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The Staff Selection Commission conducts the SSC CGL exam annually to recruit candidates for various Group B & Group C positions in the Government of India. Many candidates find the General Awareness section challenging due to its vast syllabus. This article provides a strategy to score 40+ marks in this section.
The SSC CGL Tier I exam includes 25 questions each from General Awareness, Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, and English, with 50 marks per section. The General Awareness section often shows the most variation in scores, making it crucial to perform well here to stay competitive.
Preparation Strategy for General Awareness
Completing the vast syllabus of General Awareness takes time and consistent efforts are required to score good in this section, let’s have a look on the preparation strategy given below.
Know The Syllabus
Ensure a thorough understanding of the entire syllabus outlined by the SSC. Print a copy of the syllabus and meticulously identify the areas where you need improvement. The following is a compilation of topics covered in the General Awareness section of the SSC CGL. Below is the list of topics asked in the General Awareness section of SSC CGL.
- Static General Knowledge that includes the History, Geography, Polity, and Economics, of India and neighboring countries.
- Science
- Current Affairs
- Sports
- Books and Authors
- Important Schemes
- Portfolios
- People in the News etc
Apart from knowing the syllabus, candidates should be aware of the distribution of questions asked in the recent installments of the exam. This will give them an idea regarding the weightage of the topics mentioned in the syllabus. The table below will provide the candidates with an idea regarding the recent trend in the exam.
Topic | Number of Questions |
history | 3 |
Polity | 3 |
Geography | 3 |
Economics | 2 |
Science | 3 |
Current Affairs | 5 |
Miscellaneous | 6 |
Total | 25 |
Take notes and study every day
In the preparation of any competitive exam, it is necessary to prepare for each and every topic mentioned in the syllabus.
Current Affairs
Maintain a daily journal by making notes on various events that occurred, such as: Persons in the News, Awards and Honors, Sports, Defense and Military Exercises, Science and Space developments, Environment and Climate updates, significant National and State News, newly launched Government Schemes and Policies, International News of importance, key happenings in the Banking and Finance sector, major Reports and Indices released, notable Books and Authors, and any Important Days or Miscellaneous events of relevance.
Revise these notes the next day before adding new events. This practice will aid in retaining current affairs for an extended period and prove beneficial during revision when you have handwritten notes. Stay updated through reputable news websites and newspapers for current affairs.
Monthly and Yearly Revision: Utilize monthly and yearly current affairs compilations for a deeper understanding. Focus on topic-wise coverage and practice MCQs regularly.
Static General Knowledge
Static GK covers topics such as History, Geography, Polity, Economics, General Science, Art, and Culture, and Environment. Art and Culture comprise various subtopics like Classical and Folk dances, musical gharanas, ancient temples, fairs and festivals of India, tribes of India, and others. Typically, 4 to 5 questions are asked from these topics.
Make separate notes for these topics and revise them regularly, 1-2 times a week. For other static topics, use standard books and focus on important subjects that you will identify after analyzing previous year’s questions. Prepare these topics from video lectures as they aid in better understanding and retention.
Video Lectures: Watch topic-wise video lectures available on educational platforms for subjects like History, Geography, Polity, and Economics.
Books and Notes: Refer to standard books for static GK by renowned authors. Take notes while studying to aid retention and understanding.
Practice Mock Tests
Taking weekly mock tests enhances your preparation and these can be sectional as well as full length. This is generally done after going through the learning and practice phase of the preparation. However, while learning the concepts candidates can engage in daily quizzes or weekly mock tests to aid memory retention. SSC ADDA offers complimentary quizzes for the SSC CGL Tier I Exam. You can access and study them through the Adda247 app.