Posted on by Successlynk
The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) conducts the Combined Higher Secondary Level (CHSL) Tier-II exam to assess the candidates’ writing skills. This is a ‘pen and paper’ mode exam that has to be completed in one hour. The candidates have to write an essay of about 200 to 250 words and a letter or application of about 150 to 200 words.
The exam is conducted to assess how you will manage your duties and workload, your awareness on current affairs or events happening in your surroundings and your opinion on the happenings. You have to score 33% to qualify in the exam. Follow these strategies to beat the competition and stay ahead of others.
1. Prepare for important topics: Check the latest news and read editorial from newspapers to know about the current affairs and the other important topics. Anticipate topics on national interest, ecological issues, social issues etc. Follow good books. Good books provide you the correct format of essay writing and letter writing. You will also get good ideas on the content for important topics. Some of the important topics include:
- Swacch Bharat Abhiyan
- Women empowerment
- LGBT Rights
- Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao
- Entrepreneurship in India
- Fighting corruption
- Combating terrorism
- Disaster management
- Farmer condition
- Kaveri water dispute in Karnataka
- Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana
- OROP (One Rank One Pension) and its feasibility
- Digital India
- Pravasi Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PKVY) – Skills in Line with International Standards
2. Practice every topic: Write essay on each and every topic you have selected. Practice writing in the specified words and in the specified duration. This will improve your clarity on the topic as well as your speed of writing. Review and get your essay checked by someone. Notice whether there is clarity in the points you have put across.
3. Structure your essay properly: For essay writing, you need to put your thoughts in 200-250 words. Have a structure for your essay. Divide your essay into three parts. Introduce the topic in about 30-40 words. Write the body in about 150-160 words. Finally, conclude your essay in about 30-40 words.
4. Do not just start writing your essay: Spend at least 10 minutes in organizing your thoughts before you start. Spend about 20 minutes in writing the essay. Do not try to spend more than 30 minutes for essay writing. Before you write the essay, first note down the key points you would like to convey. Use these points and the supporting points to build the body of essay. Use valid data, facts, statistical numbers, examples etc., as supporting statements. To know them, you need to have general awareness and current affairs. Write the content in a number of paragraphs to increase readability. Then write down the introduction and finally the conclusion. Stick to word limit. Use short and meaningful sentences.
5. Introduction and conclusion are crucial: A good introduction creates interest in your examiner to read the whole essay. In conclusion, summarise the main points in the body in three or four sentences.
6. Prepare for both formal and informal letter writing: Follow a prescribed format to write a letter or application. For informal letter, you may be asked to write to friends or relatives about your well–being or share good / bad news or invite them for some important function. For formal letter, you may be asked to write to Principal, Police, Editor, Manager, Boss, HR, Government official etc. You may be asked to lodge a complaint, provide a suggestion, give an application, make a follow-up or provide feedback. Try to complete your letter writing in 20 minutes. Spend about 10 minutes to proofread.
7. Follow the correct format for formal letter writing: In a formal letter, have:
- The sender’s address (without name)
- Date (with month in words)
- Receiver’s designation
- Receiver’s address
- Subject
- Salutation
The body of the letter should have:
- Introduction ( your purpose of writing the letter)
- Main body (that explains your problem)
- Conclusion (should have what you want the receiver to do about your problem)
Then your letter should have:
- Thank you
- Complimentary close
- Sender’s signature
- Sender’s name
8. Dos and don’ts while writing formal letter:
- Keep the sentences simple and crisp.
- Write to the point and be polite.
- Use Sir/Madam, when the receiver’s name is not known.
- Don’t use flowery language.
- Don’t use informal words and greetings.
- Don’t use contractions like haven’t, won’t etc.
- If you are writing to Editor, do not request to solve the issue.
- Be careful about your grammar, spellings and punctuation.
- Stick to word limit.
9. Follow the correct format for informal letter writing: In informal letter, have:
- Sender’s address
- Receiver’s address
- Date
- Salutation
- Purpose of writing
- Main Body
- Complimentary close
Sender’s name and signature
10. Manage your time well: You have two questions to complete in one hour. Divide your time judiciously. Ideally, spend about 25 minutes to complete essay writing and 20 minutes to complete the letter. Use the last 15 minutes to revise the answers and correct any grammatical errors.
11. Take care of your well-being: Have balanced diet and take care of your health. Sleep well the day before the exam and stay calm on the day of exam.
Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success. All the best!
Posted in SSC CHSL