SSC CGL 2023: How can you prepare for exam while working full time

The posts are coveted and even those who have secured some private sector jobs want to join.

However, the question arises of how to manage office work along with exam preparation. Well, it is very much doable and the first step is to make a study plan for all four sections – General Intelligence and Reasoning, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude and English Language. You need to prepare in a methodical manner. Guidance from competent mentors helps to structure and fine tune your preparation.

The free time you have beyond office hours has to be utilized in an optimal manner. Cut down drastically on TV/phone/other gadget time. Set your alarm clock one hour early to give you a head start in the day. Set SMART goals with respect to your study plan – Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Timely.

The SSC CGLE syllabus is vast. It is advisable to understand the basic concepts of the topics and practice questions of different difficulty levels. You should strive to improve accuracy as well as increase the number of attempts. You need to identify your weak areas and strong areas. This is best done by taking mock tests. Different strategies and time-management techniques can be tried out during the mocks. Equally, if not more, important is the thorough analysis of the mock tests.

 Going through the test papers of previous years’ exams will give you a good idea about the focus on different topics. Pay more attention to the topics that carry more weightage as per the trend seen, without neglecting any topic. 

Do not neglect any section nor assume competency in one. You can get some idea of the expected cut-offs based on previous years’ paper analysis. But keep in mind that cut-offs will vary depending on the difficulty level of the section. Revising concepts and making notes will help a lot.

All the above along with regular office work may leave you exhausted at times. Try not to take on extra work without compromising on the quality of your work. Take out time for some relaxation- yoga, music, or a brisk walk will keep you good health and increase concentration. Keep the final goal in mind, like Arjun’s eye. This will keep you motivated. Remember that consistent hard & smart work is the key to cracking the SSC CGL exam. 

(The author is Senior Faculty at Test prep institute T.I.M.E)