How should one prepare for SSC JHT (Junior Hindi Translator) exam?

 Staff Selection Commission (SSC) conducts Junior Hindi Translator exam every year. The exam is a lucrative opportunity for the candidates with postgraduate degree especially in either English or Hindi to bag a central government Group B job.

In this post, I am going to explain how one can prepare for this exam, but before coming to the strategy section, please go through the eligibility criteria for this examination:

source: https://ssc.nic.in/Portal/Notices

EXAM PREPARATION

Now, coming to our strategy which you can implement in order to sail through this exam.

The examination tests your English grammar and Hindi Vyakaran knowledge in addition to testing your translation skills from English to Hindi and vice-versa. It also demands acquisition of a sound vocabulary of both the languages.

• For Paper I :  This paper comprises of  total 200 questions of 200 marks. 

English grammar - 100 questions

Hindi vyakaran - 100 questions

I would suggest you to begin your preparation 3-6 months prior to the exam. At the beginning of an year, SSC releases a calendar, scheduling exams in the upcoming year, so you can check the conducting dates of the exam and begin preparation in time. The reason is that it will give you ample time for your preparation, moreover you don't want to stress yourself by starting just a month before the exam.

English grammar: Get Wren and Martin - High School English grammar or any good English grammar book and start with the basic topics such as noun, verb, tense etc. Take your time, understand these topics. Supplement it with a fine English newspaper such as The Hindu or, preferably The Indian Express if you are a beginner. Read newspaper religiously like a Bhagavad Gita or a bible. Make it your daily chore to read newspaper, because it will expand your vocabulary.

After going through Wren & Martin, you can go further for an advanced English grammar book like Arihant's Objective General English by SP Bakshi.

Hindi vyakaran: For starters, I will recommend two books, start with high school basic vyakaran book prescribed in the curriculum of class 6th - 10th. After coming to terms with basic vyakaran, you can refer to the book Lucent Hindi. Complete this book, revise again and again. 

If you are not well versed in Hindi vocabulary, you can read NCERT Hindi books from class 8th onwards till 12th. It will help you develop your vocabulary base and you will learn many new words.

Note: Vocabulary is a very crucial aspect because a sound vocabulary will help you in translation and essays (paper II). Grammar doesn't require long time to grasp but building vocabulary is a long-term affair.

• Paper II

In this stage, the paper carries the weightage of 200 marks. Two translation passages of each 50 marks, one from Hindi to English, other from English to Hindi will be given. Further, you must attempt two essays each (word limit: 500 words) in both languages carrying 50-50 marks.

There's no doubt both of the above require smart writing practice.

In order to conquer translation part, you can buy any book from the market targeting the SSC Junior translator exam like SSC: Translator (Junior & Senior) / Hindi Pradhyapak (Paper-I & II) Recruitment Exam Guide. I will caution you to not begin your translation practice by translating editorials from the newspaper. The reason is, if you are a newbie, you will find this level of writing pieces cumbersome and difficult. 

It is much to better to begin translation from a source where complex or bombastic language is not used. You can translate from NCERT books of English and Hindi subjects.

Later when you are experienced, you can try newspaper articles for translation.

Also, analyze new words used in formal and administrative terminology in your reading materials. Note down such words and use them in practice wherever you think, they are suitable in the context.

Talking about essays, I am sure they are not entirely a new thing to you. You have done it before. Still, practice writing lucid and organized essays adhering to the prescribed word limit. 

For adding informative fodder in the essays, you can use your knowledge of current affairs acquired from newspaper which you must have been reading since the beginning of your preparation. Essays based on current affairs do come in the exam, so note down important facts from newspaper or magazines in your notebook, so that you can use these facts in your essays.

Important tip: Mock tests/Quizes/

When you are done with your readings or syllabus completion, the next stage yet the most important stage is testing yourself. Never ignore mock tests, because it is the finest way to know your weak areas and work on it. The last one month prior to the exam must be spent in the tests. You can search online mock tests or join a telegram group associated with the SSC JHT preparation where such quizes are conducted free of cost. Use internet smartly for other mock tests.

I hope many of your doubts must been solved with this article. Still, if you have any query, comment below and I will try to answer it.

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