Skip to content
ExamTrack Prep
Exams, mocks, study material, current affairs and more

SSC | SSC CPO

English Language for SSC CPO

SSC CPO sets 250 English Language questions for 250 marks across 2 stages, so it is worth planning your preparation around the topics below.

250 questions250 marks8 topics

How to approach English Language in SSC CPO

Reading comprehension and the cloze test decide this section, and both reward reading widely more than memorising rules. Build a daily reading habit, learn to spot the grammatical error patterns that recur, and treat vocabulary as something absorbed in context rather than crammed from a list.

Weightage in the paper

How much English Language is worth in each SSC CPO stage, from the official pattern.

StageQuestionsMarksTimeShare
Paper I (Computer Based Examination)505030 min25%
Paper II (Computer Based Examination)200200—100%

English Language syllabus for SSC CPO

Every topic in the official syllabus. The linked ones open a set of solved questions you can practise straight away.

  • Reading comprehension
  • Cloze test and para jumbles
  • Error spotting and sentence improvement
  • Fill in the blanks
  • Synonyms, antonyms and one-word substitution
  • Idioms and phrases
  • Active and passive voice, direct and indirect speech (Paper II)
  • Spelling and vocabulary in depth (Paper II)

Sample English Language questions with solutions

Written to the SSC CPO pattern, with the answer key and the method behind it — a look at how the section is actually set before you drill the full topic sets.

Sentence improvement · solved example

Choose the option that best replaces the underlined part. If no improvement is needed, choose option E. The manager insisted that the report _is submitted_ before Friday.

  • be submittedCorrect
  • will be submitted
  • was submitted
  • would be submitted
  • No improvement required

Solution

Verbs of demand such as insist, recommend, suggest, propose and require take the subjunctive in the clause that follows, and the subjunctive uses the bare form regardless of the subject. So it is 'insisted that the report be submitted'. Options B and D put a future or conditional where a subjunctive belongs, and C makes the submission a past fact rather than the thing being demanded. The bare form also explains why 'insisted that he be present' is correct and 'that he is present' is not.

Antonyms · solved example

Choose the word that is most nearly OPPOSITE in meaning to: CALM

  • metallic
  • agitatedCorrect
  • crimson
  • tranquil
  • frequent

Solution

"calm" means free from disturbance. The word most nearly opposite in meaning is "agitated".

Reading comprehension · solved example

The town library was a quiet place that Meena loved. Every Saturday she borrowed two books and returned the ones from the previous week. The librarian, Mr Rao, knew her by name and often kept aside stories he thought she would enjoy. Over the years, Meena read hundreds of books and slowly grew into a confident writer herself. She often said that the small library had opened a very large world for her.

How often did Meena visit the library?

  • Every SaturdayCorrect
  • Twice a week
  • Every day
  • Once a month
  • Only in summer

Solution

The passage says she borrowed books "every Saturday".

Para jumble · solved example

Rearrange the following sentences to form a meaningful paragraph: P) The pictures he took surprised everyone with their quality. Q) Rahul found an old camera in his attic. R) Curious, he cleaned it and inserted a fresh roll of film. S) He now prefers the old camera to his phone.

Which of the given sentences should come fourth in the rearranged paragraph?

  • P
  • Q
  • R
  • SCorrect

Solution

The meaningful order is Q, R, P, S. Hence the fourth sentence is S.

Advertisement

Practise English Language

Untimed drills with the method shown after every question — the step between learning a topic and sitting it under a clock.

Sit English Language under a real clock

English Language shows up in every SSC CPO mock test, in the same interface, with sectional locking and negative marking.

  • SSC CPO: 28-question practice mock

    28 questions | 28 min

    Start

Frequently asked questions

How many English Language questions are asked in SSC CPO?

SSC CPO 2026 cycle sets 250 English Language questions for 250 marks, split across 50 in the Paper I (Computer Based Examination) and 200 in the Paper II (Computer Based Examination).

Is there negative marking for English Language in SSC CPO?

Yes. SSC CPO deducts one fourth of a mark for each wrong answer, English Language included, so unsure guesses cost you. One fourth of a mark is deducted for each wrong answer; every question carries one mark. Unanswered questions carry no penalty.

Which English Language topics matter most for SSC CPO?

The SSC CPO syllabus lists Reading comprehension, Cloze test and para jumbles, Error spotting and sentence improvement, Fill in the blanks, Synonyms, antonyms and one-word substitution, Idioms and phrases and more. Weight your revision towards the ones you are weakest on and confirm the emphasis against the paper analysis for recent cycles.

How can I practise English Language for SSC CPO free?

Every English Language question on this site is free and written to the exam pattern. Use the topic drills for instant-feedback practice, the daily quiz to keep the section warm, and the SSC CPO mock tests to sit it under a real clock with negative marking.