SSC Stenographer Preparation

The best books for SSC Stenographer English are given below:

• Objective General English by S.P. Bakshi

• Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis (for vocabulary)

• English for General Competitions by Neetu Singh, Wren & Martin's English Grammar books

Self-study with disciplined planning works well for many aspirants. However, others find value in coaching or community guidance for structured learning and doubt resolution. Candidates must choose what aligns with the learning style.

Candidates should avoid the following mistakes during preparation:

• Starting shorthand practice too late

• Using too many books or switching resources often

• Skipping mock tests until last minute

• Ignoring analysis and improvement after mocks

• Neglecting mental and physical well-being

Candidates should prepare short notes or flashcards for formulas, vocabulary, GK facts, and reasoning shortcuts. Candidates must daily revise for 30 to  60 mins and weekly review of weak topics. Candidates must refer to good study materials to avoid overload.

Candidates must start shorthand dictation practice early even while preparing CBT. 

• Required speeds:

  • Grade C: 100 wpm for 10 minutes (transcription: 40 min, English)

  • Grade D: 80 wpm for 10 minutes (transcription: 50–65 min)

• Candidates must build consistency in accuracy and transcription under time pressure

Candidates must prepare a realistic daily/weekly plan. They should revise Grammar, Vocabularly, Reasoning Puzzles, GA. Candidates must dedicate four to six hours daily for study. They should include revision sessions and mock tests in the plan.

SSC Stenographer exam include subjects such as General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Awareness, English Language & Comprehension. Candidates must understand the exam pattern, cover important topics and use trusted books as given below:

• A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non Verbal Reasoning (R.S. Aggarwal)

• Objective General English (S.P. Bakshi / Wren & Martin)

• Lucent's General Knowledge, Manorama Year Book for GK

The shorthand skill test requirements for SSC Stenographer are given below:

• Dictation speed:

  • Grade C: 100 words per minute

  • Grade D: 80 words per minute

• Dictation duration: 10 minutes

• Transcription time:

  • Grade C: 40 min (English) / 55 min (Hindi)

  • Grade D: 50 min (English) / 65 min (Hindi)