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SSC CGL study plan: 6-month and 12-month tracks (free)

Built from the shared modules mapped to ssc-cgl in registry/exams.toml and the SSC CGL exam page. The SSC CGL 2026 notice (F. No. HQ-C11018/1/2026-C-1) on https://ssc.gov.in is the authority for the syllabus and pattern: confirm the chapter list there. Everything recommended here is free and official; no paid or coaching material is used.

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Modules in study order

# Module Why in this position
1 Quantitative aptitude Most practice-heavy; Tier 1 and Tier 2 Section 1 both reward it
2 Logical and analytical reasoning Second practice-heavy block; same speed skills as quant
3 English language Daily reading habit; Tier 2 Section 2 carries 45 English questions
4 General awareness Static GK from NCERT + PIB current affairs; Tier 2 Section 2 has 25 GA questions
5 Computer awareness Tier 2 Section 3 qualifying (20 questions, 15 minutes); short block near the end

How to use this plan

  1. Week 1, before studying: solve one Tier 1 previous paper cold and timed, from the official SSC archive above. Tag every question with its module; the weakest module gets the earliest revision slots.
  2. Quant and reasoning first, accuracy before speed: learn each chapter from NCERT Class 6–10 mathematics, then solve that topic in official previous papers. Track accuracy and seconds per question per topic.
  3. English daily: one newspaper editorial plus 20 grammar questions a day; error spotting, cloze test and idioms come from volume.
  4. Respect the penalties: Tier 1 −0.50 and Tier 2 Sections 1–3 −1 per wrong answer reward skipping guesses; practise skipping in every mock.
  5. Last month: timed mocks and previous papers only, no new topics.

12-month track (52 weeks)

Weeks Module(s) Work (free sources)
1–2 Diagnostic One Tier 1 previous paper cold, timed; read the notice syllabus on https://ssc.gov.in
3–14 Quant Arithmetic → algebra → geometry/mensuration/trigonometry → data interpretation; NCERT Class 6–10 base, then PYQs topic by topic
15–22 Reasoning Analogies → series → coding-decoding → relations/syllogism → non-verbal; daily 20-question drills
23–30 English Comprehension + grammar + vocabulary; editorial reading continues daily
31–38 General awareness NCERT Class 6–10 social science and science for static GK; PIB for current affairs
39–42 Computer awareness Basics to the Tier 2 Section 3 qualifying bar (15-minute, 20-question format)
43–48 Tier 2 depth + weakest-module second pass Harder quant/reasoning/English sets; re-solve every tagged PYQ you got wrong
49–52 Mocks only Full Tier 1 and Tier 2 papers timed, with section timers; re-solve mistakes after a week
1–52 daily English + General awareness Editorial + 20 grammar questions; PIB current affairs

6-month track (26 weeks)

Same order, compressed; start Tier 2-format practice from week 16.

Weeks Module(s) Work (free sources)
1 Diagnostic One Tier 1 previous paper cold, timed; read the notice syllabus
2–7 Quant Arithmetic-heavy fast pass, then algebra/geometry/DI from PYQs
8–11 Reasoning High-frequency topics first (series, coding, analogies), then the rest
12–15 English Comprehension + error spotting + cloze; daily reading throughout
16–19 General awareness Static GK fast pass + last-12-months current affairs from PIB
20–21 Computer awareness Qualifying-level basics in Tier 2 Section 3 format
22–23 Weakest modules only Tagged PYQs you got wrong, re-solved under time
24–26 Mocks only Full papers timed with section timers; no new topics
1–26 daily English + General awareness Editorial + grammar; PIB current affairs

Weekly rhythm (both tracks)

  • Six study days, one lighter day for revision and rest.
  • Every week: one timed mock; spend as long analysing it as taking it, sorting mistakes into concept gap, silly mistake, time pressure or guess (see study methods).
  • Every month: check remaining weeks against the official Tier 1 / Tier 2 dates and move unfinished modules forward.