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About this exam

Urdu (First Language) is one of the language subjects offered under the SSC Public Examinations of Andhra Pradesh, the school-leaving examination conducted by the Directorate of Government Examinations, A.P., a Head of Department under the School Education Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh. About 6.25 lakh candidates appear for the SSC Public Examinations every year, and Urdu First Language candidates answer a descriptive, pen-and-paper paper written in Urdu rather than a tick-box sheet. The paper tests prescribed prose lessons together with their authors, prescribed nazm and ghazal verses with appreciation, qawaid (grammar and idiom), comprehension of an unseen passage, and composition work such as essays, letters, paragraphs and translation. Preparation should follow the Directorate's Subject-wise Model Question Papers, Blue Prints and Weightage Tables, published for each SSC cycle; these show the item pattern and mark split far more reliably than coaching hearsay. Read every prescribed lesson twice - once for meaning, once for author and theme - memorise verse together with its poet, and drill grammar rules by writing your own example sentences. This page is independent study material and is not affiliated with the Board or the Directorate; always confirm dates, fees and paper structure at bse.ap.gov.in.

What you'll study

Common questions

About AP SSC Urdu (First Language) preparation

Is Urdu First Language the same as the LPT Urdu examination?

No. LPT (Language Pandit Test) Urdu is a separate minor examination the Directorate conducts for teacher certification, listed alongside Telugu and Hindi LPT. Urdu First Language is a school subject paper inside the SSC Public Examinations. Do not prepare for the SSC paper using LPT question papers or LPT syllabus, because the two test entirely different things.

How many marks is the Urdu paper and how long do I get?

The Directorate's website does not state the Urdu paper's duration or mark split on its home page. Those details sit in the Subject-wise Model Question Papers, Blue Prints and Weightage Tables issued for each SSC cycle, and in the examination time table PDFs. Download the files for your own cycle from bse.ap.gov.in rather than trusting numbers quoted in older guides or coaching notes.

Can I write my answers in Roman Urdu or in English?

It is a first-language paper, so answers are expected in Urdu script and are assessed on expression as well as content. Practise handwriting Nastaliq at exam speed; illegible script costs marks even when the answer is correct. Any script or scribe concession for children with special needs is governed by separate Directorate circulars, so check those before the exam.

Is there negative marking or objective-type answering?

The paper is descriptive and pen-and-paper: you write out answers in the answer booklet rather than shading options. That means partial credit exists - a half-remembered lesson explained clearly and in your own words usually scores better than a bare name, date or one-line summary. Plan to fill the time given with developed answers.

If I fail or miss the exam, can I write it again?

Yes. Failed and absentee candidates are covered by the SSC Advanced Supplementary Examinations, which the Directorate conducts alongside the main SSC/OSSC Examinations. Subject-wise eligibility, fee due dates and application windows are notified separately each cycle, so watch the Notifications / Due Dates page and your school headmaster's instructions rather than assuming last year's dates.

In what order should I study the five areas of the paper?

Start with prose, because the lessons feed both comprehension and essay examples. Move to qawaid so grammatical errors stop costing marks in every other answer. Take poetry next, since it is the most memory-heavy and needs repeated revision. Keep composition running throughout: write at least one essay and one letter each week, because it carries the largest single share of the paper and improves the slowest.

What mistakes do candidates most often make in this paper?

Attributing a verse to the wrong poet, summarising a lesson instead of answering the question actually asked, and writing grammar answers with no example sentences of their own. Others lose marks for poor time division across sections, illegible handwriting, and leaving composition questions unattempted because they ran out of time. Practise full papers under timed conditions to catch these early.

Where do I find the prescribed syllabus, blueprint and model papers?

On bse.ap.gov.in the Directorate publishes 'SSC Public Examination Model Question Papers, Blue Prints and Weightage Tables' subject-wise for each year, plus press notes about the blueprint and model papers. Open the language section of the current cycle and select Urdu. Use only the current cycle's version, since older files may reflect a pattern that has since been revised.