[Studyplan] SSC-CGL Maths, Quantitative

Aptitude, Algebra, Trigonometry: Approach,

Booklist, Strategy, Free Studymaterial 2013 for
Combined Graduate Level Exam Tier 1, 2
For SSC CGL, I recommend
GA/GK: Lucent GKMaths: Fast-track Rajesh VermaReasoning: RS AgrawalEnglish: SP Bakshi

1.

Introduction

2.

#1: Getting the conceptual clarity

3.

Breakup: SSC-CGL Tier I (2010, 2011, 2012)

4.

Breakup: SSC-CGL Tier II (2010, 2011, 2012)

5.

#2: Practice

6.

Choice of Quantitative Aptitude Book?

7.

Books for Maths/Quantitative Aptitude

8.

Download: NCERT Maths Textbooks

9.

Download: Blank answersheet

introduction
Competitive exams are meant for real-men and women. This is no country for
crybabies, kids, college teens and no0bs. So first of all, you must get rid of the
following loser mindsets:
1.

Yaar this maths is so hard, I cant do it.

2.

Im not from science/engineering background hence this is not my cup of tea.

3.

Im poor in maths and I cannot improve.

4.

Thik hai, dekh lenge. (alright, Ill see).

Maths is not difficult. All it requires is concept clarity + lot of practice. In SSCCGL exam, youve to face Mathematics at two stages

Stage

Maths-Questions

Tier-I (Prelims)

50 Qs

Tier-II (Mains) Paper I: Arithmetical Ability

100 Qs worth 200 mar

The Approach for Maths, stands on two pillars.

Pillars

1.

How?

Conceptual clarity

1.

NCERTs (Free download links @bottom)

2.

Mrunal.org/aptitude

3.

For some topics, directly Quantitative aptitude books.

From Quantitative aptitude books.

There are lot of books in market, the question is, which one to refer? It

Lot of practice

#1: Getting the conceptual clarity

Well divide Maths or Quantitative Aptitude, into topics and further into
subtopics.

Your task is to cover one topic at a time, first get conceptual-clarity and then
solve maximum questions at home.

Whenever you learn any shortcut technique, you note it down in your diary.

Similarly, whenever you make any mistake while solving sums, you also note
that down in your diary. Night before the exam, you review that diary of mistakes.
(why do this? Because it is the Art of Aptitude (Click ME)

Topic

Subtopics

How to approach

Number

1.

Divisibility, remainders

NCERT Class 7 Chap 2, 9 (fraction)

2.

theory

Basic Maths

LCM and HCF

3.

Unknown numbers from

given conditiofor

4.

1.

NCERT Class 10 Chap 1 (divisibility)

Fractions-comparisions.

Finally your Quantitative aptitude book.

Simplification (BODMAS)

NCERT Class 8 Chap 1

NCERT Class 8 Chap 12

Then NCERT Class 9 Chap 1

Basics from NCERT Class 8 Chap 6 and 7.

Mothers age was x and daughters age..

3 mangos and 5 bananas purchased for

X+1/2x+3=3/8 then find X.

^This type of stuff. Just practice and youll

Basics given in NCERT Class 8 Chap 2 and

Then NCERT Class 9 Chap 4

Lastly NCERT Class 10 Chap 3.

Factorization and roots. Heavily asked in T

NCERT Class 8 Chap 14

And then NCERT Class 9 Chap 2

Surds, indices

Roots, squares, Cubes

Algebra

1.

Linear equation

Quadratic equations,
Polynomials

Lastly NCERT Class 10 Chap 4

1.

Wine-Water mixture
(Alligations)

Can be solved without formula. Go through http://

alligationsmixturesalloys.html

Simple Average

Lolz

Ratio-Proportion-variations

For ratio-proportion NCERT Class 8 Chap 13.

Partnership

http://mrunal.org/2012/05/aptitude-partnership-and

Avg and
Ratios

STD

1.

Time speed distance

2.

Trains, platforms

3.

Boats-streams

4.

Time and Work

5.

Pipes and Cisterns

1.

Geometry

Angles, sides, bisectors,

circles etc

Mensuration (area and volume).

Trigonometry

All of them can be solved with just one Universal

NCERT Class 9 Chap 6, 7, 8 and 10. Quan

Basics explained in NCERT Class 8 Chap 3

Then NCERT Class 9 Chap 9, 12, 13.

Lastly Lastly NCERT Class 10 Chap 13

Understand basics from NCERT Class 10 Chap 8 a

Quantitative Aptitude book.

Basic % (increase, decrease

in consumption, population)

Data-interpretation cases.

Also do NCERT Class 8 Chap 8.

Mere extention of % concept. Just practice.

For long division, use this approximation method:
digit-division-calculation-without-tears-and-witho

Profit, loss, discount, marked price.

http://mrunal.org/2012/11/aptitude-concepts-of-ma
without-stupid-formulas.html

Simple and compound interest rate

http://mrunal.org/2012/04/aptitude-compound-inte

PCP

Misc.

1.

Permutation

2.

Combination

3.

1.

Not asked as such.

But Sometimes a question or two comes in

attention necessary.

Probability

But again, they too can be solved without m

on www.Mrunal.org/aptitude

Coordinate Geometry

Lately SSC has started asking 1-2 question

merely plugging numbers in the readymade fo

Again, rarely asked in SSC. Sometimes a q

Tier-I.

Basically you just have to plug in the value

explained in NCERT Class 10 Chap 5.

Progression: Arithmetic+
Geometry

Logerithms

Not asked.

Breakup: SSC-CGL Tier I (2010, 2011, 2012)

Topic

2010

2011

Ratio+Partnership

number theory

Avg+alligation

TSD

Misc.

basic math

11

11

algebra

DI

14

Trigonometry

Geometry

Total

50

50

The 2012s Tier-I paper, is trend-breaker. Because

1.

The conventional questions from ratio-proportion, basic maths, time-speedwork are asked for namesake only.

2.

Otherwise, Out of 50 Maths questions in tier-I, almost 30 questions are from

just Geometry+Trig+Percentage application.

3.

Earlier, they used to ask mostly area-volume-perimeter type questions from

Geometry segment. You just had to plug-in values into the formulas and get the
answer.

4.

But This 2012s paper has mostly theory based geometry (angle, bisector,
tangent, inequality of triangles etc.)

5.

Similarly the difficulty level of algebra, number theory based questions is bit
raised.

Or perhaps SSC too decided to employ the Backbreaking TM move of UPSC!

Anyways, jokes apart, the lesson here is, adapt.

Breakup: SSC-CGL Tier II (2010, 2011, 2012)

Type

2010

2011

basic math

11

Misc.

number theory

DI

10

20

Ratio+Partnership

Avg+alligation

TSD

12

Trigonometry

Algebra

10

13

27

18

Geometry

14

10

Total

100

100

Here too, Geometry+Trigonometry have been given emphasis like never

before.

Almost 65% of the paper is made up of Geometry, Trig, Percentage and

Algebra (and in that too, mostly Quadratic equations.)

#2: Practice

Merely knowing the concepts or formulas wont help. Because unless you
practice different variety of questions, you wont become proficient in applying
those concepts flawlessly in the actual-exam.

Second, despite knowing concept and formulas, people make silly mistakes
either in calculation or in pluging the values.

Third reason- Tier I has 200 questions in 120 limits. =not even 2 minutes per
question. Plus, questions reasoning and comprehension might take more than 5
minutes! Therefore speed is essential. Since there is negative marking system,
accuracy also matters.

So it is beyond doubt that you have to practice excimer number of questions

at home.

The question is where to get the practice? Which book should be used for
SSC exam?

Choice of Quantitative Aptitude Book?

In all competitive exams, uncertainity factor is involved. Despite your best

preparation, you might lose the success-train by 2-3 marks.
Therefore you must never put all eggs in one basket.

While you are preparing for SSC, you should also keep open mind and apply
for other competitive exams, such as IBPS, ACIO, ONGC, Railways, LIC, CDS,
Coast Guard etc. (Depending on your career-taste).

Publication houses will come up with new books for each and every of ^these
exams, but we have neither the time nor the money to buy a new book for every
new exam.

Such readymade books are only skimmed down version of original

topicbooks. For example, if there is SSC-FCI exam, or ACIO exam, these people
will combine a few topics of GK, maths, reasoning and english. And present you
a book.

Problem= you dont get comprehensive understanding or coverage. Besides,

given the population of India, competition level is always high, irrespective of
exam. So half-hearted preparations with readymade condensed books dont
help much.

Almost all of these exams follow same structure:

1.

General awareness

2.

Maths

3.

Reasoning (Verbal, Non-Verbal)

4.

English vocabularly, grammar and comprehension.

How do they differ from each other?= number of questions, difficulty level and
inclusion / exclusion of particular subtopics.

So when youre picking up books for the first time, you should choose the
books, that have universal usefulness for similar exams. That way your time,
effort and money will be saved.

Books for Maths/Quantitative Aptitude

DONOT use Quantitative Aptitude by R.S.Agarwal for SSC-CGL.

Problems with RS Agarwals Math book:

1.

The way SSC-CGL question pattern is transforming, R.S.Agarwals book on

Quantitative aptitude, is just not upto the mark to match this changing
environment.

2.

Its chapter on Trigonometry (Height and Distance) is simply insufficient to

handle SSC-CGL level bombarding.

3.

Similarly coverage of algebra, quadratic equations and number theory is

either absent or just for namesake.

4.

Geometry coverage is mostly confined to area-volume-perimeter

(=mensuration). But SSC-CGL is moving towards Non-mensuration geometry
(angle, bisectors, midpoint, circles, triangles etc.)

5.

The printing and presentation is very cluttered. He has written the book
assuming that you were already good at maths from school level.

6.

If youre already good at basic concepts, use this book for practicing and
improving your speed, else dont bother, there are better books in market.