Official Exam Guide

SSC CGL Tier 2 Preparation Strategy 2021

Ace the upcoming SSC CGL exam with our expert-backed preparation strategy, complete with subject-wise study plans, exam patterns, and 100% free practice materials on PrepMe247.

✍️ Reviewed by PrepMe247 Exam Editorial Board ⏱️ Updated 2026-09-13 🛡️ Verified Official Commission Source

SSC CGL Tier 2 Preparation Strategy 2021

Ace the upcoming SSC CGL exam with our expert-backed preparation strategy, complete with subject-wise study plans, exam patterns, and 100% free practice materials on PrepMe247.

✓ 100% Free Practice ✓ TCS iON CBT Format ✓ No Paywall ✓ Bilingual

A dream career without planning is just a wish, therefore to conquer your dream you need the right strategy and approach. As you might know, the SSC CGL Tier I 2021 has been postponed keeping in mind the pandemic outbreak in the country. SSC has not yet declared the dates for SSC CGL exams 2021. It is advisable that candidates must not let their preparation hang loose. Therefore, to make you ace the exam we have provided a subject-wise preparation strategy for the upcoming SSC CGL tier-II Exam 2020-21.

Download SSC CGL Maths Questions Free PDF! Click Here!

Download SSC CGL Gk Questions Free PDF! Click Here!

Download SSC CGL Reasoning Questions Free PDF! Click Here!

Download SSC CGL Algebra Questions Free PDF! Click Here!

SSC CGL Exam Preparation Overview 2020-21

SSC CGL Tier I exam concluded in March 2020 in various shifts across the country. Soon the Commission will release the Tier I result along with the Tier II admit card. Let’s have a look at the exam overview of SSC CGL before moving forward with subject-wise Tier-II preparation strategy.

Organization Staff Selection Commission
Examination Name Combined Graduate Level Examination
Exam Mode Online
Tier-I Exam Date August 13 to 24, 2021
Tier-II Exam Date January 28 and 29, 2022
Tier III & IV Exam Date To Be Notified Soon
Stages Four
Job Location Pan India
Recruiting Body Staff Selection Commission

SSC CGL Tier-II Exam Pattern 2020-21

In the table below we have provided SSC CGL Tier II Exam Pattern 2020-21, total marks, and time duration for the upcoming exam. Get the detailed information below

Subject Total Questions Total Marks Duration
Paper I – Quantitative Ability

(for ALL POSTS)

100 200 2 Hours

(For VH & Candidates suffering

from Cerebral Palsy: 2 Hours 40 Min)

Paper-II – English Language

(for ALL POSTS)

200 200 2 Hours

(For VH & Candidates suffering

from Cerebral Palsy: 2 Hrs 40 Min)

Paper III – Statistics (for Statistical Investigator Gr-II & Compiler POSTS ONLY) 100 200 2 Hour

(For VH & Candidates suffering

from Cerebral Palsy: 2 Hrs 40 Min)

Paper IV – General Studies (Finance & Economics) (for Asst Audit Officer Gazetted Group”B” POST ONLY) 100 200 2 Hour

(For VH & Candidates suffering from

Cerebral Palsy: 2 Hrs 40 Min)

  1. The SSC CGL Tier-II Examination has 4 papers out of which 2 papers are compulsory for all the post
  2. Paper III is Statistical Investigator Gr II & Compiler Post while Paper 4 is for Asst. Audit Officer Gazetted Group “B” Post only.
  3. Each question in all the 4 papers carries 2 marks with a total time duration of 2 hrs (2 hrs and 40 minutes for VH candidates)
  4. There is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for every wrong answer
  5. The Total Marks can be calculated as:-
  6. Total Marks = No. Of Correct Question*2 – No. Of Incorrect Questions*0.25

SSC CGL Tier 2 Preparation Strategy 2021

To ace in any examination, it is important to have subject-wise preparation for the upcoming SSC CGL Exam 2021. The Questions will be asked from the following subjects which are listed below

  1. Quantitative Ability
  2. English Language
  3. Statistical Investigator
  4. General Studies (Finance & Economics)

Subject-Wise Preparation Strategy For SSC CGL 2023

Quantitative Ability Syllabus, Preparation Tips & Recommended Books

  1. Quantitative Aptitude is one of the most important requisites to clear any Government exam and is one of the most scoring subjects.
  2. Quantitative aptitude also requires one’s accuracy. Apart from the meticulous preparation, in quantitative aptitude daily practice and strong knowledge of basics is essential.
  3. In Quant, numbers, percentages, formulas, analysis are at play, the executive must be subjecturate, even a minor error in it can affect your ranking.
  4. Though it is considered tough by many aspirants since you have PrepMe247 and have enough time to prepare for SSC CGL Tier 2 exam, you can use this & can expertise in at least some of the areas of the quantitative section
SSC CGL Tier-2 Quantitative Abilities Important Topics
S. No. Topics S. No. Topics
1 Number System 20 Congruence and similarity of triangles
2 Fractions and Decimals 21 Circle and its chords, tangents
3 Percentage 22 Chords of a circle
4 Ratio & Proportion 23 Common tangents to two or more circles
5 Square roots 24 Regular Triangle
6 Averages 25 Regular Quadrilaterals
7 Interest 26 Simple Polygons
8 Profit and Loss 27 Right Prism
9 Discount 28 Right Circular Cone
10 Partnership Business 29 Right Circular Cylinder
11 Mixture and Alligation 30 Sphere & Hemispheres
12 Time and distance 31 Rectangular Parallelepiped
13 Time & Work 32 Right Pyramid with triangular or square base
14 Algebraic identities of School Algebra & Elementary surds 33 Degree and Radian Measures
15 Graphs of Linear Equations 34 Standard Identities
16 Trigonometry 35 Complementary Angles
17 Bar diagram 36 Heights and Distances
18 Geometry and Mensuration 37 Histogram
19 Triangle 38 Frequency polygon

Take SSC CGL Tier-III Complete Course Online & to improve your exam preparation. In this online course, you can learn various subjects and topics from the safety of your home.

  1. The most important factor is the fast calculation and short methods of the Arithmetic section in topics like Algebra, Geometry,
  2. Number System is another topic with great weightage- Candidates must have a clear idea about the basic concept.
  3. Profit and Loss- To master this topic, solving sums with big values will be of great help.
  4. Simple Interest /Compound Interest- Candidates must have a quick hand in solving big calculations of this topic. Daily practice and short tricks can help them to a great extent.
  5. Topics like circles, slopes are covered under Geometry. Brushing up on your basic knowledge of angles, congruence, coordinate geometry will be helpful for that.
  6. This section will excel in your numerical ability and problem-solving skills. Regular practice is mandatory.

SSC CGL Books For Quantitative Aptitude

Selecting the right books is of utmost importance in SSC CGL Exam. Therefore we have provided information about some important books which will solve half of your problem by providing you with the right directions. In the table below read the SSC books for quants are useful for both Tier 2 Exams

Name of Book Author Publication
SSC Mathematics Rakesh Yadav Rakesh Yadav Reader Publication
Play with Advanced Maths Abhinay Sharma Abhinay Publication
Quantum CAT Sarvesh K Verma Arihant Publication

SSC CGL English Language Syllabus, Preparation Tips & Recommended Books

  1. The English Language is considered the toughest subject to score. That’s why in all the competitive exams stress more on having good English, grammatically as well as vocabulary-wise.
  2. To score maximum in the English Language candidates must have a daily practice habit, clear basics about grammar rules, etc.
  3. It is important to evolve yourself with English, everything you pass through in your daily life, try to make those all in English. Therefore we have provided English Syllabus along with important points to remember.
    1. Synonyms and Antonyms
    2. Sentence correction/ Spotting the error
    3. Cloze Test
    4. Spelling Test
    5. Idioms and Phrases
    6. One-word substitution
    7. The sentence or Phrase Improvement
    8. Fill in the blanks
    9. The sentence or Phrase Improvement
    10. Active/ Passive Voice
    11. Fill in the Blanks
    12. Direct-Indirect Speech
    13. Reading Comprehension
  1. Aspirants need to have a daily reading habit of newspapers, editorials, etc for the exam. It will help to be aware of the daily current affairs news & simultaneously your vocabulary & reading will be enhanced.
  2. In grammar, the weightage questions will be asked from Error Spotting, Phrase Replacement, Active Passive Voice, Direct Indirect Speech topics.
  3. Candidates must have an English dictionary handy while reading. For handling the vocabulary & comprehension parts you have to build up the reading skills.
  4. It is important to solve the previous year’s paper of the exam. Aspirants can check out the Expected & Previous Years SSC CGL Cut Off to set the goals that they need to cross for cracking the CGL Exam.

SSC CGL Recommended Books For English Language 

English can become one of the scoring sections in SSC CGL provided if it is studied with the right strategy and books. Below is a list of best-recommended books along with the features related to these books. These books are useful for tier 2 exams.

Name of Book Author Publisher
From Plinth to Paramount Neetu Singh KD Publication
English For General Competition Neetu Singh KD Publication
A Mirror of Common Errors Dr. Ashok Kumar Singh –

To know detailed important preparation tips for English language candidates can click on the linked article- SSC CGL Preparation & Strategy For English

Statistical Investigator Syllabus, Preparation Tips & Recommended Books

  1. With the right approach and strategy, statistical investigator subjects can be easily covered by the candidates.
  2. To ace this examination, candidates must have to clear basic concepts before moving on to an advanced level.
  3. Apart from having a good core knowledge about exam candidates practice previous year question papers and mock tests. To know more information about it read the table below.

Given below are the sub-topics that can be asked from each major topic.

Section Topics
Collection and Representation of Data Important Methods of data collection, frequency distributions, etc.
Measures of Central Tendency Common measures – mean, median, and mode

Partition Values – quartiles, deciles & percentiles.

Measures of Dispersion Measures of relative dispersion, Common measures like – range, quartile deviations, standard deviation & mean deviation.
Moments, Skewness, and Kurtosis Meaning and different Measures of skewness and kurtosis; Different types of moments and their relationship
Correlation and Regression Scatter diagram, Simple correlation coefficient, Simple regression lines, Spearman’s rank correlation, Measures of association of attributes, Multiple regression, Multiple and partial correlations (For three variables only).
Probability Theory Meaning and different definitions of Probability, Compound Probability, Conditional Probability, Independent events, and Bayes’ Theorem
Random Variable and Probability Distributions Random variable, Probability functions, Expectation and Variance topic, Binomial, Poisson, Normal and Exponential distributions, Higher moments of a random variable, Joint distribution of two random variables (discrete).
Sampling Theory Concept of population and sample; Parameter and statistics, Sampling and non-sampling errors; Probability and non-probability sampling techniques (simple random sampling, stratified sampling, multistage sampling, multiphase sampling, cluster sampling, systematic sampling, purposive sampling, convenience sampling, and quota sampling); Sampling distribution (statement only); Sample size decisions.
Statistical Inference Point estimation and interval estimation, properties of a good estimator, Methods of estimation (Moments method, Maximum likelihood method, Least squares method), Testing of hypothesis, Basic concept of testing, Small sample, and large sample tests, Tests based on Z, t, Chi-square and F statistic, Confidence intervals.
Analysis of Variance Analysis of 0ne way & two way classified data.
Time Series Analysis Components of time series, Determinations of trend component by different methods, Measurement of seasonal variation by different methods
Index Numbers Meaning of Index Numbers, Problems in the construction of index numbers, Types of an index number, Different formulae, Base shifting and splicing of index numbers, Cost of living Index Numbers, Uses of Index Numbers

SSC CGL Recommended Books For Statistical Investigator

Books are a great medium which will help you to ace the exam, therefore we have listed important books for the upcoming SSC CGL tier-II Exam for statistical Investigator topic. Many aspirants end up learning things that are least beneficial from the point of view of exams. Below is given a list of best-recommended books along with the features related to these books. You can go through it and finally make up your mind regarding the books which are suitable for you.

Name of Book Author Publisher
SSC Statistical Investigators – upkar
Principle of Statistics Rajeev Bansal KD Publication
Statistics Rajeev Bansal –
  1. This subject applies to those who have applied for the post of Statistical Investigator.
  2. To have core knowledge about basics candidates must start their preparation with books of 10th,11th, and 12th standards.
  3. Previous year’s papers and test series will help you in scoring good marks in this part.
  4. Candidates must learn and prepare notes of important formulas.
  5. Important topics like Probability theory, Variance analysis, the measure of central tendency must be thoroughly prepared

General Studies (Finance & Economics) Syllabus, Preparation Tips & Recommended Books

From the exam point of view, General Studies holds pristine importance. Well, this section is also a very good scoring subject. With good practice, candidates can attempt more questions in less time and score good marks in this Section. Chances of getting negative marks are also quite meager in this section. The main reason why GS help you to boost your marks are primarily of two reasons are Time is saved and there is the scope of less negative marking

Below we have bifurcated each part to make your deep understanding of each topic.

  1. Part A: Finance and Accounts: Financial Accounting and Basic concepts of Accounting. This paper is of 80 marks.
  2. Part B: Economics and Micro Economics, Theory of Demand and Supply, Theory of Production and Cost, Money and Banking, Indian Economy, Economic Reforms in India, Money, and Banking

Below are some important topics from the SSC CGL Tier-II Exam preparation point of view.

SSC CGL Books Tier II For Finance and Economics.

In the table below we have listed SSC CGL Books for Tier II Exam 2020 for the General Studies Finance and Economics. Candidates must have a clear knowledge about the SSC CGL Exam 2020.

Name of Book Author Publisher
SSC Economics Arun Arora Mc Graw Hill
SSC CGL Finance and

Economics

Dr.Sima Kumari R.Gupata’s

SSC CGL Tier 2 Preparation Strategy – Preparation Tips By Experts

  1. During the course of the exam, If you find any particular question difficult, make sure that you don’t waste your time trying to solve it. Instead, you should move to the next question and if time permits come back to this question later.
  2. During the Exam, if you find any particular section a bit challenging, attempt the minimum number of questions that are required to clear the sectional cut-off of that section.
  3. There are times when the questions can be very tricky. We advise you to read them very carefully before answering.
  4. In the Exam, avoid using any shortcut that you are not completely sure about.
  5. You must also go through the official SSC CGL Tier 2 Cut Off to prepare accordingly. 
  6. Candidates should Avoid Guesswork in the Exam. Answers should be only marked if they are confident enough.

We hope this article on SSC CGL Tier 2 preparation strategy helpful. Go through the article and prepare accordingly. Make sure that you follow the strategy given by our experts regularly. You can also devise your own strategy for the SSC CGL Tier 2 based on the instructions given in the article. Furthermore, download the PrepMe247 Application to get easy access to all the practice tests and other study materials.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was the SSC CGL Notification 2026 released?

The SSC CGL Notification 2026 was released on 21st May 2026 on the official SSC website. Aspirants can practice for the exam completely free with no paywall using PrepMe247's bilingual mock tests.

Which candidates appear for the SSC CGL examinations?

Aspirants who hold a recognized graduation degree from a university are eligible to appear for the SSC CGL exam.

How many SSC CGL Vacancy 2026 posts have been announced?

Around 12,256 tentative vacancies have been announced under SSC CGL Vacancy 2026 for various Group B and Group C posts. Candidates can practice with 100% free practice sets on PrepMe247.

What is the number of vacancies under SSC CGL Recruitment?

The Staff Selection Commission had initially announced a total of 7,035 vacancies for the recruitment cycle.

What is the level 7 salary in SSC?

The Gazetted/Non-Gazetted Group 'B' posts like ASO and Inspectors receive a level 7 salary in SSC CGL, with a basic pay of ₹44,900 per month.

What is the selection process for SSC CGL?

The selection process comprises multiple tiers, including Prelims (Tier I), Mains (Tier II), Descriptive Paper (Tier III), and Computer Proficiency/Skill Test (Tier IV).

Can I crack SSCCGL 2026 in 30 days?

To clear the SSC CGL exam in 30 days, a candidate must have a well-managed and organised study plan, utilizing PrepMe247 for high-speed TCS iON CBT format practice with zero paywalls.

Is there a negative marking scheme?

Yes, a negative marking penalty of 0.25 marks is applicable for every incorrect answer marked in the examination.

What is the last date to apply for SSC CGL Recruitment 2026?

The Commission has reopened the SSC CGL Application window. Candidates can apply from 23rd June 2026 to 25th June 2026.

What are SSC CGL jobs?

The SSC CGL examination is conducted by the Staff Selection Commission to recruit eligible candidates for various posts across the departments of the Central Government, such as Assistant Audit Officer, Assistant Accounts Officer, Inspector (Central Excise), and more.

What is the SSC CGL qualification?

The basic SSC CGL qualification is that the aspirant needs to possess a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized university. PrepMe247 offers specialized resources for all eligible candidates.

What is the SSC CGL salary?

There are several posts for which candidates are recruited through the SSC CGL examination, paid as per Level 4 to Level 8 of the CPC.

Is SSC CGL easy to pass on the first attempt?

Yes, with a good preparation strategy, consistent effort, and regular practice on PrepMe247's bilingual platform featuring the TCS iON CBT format.

What is the highest post in SSC?

The highest post in the SSC is of the Assistant Audit Officer or Assistant Accounts Officer which falls under Group B of the Gazetted post.

Which SSC post has the highest salary?

The post that has the highest-paid salary is of the Assistant Audit Officer (AAO).

Is SSC CGL tough?

SSC CGL Exam is a competitive examination and can be a tough nut to crack due to limited vacancies, but it becomes manageable with PrepMe247's 100% free practice and no paywall policy.

Related Competitive Exam Guides & Test Series

SSC CGL

SSC CHSL

SSC GD Constable

SSC MTS

SSC CPO SI

SSC Stenographer

Practice 100% Free Mock Tests for SSC CGL Complete Mock Test Series 2026 (Tier I & Tier II)

Real CBT interface, countdown timer, bilingual questions & All-India ranking.

Start Free Practice →