Clearing a competitive exam is rarely about getting everything right from the beginning. Keerthi Mummadireddy, who secured All India Rank 19 in SSC CHSL 2025, is a strong example of how consistent practice, mock-test analysis and the right preparation strategy can transform an aspirant’s performance.
A B.Tech graduate from Sri Venkateswara University, Keerthi initially dreamed of becoming an IAS officer. During college, she discovered SSC exams such as SSC CGL and SSC CHSL and became interested in the career opportunities, departments and posts offered through these examinations.
Her journey, however, did not begin with a perfect preparation strategy.
From an Unprepared Attempt to AIR 19
Keerthi appeared for SSC CHSL 2024 without serious preparation. She treated the exam as an opportunity to understand the actual examination environment rather than expecting a selection.
That experience helped her realise that simply appearing for an exam wasn’t enough. She needed to understand the syllabus, question patterns, revision strategy and, most importantly, how to manage time and accuracy.
Her serious preparation began after graduation.
Initially, she struggled with questions such as: Where should I start? How should I cover the syllabus? What should I revise?
Instead of letting that confusion stop her, she gradually developed her own preparation strategy by observing other aspirants and adapting different approaches to suit her learning style.
Want to understand the SSC CHSL exam pattern and prepare systematically? Explore Oliveboard’s SSC preparation resources, mock tests and practice material.
How Mock Tests Changed Her Preparation
One of the biggest turning points in Keerthi’s preparation was her consistent use of mock tests.
When she first started attempting mocks, they affected her confidence. Solving a large number of questions within a limited time felt difficult. But with regular practice, the pressure gradually became familiar.
Keerthi eventually completed 50 mock tests on Oliveboard and used them to replicate the pressure of the actual SSC examination.
More importantly, she didn’t treat mocks simply as tests.
After every mock, she analysed her mistakes, especially:
- Silly or calculation mistakes
- Questions she had misunderstood
- New types of questions
- Topics that needed revision
This process helped her improve both speed and accuracy, while making the actual exam environment feel less intimidating.
Her Strategy for Quant, Reasoning and English
Keerthi’s science and mathematics background helped her with the basics of Quant and Reasoning. However, she focused heavily on regular practice to develop the speed required for SSC examinations.
For Quant, she worked through the syllabus, practised topic-wise questions and solved previous year questions from 2021 onwards. She also used Oliveboard’s practice questions and mocks to get exposure to new question types.
For Reasoning, her strategy was relatively simple: practice, identify mistakes and avoid repeating them.
In English, one technique that worked particularly well for her was option elimination. Instead of immediately trying to find the answer, she learnt to identify options that clearly did not fit, helping her improve accuracy.
The Power of Concept + PYQ for SSC GK and GS
For Keerthi, GK and General Studies required a different approach.
After her earlier attempts, she analysed the SSC syllabus and the weightage of different topics. Rather than reading endlessly, she combined concepts with previous year questions.
Her approach was simple:
Concept → PYQ → Revision → Repeat
Whether she was studying History, Geography, Polity or Economics, she connected the concept with relevant PYQs and revised them repeatedly.
For current affairs, she preferred monthly compilations instead of trying to study current affairs every day.
Preparing for SSC CHSL? Build your preparation around the official syllabus, PYQs and regular mock practice with Oliveboard.
Real Exam Experience Built Her Confidence
Keerthi also appeared for several other competitive examinations, including IBPS PO Prelims, RRB NTPC and SBI JE.
Although she did not make the final selection in all of them, these attempts gave her something valuable: real exam exposure.
By the time she appeared for SSC CHSL 2025, sitting in an examination hall and managing pressure was no longer completely unfamiliar.
That experience, combined with consistent preparation, helped her turn her serious CHSL attempt into an AIR 19 finish.
What’s Next for Keerthi?
Securing AIR 19 in SSC CHSL 2025 is a major milestone, but Keerthi sees it as one step in a much bigger journey.
Her immediate goal is to become an Income Tax Inspector, while her long-term aspiration of becoming an IAS officer continues to motivate her.
Her advice to SSC aspirants reflects the approach that helped her succeed:
“Stay consistent, stay disciplined and analyse your mocks very carefully.”
Keerthi Mummadireddy’s journey shows that preparation doesn’t have to start perfectly. What matters is learning from every attempt, analysing every mistake and continuing to improve.
Preparing for SSC CHSL, SSC CGL or other government exams? Start your preparation with Oliveboard’s expert-led classes, mock tests, PYQs and exam-focused practice.
I started my journey with storytelling and journalism, and somewhere along the way, I discovered how much I truly love writing. Words have always been my way of connecting with people.
With 4+ years of experience in content creation, social media, and video storytelling, I focus on building meaningful conversations, not just posts. I enjoy understanding audiences, planning engaging content, and turning followers into active, connected communities.
At Oliveboard, I work on creating value-driven content that informs, engages, and brings people together.
