Prayash’s CHSL Success Story, Rank 12 and Valuable Insights

Mahima Khurana

3 days ago

Hello everyone! Today, we’re joined by Prayash, who achieved Rank 12 in the SSC CHSL 2024 results. He has qualified CHSL before and even secured a SSC CGL Post which he didn’t join. Let’s dive into his journey and learn from his experience.

Meet Prayash

Let’s begin by getting to know Prayash, his background, and prior experiences with SSC exams.

Achievement: SSC CHSL 2024 Rank 12
Previous Qualifications: Qualified SSC CHSL Exam before, also secured a CGL post (posted in Kerala, didn’t join due to formalities and wanting a home posting).
Background: Was a good student in school/college but didn’t initially plan for government jobs.
Motivation for Govt. Job: Sought stability, started preparation by the end of 2022 after graduating in 2021.

Preparation Journey & Attempts

Here’s how Prayash’s preparation journey unfolded—from initial hesitations to final success.

Started Prep: End of 2022, motivated by the large CGL Vacancies that year.
First Attempts (2022): Couldn’t give the CGL 2022 attempt. Filled the CHSL 2022 form but lacked confidence and didn’t appear for the exam.
Success (2023 & 2024): Gave CGL 2023 and CHSL 2023 after preparation was complete. Selected in both 2023 (CGL post in Kerala) and now CHSL 2024 (Rank 12).

Biggest Challenge, Consistency

Maintaining consistency was the most difficult part of his journey. Let’s see how he tackled it.

Prayash admits his biggest hurdle was maintaining consistency.
He would study hard for a couple of days (e.g., 6 hours) but then slack off (e.g., 2 hours, just one mock).
Overcoming It: Realized this wouldn’t lead to a good selection. He started:

Identifying shortcomings.
Noting them down in a diary.
Working specifically on those weaknesses.
Becoming consistent with daily subject study and mocks.

Fresher vs. Repeater

Prayash shares insights on the advantage repeaters have and what freshers need to watch out for.

Repeater’s Advantage: Knows the exam pattern, expectations, and has experience handling exam hall pressure.
Fresher’s Challenge: Less idea about the exam, might lack confidence, and can get easily flustered by tough questions.
Key Difference: Experience and confidence in tackling the exam environment.

Advice for Beginners

He gives focused advice for new aspirants on what to prioritize in their early prep.

Concepts & Mocks: Both are crucial and should be done simultaneously. Clear concepts lead to better mock scores.
Time Management: Needs to be personalized based on strengths and weaknesses.
Initial Focus (Freshers): Give more time to the ‘Brahmastra’ subjects: Maths, English, and Reasoning. These are key to selection.
GK: Can be prepared in the last 2-3 months, but is essential for securing specific desired posts.
Balance: If strong in Maths/English, adjust time accordingly, but ensure all three core subjects are covered well.

Attempt Free SSC CHSL Typing Test Here

Can a Beginner Crack SSC in 6 Months?

Many aspirants wonder about timelines. Here’s Prayash’s take based on his experience.

Factor	Details
Background Advantage	Candidates with strong Maths or English foundation may manage in 6 months.
Challenge for Beginners	Those weak in Maths/English can still crack it, but it requires more time and effort.
Possibility	Yes, it is possible for anyone with consistent hard work and the right strategy.
Key Insight	The journey’s difficulty depends on individual background, but dedication is the equalizer.

Resource Management

Using too many resources can be a trap. Here’s how Prayash handled it smartly.

Stick to One Source: Prayash strongly advises relying on one primary source for concepts and revising it multiple times. This builds a strong grip.
Avoid Multiple Sources for Concepts: Studying the same topic from many different sources/teachers can lead to confusion in the exam hall.
Mocks: It’s okay to give mocks from different platforms to get varied exposure.

Attempt SSC CHSL Free Mock Test Here

Time Allocation During Prep

Let’s take a closer look at how he divided his time among subjects during different phases of preparation.

Stage	Subject	Time Allocated	Remarks
Initial Routine	Maths	2 hours	–
	English	2 hours	–
	Reasoning	1 hour	–
	GK	45 minutes	–
Later Routine	English	2 hours	Focused on rules, vocabulary, and reading
	Maths & Reasoning	Reduced time

Mock Strategy & Oliveboard Experience

Mocks played a critical role in his preparation. Here’s how he utilized them effectively.

Importance: Mocks are crucial for practice and self-assessment.
Oliveboard Live Mocks: Prayash never skipped the weekly live mocks.

Benefit: Helped gauge his standing among many aspirants (“know where you stand”).
Initial Fear: Was initially scared of live mocks but gained confidence as preparation improved.
Scores: Started around 130-140, improved to 150-160, and sometimes reached 170.

Download SSC CHSL Previous Year Papers Here

Preparing While Working

Prayash’s success came while managing a job. Let’s see how he balanced both worlds.

Prayash prepared for his successful attempts while holding a post.
No Shortcuts: Emphasizes that hard work is necessary, even with a job.
Utilize Time: He studied after work and even during office hours if he found time.
Focus: Identify mistakes from previous attempts and work on improving those specific areas.

Final Message & Motivation

He wraps up with a powerful message for all aspirants.

No Shortcuts: Hard work is the only way.
Self-Belief: Trust your preparation and believe you can achieve your goal (“Motivation should come from within”).
Consistency: Regular study and practice are key.
Work on Weaknesses: Identify and improve your shortcomings.
Avoid External Motivation Seeking: Rely on your own inner drive and faith in yourself.

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