English Language and Comprehension | SSC CGL Tier 1 Mock Test Series 2024 PDF Download

Introduction

The SSC CGL (Staff Selection Commission - Combined Graduate Level) Exam is one of the most sought-after exams in India for securing a government job. It’s a competitive exam that tests various skills, including your knowledge of English. To do well in this exam, especially in the English Language and Comprehension section, you need a clear plan and regular practice.

Why English Language and Comprehension is Important

The English Language and Comprehension section is important because it tests your understanding of English, which is crucial for many of the government roles the exam qualifies you for. This section appears in both Tier 1 and Tier 2 of the SSC CGL exam and includes questions on grammar, vocabulary, and comprehension. Performing well in this section can significantly improve your overall score, making it easier to qualify for the next stage.

Weightage of Chapters in SSC CGL

• Reading Comprehension: High weightage, appears frequently in both tiers.
• Error Spotting: Common in Tier 1 and Tier 2, tests your grammar skills.
• Phrases and Idioms: Regularly asked, requires a good understanding of expressions.
• Synonyms & Antonyms: Important for vocabulary building.
• Fill in the Blanks: Tests context understanding and vocabulary.
• One Word Substitution: Checks your ability to simplify phrases.
• Sentence Correction & Improvement: Essential for grammar.
• Cloze Test: Focuses on comprehension and context.
• Active & Passive Voice: Regularly tested in Tier 2.
• Para Jumbles & Sentence Rearrangement: Tests logical sequence skills.
• Direct and Indirect Speech: Commonly asked in grammar-focused questions.

30-Day Study Plan

Day 1-3: Reading Comprehension

• Focus: Practice reading passages and answering questions to improve comprehension.
• What to Do: Read passages on various topics (like science, literature, current affairs) and practice questions related to them.
• EduRev Tip: Use available comprehension passages to practice regularly. Analyze your mistakes to understand where you need improvement.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• Understand the main idea, tone, and purpose of the passage.
• Learn to eliminate wrong answer choices quickly.

Day 4-6: Error Spotting

• Focus: Learn to identify common grammatical errors in sentences.
• What to Do: Review grammar rules on subject-verb agreement, tenses, articles, and practice error spotting exercises.
• EduRev Tip: Go through grammar lessons to brush up on the rules before practicing with error-spotting exercises.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• Revise grammar rules regularly to keep them fresh in your mind.
• Practice under timed conditions to simulate exam scenarios.

Day 7-9: Phrases, Idioms, Synonyms, and Antonyms

• Focus: Enhance your vocabulary and understanding of idiomatic expressions.
• What to Do: Learn common idioms and phrases, and practice finding their meanings. Expand your vocabulary by learning new synonyms and antonyms.
• EduRev Tip: Create flashcards for idioms, phrases, and new words to help remember them. Use daily quizzes to reinforce learning.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• Practice regularly to remember the meanings of difficult words and phrases.
• Revise your flashcards frequently.

Day 10-12: Fill in the Blanks & One Word Substitution

• Focus: Improve your ability to choose the correct word in sentences and learn to replace phrases with a single word.
• What to Do: Practice filling in the blanks exercises focusing on context, and learn common one-word substitutions.
• EduRev Tip: Use practice sets to test your understanding of context and vocabulary.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• Focus on the context of the sentence to choose the right word.
• Regularly review one-word substitutions.

Day 13-15: Sentence Correction & Improvement

• Focus: Learn to correct grammatical mistakes and improve sentence structure.
• What to Do: Practice correcting sentences by focusing on grammar rules like verb forms, conjunctions, and prepositions.
• EduRev Tip: Use exercises that allow you to practice both correcting errors and improving sentences.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• Pay special attention to common grammar mistakes.
• Practice with exercises that challenge you to think about sentence structure.

Day 16-18: Active & Passive Voice, Direct & Indirect Speech

• Focus: Master the conversion of sentences between active/passive voice and direct/indirect speech.
• What to Do: Practice exercises that involve changing sentences from active to passive voice and vice versa, and from direct to indirect speech.
• EduRev Tip: Review lessons on voice and speech to understand the rules before attempting practice exercises.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• Memorize key rules for converting sentences.
• Practice with varied examples to cover all possibilities.

Day 19-21: Para Jumbles & Sentence Rearrangement

• Focus: Develop your skills in arranging sentences logically to form a coherent paragraph.
• What to Do: Practice arranging jumbled sentences in the correct order to make sense.
• EduRev Tip: Work with exercises that challenge your logical thinking and sentence sequencing skills.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• Look for clues within the sentences that indicate order.
• Practice arranging sentences quickly to improve speed.

Day 22-24: Cloze Test & Sentence Completion

• Focus: Improve your ability to fill in the missing words in a passage and complete sentences accurately.
• What to Do: Practice cloze tests by reading the passage carefully and understanding the context. Work on sentence completion exercises.
• EduRev Tip: Use practice passages and sentence completion exercises to sharpen your skills.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• Pay attention to the overall meaning of the passage before choosing words.
• Practice consistently to improve accuracy.

Day 25-27: Grammar Essentials – Tenses, Noun, Pronoun, Verbs, Modals

• Focus: Strengthen your understanding of basic grammar rules.
• What to Do: Review grammar rules related to tenses, nouns, pronouns, verbs, and modals. Practice with exercises to reinforce these rules.
• EduRev Tip: Go through detailed explanations of grammar topics and then practice with quizzes.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• Revisit grammar rules you find challenging.
• Practice daily to build a strong foundation.

Day 28-29: Prepositions, Articles, Adjectives, Adverbs

• Focus: Master the correct usage of prepositions, articles, adjectives, and adverbs.
• What to Do: Practice using these parts of speech in sentences, focusing on the rules and exceptions.
• EduRev Tip: Use targeted exercises to reinforce your understanding of these topics.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• Review any tricky rules or exceptions.
• Practice consistently to get comfortable with these areas.

Day 30: Revision and Practice Test

• Focus: Go over everything you’ve learned and test yourself with a full-length practice test.
• What to Do: Spend the day reviewing all the topics covered in the last 29 days. Take a mock test to see how well you’ve understood and retained the material.
• EduRev Tip: Use a full-length mock test to simulate the exam experience and identify areas that need further review.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• Focus on topics where you feel less confident.
• Analyze your performance in the mock test to find areas for improvement.

Tips to Remember

• For Synonyms and Antonyms, try using simple memory tricks like associating new words with something familiar to help remember them.
• In Para Jumbles, always start by identifying the sentence that sets the context for the paragraph.
• Dedicate time every day to practice these topics, ensuring you’re well-prepared for the exam.

Conclusion

By following this detailed 30-day plan, you’ll systematically cover all the essential topics for the English Language and Comprehension section of the SSC CGL exam. Regular practice and revision are key to building confidence and ensuring success. Stay focused, keep practicing, and you’ll be well-prepared to ace this section on exam day.