Introduction

The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) Combined Graduate Level (CGL) examination is the gateway to the most prestigious Group B and C posts in the central government. Whether you dream of becoming an Income Tax Inspector, an ASO in MEA, or an Excise Inspector, this is the exam you need to crack.

For CGL 2026, the competition will be fierce. With the pattern now stabilized (Tier 1 qualifying, Tier 2 deciding merit), the strategy has shifted. You cannot just be “good” at everything; you need to be “exceptional” in the high-scoring areas.

This guide lays out the exact roadmap to clear SSC CGL 2026 in your first attempt.

The Exam Pattern (Simplified)

Forget the complex notifications. Here is what matters:

Tier 1: The Screening Test

• Role: Qualifying only. Marks are NOT added to the final merit list.
• Subjects: Reasoning, GA, Quant, English (25 questions each).
• Total: 200 Marks (100 Questions).
• Time: 60 Minutes.
• Target: Score 140+ to be safe for all categories.

Tier 2: The Rank Decider

This is where the war is won. It is conducted on a single day.

Crucial Note: Computer and Typing are qualifying but mandatory. Many toppers fail because they ignore Computer or can’t type. Don’t make that mistake.

Subject-Wise Strategy

1. English Language (Highest Weightage)

With 45 questions in Tier 2 (135 marks), English is the kingmaker.

• Grammar: Don’t just read rules. Practice “Spotting Errors” and “Sentence Improvement” chapters from standard books (like Neetu Singh Vol 1).
• Vocabulary: This is pure memory. You need to remember Synonyms, Antonyms, Idioms, and One-word substitutions.
  • Strategy: Use the Scoreclever App to learn vocabulary. Its spaced repetition algorithm ensures you don’t forget words you learned last month.
• Comprehension: Read daily. Cloze tests and Para jumbles require reading speed and context understanding.

2. General Awareness (The Differentiator)

Most engineers and maths-wizards score full in Quant/Reasoning. GA is where they lose marks.

• Static GK (70%): Focus on Art & Culture, Polity, and Geography.
• Current Affairs: Focus on the last 6-8 months before the exam.
  • Resource: Download concise Daily CA PDFs from Scoreclever’s Telegram. They are designed specifically for SSC one-liners.

3. Quantitative Aptitude

• Arithmetic: Percentage, Ratio, Profit & Loss. These are the base.
• Advance Maths: Geometry, Trigonometry, Algebra, Mensuration. This is 50% of the paper.
• Calculation: Learn tables to 30, squares to 50, cubes to 25. Speed is everything.

4. Reasoning

• Target: 50/50 in Tier 1 and 90/90 in Tier 2.
• Practice: Previous Year Questions (PYQs) are enough. Don’t waste time on CAT-level puzzles. SSC reasoning is about speed.

The 6-Month Timeline (Targeting June 2026)

Phase 1: Foundation (Months 1-2)

• Complete the syllabus for Maths and Grammar.
• Start learning 20 new vocab words daily.
• Read Static GK (History/Polity) for 1 hour daily.

Phase 2: Practice (Months 3-4)

• Start giving Sectional Tests.
• Solve last 5 years’ PYQs (CGL, CHSL, CPO).
• Start Computer Awareness (15 mins daily).

Phase 3: Mastery (Months 5-6)

• Full Mocks: Give 1 mock daily. Analyze it for 2 hours.
• Typing: Practice typing for 30 mins daily.
• Revision: Revise all vocab and GK notes.

Common Pitfalls

1. Ignoring Typing: You can score 350/390 and still fail if you fail the typing test. Start practicing early.
2. Neglecting Computer: The Computer section is tricky. Read a standard PDF or book.
3. Over-studying Maths: Don’t spend 6 hours on Maths and 0 on GK. The weightage has changed. Balance your prep.

Key Takeaways

• English is King: It has the highest weightage (135 marks) in Tier 2. Master it.
• GA is Critical: It separates the toppers from the average scorers.
• Smart Tools: Use Scoreclever for vocabulary retention and Telegram PDFs for concise Current Affairs.
• Consistency: 6 months of disciplined study is better than 2 years of on-and-off preparation.

The notification will be out in April 2026. You have the time. You have the strategy. Now, put in the work.