Bank PO/clerk exams: These are a few tips and tricks that can help you clear them

• Every year, around one crore candidates register for exams conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS), out of which 60-70% candidates actually appear for it, as per IBPS.
• During the year 2020-21, around 50 lakh candidates registered for various IBPS exams, a lower number of candidates as compared to 2019-20 due to COVID-19 pandemic.
• Some of the important points an aspirant should keep in mind while preparing for bank exams.

Banking sector, which plays a pivotal role in supporting the country’s economy, conducts multiple examinations every year to recruit staff for clerical and probationary officer (PO) positions in RBI and SBI.

Every year, around one crore candidates register for exams conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS), out of which 60-70% candidates actually appear for it, as per IBPS.

During the year 2020-21, around 50 lakh candidates registered for various IBPS exams, a lower number of candidates as compared to 2019-20 due to COVID-19 pandemic, according to data revealed by IBPS.

Preparing for bank examinations is not a one week or one month task. It usually requires dedication for a few months in order to crack the exam.

Some prefer taking coaching classes while some prefer studying on their own. “Opting to prepare from the coaching centres can be very helpful to the candidates as these coaching centers have a crash course, in which the candidates are trained with shortcuts and tricks for solving the bank exams question papers with speed and accuracy. However, self-study, online consultation etc., also play a very vital role. So, it is also possible for aspirants to crack exams without coaching also,” says Gaurav Tyagi, founder of Career Xpert, a Noida based counselling hub.

These are some of the important points an aspirant should keep in mind while preparing for bank exams, according to Ruchir Arora, founder and chief executive (CEO) of CollegeDekho, an online career guidance platform.

1. Study plan
Study plan is something, which we all make but end up not sticking to it. For IBPS exams, it is quite essential to make a study plan as it gives you a clear indication of how much syllabus you’ve covered. A study plan can also help you reduce stress levels, which is caused due to exam pressure.

2. Take regular tests
An aspirant should always focus on increasing his/her speed and the only way to do that is to take regular mock tests. It will not only increase your speed, but also boost your capability of solving tricky problems in a short span of time.

3. Choose your study material and resources wisely
It is always recommended to choose books, study materials for studying which contain appropriate amounts of relevant information. One must use the best and reliable sources for preparing.

4. Work on weak areas
An aspirant should know his/her weak areas and give them a little bit more attention than other subjects/areas.

5. Time management
Managing time is the most important aspect while preparing or giving the exam. While preparing, one should strategise the amount of time that should be spent on each subject and section. Also, while attempting the exam, one should divide the time for each section to solve the maximum number of questions.

6. Revision
A preparation process is incomplete without a proper revision of each subject. For a quick revision, one can make short notes on important topics. Revision will help you memorise your topics thoroughly. The more you revise, the better will be your preparation.

7. Stay positive
A negative thought or mindset can drastically affect your exam and your future. Therefore, it is important to stay calm and positive to improve your concentration. One can do yoga and meditation to keep the momentum going on the right track.

Lakhs of students appear for the exams, but very few of them manage to qualify. A major reason behind this could be the lack of planning and strategising your preparation.

These are some tips on how one can strategise their preparation as per Manoj Sethi, senior course director of T.I.M.E, a coaching institute:

1. Start your preparation early to get your dream job.
2. Spend a couple of months on revisiting your basics of quant, reasoning, and English.
3. Practise a lot of sectional and mock tests to improve your speed and accuracy.
4. Build a section-wise and overall strategy to ace the exam.
5. As each section is separately timed, one should follow a pre-defined order of solving the questions for each section to maximise the score.

SEE ALSO:
Planning to study in the UK? These are a few scholarships available for international students
Tata, Vistara, Wipro and many more are hiring for HR roles