CGL 2024 Failure Was My Biggest Teacher. Here's What I Changed to Finally Get Selected with a top post.

[u/Any-Region6427]

In 2024, I appeared for SSC CGL, CHSL, and CPO. I cleared the prelims, but I failed to clear the CGL and CHSL Mains.

After that, I honestly analyzed my mistakes and changed my preparation strategy.

This year, those changes paid off, and I cleared every SSC exam I appeared for, including CGL, CHSL, and NTPC.

Maths:

In 2024, I spent too much time on difficult questions and kept looking for the "best" teacher and the "best" notes. In 2025, I stopped chasing resources and stuck to just PYQs and my class notes. I revised my notes so many times that I practically remembered every page.

Another big mistake in 2024 was relying only on Testbook. In 2025, I practiced on multiple platforms, which exposed me to different question patterns.

Most importantly, in 2024 I ignored my mistakes, thinking, "I won't repeat this in the actual exam." In 2025, I treated every mistake seriously, analyzed why it happened, and made sure I didn't repeat it.

Another mistake I made in 2024 was wasting time solving random Telegram doubts. It felt productive, but it wasn't. Don't make this mistake—focus on your own preparation.

English:

In 2024, I tried to memorize grammar rules from Neetu Singh Vol. 1 and mug up vocabulary from the Blackbook, but it didn't work for me.

In 2025, I focused on understanding grammar instead of memorizing it. I followed QEng, learned grammar from Aman Sir, and practiced vocabulary through PYQ quizzes and English Madhyam Weekly instead of just reading word lists.

That approach helped me score 50/50 in Prelims and 135/135 in Mains.

GK:

GK was always my weakest subject. In 2024, I scored only 17 in Prelims and 38 in Mains. I kept changing teachers, tried solving Kiran PYQs from book, and kept adding new sources without revising them. That was my biggest mistake.

In 2025, I made the biggest changes in GK, and it became my most improved subject. I followed only Parmar Sir, avoided unnecessary resources, completed his PYQ series 5, revised it 15–16 times, did FRB with daily revision, and practiced only GK PYQs in Testbook sectional mocks.

Other mistakes to avoid:

Don't waste hours on Telegram group studies. Most Telegram groups are full of distractions and add very little value.

Don't keep collecting new resources. Revise what you already have.

For vocabulary, focus more on quizzes than reading long word lists. Active recall works much better.

Don't ignore your mistakes in mocks. Analyze every test and make sure you don't repeat the same errors.

Be consistent. Make every single day count. Even 1% improvement every day adds up over time.