SSC CGL Tier 2 exam for candidates qualifying in Tier 1 is scheduled to be held from 2nd-5th November 2020. The Tier 1 exam for 9,78,103 candidates was held from 3rd to 9th March 2020. The SSC CGL Tier 2 exam will consist of 2 compulsory papers namely Paper 1 (Quantitative Aptitude) and Paper 2 (English Language). Check here for SSC CGL Tier 2 preparation strategy for English section.
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Initially, let’s take a glance at the topics to be covered:
Reading comprehension, cloze test, fill in the blanks, para jumbles, error spotting, synonyms, antonyms, spelling/ detecting misspelled words, idioms & phrases, one-word substitution, improvement of sentences, active/ passive voice of verbs, conversion into direct/ indirect narration, shuffling of sentence parts, shuffling of sentences in a passage, cloze passage & comprehension passage.
| SSC CGL Tier 2: Topic Wise Distribution Of Questions in the English Language | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S.No | Topic | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 |
| 1 | Spot the error | 20 | – | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
| 2 | Fill In The Blanks | 5 | – | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 11 |
| 3 | Synonyms | 3 | – | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| 4 | Antonyms | 3 | – | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| 5 | Spelling/detecting misspelled words | 3 | – | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| 6 | Idioms & Phrases | 10 | – | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| 7 | One word substitution | 12 | – | 12 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 12 |
| 8 | Improvement of sentences | 22 | – | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 |
| 9 | Active/Passive voice of verbs | 20 | – | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
| 10 | Conversion into Direct/ Indirect narration | 27 | – | 27 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 25 |
| 11 | Jumbled Paragraph / Sentence Rearrangement | 20 | – | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
| 12 | Cloze passage | 25 | – | 25 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 25 |
| 13 | Comprehension Passage | 30 | – | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 25 |
| Total | 200 Questions | |||||||
SSC CGL Tier-2 Preparation Strategy for English
READING COMPREHENSION – Do regular practice with time. Since Passages are long, you need to improve your speed. First attempt questions which can be solved directly ie “Most opposite or “Most similar” kind. Here you needn’t know the exact meaning of the word. Go through the passage, understand the context, and find the word that suits the most. Now move towards the indirect questions, but ensure you don’t stick on it for long.
CLOZE TEST – is a type of comprehension exercise in which the reader is required to add words that have been omitted from the passage. Link the previous and next sentences. Be careful with nouns, pronouns, verbs, prepositions, conjunction, article, and tenses while dealing with this.
ERROR SPOTTING – This is a very scoring as well as a very less time-consuming section. In most cases, there is an error in the subject-verb agreement. Learn all the error spotting rules of each topic like articles, tenses, nouns, pronouns, etc,.
FILL IN THE BLANKS – For this, a rich vocabulary is required. Apply the elimination rule if you can’t find the answer in one go. Read the full sentence and try to go with the flow.
IDIOMS and PHRASES – An idiom is a phrase or fixed expression that sometimes has meanings. A figurative meaning can be different from a logical meaning.
- If you see idioms in context, try to understand the context as it all depends on vocabulary
- Try to remember idioms through images, this will help you remember them by seeing the pictures in your mind
Here are some tips to ease your preparation for SSC CGL Tier 2-
Follow study plan with consistency
Just like the old adage, ‘Rome was not built in a day’, similarly, languages too cannot be learned in a day. Consistent preparation is necessary to master a language. Make daily study plans and stick to them.
Read More to Improve
Do not underestimate reading. Read a lot of English books and academic textbooks as well. Read novels or anything that grabs your interest. Focus on reading different genres and styles of writing such as classic literature, fiction, biographies, blogs, and articles. Learn the difference between confusing words – Homographs, Homophones, Heteronyms, and Homonyms that cause difficulties frequently. Regular reading will give you a fair idea about the usage of grammar rules while framing sentences and confidence to speak up in public.
Use Stopwatch to track preparation time
Don’t spend more than 15 minutes on the English section. You will have to solve a lot of mock tests and learn to manage your time. To start with, attempt the vocabulary section first and then move on to reading comprehension. The verbal ability section will come next as it is easy to score.
Strengthen Grammar Basics
Study the basics of grammar and this can be done even from school level grammar books to strengthen your basicsOverall, you will have to strengthen your grammar to improve your scores in the English section of the SSC CGL Tier 2 exam. Many aspirants have a misconception that Grammar is the toughest of all sections in English. Clear your doubts by learning the basic grammar rules. Be thorough with the concepts. Take the assistance of online classes when necessary. Follow standard books of Wren and Martin to learn the basics. Being thorough with them will help you minimize the chances of getting errors.
Read Newspaper Editorial and Opinion Columns
It will improve your English and help you in the Reading Comprehension section. The English used in Newspaper editorials and opinion columns is good enough to improve your English. Practice them on a daily basis and don’t just rely on GK capsules and PDFs available online. We release a weekly vocabulary session related article on every Friday. Check out the latest article and improve your authority over the language.
We, the Entri team wishes all the candidates the best of luck, for SSC CGL and all upcoming competitive exams. Give your best and pass the exam with flying colors. Our teachers are all set to provide you with the aptest and relevant knowledge required in each subject based on the latest exam pattern.
