ASO Grade 2 Dates Out!
Check Official Exam Notice (941 Vacancies)
The Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board has officially Released the exam schedule for assistant Section Officer/ DASS Grade 2 (Post Code 804/26).
Details & Official information:
- Exam window
- September 21, 2026 - October 18, 2026
- (Excluding October 2)
- Exam Mode
- Online Computer Based Test (CBT)
- Shift Timings
- Shift 1: 9.00 am - 11.00 am
- Shift 2: 1.00 pm - 3.00 pm
- Shift 3: 5.00 pm - 7.00 pm
- Admit card
- Expected one week prior to your specific shift date on DSSSB.delhi.gov.in
Key Preparation Reminders:
Tier - 1 Format: (200 questions) covering reasoning, General Awareness, Arithmetical and Numerical Ability, English and Hindi (2 hours).
Negative Marking: 0.25 marks deducted for each wrong answer.
Detailed Syllabus of English & Topic Break down:
English language and comprehension(40 marks)
Grammar and Usage: Subject Verb Agreement, Tenses, Voice and Narration, Articles, Prepositions, Error Spotting, Sentence Improvement (12 - 14 questions)
Vocabulary: Synonyms, Antonyms, One-Word Substitutions, Idioms and Phrases, spelling checks (12 - 15 questions)
Comprehension: Reading Comprehension Passages, Cloze Test, Para - Jumbles (10 - 12 questions)
Focus your on the most heavily tested, high yield English topics for competitive examinations: Grammar rules, Direct/ indirect and voice transformations, & Vocabulary Shortcuts.
🎯Follow this six week study plan ✨
High -Yield Grammar Rules Checklist:
You Can Master Grammar - One Rule at a Time
Rules of Subject Verb Agreement Every Exam Taker Must Master
Neither/ .... nor/or: Verb agrees with the subject with the first subject nearest to it.( Neither the manager nor the employees were present.)
Along with/ As well as/ Together with: Verb agrees with the first subject.( The teacher, along with the students, is going.)
Collective Nouns: Singular verb when acting as a unit; plural when divided. (The jury has reached a verdict vs The jury are divided in their opinions.)
Conditional Sentences:
Expert Tips to Tackle Conditional Questions like a Pro in SSC exam
Type 1 (Real): If + Present Simple, will + first form of the verb(If he works hard, he will pass.)
Type 2 (Hypothetical): If + Past Simple, would + first form of the verb/ were (if I were you, I would accept.)
Type 3(Past Unfulfilled): If + Past Perfect, would have + third form of the verb(if she had studied, she would have passed.)
Common Inversion Rules:
Master the Rules to Unlock Your Full Potential
Sentences beginning with negative adverbs (Hardly, Scarcely, Barely, No sooner) auxiliary verbs before the subject.
Hardly/Scarcely.... When, No sooner.... than (No Sooner had he left than it started raining.)
Sentence Transformation Quick Response:
Use this quick reference checklist to review reporting verb transitions, tense backshifts, and key warning areas for Direct/ Indirect speech transformations.
Direct & Indirect Speech - Revision Chart
Crack The Code, Score Full Marks!
Punctuation Marks
Quotation Marks
Key Differences Between Direct and Indirect Speech
- Keep " ...."✔️(Direct Speech)
- Remove Quotation Marks ❌ (Indirect Speech)
Pronoun Rule:
- First Person - Subject
- Third Person - No Change
Tense Rules
If reporting verb is in past tense - tense goes one step back (backshift)
- Present - Past
- Past - past perfect
- Will - Would
- Can - Could
Questions Rules
- Use if/whether (yes/no)✔️
- WH - word stays✔️
- Statement word order ✔️
- No question mark ❌
Time & Place Change
- now - then
- today - that day
- tomorrow - next day
- here - there
Imperative Rule
- to + verb ✔️
- not to + verb ✔️
Optative Rules
- May - might
- Wish/Prayed
Golden Rules for Transforming Direct Speech to Indirect Speech
- Adjust pronoun - change time words
- Remove Quotation - change the time
- Change the tense - choose appropriate reporting verb
Checklist for SSC Exam Preparation
Direct to Indirect Made Easy
Most of the mistakes occur because:
- Aspirants forget to check tense.
- Candidates know the rules still at the time of exam they forget to adjust pronouns.
- Most of the aspirants ignore time words
- Don't let these Grammar mistakes cost you marks in competitive exams.
Active vs passive Voice Cheat sheet
- Simple Present Tense: is/am/are + third form of the verb
- Simple Past Tense: was/ were + third form of the verb
- Present/ Past Continuous Tense: is /am/are/was/were + being + third form of the verb
- Present/ Past Perfect Tense: has/have/ had + been + third form of the verb
- Modals(can/may/must): modal + be + third form of the verb
High Frequency Vocabulary and Phrasal Verbs
Strong vocabulary today
Success in SSC Tomorrow!
- Phrasal Verb: Put up with
- Meaning: Tolerate
- Context: I cannot put up with this type of disturbance any longer.
- Phrasal Verb: Look down upon
- Meaning: Consider inferior
- Context: Do not look down upon the needy people.
- One - Word Substitution: Altruist
- Meaning: One who works for the welfare of others
- Context: Selfless helper
- One - Word Substitution: Omniscient
- Meaning: Knowing everything
- Context: Omni (All) + Scient (Knowing)
List of topmost frequently asked Idioms and Phrasal Verbs with meanings and usage
High Frequency Idioms
Learn Idioms Through Story Method:
This is the most effective way to learn idioms.
- Idiom: A red letter day
- Meaning: A very important or memorable day.
- Sentence: Cracking the SSC exam made it a red-letter day for her family.
Frequent High Frequency Vocabulary and Phrasal Verbs
- Phrasal Verb: Put up with
- Meaning: Tolerate
- Context: I cannot put up with this type of disturbance any longer.
- Phrasal Verb: Look down upon
- Meaning: Consider inferior
- Context: Do not look down upon the needy people.
- One - Word Substitution: Altruist
- Meaning: One who works for the welfare of others
- Context: Selfless helper
- One - Word Substitution: Omniscient
- Meaning: Knowing everything
- Context: Omni (All) + Scient (Knowing)
List of top most frequently asked Idioms and Phrasal Verbs with meanings and usage
Know the difference:
High Frequency Idioms
- Idiom: Burn the midnight oil:
- Meaning: work or study late into the night
- Sentence: She had to burn the midnight oil for six months to complete the syllabus of SSC CGL exam.
- Idiom: Leave no stone unturned
- Meaning: Try every possible course of action
- Sentence: The aspirant left no stone unturned to secure a top rank.
- Idiom: A bolt from the blue
- Meaning: A complete surprise or sudden shock
- Sentence: The notification of the sudden policy change came as a bolt from the blue.
- Idiom: Once in a blue moon
- Meaning: Very rarely or infrequently
- Sentence: She visits here only once in a blue moon due to her hectic schedule.
- Idiom: Read between the lines
- Meaning: Understand the hidden meaning
- Sentence: If you read between the lines, the letter is actually a warning.
- Idiom: At the drop of a hat
- Meaning: Immediately, without any hesitation
- Sentence: He is always ready to help the needy at the drop of a hat.
- Idiom: To thick and thin
- Meaning: Under all circumstances good or bad
- Sentence: True friends stand by each other through thick and thin.
- Idiom: Face the music
- Meaning: Accept the unpleasant consequences of one's action
- Sentence: After making errors in the report, he had to face the music before the committee.
- Idiom: To turn a deaf ear
- Meaning: Disregard or refused to listen
- Sentence: The master turned a deaf ear to the repeated requests.
- Idiom: Break the ice
- Meaning: Initiate a conversation in a formal setting
- Sentence: The anchor organized a short activity to break the ice on day one.
- Idiom: Under the weather
- Meaning: Feelings slightly ill or unwell
- Sentence: He missed the class because he was feeling under the weather.
- Idiom: Bury the hatchet
- Meaning: Make peace or an old conflict
- Sentence: The two rival parties decided to bury the hatchet and work together.
- Idiom: At one's wits end
- Meaning: To be extremely puzzled or overwhelmed
- Sentence: I was at my wits end trying to fix the software glitch.
- Idiom: Spill the beans
- Meaning: reveal a secret prematurely
- Sentence: Don't trust him with private messages; he will spill the beans.
High - Frequency Phrasal Verbs
- Phrasal Verb: Call off
- Meaning: Cancel an event or agreement
- Sentence: The organisers had to call off the outdoor event due to heavy rain.
- Phrasal Verb: Carry out
- Meaning: Execute, perform, fulfill a duty
- Sentence: The team carried out the instructions without any delay.
- Phrasal Verb: Look forward to
- Meaning: Await something with anticipation
- Sentence: She is looking forward to receiving her official admit card
- Phrasal Verb: Bring about
- Meaning: Cause something to happen
- Sentence: The new policy brought about significant structural improvements.
- Phrasal Verb: Breakdown
- Meaning: Fail mechanically or lose emotional control
- Sentence: The bus broke down halfway through the journey.
- Phrasal Verb: Cut down on
- Meaning: Reduce the quality or consumption of something
- Sentence: Candidates are advised to cut down on screen time during exam week.
- Phrasal Verb: Give in
- Meaning: Surrender or yield to pressure
- Sentence: Despite intense pressure, the negotiator refused to give in.
- Phrasal Verb: Nip in the bud
- Meaning: Stop or suppress problems at an early stage
- Sentence: Bad habits should be nipped in the bud before they become permanent.
- Phrasal Verb: Take to task
- Meaning: Scold, rebuke
- Sentence: The supervisor took the employee to task for missing the deadline.
- Phrasal Verb::Put off
- Meaning: Postpone or delay
- Sentence: Never put off until tomorrow what you can complete today.
- Phrasal Verb: Look into
- Meaning: Investigate
- Sentence: The officer assured that he would look into the matter as soon as possible.
- Phrasal Verb: Back out
- Meaning: Require or demand something
- Sentence: The serious situation causes immediate administrative action
- Phrasal Verb: Pass away
- Meaning: Die ( used as a polite enthusiasm)
- Sentence: The distinguished veteran author passed away peacefully last night.
Here is a set of exam style fill in the blanks based on high frequency and phrasal verbs, followed by detailed explanation for each answer:
Practice questions
Receiving the final appointment letter made it a real ______ day for his family.
- once in a blue moon
- red - letter
- Under the weather
Answer: red - letter
Explanation: Red letter day signifies a highly important joyful occasion. Under the weather means feeling sick, once in a blue moon means very rare.
The servant left no stone ____ to please his master.
- Turning
- Unturned
- Return
Answer: unturned
Explanation: The fixed idiomatic expression is "leave no stone unturned", which means to make every possible effort. Using turned or turning violates standard idiom structure.
The officer took the subordinate _____ for neglecting his daily duties.
- In hand
- for granted
- On board
- to task
Answer: to task
Explanation: To take someone to task means to scold or rebuke someone severely.
He promised to complete the project on time, but he _____ at the last moment.
- Backed out
- Carried out
- Looked into
- Took to task
Answer: backed out
Explanation: Back out means to withdraw from a promise or agreement.Carry out means execute and,
look into means investigate.
The professor refused to______ such undisciplined behaviour in the department.
- Put off
- Put up with
- Call off
- Bring about
Answer: put up with
Explanation: Put up with means to tolerate. Put off means postpone, call off means cancel, and bring about means cause to happen.
Strategy to Learn One word Substitution
Most substitutions are derived from Greek or Latin roots.
Instead of learning 10 separate words, learn one root that connects them all.
Master the Root Words for Competitive Exams
Categorize by Themes
- People / Personalities:
- Egotist, Altruist, Introvert, Misogynist
- Medical Professionals: Dermatologist, Oncologist, Ophthalmologist
- Places: Aviary, Apiary, Arsenal, Mint
- Beliefs/Religion: Theist, Atheist, Fanatic, Agnostic
- Events / Time: Perennial, Centennial, Ephemeral
The "Substitution" Exercise
Whenever you read a newspaper, magazine any article or a journal, try to think, " Can I replace this long phrase with one word?
Long Phrase: He is a person who has no money to pay off his debts.
Substitution: He is an insolvent.
Use Mnemonics:
Insolvent means unable to pay debts.
Mnemonic: Try to think " In - Solve" - he cannot solve his financial problems.
Next while doing PYQ, don't read the correct answer, pay attention to the 3 wrong
options also because the examiners often rotate these options.
High Frequency Drill:
Use four-day cycle for retention:
- First Day: Learn only 30 new words.
- Second Day: Revise Day 1 + 20 new words
- Third Day: Revise Day 1 & 2 + 10 new words
- Fourth Day: Revise all the 60 words.
Pro tip for All Aspirants:
Focus on words related to "Death / Killing" and "Government "as these are frequently asked in competitive exams.
Important for SSC, CGL conducted by Staff Selection Commission.
Importance of "One Word Substitution":
- Score Booster
- Time Saver
- Vocabulary Master
- Syllabus Covers All Types
Frequently Asked Questions About DSSSB ASO Exam
Is the DSSSB exam easy or hard?
The difficulty of the Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board exam can vary depending on several factors, including the candidate's preparation, familiarity pattern, and some personal strengths in the subjects tested. For some, the exam may seem challenging due to the competitive nature and the breadth of the topics covered, includes general awareness, quantitative aptitude, reasoning and language skills. However, with diligent preparation, of the syllabus, and regular practice through mock tests and previous papers, many candidates find it manageable. Ultimately, whether the DSSSB exam is easy or hard is subjective and largely depends on an individual's preparation and confidence in the material.
Which is better, DSSSB or SSC CGL?
Choosing between the Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board, the Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level exam depends on your career goal and preferences. DSSSB is primarily focused on for various positions the Government of the national capital territory of Delhi, again for those looking to work within the State Government frame.
On the other hand, SSC CGL is a national level exam that recruits candidates for various posts in ministries, department and organisations under the Government of India. It offers a broader range of career opportunities across the country, often a wider scope for advancement and relocation.
If you prefer a stable job within Delhi with opportunities in teaching clarical and administrative roles, the DSSSB might be suitable for you. However, if you are looking for a different career path potential for walking in different parts of the country, SSC CGL is the better choice. Consider factors such as job location, career growth, salary, and personal preferences when making your decision.
