SSC MTS tricks & mnemonics — save minutes on exam day
Subject-wise short tricks and memory hacks for SSC Multi Tasking Staff (Paper 1). Each one is meant to be used in the exam hall — read it, then lock it in with a quick practice question.
Divisibility by 11 — Alternating sum of digits must be 0 or divisible by 11. For 8349: (8+4)-(3+9)=0, divisible. For 9317: (9+1)-(3+7)=0, divisible. Quick mental check for eliminating options.
LCM×HCF Product Rule — For two numbers: Product of numbers = LCM × HCF. If A=12, B=18, then 12×18=216=LCM(36)×HCF(6). Instantly find missing value when three are given.
Percentage-Fraction Equivalents — Memorize: 12.5%=⅛, 16.67%=⅙, 20%=⅕, 25%=¼, 33.33%=⅓, 66.67%=⅔, 87.5%=⅞. Convert percentages to fractions instantly for faster multiplication in profit/loss problems.
Successive Percentage Change — For two changes a% and b%: Net = a+b+(ab/100). If price increases 10% then decreases 10%: 10-10+(10×-10/100)=-1% net loss, not zero.
Time-Speed-Distance Triangle — Draw triangle: D at top, S and T at bottom. Cover what you need: D=S×T, S=D/T, T=D/S. Never confuse formulas during exam pressure.
Profit % on CP vs SP — Profit% always on CP unless stated. If CP=100, SP=120, Profit=20%. To find profit% on SP: (Profit/SP)×100 = (20/120)×100=16.67%. Remember: CP base is default.
Alligation Rule — For mixing two quantities with prices P1 and P2 to get mean price M: Ratio = (P2-M):(M-P1). Cheap surplus to dear deficit, cross-subtract. Draw X-diagram for visual clarity.
Simple Interest shortcut — SI = PRT/100. For multiple years, SI increases linearly. If SI for 2 years is ₹400, then SI for 5 years = ₹1000 (just multiply proportionally).
Compound Interest for 2 years — CI = P[(1+R/100)²-1]. Shortcut: CI-SI difference for 2 years = (SI²/100P). If SI=₹200, P=₹2000, difference=₹20. Verify CI problems quickly.
Time & Work: Man-Day Equivalence — M1×D1×H1/W1 = M2×D2×H2/W2. If men/days/hours/work change together, use this master formula. Memorize order: Men-Days-Hours-Work on both sides.
Average: New Average After Replacement — If one value replaced, New Avg = Old Avg + (New-Old)/n. Person weighing 65kg replaced by 80kg in group of 10: Avg increases by (80-65)/10=1.5kg.
Geometry: Triangle Angle Sum — Any polygon's interior angles = (n-2)×180°. Quadrilateral=360°, Pentagon=540°, Hexagon=720°. For exterior angles, always 360° regardless of polygon type.
AI-curated from widely-used exam techniques — always sanity-check a trick on a practice question before relying on it in the hall.
Tricks stick when you USE them
Take a free SSC MTS mock right now — apply these tricks under the clock and see your speed jump. No signup needed to try a 5-question quiz.
Pythagoras Triplets — Memorize common sets: (3,4,5), (5,12,13), (8,15,17), (7,24,25), (9,40,41). Recognize multiples: (6,8,10), (9,12,15). Saves calculation time on right-triangle problems.
Volume Formulas: Cube vs Sphere — Cube: V=a³, Sphere: V=(4/3)πr³, Cylinder: V=πr²h, Cone: V=(1/3)πr²h. Note cone is ⅓ of cylinder with same base and height.
Coding-Decoding: Letter Position — A=1, B=2...Z=26. Quick recall: EJOTY = 5,10,15,20,25. For reverse: Z=1, Y=2...A=26. Use opposite pairs: A-Z(1-26), B-Y(2-25), C-X(3-24).
Direction Sense: NESW Cycle — Clockwise: N→E→S→W→N (NEWS). Right turn=+90°, Left=-90°. After two rights=180° (opposite direction). Face North, right=East, left=West, back=South. Trace on paper quickly.
Dictionary Order Rule — Compare letter-by-letter from left. Shorter word comes first if all letters match (CAR before CARD). Ignore meaning; pure alphabetical. Watch for capital vs small letters.
Mirror Image: L-R Reversal — Only left-right flips, not top-bottom. Letters symmetric vertically unchanged: A,H,I,M,O,T,U,V,W,X,Y. Asymmetric letters reverse: b↔d, p↔q. Numbers: check each digit individually.
Analogy Pattern Recognition — Common types: +n, -n, ×n, ÷n, squares, cubes, prime numbers, alternate operations. For letter analogies: position shift, vowel-consonant swap, opposite letters (A↔Z).
Ranking from Both Ends — Total persons = Rank from top + Rank from bottom - 1. If Ram is 7th from top and 18th from bottom: Total=7+18-1=24 persons.
General Awareness
Indian President Chronology: RRZGRVAFMPK — Rajendra, Radhakrishnan, Zakir, Giri, Venkataraman, Reddy, Ahmed, FKA, Mukherjee, Pranab, Kovind, Murmu. Useful for term-based questions and Constitutional amendments during presidencies.
Fundamental Rights Articles: 14-35 — Right to Equality (14-18), Freedom (19-22), Exploitation (23-24), Religion (25-28), Culture/Education (29-30), Constitutional Remedies (32). Dr. Ambedkar called Article 32 "heart and soul."
Five Year Plans Trick — 1st(1951): Agriculture focus, 2nd(1956): Industry/Mahalanobis, 3rd(1961): Self-reliance. Plans ended 2017; replaced by NITI Aayog. Remember 12th FYP (2012-17) was last.
Latitude-Longitude: Indian Extremes — Indira Point (southernmost, 6°45'N), Siachen Glacier (northernmost, 35°N). Tropic of Cancer (23.5°N) cuts through 8 states. Prime Meridian=0°, India=68°7'E to 97°25'E.
Monsoons: JJAS vs ONDJ — SW Monsoon=June-September (JJAS), NE Monsoon=October-December (OND), brings rain to Tamil Nadu/AP. Mango showers=April-May (Kerala). Remember: SW=80% rainfall for India.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites Count — India has 42 sites (40 cultural, 7 natural, 1 mixed as of 2023). Latest additions: Dholavira (2021), Ramappa Temple (2021), Santiniketan (2023). Recall recent additions for current affairs.