How to Improve English for SSC CGL?

Most aspirants worry about quants or reasoning, but ask anyone who has cleared the exam, and they will tell you that English is the game-changer. Unlike Quants or Reasoning, where you have complex problems to solve under tremendous time pressure, English is simpler. It runs on Vocabulary, Grammar rules, and comprehension, all of which can be solved in very little time with even basic foundational clarity. 

The best part is, you don’t need to be Shashi Tharoor to score well. Basic English skills and consistent practice are enough to help you score full marks in SSC CGL. 

Understanding the Importance of English in SSC CGL

The English section carries 50 marks in Tier-1 and a weightage of 135 marks in Tier-2 (Paper-II). That’s 185 marks in total, a huge chunk of the total marks. 

Weightage breakdown: 

Building a Strong Vocabulary

Vocabulary is like the backbone of English for the SSC CGL Exam. The paper often includes synonyms, antonyms, idioms, one-word substitutions, and spelling errors. 

• Learn 10 new words daily from newspapers like The Hindu or The Indian Express.
• Use flashcards or do daily quizzes on the Adda247 app
• Maintain a personal vocab diary with examples of how to use the word in a sentence.

For example, instead of learning the meaning of the word ‘abstain’ (=avoid), try using it in a sentence before writing it down- ‘he decided to abstain from procrastination’. This way, you will never forget it. 

Grammar Made Simple

Grammar is where most aspirants lose marks, especially in error spotting and sentence improvement. The good news is that SSC asks standard grammar rules, not advanced ones.

To attempt questions from the section – ‘English Language and Comprehension’, a proper understanding of Grammar Usage is required. These are the most common questions in all competitive exams, and mostly can be seen in the form of questions like ‘spotting the errors. Finding a mistake in a sentence is a step-by-step process. Students must follow grammar rules while solving such types of questions.

Focus Areas:

• Subject-Verb Agreement
• Tenses
• Articles & Prepositions
• Pronoun usage
• Active/Passive Voice

Reading Comprehension (RC) Strategy

Nobody can master Reading Comprehension Overnight, but you can develop it inherently through a course of time. To become a pro in the reading comprehension part and to develop reading skills, it is very much required that you develop the habit of reading every day.

Reading newspapers is a nice option, but going through daily facts happening every day cannot solve the purpose alone. So it is better to prefer feature stories, opinion pieces in editorials, business magazines, etc., which can help you build your reading and comprehension skills quite quickly.

• Read editorials and short opinion pieces regularly.
• Practice summarizing a passage in 3–4 lines.
• Improve skimming and scanning speed.

Daily Practice Routine

Besides your daily extensive prep for English, along with other subjects, you also need to put in some daily practice to be 100% ready to secure full marks for both tier-1 and tier-2. You can follow this one-hour daily routine: 

Mock Tests, Mock Tests, and Mock Tests

Even with perfect theoretical preparation, without practicing in exam-like conditions, you might fall behind. Make mock tests your best friend and live with them throughout your prep time.

• Attempt at least 2 English mocks per week initially.
• Note down mistakes in a separate “Error Notebook.”
• Revise errors weekly to avoid repeating them.

Reading Habit = Long-Term Gains

One thing that separates high scores from average scores in SSC CGL is the habit of reading. You can memorize 1,000 words or practice endless grammar exercises, but without exposure to real English usage, you’ll struggle with comprehension, sentence improvement, and even vocabulary retention. Regular reading builds both speed and comprehension. You should read: 

• Editorials (for grammar & vocab)
• Short stories (for flow of language)
• SSC CGL Previous Year Papers (for exam pattern)

SSC CGL Books for English Prep

The table below shows the books that candidates can refer to prepare for the English section in the SSC CGL exam. These books will help candidates cover most of the topics in the English language and effectively prepare for  SSC CGL English comprehension, basic comprehension, and writing ability.