The SSC CGL English syllabus is a key part of the General Intelligence and General Awareness sections in Tier 1, and a separate high-scoring component in Tier 2. With regular and predictable question patterns, English can be a scoring subject if approached smartly. In this article, we provide the complete SSC CGL English syllabus 2026, topic-wise weightage, and preparation tips to help you ace this section.
What to study in English for SSC CGL?
English is tested in both Tier 1 and Tier 2 of the SSC CGL Exam. Tier 1 checks basic comprehension and grammar, while Tier 2 focuses on advanced understanding and usage. The overall syllabus remains the same, though the difficulty increases in Tier 2.
What is the syllabus of SSC CGL Tier 1 2026 English?
The SSC CGL Exam Pattern has Tier 1 English section which includes basic questions on grammar, vocabulary, comprehension, and sentence structure. Below is an SSC CGL English syllabus topic wise:
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What is the syllabus of SSC CGL Tier 2 2026 English?
The Tier 2 Paper 1 English section is designed to test your command over the language with more advanced and detailed questions.
| Module | Topics Covered |
|---|
| Vocabulary | Synonyms, Antonyms, Spelling Errors, Idioms & Phrases |
| Grammar Usage | Error Spotting, Fill in the Blanks, Sentence Correction |
| Comprehension | Reading Comprehension, Cloze Test, Para Jumbles |
| Verbal Ability | Sentence Improvement, Direct-Indirect Speech, Active-Passive Voice |
| Miscellaneous | One Word Substitution, Sentence Completion, Word Substitution |
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What is the difficulty level of English in SSC CGL?
The difficulty level of English in SSC CGL is moderate, with mostly basic to intermediate grammar and vocabulary questions.
How to cover English syllabus for SSC CGL?
Here are some strategic tips to make your English preparation more efficient and exam-focused:
Focus on daily reading, grammar mastery, vocabulary building, comprehension practice, mock tests, and regular revision.
| Strategy | Action Plan |
|---|
| Daily Reading | Read newspapers, editorials, and quality English articles to enhance comprehension and discover new words in context. |
| Grammar Mastery | Strengthen fundamentals like tenses, subject-verb agreement, active/passive voice, and narration using standard grammar books. |
| Vocabulary Building | Maintain a vocabulary notebook; learn 10-15 new words daily with meanings and example sentences. |
| Comprehension Practice | Solve at least one reading comprehension or cloze test daily to improve speed and accuracy. |
| Mock Tests & Previous Year Questions | Take topic-wise quizzes and analyze past papers to identify patterns and frequently asked concepts. |
| Regular Revision | Keep a separate notebook for idioms, phrasal verbs, and grammar rules; revise weekly to retain concepts effectively. |
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What is the topic-wise weightage of English in CGL exam?
The SSC CGL English syllabus topic wise shows Vocabulary, Grammar, Reading Comprehension, Cloze Test, Para Jumbles, Voice & Narration, Idioms & Phrases, and One Word Substitution with varying weightage in Tier 1 and Tier 2.
| Topic | Tier 1 (Approx. Questions) | Tier 2 (Approx. Questions) |
|---|
| Vocabulary | 4–5 | 15–20 |
| Grammar (Error, Fillers, Sentence Correction) | 6–8 | 25–30 |
| Reading Comprehension | 5 | 10–15 |
| Cloze Test | – | 10–15 |
| Para Jumbles / Sentence Rearrangement | 2–3 | 10–12 |
| Voice & Narration | 2–3 | 10–12 |
| Idioms & Phrases | 1–2 | 5–6 |
| One Word Substitution | 1–2 | 5–6 |
From where to download SSC CGL English Syllabus PDF?
You can download the SSC English syllabus for previous year's cycle here for reference; note that this is from the previous year, and the official SSC CGL English syllabus 2026 will be released after the 2026 notification.
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What are the key takeaways?
Below are the key takeaways:
- English is tested in both Tier 1 and Tier 2 of SSC CGL, with Tier 2 being more advanced.
- Tier 1 English covers vocabulary, grammar, comprehension, sentence structure, and idioms/phrases.
- Tier 2 English includes advanced vocabulary, grammar usage, comprehension, verbal ability, and one-word substitutions.
- Daily reading of newspapers and articles improves comprehension and vocabulary.
- Grammar mastery of tenses, voice, narration, and agreement is crucial.
- Vocabulary building requires learning 10–15 new words daily with usage examples.
- Practice comprehension via RCs, cloze tests, and para jumbles regularly.
- Mock tests and previous year questions help identify patterns and frequently asked topics.
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