While going for any competitive exam, before you start preparing
have a through look on exam structure and syllabus. For Example: For IAS
exam, you have to be a master in General Studies. For Constables
Mathematics is not of that much importance as compared to GK, although the
person who is good in Mathematics will be able to get merit if he has good hold
on GK, but you cannot expect 50 out of 50 in GK as this field is unlimited.
Our prime concern is to crack SSC CGL, so my articles will be
mostly devoted towards SSC CGL. With the passage of time, i will write more
articles for other exams also.
Keep one thing in mind, you are not preparing for IAS exam and
GK is just only of 50 marks out of 600 marks and requires a knowledge of
History, Polity, Geography, Science, Current Events and Economics.
Once again From SSC CGL point of view, don´t give so much time to GK.
Use smart approach and devote your quality time to Mathematics and English.
For SSC:
If you take a look at previous SSC papers, you will find that
most of questions have been asked from Static+ Science
Static: Static
means simple questions based on History, Polity, Geography from NCERT text
books.
Science :
Science questions from NCERT text books. Up to 10th
Current Events: person in news, books published bla bla bla
While preparing for
GK(SSC) keep one thing in mind, you will give most of time preparing for STATIC
+ SCIENCE part. New comers waste most of time in memorizing facts and other
irrelevant data that come in magazines.
Most of static questions are from Indian Polity & Indian
History not from World History, basic question are asked in Economics
which are based on current events , some questions in economics are
definition based and these question should not be attempted because they
are not beneficial from cost of time point of view.
How to Prepare for History
For SSC, History mean Indian History, hardly a question is
being asked from world history, so it is recommended to read Indian History
only.
What to prepare from History: Major preparation should be done from Medieval India to
freedom of India. Some time one or two questions clash with Polity, about
constitution of India but i will account them in History.
While studying don´t overload your mind by memorizing dates. In
SSC question are asked frommajor events and major persons. As every
person has limited amount of memorizing capacity, you will have to forgot
something for something new. So use your memory smartly.
Try to understand and co-relate the events in Indian History and
try to make relationship with your life. Its your duty to create
memory link up with the events.
Like you know your father´s birthday and some event has happened
on this day in History, you may link it with your father´s birthday. :)
How to Prepare for Economy:
It's good to
prepare Economy from book named Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh (Click to Buy ),
to read eBook click here it
will help you to grasp concepts of Economy and how things works and
inter-related. . This book also contains important data like Economic Survey of
India; Remember you are here to crack SSC not to do PhD on Economy, this book
is more than enough to prepare for Economics section. You are not recommended
to read micro and macro economics from XI and XII th class and if you have
time, you can go for it.
Beside STATIC part, there will be one or two questions from
current events in Economics. I will publish them time to time.
For Geography:
SSC most of time asks questions from Indian Geography. So don´t
prepare for world Geography. Because it will not be beneficial to you from SSC
exam point of view.
For IAS exams, it is mandatory to prepare for World History and
World Geography, but from SSC point of view, don´t go for it.
Use NCERT books for proper concept building and
finally use LUCENT GK for quick revision of facts.
What to read:
Many information is factual in Nature but many concepts are
scientific, like Monsoon, Rocks, soil type etc. Try to understand them. One or
two questions always come from these concepts. Understand them with proper
concentration and try to make relationship with outer space with soil, rocks,
coal etc.
Note down major current events from Newspapers or some other
magazine of good publication but keep in mind to note down major events only.
Don´t mess with irrelevant data.
For Polity
For Indian Polity I recommend
to read from Indian Polity by Laxmikanth. This book is written
in a great manner. The language is easy to understand. Hindi version
of this book is also available.
Try to read chapter by chapter basis and try to relate with
local government, central government, how do they work etc.
In that way you will be able to understand better and to secure
marks It is necessary to haveinterest toward Indian Political
System even though it is corrupted and need many reformations.
So like it or not, you will have to show some interest to
understand anything.
Science:
I mean to prepare for general science up to matric level
from NCERT TEXT BOOKS and to understand it properly. Finally use lucent
for quick revision of facts.
Tip: Now
a days, many B.Tech students are also appearing for SSC exams, a tip for them,
not to be overconfident that you are from Science and you can do it easily.
B.Tech have specific specialization and you will not be able to attempt SSC
questions properly and if somebody have issue over my tip then they can judge
themselves by picking up previous SSC question papers.
Current Events:
What to read from Newspapers: Read Indian Express or THE
HINDU
Major Events, For example:
Sports: IN IPL
who won, which team was against them, RED CAP holder etc.
Major events like Wimblendon Singles champion, doubles champion,
chances increases if there is some major twist in results. Like Andy
Mary (England )defeated Nowark Djovik No.1 tennis player.
National Events like : Government Policy, Plans, Bills, Big Mega
fests, ISRO launch, SARC, G8 summit etc.
Strictly NO CRIME REPORTS, it hardly have importance in
competition exams.
Major technological
events, but not mobile launch by SAMSUNG, Car Launch by AUDI etc.
Two-three questions
are now being asked from Computers, so prepare for them also. So far they are
easy in nature but may be typical as competition increases.
With the matter of quality time devoted to the studies, your
mind will automatically start to sort out the necessary from unnecessary. If
you have some time try to read editorial pages, it will help you to make
decisions if a typical question is being asked in interview and it will
increase your vocabulary also.
For other Competitive Exams
For other competitive exams like Bank PO, clerk, LIC etc
strategy will be same but major changes in GK are not to prepare for
History and Geography. Majority of questions will be asked from Economics &
current events based on Economics and Computers Knowledge is necessary for Bank
Exams. So prepare for them accordingly.
For example : For SBI PO exam, there is separate section for
computers and Mangement Principles and in Numercial Aptitude (For Banks):
Question are not asked from trigonometry and Geometry. So prepare accordingly
after through studies of last year papers and syllabus.
Now this concludes strategy for SSC GK & other competitive
exams in my next article i will guide you to prepare for English Tier I &
Tier II.
Take care of yourself and have a nice day!!
Once again From SSC CGL point of view, don´t give so much time to GK. Use smart approach and devote your quality time to Mathematics and English.
Take care of yourself and have a nice day!!