If you are preparing for competitive exams in India – be it SSC, Banking, Railways, CDS or State exams – one subject which is almost always common in the syllabus is English.And when it comes to English preparation, two books are definitely in the discussion list of every aspirant:
👉 Neetu Singh’s English for General Competitions – Vol 1
👉 SP Bakshi’s Objective General English
Both books have been in the market for many years, are popular, lakhs of aspirants trust them, and from coaching institutes to toppers, these two books are mostly recommended. Many discussions and reviews can also be found on sites like Quora and Reddit, where aspirants keep comparing these two books.
Neetu Singh vs SP Bakshi – if you are confused as to which of these two books will be right for you or whether both are needed or not, then this detailed review and comparison will help you in taking the right decision. After reading the in-depth review of both books, you will be able to decide for yourself which book you should buy.
Table of Contents
About the Books
Neetu Singh’s English for General Competitions
- Author: Neetu Singh
- Publisher: KD Publication
- Volumes: 2 (Vol. 1 – Grammar, Vol. 2 – Practice Questions)
- Best For: SSC (CGL, CHSL, CPO, MTS) Banking, Railways and other competitive exams
✅ Why It’s Useful: Clear explanations, exam-focused content, and lots of practice sets.
The specialty of Neetu Singh ma’am’s books is that they seem exactly like her classroom notes – simple, easy to understand, and to the point.
While grammar has been covered in small chapters in Vol 1, Vol 2 is full of vocabulary and practice questions, which also includes questions from previous year exam.
📌 If you want a detailed breakdown of Neetu Singh English for General Competitions (Vol 1), you can check out my full review of Neetu Singh English Book here
SP Bakshi’s Objective General English
- Author: SP Bakshi
- Publisher: Arihant Publications
- Best For: SSC (Tier 1 & Tier 2), Banking, CDS, Railways, Police, and State-level Exams
✅ Why It’s Useful: Grammar, vocabulary and comprehension are all covered in one book.
SP Bakshi English book is a complete package for English preparation. In this, grammar rules are explained in detail and through examples, a lot of vocabulary (synonyms, antonyms, idioms, one-word substitutions, etc.) is given, and along with it there are comprehension and practice exercises. Basically, this is an all-in-one guide for competitive exams.
Key Differences Between Neetu Singh vs SP Bakshi
How are they different ?
| Feature | Neetu Singh English Book | SP Bakshi English Book |
| Approach | Short & Exam- focused | Detailed & Concept- focused |
| Volumes | 2 Books (Vol.1- Grammar, Vol.2- Practice) | 1 Book (all-in-one) |
| Grammar | Simple and easy to understand | Rule-based with detailed explanations |
| Practice Questions | More focus on SSC previous year papers | Mix of Grammar, vocab & comprehension |
| Vocabulary | Limited coverage (Vol. 1) | Wide coverage (idioms, phrases, one-word, etc.) |
| Difficulty Level | Beginner to intermediate | Beginner to advanced |
Neetu Singh English Book : Explains grammar in a very simple and direct way. This book is perfect for you if you just want quick rules, examples and practice.
Which Book is Better for Grammar?
SP Bakshi English Book: Explains grammar step by step and in detail, with more rules and theory, like a proper classroom lecture. It is a bit longer than Neetu Singh’s English book but provides a strong base.
👉 In short: If you are a beginner, then Neetu Singh’s English book will seem easy. But if you want depth and full clarity, then the English book by SP Bakshi is a better choice.
Which Book is Better for Practice?
Neetu Singh Vol. 2 is the clear winner for practice. It has hundreds of questions taken directly from SSC’s previous papers, which makes it super relevant for the SSC exam. You can prepare yourself for any SSC exam by practising from this book.
Note: Before practising from the Neetu Singh Vol. 2 book, it is important that your grammar basics are clear.
SP Bakshi’s book also has a lot of practice sets, but they are spread out in grammar, vocab and comprehension. It is helpful for you but not that much SSC-focused.
👉 If your basics are clear and you are mainly preparing for SSC, then Neetu Singh Vol. 2 is the best. But if you are also targeting banking, CDS, railways or state exams, then SP Bakshi gives more extensive coverage.
Which Book is Better in Vocabulary Section ?
SP Bakshi leads clearly in vocabulary. His book has a whole section on synonyms, antonyms, idioms, phrases, one-word substitutions, and phrasal verbs, which are important for any competitive exams.
Neetu Singh’s book has vocab, but it is limited, especially in Vol. 1. Some important chapters of vocab are given in Vol. 2. Its main strength is grammar and practice questions.
👉 If vocab is your weak area, then SP Bakshi is a better choice for you because you will get everything in one book.
| Aspirants | Recommendation |
| SSC- focused Aspirant (CGL/CHSL/CPO/MTS etc) | Neetu Singh Vol. 1 + Vol. 2 |
| Banking Aspirant | SP Bakshi English Book |
| CDS/Defence Aspirant | SP Bakshi English Book |
| Beginner in English Preparation | Neetu Singh English Book Vol. 1 (easy starting point) |
| Weak Student in Vocabulary | SP Bakshi English Book |
| Aspirant who only needs SSC PYQs | Neetu Singh English Book Vol. 2 |
Pros of Neetu Singh English Book
- Explanations are very simple and easy to understand.
- Only what is needed for the exam is covered (no extra theory).
- Vol. 2 It is a treasure of previous year questions of SSC.
- Great for students who already know a few grammar basics
Cons of Neetu Singh English Book
- Vocabulary coverage is weak.
- Not so useful for Non-SSC exams (banking, CDS, etc.)
- Lacks Reading Comprehension practice
Pros of SP Bakshi English Book
- Everything (grammar + vocabulary + comprehension) in a single book
- Strong vocabulary coverage (idioms, phrases, one-word, etc.)
- Grammar rules are explained in detail and through examples.
- Not only for SSC, but also useful for multiple exams
Cons of SP Bakshi English Book
- Sometimes the book may feel lengthy or overwhelming
- Not as SSC-focused as Neetu Singh’s English book is
- Detailed explanations may seem boring for fast learners.
My Personal Suggestion
If you are preparing only for SSC, then Neetu Singh Vol. 1 + Vol. 2 is best for you.
And if you are studying for banking, defence or multiple exams, then SP Bakshi’s English Book is the right choice for you.
But honestly speaking, the best combo is to use both together:
Learn rules from SP Bakshi and improve vocabulary.
After that, practise previous year’s questions of SSC from Neetu Singh Vol. 2.This way you will cover almost everything.
Rating Comparison
| Criteria | English for General Competitions by Neetu Singh | Objective General English by SP Bakshi |
| Grammar | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4) | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5) |
| Vocabulary | ⭐️⭐️⭐️(3) | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4) |
| Practice Questions | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆(4.5) | ⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ (3.5) |
| Beginner Friendly | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4) | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3) |
| Exam Relevance | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ (4.5) SSC specific | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ (4.5) Multi Exam |
| Overall | 4/5 | 4/5 |
Final Verdict
Both books are very good; just their style is different:
If you want quick and exam-focused learning, then take Neetu Singh’s English book.
If you want a complete English guide in one book, then SP Bakshi is the best option.
At the end of the day, which book is best depends on which exam you are targeting and your preparation stage, not which book has more hype.
If you want to grab a copy for yourself, you can get
Your Turn
Which book are you using now – Neetu Singh or SP Bakshi?And tell me, what is the biggest challenge in your English preparation – grammar, vocabulary or comprehension? Do share your experience in the comment section.
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Hi, I’m Nirmal Thakuria— an exam aspirant who has successfully cleared SSC and other government exams, and I’m currently preparing for the UPSC.
I love writing and creating content for fellow aspirants. Through StudyBlink, I share study hacks, book reviews, and exam strategies to help you stay motivated and succeed in your journey.
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