How to Clear SSC CGL in First Attempt
The Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level (SSC CGL) exam is one of the most competitive exams in India, with thousands of aspirants competing every year. As the SSC CGL 2025 exam approaches, having a clear and effective strategy is essential for cracking the exam in your first attempt. To successfully clear the SSC CGL 2025 exam on your first attempt, it is important to have a solid understanding of the exam pattern, syllabus, and the best study materials. In addition to this, effective time management and consistent practice are key to achieving success. In this article, we will explore proven tips and strategies to help you prepare effectively and clear the SSC CGL 2025 exam in your first attempt.
SSC CGL Exam 2025 Overview
The SSC CGL 2025 Notification is expected to be released in April, 2025, and the application process is likely to continue till 21st May, 2025. As per the SSC Latest Calendar, the SSC CGL Tier 1 Exam 2025 is expected to be scheduled in June to July 2025. Detailed information about the SSC CGL 2025 Exam is provided in the table below.
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Particulars | SSC CGL 2025 Notification Details |
Name | Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level (SSC CGL) |
Conducted by | Staff Selection Commission (SSC) |
Exam Level | National |
Frequency | Yearly |
Vacancies | TBA |
Exam Mode | Online |
Exam Duration | Tier-I: 60 minutes, Tier-II: 2 hours 15 minutes ( Paper – I) |
Purpose of Exam | To select candidates for Group B and C posts in various departments of the Government of India |
Language | Multilingual |
Official Website | ssc.gov.in |
How to Clear SSC CGL in the First Attempt 2025
Important tips to help you clear SSC CGL in the first attempt include :
1. Read the Syllabus Meticulously
Once you read the syllabus for all the tiers, you will get a rough idea of how you can go about preparing for the exam. Check out the pattern and syllabus online frequently because minor changes are often introduced. If you are familiar with the SSC CGL Syllabus, you will not study in excess and go off the track. When you glance at the syllabus, you will be able to tell right away where your strengths and weaknesses lie. Make a note of them.
2. Make a Study Plan
We can’t emphasize enough on how important it is to formulate a SSC CGL Preparation Strategy. Dedicate the bulk of your study-time to your weak points. Start your day with the daily schedule be it for Maths, Reasoning, or English. And make sure you revise whatever you have learned when you end your study session. This way, the lessons, and information will be ingrained in your mind.
3. Opt for The Right Books
Unlike school, you will not be prescribed specific books. You will have to use your discretion regarding the best possible study books. There are a lot of publications that have come up with books on SSC CGL. Use the internet to research which books you need so that you don’t end up spending a fortune on the wrong books. You can also refer to this list of best CGL Books.
4. Practice Everyday
Cracking SSC CGL requires arduous effort. So be prepared to study 6-8 hours every day without any disruption. Do not skip any segment no matter how easy you find it. Try to Practice the SSC CGL Mock Test Every day.
5. Solve Practice Papers
Once you have covered everything on the syllabus, it will be time to put your skills and knowledge to test. There are plenty of previous-year question papers available online. Try solving them. This will give you an idea about the state of your preparation. Keep doing practice papers every day to build your efficiency.
6. Sign Up for Mock Tests
Mock tests play an instrumental role in your success in competitive exams. This is because these tests are close to the level of the real exam. There will be a time just like the entrance exam and you will be under the same pressure. So this will give you a hint of what the real exam will be like. So you can figure out how you are performing under stress and how much time each segment is taking up. Based on the results and feedback, you can tweak your strategy and work at those segments that are troubling you.
7. Learn to Cope with Stress
Preparing for SSC CGL is no child’s play. You will be under a lot of stress and anxiety. But they are not conducive to smart study. Anxiety can make you freeze on the day of the exam. So you have to manage stress. Here are a few tips that will help-
- Find a hobby and let it take your mind off the worries and anxiety
- Practise meditation and yoga
- Work-out every day
- Eat healthily
8. Revise Rigorously
Plan your study in a way that you complete the entire syllabus at least 3 months before the exam. In those three months leading up to the exam, revise and practice again and again.
If you are wondering how to clear SSC CGL with your very first try, you should stick to these techniques.
SSC CGL Exam Pattern For Tier 1
The SSC CGL Exam Pattern for Tier – 1 is as follows :
Subject | Questions | Maximum Marks |
---|---|---|
General Intelligence & Reasoning | 25 | 50 |
Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 |
General English | 25 | 50 |
General Awareness | 25 | 50 |
Total Duration is 60 minutes
Note: In this paper, there is a negative marking of 0.50 for every wrong answer. The questions will be set both in English & Hindi except for English Comprehension in Tier-I.
From previous cycle, SSC CGL Tier – 1 is a qualifying exam but you still need to clear the high cut off to be able to appear for Tier – 2.
How to Score 185+ in SSC CGL Tier 1 Exam? – Know Here
Tier 1 Score is extremely important as the marks that you score in each of the Tiers of SSC CGL are added to arrive at the final scores. If you score considerably high marks in the Tier 1 Exam, then it will give you an edge over your competitors. Going forward if you score a little less in any of the papers of Tier-II exam, nothing to worry then, your Tier I marks would take you through.
Here we would discuss a detailed strategy for Tier 1 Exam in this blog. We would take up each of the sections asked in Tier I and go about understanding how to approach those in this limited time remaining with us.
English Comprehension
Topic wise strategy for English language is given below :
Grammar Based Questions
Topic | Sub-Topic | Number of Questions (Approx) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Grammar-Based Questions | Error Spotting | 2-3 Qs | |
Sentence Improvement | 2-3 Qs | ||
Sentence Completion | 2-3 Qs | ||
Direct/Indirect Speech | 1-2 Qs | ||
Active/Passive Voice | 1-2 Qs | ||
Question Tag | 1 Q | ||
Vocabulary-Based Questions | Easy to attempt if you know the words. Regular reading and preparation is essential. | ||
English Comprehension-Based | Reading Comprehension or Cloze Test | 5 Qs | Read daily for at least 20 minutes to improve comprehension skills and speed. |
Sentence Rearrangement | 2 Qs |
Pointers to Keep in Mind:
- Previous Years’ Papers: Emphasize solving previous years’ SSC papers multiple times.
- Mock Tests: Regularly take mock tests and treat them like the real exam. Analyze your performance post-test for better insights.
- Time Management: Devise a strategy to allocate time to each section during mock tests.
- Post-Test Analysis: After mock tests, analyze your performance to understand your strengths and weaknesses.
General Awareness (Static + Dynamic)
Topic-wise breakup of General Awareness is as follows :
Topics | Number of Questions |
History | 3 – 4 |
Polity | 2 – 5 |
Geography | 2 – 4 |
Economics | 1 – 3 |
Static Awareness | 2 – 6 |
Biology | 1 – 4 |
Chemistry | 2 – 4 |
Physics | 1 – 3 |
Current Affairs | 7 – 8 |
Total | 25 |
Current Affairs includes – Important events of past 6 months, Important Government Schemes, Books and Authors, Important Days, Sports News.
Pointers to be Kept in Mind:
- Once you go through the books, read it very attentively. When you read it twice, try and make short notes of important points and facts. These will help you when you revise the same topics right before the exam.
Quantitative Aptitude
The topic-wise weightage of all topics in Arithmetic is is given below :
Topic | Weightage |
Percentage | 1 – 2 |
Ratio and Proportion | 2 – 3 |
SI and CI | 1 – 2 |
Time and Work | 2 – 3 |
Speed, Time and Distance | 1 – 2 |
Ages and Averages | 1 – 2 |
Simplification | 1 – 2 |
Topic-wise weightage of Advanced topics are given below :
Topics | Weightage |
Geometry | 2 – 3 |
Mensuration | 3 – 4 |
Algebra | 3 – 4 |
Trigonometry | 2 – 4 |
Number System | 1 – 2 |
DI | 4 – 5 |
From Data Interpretation, 4-5 questions are asked.
Topic | Weightage |
Missing and Wrong Number Series | 2 – 3 |
Dice Based Questions | 1 – 2 |
Odd one Out | 1 – 2 |
Cube | 2 – 3 |
Venn Diagram | 1 – 2 |
Coding and Decoding | 4 – 5 |
Blood Relation | 1 – 2 |
Mirror image and Paper Folding Image | 2 – 3 |
Figures (Hidden, Counting and Complete) | 4 – 5 |
This section doesn’t have any fixed formula or rules, hence continuous practice of various type of questions is the only way to clear this section.
This was all from us in this blog. If you follow the topics, resources, and strategy given in here, we are sure that you would also be able to score 185+ marks out of 200 in SSC CGL Exam. Do read the tips given below to successfully clear the exam in your very first attempt.
FAQs
Ans. On an average last 6 months current affairs is the most important. Read selected important events for a minimum of 1 year.
Ans. To study for Quantitative Aptitude,
Follow Standard book
Solve Previous year Questions
Attempt Mock Tests and analyse them to know track your progress
Memorize Important Formulae, learn tips and tricks to solve questions faster
Ans. Reasoning section doesn’t have any fixed formula or rules, hence continuous practice of various type of questions is the only way to clear this section.
Ans. You can find important books for SSC CGL here
- SSC CGL English Questions With Answers, Download Free PDF
- How to Prepare General Awareness For SSC CGL Exam 2025
- How to Clear SSC CGL in First Attempt 2025? Check Details
- 100 SSC CGL 2025 Maths Questions Download PDF Tier-2
- SSC CGL Reasoning Questions with Solutions, Download Now
- Success Story of SSC CGL 2024 Topper Shubham Agrawal, AIR 1

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The information which you gave it is very useful for a candidate who wants to clear SSC exam .
Thank you.
yes sir i would clear it after 5 years i am in 11th its not dream its aim which is my aim