- 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.)
respected mrunal sir can u please give me some more exam related facts about ssc exam for the post of D F O(gd) in cabinet secretariet that is going to be conducted in the month of june 2013 please give me some tips please
mrunal sir please reply to question that i had asked u please sir
please mrunal sir please reply me
can any 1 tell me guyz k kiran publication ki book ePDF me mil jaegi? ya ssc cgl k back years before 2008 k paper mil jaenge…plz help me out….
सर नमस्ते सर आप इंगलिश वालो के लिए तो सेट दे रखे है मगर हिन्दी वालो के लिए कुछ भी नही दे रखा हे सर कुछ साम्रगी हिन्दी वालों केे लिए भी पोस्ट कर दे तो बेहतर होगा सर कृप्या करके मेरी ई मेल आडी पर हिन्दी में रिजनिग, मैथ, जी एस, इंगलिस के प्रशन उत्तर भेज दे आपकी अति कृपा होगी धन्यवाद
मेरी आडी हैं a.kkkkk@ymail.com
I also suggest people to watch the documentary about Indian History by Micheal Wood just to get the overview of the past…a good one to start with….
mrunal sir i need your help please help me and reply me what i had asked you please..
Sir,
By when the admit card will be available?
gr8 job sir na one more question how many marks is required for 2013 cgl for obc candidates
Sir,
You told that No Science Tech is asked from Current Affairs but I have appeared in SSC 2012 and found they asked most of the static ques which were related to current scenario e.g
1. about ex situ conservation under geography section
2. cure of type II diabetes by polar bears under science section etc
I am unable to get the theme of the paper as it was quite different from other years.
Awesome Sir, The work which you have done is amazing. Thanks a lot !!!
did anyone got the hall ticket for ssc tier1 .please reply me
hi…mai thodi confuse hun ab ssc ka exam itna pass hai aur meri preparation thik thak hai ab mein kahan se tyari krun jada pratice test krun ….please help……nd the same preparing for sbi po tooo…please guide me………..
see 1st of all do revision as much as you can and side by side start solving question sets available online. or from books.
wish you all the success.
Hi Mrunal Sir,
Thanks for your valuable exam preparation suggestions,
can you pls guide study plan for recent vacancy regarding post of ENGINEERING ASSISTANTS in PRASARBHARTI. Because this exam will be conducted by SSC. I’ll copy pasted below syllabus given by SSC:-
Paper – I (Objective Type) – 200 marks
(a)General Intelligence & Reasoning (50 questions)
(b)General Awareness (50 questions)
(c)Technical Knowledge (100 questions)
Paper-II(Descriptive Type)Any one out of the following :- 200 marks
(a) Physics
(b) Radio Engineering
(c) Telecommunication Engineering
(d) Electrical Engineering
(e) Electronics Engineering
(f) Information Technology
The interview for the post of Engineering Assistant will be of 100 marks.
As this vacancy is based on diploma level so for General Intel & resoning/ General awareness paper, NCERT/NIOS material is vast.
can you pls suggest study plan for the same.
regards,
Rahul
ya plz guide us for this paper also….
THANXXX
Hi Mrunal Sir,
Pls spare some time from you busy schedule to reply on this comment…pls..pls..
Hi Rahul ,
Am latha from mangalore, me too applied to prasar bharati for the same post & branch . if you get any information about study materials & syllabus please rep to my mail ID.
Thank you.
sir please spare some time from your busy schedule for this exam ! it will be a great help sir ! pls provide the study plan sir !
I have read your articles and I am very impressed with your shared thought on SSC Exam.sir I am applying for Statistical Investigator and Compiler Exam.Can you provide detail regarding it syllabubs and strategy.
HELLO SIR
WILL IT BE RIGHT TO STUDY GK PORTION FROM KIRAN PAPER SETS…WILL IT BE SUFFICIENT PLUS THE CURRENT AFFAIRS….IF NOT, THEN PLEASE GUIDE HOW TO GO ABOUT GK IN LESS TIME SPECIALLY SCIENCE PART AS I AM FROM COMMERCE BACKGROUND.
Kiran’s papersets are good for practice yes. But that doesn’t mean SSC will direct lift GK questions from it. for science, start with NCERT class 7 to 10.
THANKYOU SIR
Hello Sir..
I am so much confused and tensed regarding SSC Exams, because meri preparation thik thak hai ab mujhe kya padhna chahiye… please tell me ya phir kiran publication ke practice test hi enough hai
Sir, my graduation re-appear result is declared on 09/03/2013 (my dmc has the same date on it).
I have applied for cgl 2013 . Is there any chance for selection after qualifing tier-1 and tier-2 exam.
SIR REPLAY SOON SO THAT I CAN CONTINUE PREPARATION OR GO FOR SOME OTHER EXAMS.
Hello Sir , do you have any Idea that how much marks are required in total out of 700(200+400+100) to get selected in IB ?
Waiting for your reply sir .
MRUNAL sir please tell me is it compulsory to score minimum cut-off marks in each and every section of ssc cgl tier 1 exam 2013. THANKS.
sir i want to ask that i have commpleted my graduation.but due to some technical problem my result came in februry 2013 now i want to fill the ssc (narcotics inspector). so i want to ask that may i fill it or not.
Mrunal sir ,
I need your HELP on a very very very very URGENT basis as i can see you as my mentor .
My background : I am a software engineer(2010 batch) but didn’t get job in the software industry so joined Telecom company (Nokia Seimens networks ) & worked there for 1 year but resigned because of having some personal issues . Now i am jobless for last 4 months .
At the same time , i am preparing for LIC (AA0) & SSC (prasar bharti).
sir plz plz share me the study plan for the same as these two papers are only hope left for me and my future is totally rely on my current situation . I will have to go through any how. plz notify me ASAP.
Also do try to suggest me what should i do
HIRENDRA SINGH KUSHWAH (26yrs)
mobile: 8800411035
mail id: hirendrasinghk@yahoo.com
THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH.
I FEEL, I COULD HAVE SEEN YOUR SITE BEFORE.
Above cutoff for tier 2 is only including tier 2 result or it include tier 1 also
is there any individual cut off in each section for ssc cgl tier 1 exam
please reply sir
is sectional cutoff or not in tier 1 cgl2013
is there sectional cutoff or not in tier 1 cgl2013
sir, maine 20 post ko preference di hai ssc cgl exam k liye( including statical analyser and compiler). to sir agar m satatics ke paper me cut off clear na karu aur baki sab paper ki cut off clear kar du to kya jo dusri post h unke liye eligible houga kya…
plz sir reply……
Hi sir,how much i need to score to get income tax inspector post in Maharashtra.
reply as soon as possible.
Mrunal Sir,
All the information provided by you are valuable, Will you please elaborate some of your experiences
regarding the “SSC-Prasar Bharti” examination pattern. My Bachelor’s was in Computer Science( for the Technical Knowledge Section) and I don’t know
how to prepare for the above Exam. Kindly Help.
thank you sir….
Please rate this site of current affairs : http://currentaffairs.gktoday.in/
I find it better than http://competitionmaster.com/
Sir,
This information is very useful for people like me who haven’t attempted any SSC CGL exam befor…Thank u so much and i mean saying thanks to u….
Sir, please tell me one book in which I will get all the material of General Intelligence & Reasoning,General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude& English Comprehension for practice.
Please let me know as soon as possible.