SSC CPO SI Syllabus

The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) conducts the CPO (Central Police Organization) examination annually to recruit Sub-Inspectors (SI) and Assistant Sub-Inspectors (ASI). This exam is a gateway to a rewarding career in various prestigious government organizations. A thorough understanding of the syllabus is the first crucial step towards cracking this competitive examination.

The SSC CPO SI selection process typically involves two papers (Paper-I and Paper-II), followed by Physical Standard Test (PST)/Physical Endurance Test (PET), and Medical Examination.

Paper-I Syllabus: The Foundation 🧠

Paper-I consists of four main sections, each carrying 50 marks, making it a total of 200 marks. The duration of this paper is 2 hours.

1. General Intelligence and Reasoning (50 Questions, 50 Marks) 🤔

This section assesses your ability to think critically, analyze patterns, and solve problems. It’s designed to test your mental aptitude rather than rote learning.

Key Topics:

• Verbal Reasoning:

  • Analogies: Number, letter, semantic, symbolic.

  • Similarities and Differences: Identifying commonalities and distinctions.

  • Space Visualization: Mentally manipulating 2D and 3D objects.

  • Spatial Orientation: Understanding positions and directions.

  • Problem Solving: Logical deduction, decision making.

  • Analysis: Breaking down complex situations.

  • Judgment: Evaluating information and making conclusions.

  • Decision Making: Choosing the best course of action.

  • Visual Memory: Remembering visual patterns.

  • Discrimination: Identifying minute differences.

  • Observation: Paying close attention to details.

  • Relationship Concepts: Blood relations, coding-decoding (letter, number, symbolic).

  • Arithmetical Reasoning: Series, number puzzles.

  • Verbal and Figure Classification: Grouping similar items.

  • Arithmetical Number Series: Identifying patterns in numbers.

  • Non-Verbal Series: Completing patterns with figures.

  • Coding and Decoding: Interpreting and creating codes.

  • Statement Conclusion: Drawing inferences from given statements.

  • Syllogistic Reasoning: Deductive reasoning based on premises.

  • Venn Diagrams: Representing relationships between sets.

  • Drawing Inferences: Concluding based on provided information.

  • Punched hole/pattern-folding & unfolding: Visualizing the unfolding of a paper.

  • Figural Pattern – folding and completion: Completing a folded figure.

  • Index Number based questions: Analyzing trends.

  • Small and Capital letters/numbers coding, decoding and classification: Various forms of coding.

  • Embedded Figures: Finding hidden figures.

  • Critical Thinking: Evaluating arguments.

  • Emotional Intelligence: Understanding and managing emotions (less common but relevant).

  • Social Intelligence: Understanding social situations (less common but relevant).

• Non-Verbal Reasoning:

  • Figure Classification.

  • Series Completion.

  • Mirror Images.

  • Water Images.

  • Paper Cutting and Folding.

  • Embedded Figures.

Preparation Tips: Practice is paramount. Solve a variety of puzzles and previous year’s questions. Focus on improving speed and accuracy.

2. General Knowledge and General Awareness (50 Questions, 50 Marks) 🌍

This section is vast and aims to test your general understanding of the world around you, current events, and static knowledge across various disciplines.

Key Topics:

• History: Ancient, Medieval, and Modern Indian History. Key dates, events, personalities, movements, and their impact.

• Geography: Indian and World Geography. Physical features, climate, rivers, mountains, natural resources, agriculture, population.

• Indian Polity and Constitution: Indian Constitution – Preamble, Fundamental Rights, DPSP, Amendments, President, Parliament, Judiciary, Panchayati Raj.

• Indian Economy: Basic economic concepts, Five Year Plans, national income, budget, banking, inflation, poverty, unemployment.

• General Science:

  • Physics: Units and Measurements, Motion, Force, Energy, Work, Power, Gravity, Light, Sound, Heat, Electricity, Magnetism, Modern Physics.

  • Chemistry: States of Matter, Atomic Structure, Acids, Bases, Salts, Metals and Non-metals, Organic Chemistry basics, Chemical Reactions.

  • Biology: Human Anatomy and Physiology, Plant Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Diseases and their causes, Nutrition, Ecology.

• Current Affairs: National and International events, awards, sports, books and authors, important days, government schemes, summits, appointments, defense.

• Static GK: Important organizations (UN, WHO, etc.), full forms, capitals and currencies, famous personalities, folk dances, art and culture, important places.

Preparation Tips: Read newspapers and magazines daily. Refer to standard GK books like Lucent’s General Knowledge. Make short notes for quick revision.

3. Quantitative Aptitude (50 Questions, 50 Marks) ➕➖✖️➗

This section tests your numerical ability and problem-solving skills using mathematical concepts. The questions will be of matriculation level.

Key Topics:

• Number System: Whole numbers, decimals, fractions, relationships between numbers.

• Computation of Whole Numbers.

• Decimals and Fractions.

• Fundamental Arithmetical Operations:

  • Percentages.

  • Ratio & Proportion.

  • Square roots.

  • Averages.

  • Interest (Simple and Compound).

  • Profit & Loss.

  • Discount.

  • Partnership Business.

  • Mixture and Allegation.

  • Time & Work.

  • Time & Distance.

• Algebra: Basic algebraic identities, elementary surds, graphs of linear equations.

• Geometry:

  • Familiarity with elementary geometric figures and facts.

  • Triangle and its various kinds of centres (centroid, in-centre, circum-centre, orthocentre).

  • Congruence and similarity of triangles.

  • Circle and its chords, tangents, angles subtended by chords of a circle, common tangents to two or more circles.

  • Quadrilaterals.

  • Regular Polygons.

• Mensuration:

  • Triangles.

  • Quadrilaterals.

  • Regular Polygons.

  • Circle.

  • Right Prism.

  • Right Circular Cone.

  • Right Circular Cylinder.

  • Sphere.

  • Hemispheres.

  • Rectangular Parallelepiped.

  • Regular Right Pyramid with triangular or square base.

• Trigonometry:

  • Trigonometric ratios.

  • Degree and Radian Measures.

  • Standard Identities (sin²θ + cos²θ = 1 etc.).

  • Complementary Angles.

  • Heights and Distances (simple problems).

• Statistical Charts: Bar diagram, Pie chart, Histograms, Frequency polygon.

Preparation Tips: Clear your basic concepts first. Practice a wide range of problems, especially previous year’s questions. Use shortcut techniques where applicable.

4. English Comprehension (50 Questions, 50 Marks) 📚

This section aims to test your understanding of the English language, including vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension skills.

Key Topics:

• Reading Comprehension: Understanding a given passage and answering questions based on it.

• Cloze Test: Filling in the blanks in a passage with appropriate words.

• Spotting Errors: Identifying grammatical errors in sentences.

• Fill in the Blanks: Completing sentences with correct words.

• Synonyms & Antonyms: Understanding words with similar and opposite meanings.

• Spelling Correction: Identifying correctly and incorrectly spelled words.

• Idioms & Phrases: Understanding the meaning of common idioms and phrases.

• One-word Substitution: Replacing a phrase with a single word.

• Sentence Improvement/Phrase Replacement: Replacing an underlined part of a sentence with a better option.

• Active/Passive Voice.

• Direct/Indirect Narration.

• Para Jumbles/Sentence Rearrangement: Arranging jumbled sentences to form a coherent paragraph.

Preparation Tips: Read English newspapers, novels, and articles regularly to improve vocabulary and comprehension. Practice grammar rules diligently.

Paper-II Syllabus: The Language Proficiency Test ✍️

Paper-II is exclusively on English Language & Comprehension and carries 200 marks for 200 questions. The duration of this paper is also 2 hours. This paper is crucial as it significantly impacts your overall score.

Key Topics (More in-depth than Paper-I English):

• English Language:

  • Vocabulary: Advanced level synonyms, antonyms, idioms, phrases, phrasal verbs, foreign words.

  • Grammar: Detailed knowledge of parts of speech (nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, interjections), tenses, voice, narration, articles, subject-verb agreement, conditionals, transformations of sentences.

  • Sentence Structure: Error detection, sentence completion, sentence improvement, rearrangement of sentences/para jumbles.

• Comprehension:

  • Multiple Reading Comprehension passages (ranging from easy to moderate difficulty).

  • Cloze Passages (with more complex vocabulary and grammatical nuances).

• Writing Ability:

  • Precis Writing (summarizing a given passage).

  • Letter Writing (formal and informal, if specified).

  • Essay Writing (on current affairs, social issues, or abstract topics).

  • Application Writing.

Preparation Tips: Develop a strong foundation in English grammar and vocabulary. Practice reading comprehension and cloze tests extensively. For descriptive writing, practice writing essays and letters on various topics, focusing on structure, coherence, and grammatical accuracy.

Physical Standard Test (PST) & Physical Endurance Test (PET) 💪

These tests are qualifying in nature but are mandatory. Failing these will lead to disqualification.

PST (Physical Standard Test):

PET (Physical Endurance Test):

Preparation Tips: Start a fitness regimen well in advance. Focus on running, jumping, and strength training. Consult a trainer if needed to avoid injuries.

Medical Examination 🩺

Candidates who qualify in Paper-I, PET/PST, and Paper-II will be called for a detailed Medical Examination. This checks for various medical standards as prescribed by the SSC, including eyesight, ear, nose, throat, and general physical health.

Key Medical Standards:

• Eye Sight: Near Vision: N6 (better eye) and N9 (worse eye). Distant Vision: 6/6 (better eye) and 6/9 (worse eye). Must not have knock knee, flat foot, varicose vein or squinteye.

• Physical Fitness: Candidate must be in sound physical and mental health.

• No color blindness.

Preparation Tips: Maintain a healthy lifestyle. If you have any known medical conditions, consult a doctor well before the exam to understand implications.

General Preparation Strategy for SSC CPO SI 🎯

1. Understand the Exam Pattern: Familiarize yourself with the number of questions, marks, and time duration for each paper.

2. Analyze Previous Year Papers: This gives you an insight into the types of questions asked and important topics.

3. Create a Study Plan: Allocate sufficient time to each section based on its weightage and your strengths and weaknesses.

4. Focus on Concepts: Especially for Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning, ensure your basic concepts are clear.

5. Regular Revision: Consistent revision is key to retaining information, especially for General Knowledge and English vocabulary.

6. Practice Mock Tests: Take full-length mock tests regularly to simulate exam conditions, improve time management, and identify areas for improvement.

7. Stay Updated with Current Affairs: Read newspapers, watch news, and refer to monthly current affairs compilations.

8. Physical Fitness: Do not neglect the physical tests. Incorporate daily exercise into your routine.

9. Maintain Health: A healthy body and mind are essential for effective preparation and performance.

10. Positive Mindset: Stay motivated and confident throughout your preparation journey.