macroeconomics Class 12 | Download |
Fundamentals of Human Geography Class 12 | Download |
Themes in India History 1 Class 12 | Download |
Themes in India History 2 Class 12 | Download |
Themes in India History 3 Class 12 | Download |
If it doesn’t work visit (or you want Hindi version): http://www.ncert.nic.in/ncerts/textbook/textbook.htm
Description | Download Link | |
NIOS study Material |
Economy, Environment n Biodiversity, Polity etc.Many zip files on various subjects. Download as per your requirements. | click ME |
Blank Answersheets |
For practicing mock questions @home | click ME |
SSC CGL Tier 1 Cutoffs (2011, 2012)
Out of 200 marks.
Year | 2011 | 2012 |
General | 86.75 | 82 |
SC | 63.5 | 64 |
ST | 63.25 | 62 |
OBC | 70.25 | 70 |
EXS | 60 | 25 |
OH | 50 | 60 |
HH | 50 | 25 |
VH | 50 | 25 |
(excluding Statistical Investigator/Compiler.)
SSC CGL Tier-2 Cutoffs (2011, 2012)
category | 2011 | 2012 | |||
Interview posts | Non-Interview posts | Interview posts | Non-Interview posts | ||
General | 354.75 | 315.25 | 349 | 313.5 | |
SC | 281.25 | 247.25 | 284 | 251 | |
ST | 295.75 | 251.75 | 282 | 242 | |
OBC | 323.75 | 283.75 | 319 | 281.5 | |
EXS | 293 | 180 | 308 | 211 | |
OH | 246.5 | 208 | 274 | 227 | |
HH | 200 | 150 | 191 | 123 | |
VH | 246.5 | 150 | 261 | 225 |
(excluding Statistical Investigator/Compiler.)
Sir,
I want to know that sectional cut off is required or not ? If yes, then what will be minimum cut off of each saction in Tier – I
sir,
I have applied for ssc cgl 2013 and i have given first preference for assistant in ministry of railway,but by mistake i have given 24 preference to statistical investigator and i dont know abt the post,so if i clear tier 1 exam so do i also have to give exam for statistical investigator in tier 2, please reply
hi
whats your take on upkars general awareness book?…should i go for it?
i want latest gk n maths books online free .please send for me on my id in pdf .
PLZ GIVE ME ANSWER HOW TO ACHIEVE HIGHER MARKS.
hello sir,
which book can i refer for data interpretation section in bank, especially for sbi……….
Sir,
I am plannning to appear for UPSE CSE 2014 my doubt is that my d.o.b is 30-03-79 & i belong to ST .With the age eligibility cut off date as the 1st of aug will i be able to sit for the exam?
@Toshi, ST upper age limit is 35 (on first august). In your case, you’d have crossed 35 years + some months on 1st August 2014. Therefore, not eligible.
Hi Mrunal Sir
Could you please tell how to reply to SSC in response to the answer keys they have uploaded
on the site.
There is some discrepancies in the answer keys they have provided and the correct answers needs
to be intimated to commission as soon as possible before 24th June.
Kindly reply
Information given in the above article is really helpful for all students preparing for cgl exam.
thank u very much sir.. u r really doing a wonderful job…
sir plz tell me that the cutoff i.e. 349 marks includes marks of all the three sections of tier-I,tier-II and interview or it is just of tier-II exam?
It includes just Tier1+Tier2 and u r eligible for interview…
SIR, PLEASE PROVIDE GK ONLINE TEST
as per the eligibility criteria one should be graduate on or before 1 of jan 2013,however i gave my final exam(back paper 0f 2010)in october last year and result was declared on 19 january..Am i eligible?
please answer..
thanks
sir is there sectional cut off for each section in tier 1…..please tel me sir
are 349 marks cut off for only tire 2 or combination 1 and 2???
sir,
would u plz tell me tat cutoff will be at regional wise or at national wise…
i am from KKR region, if it is regional wise cutoff then wat will be our cutoff…….
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm where were you all this days Mrunal?
I was searching for this kind of straight forward and ruthless approach.
Anyhow Thanks a lot man. C U again and again…….bye
sir
i gave my first choice for ssc cgl as an interview post but if i clear the cut off for the non interview post only and not the interview post will i be considered for the non interview posts my 11th choice an non interview post…plz reply sir
thanks it will motivate me ..
how to prepare for general awareness section in ssc cgl exam 2013
Sir.
how much is need for income tax department..
sir
Paperset of Kiran Prakashan is out of stock can u recommend and other book or site for previous papers for ssc.
Bro You Can Download it from gr8ambitionz.com
Sir, Pls tell one thing: I have seen in previous papers of SSC that none of the options is correct. So, what to do in that case?
Then leave it…coz OMR checking put negative mark…In this case u r helpless
SIR,
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Sir this the best website i have seen till date which help for preparation of competitive exam . Tons of thanks for your time and effort in preparing this .
Sir,
U R Doing a Great Job…… Want to Say U Thx A Lot….. & Plz Upload More Downloadable Study Material & Sets of Kiran Prakashan… It’s Out of stock in my Area (Don’t Matter it can be Scanned Papers)…..
Hey GAURAV ARORA,
U can order from either of these sites:
http://www.infibeam.com/Books/ssc-all-graduate-level-exam-solved-papers-1997-kiran-publisher/C018B8B0D1104.html?utm_term=SSC+Graduate+Level+Previous+Years+Papers+and+Practice+Test+Papers+%28Paperback%29_1_2&trackId=radf1d
http://kiranprakashan.com/books?page=shop.product_details&category_id=6&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=311
available as on 14th March, 2013 :)
gopal singh,
reply to this coment
sir this the best webside and my opinion:ssc all student interested in this webside.thaks a lot…and plz upload more downloadable study material and set of kiran prakashan and loucent Gs.And i hope my friend like this webside.
Hello!!sir
Which is the best way to prepare antonyms and synonyms?
Please help.
thank you for your knowledge sir…..
gr8 job sir….hats of
sir i want study material for ssc prepration…plz help me