Preparing Effectively for the SSC CHSL 2017-18 Exam: Tips and Strategies

Preparing for the Staff Selection Commission Combined Higher Secondary Level (SSC CHSL) exam can be challenging. Here, we outline a comprehensive strategy to help you successfully navigate through the three stages of the exam: Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3. Understanding the selection process, exam pattern, and marking scheme is the first step towards cracking this competitive exam.

The Selection Process, Exam Pattern, and Marking Scheme

The SSC CHSL exam comprises three stages: Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3. The selection process is stringent and involves:

Tier 1: An online objective test consisting of 100 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) for 200 marks, with a duration of 60 minutes. This includes 25 questions each from General Intelligence and English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and General Awareness. Negative marking of 0.5 per incorrect answer applies. Tier 2: A descriptive paper based test, which is also 200 marks in total and includes an essay (100 marks) and application/letter writing (100 marks). Tier 3: A skill/typing test based on the job profile, typically involving a typing speed of around 30-35 words per minute.

Your final shortlisting will be based on your performances in Tier 1 and Tier 2. Clearing the overall category-specific cutoff is the primary objective, but focusing on maximizing your scores in both tiers is crucial.

Strategy for Tier 1

The Tier 1 strategy should focus on maximizing your strengths while clearing the overall cutoff. Here are some tips:

Analyze Previous Year Papers: Understand the importance of topics across different sections by analyzing previous year's papers. PRACTICE: Practice all possible question patterns from frequently asked topics. Don't overlook easy and high-scoring questions in each section. ACCLIMATIZE TO TIME PRESSURE: Simulate the exam environment by solving questions within the given time limit to get accustomed to time constraints.

Important Topics in Tier 1

Quantitative Aptitude

Data Interpretation: Bar, Line, Graphs, Histograms, and Frequency Polygons (3-5 questions) Algebra (3-4 questions) Mensuration and Geometry (4-7 questions) Trigonometry (2-3 questions) Arithmetic: Percentages, Numbers Systems, Averages, Ratio and Proportion, Time-Speed-Distance, SI and CI, Time and Work, Profit and Loss, and Discounts (10 questions)

English Language

Reading Comprehension Cloze Test Vocabulary-Based Questions

General Intelligence and Reasoning

Analogies (4-6 questions) Series (~5 questions) Coding and Decoding (~2 questions) Directional Sense and Distance (2-3 questions) Classification (up to 5 questions) Word Building (2-3 questions)

Pro-Tips for Tier 1

Read through all questions before starting a section. Start with your strongest section and skip questions that are uncertain to avoid negative marking. Do not spend more than 15 minutes on the General Awareness section. Avoid guessing answers in the General Awareness section.

Strategy for Tier 2

Tier 2 involves a descriptive paper consisting of an essay and letter/application writing. Here are some tips to excel:

Format Understanding: Understand the format for letter writing and application writing by going through previous year's questions and best answers available online. Sample Answers: Review examples of correct and incorrect answers to get a clear picture of the do's and don'ts.

Pro-Tips for Tier 2

Take photos of your answers, scan them using Google Lens, and use Grammarly or Hemingway Editor to check for grammatical mistakes and sentence structure.

Strategy for Tier 3

Tier 3 is a typing test. Here are some tips to improve your typing speed:

Start with simple practice, such as typing the sentence "The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy frog." This helps you get used to the keyboard layout. Avoid making mistakes while typing quickly. Use messaging apps on your laptop to improve typing speed without a conscious effort. Read the newspaper daily to stay current with global events and summarize key points.

Conclusion

We hope these strategies help you prepare effectively for the SSC CHSL 2017-18 exam. Good luck with your preparation and best of luck in the exam!