The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) conducts the Central Police Organization (CPO) exam every year to recruit candidates for various posts such as Sub-Inspector (SI) in Delhi Police, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) in Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). The SSC CPO exam is one of the most competitive and prestigious exams in India, as it offers a lucrative career opportunity for those who aspire to serve the nation. However, clearing the SSC CPO exam is not an easy task, as it requires a lot of hard work, dedication, strategy and preparation. The exam consists of four stages: Paper-I (Prelims), Physical Standard Test / Physical Endurance Test (PST/PET), Paper-II (Mains) and Medical Examination Test. Each stage has its own syllabus, pattern and difficulty level, and candidates need to qualify each stage to move on to the next one. So, how can you clear the SSC CPO exam in your first attempt? Is it possible to do so with a month’s preparation? What are the best books and study materials for SSC CPO preparation? How can you avoid common mistakes and pitfalls while preparing for the exam? In this article, we will answer all these questions and provide you with some useful tips and tricks that will help you ace the SSC CPO exam in your first attempt. The first and foremost step in your SSC CPO preparation is to understand the exam pattern and syllabus thoroughly. This will help you to know what to expect in the exam, how much time you have to complete each section, what are the topics covered in each section, what are the marks allotted for each question, what are the negative marking rules, etc. Having a clear idea of the exam pattern and syllabus will also help you to plan your study schedule accordingly and allocate time for each topic. The SSC CPO exam pattern and syllabus for Paper-I and Paper-II are given below: Paper-I is an objective type online test that consists of four sections: General Intelligence and Reasoning, General Knowledge and Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude and English Comprehension. Each section has 50 questions carrying one mark each, making a total of 200 questions for 200 marks. The duration of the paper is two hours. There is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer. Paper-II is also an objective type online test that consists of only one section: English Language and Comprehension. This section has 200 questions carrying one mark each, making a total of 200 marks. The duration of the paper is two hours. There is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer. The PST/PET is a physical test that assesses the candidates’ height, chest measurement, weight and physical endurance. The candidates who qualify Paper-I are eligible to appear for this stage. The PST/PET has different criteria for male and female candidates, as given below: The Medical Examination Test is conducted to check the medical fitness of the candidates who qualify Paper-II and PST/PET. The candidates have to undergo various tests such as eye sight test, blood pressure test, urine test, etc. The candidates who are found medically fit are eligible for document verification and final selection. One of the best ways to prepare for any exam is to attempt mock tests regularly. Mock tests are simulated tests that mimic the actual exam pattern, syllabus, difficulty level and time limit. They help you to assess your preparation level, identify your strengths and weaknesses, improve your speed and accuracy, manage your time effectively, familiarize yourself with the online interface, overcome your exam fear and anxiety, etc. You should attempt at least one mock test every week during your SSC CPO preparation. You should also analyse your performance after each mock test and find out where you are making mistakes, which topics you need to revise more, which sections you are scoring well or poorly in, etc. You should also compare your scores with other aspirants and see where you stand among them. There are many online platforms that provide free or paid mock tests for SSC CPO exam. You can choose any reliable source that offers quality mock tests with detailed solutions and feedback. Some of the popular sources are Oliveboard, BYJU’S, Gradeup, etc. Revision is one of the most important aspects of any exam preparation. Without revision, you will not be able to retain what you have learned and recall it during the exam. Revision helps you to refresh your memory, consolidate your concepts, clear your doubts, improve your confidence, etc. You should revise all the topics given in the syllabus at regular intervals during your SSC CPO preparation. You should also revise the important formulas, facts, rules, shortcuts, tricks, etc. that you have learned or noted down while studying. You should also revise the previous year question papers and mock tests that you have attempted. You should plan your revision schedule in such a way that you cover all the topics at least once before the exam. You should also allocate some time for last-minute revision before each stage of the exam. Another effective way to prepare for any exam is to go through the previous year question papers. Previous year question papers give you an idea of what kind of questions are asked in the exam, how they are framed, what are their difficulty level, what are their weightage, etc. They also help you to understand the trend and pattern of the exam over the years. You should solve as many previous year question papers as possible during your SSC CPO preparation. You should try to solve them in a time-bound manner as if you are taking the actual exam. You should also check your answers with the official answer keys or solutions provided by various sources. You can find previous year question papers from various online platforms or books available in the market. Some of them are: Books are one of the most essential study materials for any exam preparation. Books help you to clear your concepts, learn new topics, practice questions, revise important points, etc. However, not all books are equally good or suitable for SSC CPO preparation. You need to choose the best books for SSC CPO that cover the syllabus comprehensively, explain the topics clearly, provide ample examples and exercises, and have accurate and updated information. There are many books available in the market or online for SSC CPO preparation. However, you should not buy or refer to too many books, as it will only confuse you and waste your time. You should select one or two books for each section and stick to them throughout your preparation. You should also supplement your books with online study resources such as videos, notes, quizzes, etc. Here are some of the best books for SSC CPO preparation that are recommended by experts and toppers: The General Intelligence and Reasoning section tests your logical and analytical skills. It requires daily practice with a good variety of questions to cover all the topics. You should also learn the shortcuts and tricks to solve the questions quickly and accurately. Some of the best books for SSC CPO General Intelligence and Reasoning are: The General Knowledge and Awareness section tests your knowledge of current affairs and static GK. It requires regular reading of newspapers, magazines, GK digests, etc. You should also memorize important facts, dates, events, personalities, etc. that are frequently asked in the exam. Some of the best books for SSC CPO General Knowledge and Awareness are: The Quantitative Aptitude section tests your numerical and mathematical skills. It requires a strong command of basic concepts, formulas, calculations, etc. You should also practice a lot of questions of different types and difficulty levels to improve your speed and accuracy. Some of the best books for SSC CPO Quantitative Aptitude are: The English Language and Comprehension section tests your language skills, vocabulary, grammar, comprehension, etc. It requires a good command of English language rules, idioms, phrases, synonyms, antonyms, etc. You should also read a lot of English articles, novels, magazines, etc. to improve your reading and comprehension skills. Some of the best books for SSC CPO English Language and Comprehension are: While preparing for SSC CPO exam, you may encounter some common mistakes and pitfalls that can hamper your performance and result in the exam. You should avoid these mistakes and pitfalls at any cost and follow some best practices to ensure your success in the exam. Here are some of the common mistakes and pitfalls that you should avoid while preparing for SSC CPO exam: The SSC CPO exam is a golden opportunity for those who want to join the police forces and serve the nation. However, it is also a challenging exam that requires a lot of preparation and hard work. By following the tips and tricks given in this article, you can clear the SSC CPO exam in your first attempt with flying colors. You just need to have a clear goal, a proper plan, a positive attitude and a strong determination. We hope that this article has helped you in your SSC CPO preparation and given you some useful insights and guidance. We wish you all the best for your SSC CPO exam 2023! The difficulty of cracking the SSC CPO (Staff Selection Commission Central Police Organization) exam can vary greatly depending on the individual's preparation, understanding of the syllabus, and exam strategy. It is a competitive exam and requires a good amount of preparation. Therefore, it may not be considered "easy" for everyone. However, with consistent study, understanding of the exam pattern, and regular practice, it is certainly possible to crack the exam. Here are some tips to crack the SSC CPO exam in the first attempt: Yes, it is possible to clear the SSC CPO exam without coaching. Self-study can be a good option if you have the right resources and dedication. However, coaching can provide a structured learning environment and guidance from experienced teachers, which can be beneficial. Ultimately, it depends on your personal learning style and preferences. The difficulty level of SSC CPO and SSC CGL (Combined Graduate Level) can vary depending on the individual's preparation and understanding of the subjects. Both exams are conducted by the Staff Selection Commission and have a similar pattern, but the syllabus and job roles differ. Some may find CPO harder due to the physical endurance test, while others may find CGL harder due to its broader syllabus. It's subjective and depends on individual preparation and aptitude. The difficulty level of the Maths section in the SSC CPO exam can vary depending on the individual's understanding and preparation in the subject. The Maths section covers topics like Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Mensuration, Trigonometry, and Statistics. If you have a good understanding of these topics and practice regularly, you can find this section manageable. However, if you are weak in Maths, you may find it challenging and may need to put in extra effort to improve.Understand the Exam Pattern and Syllabus
SSC CPO Exam Pattern for Paper-I
Sections Number of Questions Marks allotted General Intelligence and Reasoning 50 50 General Knowledge and Awareness 50 50 Quantitative Aptitude 50 50 English Comprehension 50 50 Total 200 200 SSC CPO Exam Pattern for Paper-II
Section Number of Questions Marks Allotted English Language and Comprehension 200 200 SSC CPO Exam Pattern for PST/PET
PST Criteria
Category Height (in cms) Chest (in cms) Male (General) 170 Unexpanded - 80; Expanded - 85 Male (Hill areas) 165 Unexpanded - 80; Expanded - 85 Male (ST) 162.5 Unexpanded - 77; Expanded - 82 Female (General) 157 NA Female (Hill areas) 155 NA Female (ST) 154 NA PET Criteria
Category Male Candidates Female Candidates Race 1.6 km (1 mile) in 6 min 30 sec - 7 min 800 meters in 4 min - 4 min 30 sec Long Jump Minimum 11-12 feet Minimum 9-10 feet High Jump Minimum 3.5-4 feet Minimum 3-3.5 feet SSC CPO Exam Pattern for Medical Examination Test
Attempt Mock Tests to Analyse Your Strengths and Weaknesses
Revise All the Topics Given in the Syllabus
Go Through the Previous Year Question Papers
Buy Good SSC CPO Books to Clear Your Concepts
Best Books for SSC CPO General Intelligence and Reasoning
Best Books for SSC CPO General Knowledge and Awareness
Best Books for SSC CPO Quantitative Aptitude
Best Books for SSC CPO English Language and Comprehension
Avoid Common Mistakes and Pitfalls While Preparing for SSC CPO Exam
Conclusion
Some Common FAQs
Is it easy to crack SSC CPO exam?
How to crack SSC CPO exam in first attempt?
Can I clear SSC CPO without coaching?
Is CPO harder than CGL?
Is SSC CPO maths easy?