SSC CGL Topper Interview: 'My Strategy to Score AIR 1'

Q: Rohan, first of all, hearty congratulations on this incredible achievement! The first question every aspirant has is, were you a "topper" all your life?

Absolutely not, and thank you for asking that. I think this is the most important myth to break. I was a completely average student throughout my school and college life, with regular 60-70% scores. This exam is not a test of your past academic brilliance. It's a test of your present discipline, your consistency, and your strategy. Anyone, and I mean anyone, with the right approach can crack it.

Q: That's incredibly motivating. Could you walk us through your daily study routine?

My philosophy was consistency over intensity. I aimed for about 6-7 hours of focused study every single day. My routine was fixed:

• Morning (2-3 hours): This was my golden time for Quantitative Aptitude. The mind is freshest, and I could tackle complex problems.
• Afternoon (2 hours): I dedicated this time to English, focusing on grammar rules and vocabulary revision.
• Evening (1 hour): This was for Reasoning practice. Since it's about patterns, consistent practice is key.
• Night (30-45 mins): Just before sleeping, I would revise the Current Affairs and Static GK notes I made.

The number of hours is not as important as the fact that this routine was followed almost every single day for 8-10 months.

Q: What was your subject-wise strategy? Let's start with the most feared section, Quant.

For Quant, my strategy was "PYQ First." I used a standard book only to understand the concepts of a chapter. Once the concepts were clear, I would immediately solve every single question from that chapter asked in the last 5 years of SSC CGL, CHSL, and CPO exams. This ensured I was practicing only relevant patterns. I mastered Arithmetic first before even touching Advanced Maths, as it has the highest weightage.

Q: And for English, which many find tricky?

English has three pillars. For **Grammar**, I mastered Neetu Singh's "Plinth to Paramount" and made my own short notes. For **Vocabulary** (synonyms, antonyms, idioms), my only source was a personal notebook where I wrote down every word from the last 5 years of PYQs. About 80% of the vocabulary comes from there. For **Comprehension**, I built a non-negotiable habit of reading one editorial from The Hindu every day. That's it. Limited resources, multiple revisions.

Q: Let's talk about the game-changer: Mock Tests. What was your strategy?

This is what separates a ranker from the crowd. I followed a strict **1:3 ratio**: 1 hour for taking the mock and 3 hours for analyzing it. My analysis was brutal. I created an error log and categorized every single mistake:

• **Conceptual Gap:** I didn't know the concept. (Action: Re-study the chapter)
• **Silly Mistake:** I knew it but made a calculation error. (Action: Be more mindful)
• **Strategic Error:** I spent too much time on it. (Action: Improve question selection)

This deep analysis was my real preparation. The mock test itself was just for data collection.

Q: Finally, what is your single biggest piece of advice for SSC CGL 2025 aspirants?

Stop comparing yourself to others. Your journey is your own. Don't worry about what others are scoring in mocks. Your only competition is the person you were yesterday. Focus on small, incremental improvements every single day. This exam rewards discipline far more than it rewards genius. Trust the process, stay consistent, and believe that it is possible. If an average student like me can do it, anyone can.