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How to Prepare for SSC CGL 2024 - Tips & Strategy, Study plan, Study Material
Edited By Vishnukumar V | Updated on Aug 18, 2023 03:06 PM IST | #SSC CGL
Ongoing Event
SSC CGL Application Date : 09 Jun' 2025 - 04 Jul' 2025
How to Prepare for SSC CGL 2024 - When starting preparation for the exam, beginners or first time going to appear for the exam usually look for an SSC CGL study plan 2024 to clear the exam and also some of the candidates having question about how to start preparing for SSC CGL. For this, they browse the internet to know on how to prepare for SSC CGL 2024, best books, and SSC CGL study material. All these questions and more have been answered by the Careers360 team to help candidates prepare better for the SSC CGL exam 2024.
The SSC CGL preparation strategy for beginners is really helpful for aspirants in the SSC CGL selection process. Candidates preparing for the SSC CGL 2024 exam should have a well-laid-out SSC CGL study plan 2024 for every stage of the SSC CGL recruitment process 2024. Read how to prepare for SSC CGL 2024 in the article below.
Free UPSC Prelims Solved Paper-1 2016 to 2020 with Ans. & Explanation
How to Prepare for SSC CGL 2024?
To prepare for SSC CGL 2024 exam in the best way possible candidates should have a well laid out SSC CGL study plan 2024 and preparation strategy for each stage of the selection process. For those who don't, follow the tips and pointers on how to prepare for the SSC CGL exam.
Here is a glimpse of the SSC CGL preparation strategy:
Check the SSC CGL 2024 eligibility criteria before moving on with the exam preparation.
Study the SSC CGL exam pattern.
Go through the SSC CGL study syllabus properly.
Selection of what SSC CGL study material to study from is important.
Study from the best books for SSC CGL 2024 exam.
Pay more attention to topics of higher weightage.
SSC CGL Preparation Tip 1 - Know the SSC CGL exam pattern
The first and foremost thing that SSC CGL aspirants must do before starting their SSC CGL 2024 exam preparation is to know the SSC CGL exam pattern for every tier of the SSC CGL selection process. Check the tables below to know about the SSC CGL exam pattern 2024, the marking scheme and the duration of the exam.
SSC CGL exam pattern for tier 1 (online)
Tier | Subject | Qs. No. | M. Marks | Time |
Tier-I CBT | General Intelligence and Reasoning | 25 | 50 | 1 hr ( 1hr and 20 minutes for scribe) |
General Awareness | 25 | 50 | ||
Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 | ||
English Comprehension | 25 | 50 | ||
Total | 100 | 200 | ||
SSC CGL exam pattern for tier 2 (online)
Tier | Paper | Session | Subject | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks | Time Allowed |
Tier-II | Paper - 1 | Session-I (2 Hours and 15 Minutes) | Section - 1 Module-I: Mathematical Abilities Module-II: Reasoning and General Intelligence | 30+30 = 60 | 60x3 = 180 marks | 1 Hour ( 1 Hour and 20 minutes for scribe |
Section - 2 Module-I: English Language and Comprehension Module-II: General Awareness | 45+25 = 70 | 70x3 = 210 marks | 1 Hour (1 Hour and 20 minutes for scribe) | |||
Section-3 Module-I: Computer Knowledge Module | 20 | 20x3 = 60 marks | 15 minutes (20 minutes for scribe) | |||
Session - II (15 minutes) | Section 3 Module-II: Data Entry Speed Test Module | One Data Entry Task | ||||
Paper 2 | Statistics | 100 | 100x2 = 200 marks | 2 Hours (2 Hours and 40 minutes for Scribe) | ||
Paper 3 | General Studies (Finance and Economics) | 100 | 100x2 = 200 marks | |||
Also read: Basic information about category-wise top career exams
SSC CGL Preparation Tip 2 - Know the latest SSC CGL syllabus 2024
After looking at the SSC CGL exam pattern 2024, applicants now go through the SSC CGL syllabus 2024 for each stage of the SSC CGL recruitment process. The SSC CGL syllabus is designed in such a way it can test the candidates on various parameters as per the requirement of the job. The syllabus for SSC CGL exam consists of subjects like General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Awareness, English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, Statistics, General Studies (Finance & Economics), etc. Click here for more details on the SSC CGL syllabus 2024.
SSC CGL Preparation Tip 3 - SSC CGL Exam Analysis
Now the last step before actually proceeding to prepare for the SSC CGL exam, applicants must check previous year SSC CGL question papers and analyse them to know the exam difficulty level, topics of more importance, difficulty level of each section in the SSC CGL exam and more. The SSC CGL exam analysis will help applicants to devise a better SSC CGL preparation strategy and study plan 2024 for the exam.
SSC CGL Preparation Tip 4 - SSC CGL study material 2024
Candidates preparing for the SSC CGL exam must study from the latest and the best SSC CGL study material 2024 pdfs for the exam. Selecting good study material is also as important as picking out good fruits from a heap i.e. if the fruit is good the end taste is also good, similarly in the case of SSC CGL study material if it is good then the preparation for the exam will also be great. Applicants should also develop a habit of reading newspapers which will help to improve their grammar skill set, current affairs and other related aspects in the exam. One point to keep in mind while selecting the study material for the exam preparation is that they should also not study from too many sources for the exam preparation.
Check Here List of Other Government Exams
SSC CGL Preparation Tip 5 - Best Books for SSC CGL 2024
Apart from selecting good SSC CGL study material for the exam, applicants must study from the best books for SSC CGL 2024. Picking out good books for the Combined Graduate Level Examination is also as important as selecting good study material. Aspirants must refer to the most preferred books for the exam. The books they study from must also be able to help them clear their concepts of different types of questions asked in the SSC CGL exam. Some of the best books for SSC CGL 2024 exam are mentioned below.
Best books for SSC CGL 2024
Sections | Best books for SSC CGL 2024 |
Quantitative Aptitude | Advance maths for General Competitions by Rakesh Yadav/ KD Publications Elementary & Advanced Mathematics by Kiran Prakashan |
General Intelligence and Reasoning | Analytical Reasoning by M. K. Pandey Verbal and non-verbal reasoning by R. S. Aggarwal |
General Awareness | General Knowledge by Dr Binary Karn/ Lucent General Knowledge by Arihant Publications |
English Comprehension | English for General Competitions by from Plinth to Paramount (Volume – 1) by Neetu Singh/ KD Publications A mirror of Common Errors by Dr Ashok Kumar/ Academic and test publication Competitive General English by Kiran Prakashan Objective General English by S. P. Bakshi |
Subject-wise Sample Questions UPSC and SSC CGL: Ans. & Explanation
UPSC Questions for IAS Prelims: 75 Questions, Ans. & Detailed Explanation | |
... | |
SSC CGL Preparation Tip 6 - Solve previous year SSC CGL question papers
After completing the SSC CGL syllabus for the exam, candidates can now move on to the next step which is to test how well their preparation level for the exam. To evaluate their preparation level of the SSC CGL exam, aspirants can solve SSC CGL sample papers or previous year CGL question papers. Solving SSC CGL questions papers helps candidates to know their weak and strong points. This will also help them to learn how to manage time in the best possible way during the exam. On analysing their performance in the SSC CGL practice stage, candidates can work on their weak areas to improve their performance in the exam.
SSC CGL Preparation Tip 7 - Stay calm, positive and determined
Applicants must while preparing for any exam must not lose hope and give up. They should remain calm, determined and dedicated throughout the SSC CGL recruitment process and success will surely come to them.
Know how to prepare for other Sarkari exams here
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is the SSC CGL exam conducted online or offline?
The SSC CGL tier I and II exam will be conducted in online mode.
2. Does the SSC CGL recruitment process have an interview round?
No, there is no interview round in the SSC CGL selection process.
3. Is there a negative marking in SSC CGL examination?
Yes, there is a negative marking in the SSC CGL tier I and II stage of the exam.
4. How can I crack the SSC CGL 2024 exam?
Candidates can crack the SSC CGL 2024 exam by staying dedicated and focused throughout the selection process.
5. How many stages are there in the SSC CGL 2024 exam?
SSC CGL exam has two tiers. They are as follows:
Tier 1 - CBT (online)
Tier 2 - CBT (online)
6. How to prepare for SSC CGL 2024 exam?
Candidates can follow the tips and pointers mentioned above to prepare for the exam.
7. What is the minimum age to apply for SSC CGL?
The minimum SSC CGL age limit to apply for the examination is 18 years.
8. What are the SSC CGL exam dates 2024 for tier I?
SSC CGL 2024 tier I exam date has not yet been announced by the commission.
9. How will SSC release the CGL admit card 2024?
SSC will release the CGL admit card 2024 in online mode for all regions on the SSCs regional websites.
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Have a question related to SSC CGL ?
Hello Chandan,
Yes , a PharmD (Doctor of Pharmacy) graduate is eligible to write the SSC CGL (Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level) examination after completing their course. The SSC CGL examination is open to candidates from various educational backgrounds, including those with a PharmD degree. However, it is important to review the specific eligibility criteria and requirements for the SSC CGL examination to ensure compliance before applying.
Depending on their specific educational background and field of study, diploma holders may be able to do the following jobs:
- Junior Engineer (Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, etc.)
- Statistical Investigator Grade-II
- Assistant Section Officer (CSS)
- Assistant Section Officer (MEA)
- Assistant Audit Officer
- Junior Statistical Officer
- Tax Assistant (CBDT/CBEC)
- Assistant (Central Vigilance Commission)
- Sub-Inspector (National Investigation Agency)
- Sub-Inspector (Central Bureau of Narcotics)
- Divisional Accountant
- Inspector (Central Excise)
- Inspector (Preventive Officer)
- Inspector (Examiner)
- Assistant (Other Ministries/Departments/Organizations)
Well, this list needs to be more comprehensive, and more jobs may accept Diploma as an educational qualification. Please refer to the official notification regarding this.
I hope this helps.
Rajeswari 09 June,2025
Dear student,
Yes, as a
Pharm.D (Doctor of Pharmacy)
graduate, you
are eligible
to apply for the
SSC CGL
exam, as long as you meet the other basic criteria like age and nationality.
The minimum educational qualification for most SSC CGL posts is a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized university. Even though Pharm.D is a professional doctorate, it is treated as a graduate-level qualification for SSC CGL purposes. So, you qualify academically for almost all general posts under SSC CGL.
However, some specific posts like Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) or Statistical Investigator do require a background in Mathematics or Statistics , either in your 12th standard or as a core subject in your degree. If you don’t meet that, you’ll have to skip those specific posts.
The general age limit for SSC CGL is between 18 and 32 years , depending on the post, with relaxations for reserved categories. You should check the exact age criteria for the post you're targeting in the official notification.
Also, a few posts like Inspector or Sub-Inspector may require you to meet certain physical standards.
To sum up, with a Pharm.D degree, you're eligible for SSC CGL , especially for most of the administrative and officer-level roles. Just be sure to read the official notification for any post-specific requirements.
Shubham Jha 10 June,2025
Hello Aspirant,
Yes, as a 33 years and 9 months old OBC candidate, you can apply for most of the posts in SSC CGL with the benefit of age relaxation by three years provided to OBC candidates. So, in an effective sense, your upper age limit would be 33 years for posts with upper age limit 30 years and 36 years for posts in which the upper limit is 33 years. You are eligible for Assistant Audit Officer and Inspector of Income Tax posts. Just make sure you meet the educational qualification for AAO, which may include a desirable qualification in CA/MBA/Cost Accounting, etc.
gopi 05 June,2025
Hello Pooja,
If you filled the wrong date of birth on the SSC CGL application form and the correction window is closed, here’s what can happen:
-
Document Mismatch : During document verification, your application may be rejected if the DOB on the form doesn't match your 10th certificate or official ID.
-
No Correction Later : SSC generally does not allow changes after the correction window. Mistakes in DOB are taken seriously.
-
What You Can Do :
-
Appear for the exam if your application isn’t rejected initially.
-
During document verification, clearly explain the issue and provide valid proof (birth certificate, 10th marksheet, Aadhaar, etc.).
-
You may write to SSC’s regional office requesting consideration, but acceptance is not guaranteed.
-
In future attempts, ensure all details are double-checked before final submission.
I hope this answer helps you. If you have more queries, feel free to share your questions with us, and we will be happy to assist you.
Thank you, and I wish you all the best in your bright future.
kumardurgesh1802 23 May,2025
HELLO,
If you are an ex serviceman and you want to apply for the Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level exam then you get some extra years added to the age limit based on your category
-
if you belong to the general category you get three years of relaxation after subtracting the number of years you served in the military from your current age
-
if you are from the other backward classes category you get six years
-
if you are from the scheduled castes or scheduled tribes category you get eight years
now which jobs can ex servicemen apply for
you can apply for most jobs in group C and some jobs in group B but not all group B jobs allow ex servicemen to apply so it is important to check the job notification each year when the Staff Selection Commission releases it
To be considered an ex serviceman you should have
-
served in the Indian Army Indian Navy or Indian Air Force
-
been officially discharged or retired either because you chose to or because the military released you
-
possibly received a pension or completed your full term of service
-
if you are not a graduate then you must have served for at least fifteen years in the armed forces to apply
In simple words the Staff Selection Commission allows ex servicemen to apply for many government jobs with some age benefits but your service record and education level must meet their conditions
Hope it helps!
Devanshi Goyal 06 May,2025
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