How I Scored 181 In SSC CGL Tier 1

How I Scored 181 In SSC CGL Tier 1

Updated on Oct 04, 2022 09:30 AM IST | #SSC CGL
Ongoing Event
SSC CGL  Application Date : 22 Apr' 2025 - 21 May' 2025

Combined Graduate Level Examination (CGLE) is one of the examinations conducted by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC), for recruitment to the posts of Inspectors, Assistant Section Officers, Auditors, Junior Accountants, Tax Assistants, etc. in various ministries or departments working with the Government of India offices. I scored 598 out of 700 and was able to achieve an All India Rank of 912 in SSC CGL 2018 in my first attempt. My tier 1 score was 181 out of 200. I am currently working as Inspector of Customs (Preventive Officer) at Custom House, Cochin.

My SSC CGL Exam Preparation

My SSC CGL preparation journey started when I enrolled myself at Kisco Career Heights, Pala in July 2018. But to get a head start on other students in my class, I had started practising English vocabulary and basic mathematics questions two months prior to joining the institute. Throughout my preparation, I tried to make sure that I was ahead of my peers, so as to crack the exam in the first attempt itself. So, right after my classes at the institute, I used to study at a nearby library till night and practice previous years’ questions and go through the class notes provided by the institute.

SSC CGL Preparation Strategy And Materials Used

1. General Intelligence/Reasoning (GI/R)

The first stage of SSC CGL (Tier 1) consists of 25 questions of General Intelligence and Reasoning (GI/ R). I learned GI/ R topics from the notes provided from the institute and YouTube/ Google. For increasing the accuracy and speed, I mainly depended on mock tests and sectional tests by online exam preparation sites like Testbook. Attempting the mock tests has been vital in developing my own shortcuts and techniques in the GI/ R section.

2. General Awareness (GA)

General Awareness also consists of 25 questions in SSC CGL Tier 1. The questions asked from GA will be a mix of Static GA as well as Current affairs. Static GA can be covered from Lucent’s GK book. If aspirants find Lucent’s GK to be too hard to study, they may opt for learning static GA from previous year questions. Relying solely on SSC CGL previous year questions for Static GK will not fetch you great marks, but will be able to help you score decent marks. For Current Affairs SSC CGL preparation, I mainly relied on free monthly current affairs pdfs/videos by online channels like GKToday, StudyIQ etc. I covered Current Affairs of the last six months prior to the Tier 1 examination. Also, further static GA and current affairs questions were learnt from the online mock tests.

3. Quantitative Aptitude (QA)

Same as above mentioned sections, Quantitative Aptitude (QA) also consists of 25 questions of 2 marks each. As Tier 2 of SSC CGL also consists of 100 questions of QA, I gave a slight weightage to SSC CGL QA preparation compared to other sections. The institute where I prepared for the exam had good mentors for mathematics and they were able to help me understand the concept of various questions. For covering basic mathematics and to increase speed and accuracy, I heavily relied on SSC Mathematics Solved Papers by Kiran’s Publications, which contained almost 8,000 previous year questions from various topics.

I practised every question in that book twice. When I practised it for the first time, I attempted every question and searched online and other sources to find a shortcut or a technique to solve that question. Then I used to note down the question numbers of the questions which I found difficult on the top of the page. On practising the second time, I attempted only the questions which I had already noted on the top of the page, thus saving time. I also depended on offline mocks provided by the institute and online mocks as well as live weekly mocks to improve myself and to assess my performance for SSC CGL preparation.

4. English Comprehension

English Comprehension was one of my favourite sections among the four sections. As Tier 2 of SSC CGL consists of 200 questions of English Comprehension, I gave a slight weightage to English Comprehension, just like I did for QA preparation. For English vocabulary, I used Word Power made Easy by Norman Lewis, and for learning one-word substitutions, and synonyms, antonyms, idioms and phrases, I used General English by SP Bakshi. To cover more topics in limited time, I recorded all the vocabularies, idioms, synonyms, one-word substitutions, antonyms etc. in my phone and I used to play it whenever I used to get free time. For covering grammar, I relied on English for General Competitions by Neethu Singh. For practice, I used SSC English Language Solved Papers by Kiran’s Publications.

The above discussed are ssc cgl preparation tips for tier 1. The SSC CGL tier 2 tips are shared in the next article.

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Questions related to SSC CGL

Have a question related to SSC CGL ?

The Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level (SSC CGL) exam is a national-level examination conducted by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) for the recruitment of eligible candidates for various Group B and Group C posts in different ministries, departments, and organizations of the Government of India. A bachelor's degree from a recognized university is the basic educational qualification required to appear for this exam. The age limit varies depending on the specific post, generally ranging from 18 to 32 years, with age relaxations for certain categories.

The SSC CGL exam is conducted in two tiers: Tier-I and Tier-II, both of which are computer-based online examinations. Tier-I is a qualifying stage, and the marks obtained in this tier are not counted for the final merit list. It consists of four sections: General Intelligence and Reasoning, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, and English Comprehension. Each section comprises 25 questions, with each question carrying 2 marks, making a total of 100 questions and 200 marks. The total time allotted for the Tier-I exam is 60 minutes, and there is a negative marking of 0.50 marks for each incorrect answer.

Candidates who clear the Tier-I cutoff are eligible to appear for the Tier-II examination. The Tier-II exam has a different pattern and consists of three papers. Paper-I is compulsory for all posts and is divided into three sections: Mathematical Abilities, Reasoning and General Intelligence, and English Language and Comprehension, and General Awareness. There is also a Computer Knowledge Test and a Data Entry Speed Test as part of Paper-I. Paper-II is for candidates applying for the post of Junior Statistical Officer (JSO) and involves Statistics. Paper-III is for candidates applying for the posts of Assistant Audit Officer/Assistant Accounts Officer and covers General Studies (Finance and Economics). There is negative marking in Tier-II as well; 1 mark is deducted for each wrong answer in Sections I and II of Paper-I, and 0.50 marks for each wrong answer in Paper-II and Paper-III. The marks scored in the Tier-II exam are crucial for the final selection.

I hope this helps.

Hii Nisha

Steps are given below  to apply for ssc cgl exam

  1. open Google or chrome and go through this website- ssc.gov.in
  2. Scroll down and you'll see apply button there ,click it
  3. After this apply button will appear for Combined Graduate level (cgl) examination .

But application forms are not opened yet. Notice regarding SSC CGL 2025 will be released on 22nd April 2025.  Apply and last date of submission is from 22nd April 2025 to 21st May 2025 respectively.


Hey Nisha, I saw your question about applying for the SSC CGL exam. No problem, I can definitely help you out!

It's basically your ticket to a bunch of Group "B" and "C" jobs in the Indian government.

The application window for the 2025 exam is open from April 22nd to May 21st, 2025.

Here’s the lowdown:

First things first, are you eligible?

  • Got a Degree? You'll need a bachelor's degree from a university that's legit.
  • Age Matters: Generally, you need to be between 18 and 32 years old, but this can change depending on the specific job. Good news: if you're in a reserved category, you probably get some leeway on the age thing.
  • Citizenship: You have to be an Indian citizen, or from Nepal, Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962.

Alright, ready to apply?

Here's how it works, step-by-step:

1. One-Time Registration:

  • Head over to the official SSC website: ssc.gov.in.
  • Find the "Register Now" link and click on it.
  • Fill in your basic details – name, birthday, email, phone number, the usual stuff.
  • Once you submit, they'll give you a Registration Number and Password.

Keep these safe!

2. Filling Out the Application Form:

  • Log in to the website using that Registration Number and Password they gave you.
  • Fill out the application form carefully. This includes your personal info, education, and the jobs you're interested in.
  • Upload scans of your photo and signature. Make sure they follow the rules about size and format!

3. Paying the Application Fee:

  • The application fee is Rs.100 if you're a General or OBC candidate.
  • Lucky you if you're a female, or belong to SC, ST, PwBD, or are an Ex-Serviceman – you're off the hook for the fee!
  • You can pay online using BHIM UPI, Net Banking, or your Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, or RuPay debit cards.

4. Submission and Confirmation:

  • Double-check everything you've entered to make sure it's correct. Seriously, do it.
  • Hit that "Submit" button!
  • It’s a good idea to print or save a copy of the submitted application. You might need it later.

Keep these dates in mind:

  • Applications Open: April 22nd, 2025
  • Applications Close: May 21st, 2025
  • Tier-I Exam: Sometime between June and July 2025

Some Quick Prep Tips:

  • Know the Exam: Get familiar with the exam structure and what's going to be on it.
  • Study Up: Grab some good books and online resources made for SSC CGL prep.
  • Practice, Practice, Practice: Solve old question papers and take mock tests to see where you stand.
  • Stay in the Loop: Keep checking the official SSC website for updates.

Things can change! If you follow these steps and study hard, you'll be in great shape to apply and ace the SSC CGL 2025 exam. Best of luck!


Hello,

Yes, you can fill the SSC CGL form if you are in the last semester of your BTech, but your degree must be completed before the final document verification stage.

So, if your final result comes out before that stage, then you are eligible. Just make sure you will have your degree or provisional certificate by the time SSC asks for documents.

Hope it helps !

Tier 1 (Objective – 60 mins, 200 marks)

  • General Intelligence & Reasoning – Analogies, Coding-Decoding, Series, Puzzles.

  • General Awareness – Current Affairs, History, Geography, Economy, Science.

  • Quantitative Aptitude – Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Data Interpretation.

  • English Comprehension – Reading Comprehension, Grammar, Vocabulary, Error Spotting.

Tier 2 (Paper I – Mandatory for All Posts)

  • Mathematical Abilities – Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Statistics.

  • Reasoning & General Intelligence – Logical & Non-verbal Reasoning.

  • English Language – Advanced Grammar, Vocabulary, Comprehension.

  • General Awareness – Economy, History, Science, Polity.

  • Computer Knowledge – Basics of Software, Hardware, MS Office.

Additional Papers

  • Paper II (Statistics) – For Junior Statistical Officer.

  • Paper III (Finance & Economics) – For AAO/Assistant Accounts Officer.

Official Syllabus: SSC Website (https://ssc.nic.in/)

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