SSC CGL (Staff Selection Commission Joint Graduate Level) Examination is a competitive examination which is conducted annually by Staff Selection Commission (SSC) for recruitment of candidates for various posts. For this year, SSC is going to issue official notification on 9 June 2025, and Tier 1 exam will be held from 13th to 30 August 2025. Posts included under the SSC CGL exam are various Group B and Group C posts, such as Assistant Section Officer, Assistant Enforcement Officer, Sub Inspector, Inspector, Executive Officer, Research Assistant, Divisional Accountant, Junior Intelligence Officer, Junior Statistical Officer, Auditor General, Accountant, Postal Assistant, Senior Secretariat Assistant and Tax Assistant.
Eligible candidates will be selected on the basis of their performance in online examinations (Tier 1 and Tier 2). In this article, we have discussed important preparation tips and strategies that are required to score good marks in the SSC CGL 2025 exam. If you have your CGL exam this year, this article will be helpful for your smooth preparation journey.
Preparation tips and strategy for SSC CGL exam
As the number of candidates increases every year, therefore, the competition becomes difficult and the candidates are eliminated, when the exam date is near, even when their preparation is at the top. This article discusses some important preparation tips and strategies to excel in the upcoming SSC CGL exams.
1. Understand SSC CGL exam pattern
The first and most important step to start its preparation for the SSC CGL exam is understanding the SSC CGL exam pattern. Candidates should familiarize themselves with the examination pattern, marking scheme and syllabus. The SSC CGL exam consists of four sections: English language, quantitative ability, general intelligence and logic, and general awareness.
SSC CGL Tier 1: There are 100 questions from 4 subjects (English intelligence and logic, general awareness, quantitative qualification, English understanding)
SSC CGL Tier 2: 3 papers will be held in SSC CGL Tier 2. Details are given below:
Paper 1:
- Mathematical capacity
- Argument and general intelligence
- English language and understanding
- general awareness
- Computer knowledge
- Data entry skills
Paper 2: Statistics
Paper 3: General Studies- Finance and Economics
2. Make a study plan
Without the plan, cracking any exam is quite busy; Therefore, after knowing the pattern to the candidates, a skilled study plan should be prepared that allocates enough time to cover each subject. Regularly modifying your strength and focusing more on your weaker sections, divide your time wisely. Keep a notebook or digital document to note important current affairs subjects, dates and events. Manage your sectional preparation time slot according to not remembering any section.
3. Gather authentic study material
To prepare for SSC CGL exam, it is necessary to collect high quality study material that widely covers the entire course for all subjects. To prepare for the exam, you can refer to different types of study materials such as textbooks, reference books, previous years question papers and online resources. For general awareness, you can find reliable information in government publications and NCERT Books, The Economic Survey of India, India Year Book, and the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Home Affairs in government publications and websites such as government publications and websites. You can also visit your local library to reach a wide range of books, reference materials and magazines related to the exam. Libraries often consist of curate collections of study material which can be beneficial for your preparation.
4. Practice regularly
Solve previous years question papers and try regular fake tests to improve your speed and accuracy. Solving the question papers of previous years is necessary to understand the exam pattern and practice different types of questions. This will also help you to understand the exam pattern and identify important topics.
5. Time management
Manage your time effectively during the preparation period for SSC CGL exam. Candidates should prepare for the exam by following their study plan to complete the entire syllabus on time. It is important to solve questions within the allotted deadline and to learn to prioritize questions based on their difficulty level and weightage.
6. Stay updated with current affairs
It is important to keep themselves informed about the current events related to the General Awareness Section, especially current affairs, national and international programs, sports, awards and honors. One of the best ways to stay updated with current affairs is to read a daily newspaper. Newspapers like The Hindu, The Indian Express and Hindustan Times provide wide coverage of national and international news, politics, economy and other important subjects.
7. Learn the cut of last year
The previous year offers a target score for the target during preparation to learn the cutoff mark, helping candidates understand the level of performance required to secure admission or pass SSC CGL exam. SSC CGL last year helps plan the cut-off your preparation strategy, including more focus on classes or subjects carrying high weightage based on previous trends.
