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studymaterial-combined-graduate-level-exam-tier-1-2.html
[Studyplan] SSC-CGL: Maths, Quantitative Aptitude, Algebra,
Trigonometry: Approach, Booklist, Strategy, Free
Studymaterial 2013 for Combined Graduate Level Exam Tier 1,
2
In the earlier article, we saw how to approach General Awareness portion of SSC-CGL Tier-I exam. (click
ME) Now moving to the next topic: Maths.
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
Intro to SSC CGL Maths
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 SSC-CGL exam, youve to
face Mathematics at two stages
Stage Maths-Questions Penalty
Tier-I (Prelims) 50 Qs Negative 0.25
Tier-II (Mains) Paper I: Arithmetical Ability 100 Qs worth 200 marks Negative 0.50
The Approach for Maths, stands on two pillars.
Pillars How?
1. Conceptual
clarity
1. NCERTs (Free download links @bottom)
2. Mrunal.org/aptitude
3. For some topics, directly Quantitative aptitude books.
2. Lot of
practice
From Quantitative aptitude books.
There are lot of books in market, the question is, which one to refer? It is
explained at the bottom of this article.
#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
theory
1. Divisibility,
remainders
2. LCM and
HCF
3. Unknown
numbers from
given
conditiofor
4. Fractions-
comparisions.
NCERT Class 7 Chap 2, 9 (fraction)
NCERT Class 10 Chap 1 (divisibility)
Finally your Quantitative aptitude book.
Basic
Maths
1. Simplification
(BODMAS)
NCERT Class 8 Chap 1
2. Surds,
indices
NCERT Class 8 Chap 12
Then NCERT Class 9 Chap 1
3. Roots,
squares,
Cubes
Basics from NCERT Class 8 Chap 6 and 7.
Algebra
1. Linear
equation
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 get a hang
of it.
Basics given in NCERT Class 8 Chap 2 and 9.
Then NCERT Class 9 Chap 4
Lastly NCERT Class 10 Chap 3.
2. Quadratic
equations,
Polynomials
Factorization and roots. Heavily asked in Tier-II.
NCERT Class 8 Chap 14
And then NCERT Class 9 Chap 2
Lastly NCERT Class 10 Chap 4
Avg and
Ratios
1. Wine-Water
mixture
(Alligations)
Can be solved without formula. Go through
http://mrunal.org/2012/03/aptitude-
alligationsmixturesalloys.html
2. Simple
Average
Lolz
3. Ratio-
For ratio-proportion NCERT Class 8 Chap 13.
Proportion-
variations
4. Partnership
http://mrunal.org/2012/05/aptitude-partnership-and-profit-
sharing.html
STD
1. Time speed
distance
2. Trains,
platforms
3. Boats-
streams
4. Time and
Work
5. Pipes and
Cisterns
All of them can be solved with just one Universal STD formula.
Explained in www.Mrunal.org/aptitude
Geometry
1. Angles,
sides,
bisectors,
circles etc
NCERT Class 9 Chap 6, 7, 8 and 10. Quantitative
aptitude book.
2. Mensuration
(area and
volume).
Basics explained in NCERT Class 8 Chap 3, 11.
Then NCERT Class 9 Chap 9, 12, 13.
Lastly Lastly NCERT Class 10 Chap 13
3. Trigonometry
Understand basics from NCERT Class 10 Chap 8 and 9. Then
exam-oriented concepts from your Quantitative Aptitude book.
%
Basic %
(increase,
decrease in
consumption,
population)
Also do NCERT Class 8 Chap 8.
Data-
interpretation
cases.
Mere extention of %concept. Just practice.
For long division, use this approximation method:
http://mrunal.org/2012/11/aptitude-long-division-two-digit-
division-calculation-without-tears-and-without-boring-vedic-
speed-maths.html
Profit, loss,
discount, marked
price.
http://mrunal.org/2012/11/aptitude-concepts-of-marked-price-
and-successive-discounts-profit-loss-without-stupid-
formulas.html
Simple and
compound interest
rate
http://mrunal.org/2012/04/aptitude-compound-interest-
rate.html
PCP
1. Permutation
2. Combination
3. Probability
Not asked as such.
But Sometimes a question or two comes in the
Reasoning portion of Tier-I. Hence not much
attention necessary.
But again, they too can be solved without mugging up
formulas: go through various articles on
www.Mrunal.org/aptitude
Misc.
1. Coordinate
Geometry
Lately SSC has started asking 1-2 question in each
of Tier I and II. But they can be solved by merely
plugging numbers in the readymade formulas given in
your Quantitative Aptitude book.
2. Progression:
Arithmetic+
Geometry
Again, rarely asked in SSC. Sometimes a question or
two comes in the Reasoning portion of Tier-I.
Basically you just have to plug in the values in
formulas. Basics of Arithmetic progression explained in
NCERT Class 10 Chap 5.
3. Logerithms
Not asked.
Breakup: SSC-CGL Tier I (2010, 2011, 2012)
Topic 2010 2011 2012
Ratio+Partnership 3 3 1
number theory 6 5 2
Avg+alligation 3 3 2
TSD 6 5 2
Misc. 3 0 2
basic math 11 11 5
algebra 6 0 5
DI 3 4 5
% 6 14 5
Trigonometry 0 0 9
Geometry 3 5 12
Total 50 50 50
The 2012s Tier-I paper, is trend-
breaker. Because
1. The conventional questions
from ratio-proportion, basic
maths, time-speed-work 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 2012
basic math 11 4 3
Misc. 2 2 3
number theory 8 7 5
DI 10 20 5
Ratio+Partnership 6 4 6
Avg+alligation 5 6 7
TSD 7 12 7
Trigonometry 0 4 8
Algebra 10 13 10
% 27 18 19
Geometry 14 10 27
Total 100 100 100
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.
Pricing factor
The point is, both books of Arihant Publication (Sarvesh or Rajesh) are way better than R.S.Agarwal,
in terms of content, presentation, language and coverage, without being too expensive than
R.S.Agarwals book.
And both of them have universal application for almost all of the competitive exams in India (for maths
segment).
My advice, go with either Rajesh Verma or Sarvesh Kumar. Then the question, which one to pick up?
Fast Track Objective
Arithmetic by Rajesh Verma.
Quantam CAT by Sarvesh Kumar
The size and price factor goes
in favor of this book.
Concepts, techqniues,
readymade formulas given here
and there. Language,
presentation is lucid.
Algebra, quadratic equation
and Trigonometry specific
chapters are given for exclusively
for SSC.
If you solve all the sums of this
book, then mathematics portion
of SSC-CGL (Tier-I and II) will be
as easy as a walk in the park.
Although book is written for CAT and Management
exams, he starts explaining everything from basics.
Then exercises are divided into Introductory<level
1<Level 2<Final round, based on difficulty level.
Thus it becomes ideal choice for any aptitude exam.
So for lower level exams (SSC/IBPS), you should
solve all his solved examples, then introductory
exercises, finally level 1.
Thatll be quite sufficient.
While it is excellent for SSC, Function, graphs, Quadratic equations, Geometry,
IBPS, UGC, LIC, CDS etc. level
exams, its utility starts diminishing
as you move towards higher-end
exams.
Permutation-Combination-Probability coverage is
Thorough. (Hell even more sums than Arun
Sharmas).
This make it ideal text-book for CAT/CMAT and
other higher end exams.
^But merely getting either of these books, is not going to make you a topper.
If you want to become truly invincible for the maths portion of any competitive exam, then you must practice
maximum numbers of questions at home and maintain a diary of mistakes.
This concludes how to approach Mathematics/Quantiative Aptitude for SSC-CGL exam.
Now only two topics remain (will be discussed later, in separate articles):
1. How to approach Logical Reasoning
2. How to approach English vocabulary, grammar and comprehension
Download: NCERT Maths Textbooks
Mathematics Class 8 Download
Mathematics Class 9 Download
Mathematics Class 10 Download
Download: Blank answersheet
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B9AJvFSzIyiwVGZBbHMtUWEwV2M
Download it, take 1 printout and then 15-20 or even more photocopies. Then use it for solving questions.
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January 10th, 2013 | Category: Studyplan