Staff Selection Commission (SSC) conducts the Central Police Organization (CPO) exam every year to recruit candidates for various posts such as Sub-Inspector, Assistant Sub-Inspector, etc. in various departments like Delhi Police, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), etc. The SSC CPO exam consists of four stages: Paper-I, Physical Standard Test (PST)/ Physical Endurance Test (PET), Paper-II and Detailed Medical Examination (DME).
One of the most important and scoring sections in the SSC CPO exam is the General Knowledge and General Awareness section. This section tests the candidates’ knowledge of current affairs, history, geography, polity, economy, science and technology, etc. The General Knowledge and General Awareness section carries 50 marks out of 200 in Paper-I. Therefore, it is essential for the candidates to prepare well for this section and score high marks.
SSC CPO exam will take place in the month of October 2023. In this article, we will share some tips and strategies on how to prepare for the General Knowledge and General Awareness section in the SSC CPO exam and boost your overall score.
Get acquainted with Important Topics
The first step in preparing for any exam is to know the list of important topics thoroughly. The syllabus of the General Knowledge and General Awareness section covers a wide range of topics such as:
- Current affairs of national and international importance
- History of India and Indian National Movement
- Geography of India and the world
- Indian Polity and Constitution
- Indian Economy and Development
- General Science and Technology
- Environmental issues
- Static GK (sports, awards, books, etc.)
The exam pattern of the General Knowledge and General Awareness section is as follows:
- The section consists of 50 objective-type questions with four options each.
- Each question carries one mark and there is a negative marking of 0.33 marks for every wrong answer.
- The duration of the section is 2 hours in Paper-I. There is no sectional time limit which means that you have to switch between sections at your own pace.
- The difficulty level of the section varies from easy to moderate.
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Read newspapers and magazines regularly
One of the best sources of information for the General Knowledge and General Awareness section is newspapers and magazines. Reading newspapers and magazines regularly will help you to keep yourself updated with the current affairs of national and international importance. You can also make notes of important facts, dates, events, personalities, etc. that can be asked in the exam. Some of the recommended newspapers and magazines for SSC CPO exam are:
- The Hindu
- The Indian Express
- Yojana
- Kurukshetra
- Pratiyogita Darpan
- Lucent’s General Knowledge
Revise the basic concepts and facts
Another important aspect of preparing for the General Knowledge and General Awareness section is to revise the basic concepts and facts related to history, geography, polity, economy, science and technology, etc. You can use standard books, notes, online sources, etc. to revise these topics. Some of the recommended books for SSC CPO exam are:
- NCERT books from class 6th to 12th
- Lucent’s General Knowledge
- Arihant’s General Studies
- R.S. Aggarwal’s Objective General Knowledge
Practice mock tests and previous year papers
The best way to assess your preparation level and improve your speed and accuracy is to practice mock tests and previous year papers. Mock tests and previous year papers will help you to familiarize yourself with the exam pattern, difficulty level, question types, etc. You can also identify your strengths and weaknesses and work on them accordingly. You can also analyze your performance and track your progress by taking mock tests and previous year papers. You can sign up to get access to all the free resources.
Follow a study plan and time management
The last but not the least tip for preparing for the General Knowledge and General Awareness section is to follow a study plan and time management. A study plan will help you to allocate sufficient time for each topic and cover the entire syllabus effectively. A time management strategy will help you to attempt the maximum number of questions in the given time limit without compromising on accuracy. You can also divide your time according to the weightage and difficulty level of each topic. You can also allot some time for revision and mock tests in your study plan.
By following these tips and strategies, you can ace the General Knowledge and General Awareness section in the SSC CPO exam and score high marks. Remember that this section is not only important for qualifying the exam but also for enhancing your overall knowledge and awareness. Therefore, do not neglect this section and prepare well for it.
We hope that this article has helped you to understand how to prepare for the General Knowledge and General Awareness section in the SSC CPO exam. If you have any queries or suggestions, please feel free to comment below. All the best for your exam! And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram.
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