Table of Contents
If you’re preparing for competitive exams, you’re well aware of how difficult it is to complete the syllabus for each subject, especially when it comes to general knowledge.GK encompasses subjects like history, politics, geography, art and culture, science, computers, and current affairs, all of which are oceans in themselves. Aspirants always need a book that helps them revise these subjects and is fully exam-relevant. Choosing the right book can save you both time and effort.
To meet this need of aspirants, Oswaal Books has released the One for All General Knowledge Guide, a book that has become quite popular among students these days. Many people also consider it a modern alternative to the classic Lucent GK.
Let’s do an honest review of this book and see why Oswaal’s GK Guide Book is useful, where it could improve, and whether it is the right choice for your exam preparation.
Quick Overview
| Title | One for All General Knowledge Guide |
| Author/Publisher | Oswaal Books |
| Language | English |
| Useful for | SSC, UPSC, Banking, Railways, NDA/CDS, CUET, State PSC, Teaching, and all government job exams |
| Special Features | Visual Aids (tables, charts, mind maps), Systematic Index, Exam-Oriented One Liners, Updated for 2025 Pattern |
With Oswaal’s One for All GK Guide book, you can study GK with a fresh and focused approach. This book not only contains plain text, but also provides visuals and short revision notes along with facts to make it easier for you to remember. And this is what makes both learning and revision easy, especially for those students who do self-study.
Best For Whom
✅️ For SSC, Railway, and Banking Aspirants:
The book contains short explanations, one-liners, etc., tailored to the exam pattern.
✅️ For UPSC and State PCS Candidates:
This book is not a substitute for detailed reference books, but is very useful for revising static topics. It is one of the best for mind mapping and concept clarity.
✅️ For CUET and NDA/CDS Students:
The simple and clean layout helps beginners cover GK in a short time.
✅️ Students who need quick revision:
This book is perfect for revising concepts before tests or mock exams. You can easily revise important topics in a short time.
Overall, this guide is very helpful for any student preparing for government job exams who needs clarity and fast revision.
📌 Also Read: Lucent Vs Arihant- Which GK Book is best for you. Click Here
What Stands Out of This Book
Visual Aids Make Learning Easy
The most striking aspect of this book is its concept presentation. Topics are explained using tables, flowcharts, and mind maps. These visuals aid memorization and simplify difficult topics like history and politics.
Each book covers roughly the same concepts. But what differentiates one book from another is how you present the concepts in a way that makes them easy for the aspirant to understand. If you compare this book with Lucent GK, Oswal’s GK book visual approach is a strong advantage, especially for students who understand better through visuals.
Focused on Exam Needs
Each chapter is short and to the point. Concepts are presented in bullet format without extra explanations. All points are exam-oriented. This saves you time and makes for faster exam preparation.
Well-Organized Chapters and Index
Another feature of this book that I liked is the index of the book. All topics are arranged in a clear and logical order. For example, the chapters on Polity flow in a way that is easy to understand. The index is quite neat, so you won’t have trouble finding topics.
One-Liners for Fast Revision
This book has one-liners at the end of each major section, such as history, geography, polity, and science. These are very useful for quick recall before exams. Very few GK books offer this feature.
Strong Computer Awareness Section
The Computer section is another key highlight of this book. All important topics that appear in competitive exams are covered here. Oswal has given equal importance to this topic compared to other GK books. All the points given in this section are exam-oriented.
Perfect for Quick Revision
The layout of this book is designed for short and focused study sessions. You can quickly revise individual chapters before mock tests or exams. This is practical and time-saving, especially for students who prepare from multiple sources.
Pros of the Book
• Written in simple and easy-to-understand language
• Visuals like tables and charts improve memory
• Chapters and subtopics are clearly arranged
• One-liners are helpful for fast revision
• Polity and Computer sections are strong and well-structured
• Updated according to the latest exam pattern
• Affordable and easily available
• Suitable for both beginners and experienced learners
The Oswaal GK book’s biggest strength is its organized and modern learning style. It is perfect for students who find long, conceptual books confusing.
Cons and Areas for Improvement
Indian Geography is not in separate sections:
Indian and World Geography are covered together. Those who prefer to study Indian Geography separately may find this a bit inconvenient, as a large number of exam questions come from the Indian Geography portion.
Some Minor Points Missing:
Although this book covers the most important topics, some points have been skipped. For detailed study, it would be better to use traditional books along with it.
Not an MCQ Practice Book:
This book is best for learning and revision, but not for question practice. You will need to obtain separate MCQ books for practice.
These are some of the limitations of this book. As a revision and support tool, this book is perfect for its purpose.
How to Use This Book Effectively
👉 Read Chapters First: Start studying with this book. It will give you a strong factual base, then solve questions from the rest of the book. Where you need some clarification, you can refer to a concept-heavy book.
👉 Use Visuals for Note-Making: The charts and mind maps provided in this book help you make short notes and connect concepts.
👉 Revise Using One-Liners: Read the one-liners provided at the end of each chapter before the exam; they will help you quickly refresh your mind.
👉 Pair It with MCQ Books: Clear concepts from this book and use MCQ books like Pinnacle or Kiran for practice.
👉 Quick Review Before Tests: Revise the chapters once before the mock test or real exam to remember the important points.
If you follow this method, both revision and practice will be balanced.
📌 Also Read: Best Books to Crack any Competitive Examinations. Check Our List with In-depth Review.
Ratings (Out of 5)
| Criteria | Rating | Remarks |
| Content Depth | 4.8 ⭐️ | All majir topics are covered, few minor details are missing |
| Visual Aids | 5.0 ⭐️ | Use of charts and tables is excellent |
| Ease of Use | 4.8 ⭐️ | Structure is clean and logical |
| Polity Section | 5.0 ⭐️ | Clear and well-organized explanations |
| Computer Section | 4.8 ⭐️ | Exam relevant points are covered well |
| One-liners/Revision | 5.0 ⭐️ | Best for last minute preparation |
Overall Rating : I have given this book 4.8 ⭐️ out of 5 . It’s a best modern guide for quick exam prep
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Final Verdict
Oswaal’s One for All General Knowledge Guide is a modern and practical book for students who prefer quick, focused, and visual learning. Clear layout, mind maps, flowcharts, and organized chapters set it apart from other books, especially Lucent GK. The concepts are to-the-point and exam-oriented.
Although some chapters are missing important details, but its strengths – readability, visuals, and systematic presentation make it a perfect book for fast revision.
Exam patterns are changing these days, and students are preferring smart learning methods, so this Oswaal GK guide book is perfectly in line with that trend.
If you’re a serious government exam aspirant and are looking for a book that helps with fast and effective revision without being overwhelming, this book is the best choice for you.
Verdict: Highly recommended for revision, visual learners, and competitive exam preparation. Use this in conjunction with any MCQ practice books and it can become your go-to resource for GK revision.
Hi, I’m Sangeeta Kalita — an SSC-qualified candidate and currently preparing for the UPSC exam. I’ve always believed that the right books can make a big difference in exam preparation. Here on StudyBlink, I review competitive exam books based on my personal experience and preparation journey, so that aspirants can choose the best resources for themselves.