How Shahrukh Started His SSC CGL Preparation
After completing his master's degree in Chemistry, Shahrukh was introduced to SSC exams by a friend. Although he had attempted the exam once before, he had hardly prepared for it. His serious preparation began when he joined the PW Daksh batch.
Starting from scratch gave Shahrukh a clear learning curve. Instead of trying to cover everything at once, he gradually built his foundation, particularly in English and Maths, through the PW classes. His first attempt had not involved much preparation, so the Daksh batch became the starting point for his more serious preparation.
Balancing Four Subjects Became Shahrukh’s First Challenge
Once preparation became serious, Shahrukh realised that maintaining balance across subjects was one of his biggest challenges. English and Maths required regular attention, while GK and GS often remained pending. Reasoning was comparatively comfortable for him, but General Studies continued to be an area where he needed more improvement.
His initial mock-test performance also showed how much work was still required. He used the mocks not simply to measure his score, but to identify specific weaknesses and gradually work on them.
"Maine sir pehli baar jab mock diya tha shuruaat mein to mere 63 marks bane the out of 200. To phir maine — yes sir — repeatedly mock dene lage, aur wahan jo bhi weaknesses thi dur ki..."
The initial 63/200 became a reference point for Shahrukh's progress. As he continued taking mocks, he could identify the areas where he was losing marks and work on them. This also helped him understand that completing the syllabus alone would not be enough without analysing performance and practising questions regularly.
PW Helped Shahrukh Build His Foundation and Stay Focused
With limited prior preparation, Shahrukh needed a structured source that could take him through the basics. He followed PW classes for his foundational preparation, particularly English and Maths, and later supplemented the classes with PYQs and mock-test practice.
He also found that he did not need to keep collecting multiple books for English. Instead, he relied on his class notes and focused on applying the concepts through questions.
"Sir, maine — maine as such koi book aaj tak nahi li jisme mujhe grammar alag se padhna pade ho, comprehension alag se — mujhe maine koi book follow nahi ki. Maine sirf jo aap class mein notes wo sufficient hain, sir; usse bhi us level ka poochhenge bhi nahi jitna aap cover kar rahe ho — bahut zyada diverse hai, aur diverse bhi nahi kahunga, compact hai.
Aap agar wo kar loge to mujhe nahi lagta koi dikkat aayegi. Bas ye hai ki practice zaroori hai kyunki wo concept us waqt exam mein strike karna, wo practice hi karwa paayegi."
For Shahrukh, the important part was not simply having access to study material but using it effectively. His approach was to understand the concepts from class, revise the notes, and then practise enough questions to recall those concepts during the exam.
This approach also helped him avoid spending excessive time searching for different resources. Rather than constantly adding new books, he concentrated on strengthening what he had already studied.
Shahrukh's Consistency Turned Preparation Into a Selection
Shahrukh's preparation was not limited to his academic challenges. Coming from a remote village in Jammu and Kashmir, he also had to deal with difficulties related to accessibility and connectivity. Online learning gave him an opportunity to prepare for SSC CGL without being limited by his location.
Over time, the combination of online classes, mock-test analysis, revision, and practice began reflecting in his performance. His SSC CGL Mains score reached 131 marks, and he was selected for the post of Office Superintendent.
Looking back at the journey, Shahrukh highlighted the importance of staying consistent rather than expecting immediate results.
"Aap sabki blessings sir, baaki sir haan ye to hai, revolutionize kiya hai PW ne — agar main yahan baith ke agar classes laga pa raha hoon aur excel kar pa raha hoon to har koi kar sakta hai sir, bas aapko consistency aur practice chahiye aur baaki cheezein apne aap aa jaati hai."
His journey from a 63/200 initial mock score to a 131-mark Mains performance shows how preparation can improve when weaknesses are identified and worked on consistently. For SSC CGL aspirants, Shahrukh's experience offers a practical lesson: build your foundation first, follow a comprehensive study plan, analyse your mocks, and give enough time to practice and revise.
PW provides SSC exam content, including SSC Exams Updates, sample papers, mock tests, guidance sessions, and more. Also, enroll today in the SSC Online Batches for preparation.
