Getting a job in a bank is a dream of many, after completing their Bachelor’s degree. People aspire to crack exams like RBI, SBI, IBPS exams etc. Also, the candidates who are preparing for other government exams and PSC exams will have bank exams as their plan B. With the increased number of people preparing for bank exams, the competition has increased tremendously, where lakhs of candidates attempt the bank exams for limited vacancies.
Unlike other government exams, Bank Exam has a syllabus and exam pattern, mostly based on quantitative aptitude, reasoning and English language. These topics have higher weightage in bank exams and specific exams like RBI Grade B; general awareness is also included in stage I of the exam.
This article will provide insights to students, who want to prepare for bank exams at home. It is not a proven fact that bank exams can be cleared only if you undergo rigorous coaching. It is a matter of fact that self-study is important to crack any exam, even if one attends coaching sessions. Therefore, do not underestimate the preparation done at home, but also be cautious with the selection of the right study material, and gauge your performance from time to time to be in the competition.
Tips to Prepare for Bank Exams without Coaching
Nothing is impossible when you put in the right amount of effort to do something. Therefore, this article is aimed at giving some guidance for the candidates, who want to prepare for bank exams being at home and doing self-study.
Here are a few tips to crack bank exams without formal coaching, and a few tips on how to start the journey of preparation:
- Set the mission – As a first step, explore the number of bank exams that are recruited every year for various positions. Think and decide what you want to prepare for. Many exams might have similar exam patterns for prelims and mains, except for the difference of one or two subjects. You can either set the mission to prepare for one or more exams.
- Selection procedure – After choosing the exam, you need to prepare, read and understand the selection procedure. Understand which stage you have to focus more on, which topic/subject has more weightage of marks in that particular level, time allotted for the paper or section, and other details. Most of the exams are first-level qualifying. However, it should not be taken lightly as it is only qualifying in nature. Consider it as the entry ticket to mains, and focus on clearing it on the first attempt.
- Age criteria – The second important step is to check if you fall under the age range, prescribed in the official notification of the respective exam you want to appear in. If you belong to OBC/ST/SC or any other special category, check for age relaxations guidelines. Also, if you want to claim any reservation or any relaxation, make sure that you have all the related documents to prove your eligibility. These details would be mentioned in the official notification.
- Exam pattern – Know the exam pattern, the list of subjects under each paper and in each stage. Accordingly, start your preparation. If a syllabus is prescribed for each paper, follow it diligently and try to cover all the topics in the syllabus. Most of the bank exams have sectional timings. If there are no sectional timings, practise mock tests to know which questions you should attend first to score optimum.
- Strategy – After learning the exam pattern of the bank exam you wish to appear in, formulate a strategy that will help you succeed in your mission. Identify your strengths and weaknesses by working out mock tests or previous years’ question papers, if available. Work on your weaknesses if you think you have enough time for the exam. Sharpen your strengths and try to convert your weaker topics into your strengths. It is important to know that time is very crucial for bank exams, as the exam demands both accuracy and speed. When you are preparing at home, solve mock tests in an artificially set up exam environment, so that the aspirants can learn time management.
- Daily routine – Follow a daily routine as part of your strategy. Consistency is the key to cracking any competitive exams. After knowing the exam dates, plan when to finish the entire syllabus and frame a realistic schedule to follow. By breaking down the entire timetable, follow a daily schedule, which will ultimately lead the way to finish the entire syllabus on time.
The aspirants can check Upcoming Bank Exams and decide which ones to focus on, based on their interest and eligibility criteria. Also, the linked article will provide the latest information on the bank exam dates and help you plan your preparation accordingly.