Securing the position of a clerk in different banks across the country is a very competitive process. In order to secure a respectable position as a clerk in a bank, aspiring candidates should know the syllabus and exam pattern thoroughly. There is no alternative to working rigorously to prepare for it. Aspirants can crack the IBPS clerk exam in the first attempt without training or coaching by following the tips mentioned in this article.
Exam Pattern
The IBPS clerk exam pattern is different for the prelims and mains phases. In the prelims phase, candidates will be attempting 100 questions of one mark each. It has three sections: English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability. The Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning Ability sections carry 35 marks each, whereas the English Language has 30 marks. The exam lasts for one hour.
In the mains, candidates will be attempting 190 questions, for 200 marks, divided in four sections: General and Financial Awareness, General English, Reasoning Ability and Computer Aptitude, and Quantitative Aptitude.
While General and Financial Awareness and Quantitative Aptitude carry 50 marks each, General English, Reasoning Ability and Computer Aptitude carry 40 and 60 marks, respectively.
Candidates must also note that they will be losing a quarter of the marks for every wrong answer.
How to Crack IBPS Clerk in the First Attempt? – A Few Tips
The IBPS clerk exam can be tough to crack, especially in the first attempt, without formal coaching. You can prepare with BYJU’S Exam Prep, and refer to the materials available there. However, here are a few essential tips that should help aspirants attempting the exam become better prepared and, hopefully, manage to pass it on the first attempt.
- Develop the Required Speed and Accuracy
To crack competitive exams such as the IBPS clerk, a candidate must develop the speed and accuracy of writing the answers. Only then will they be able to make it to the top of the list.
- Become Well-Acquainted with the Exam Pattern and Syllabus
It is not enough to come through in competitive exams such as the IBPS clerk, just by developing the required speed and accuracy. Candidates appearing for such exams must also know the syllabus and the exam pattern in and out, as it will help them focus on crucial topics. Moreover, getting to know the syllabus and exam pattern better will also help candidates evaluate their strengths and weaknesses and make improvements in areas where they may not be good.
- Attempt Mock Tests and Previous Years’ Question Papers
To best prepare for competitive exams, is to solve as many IBPS Clerk previous years’ question papers available at BYJU’s Exam Prep as possible. Also, when attempting mock tests or last year’s question papers, candidates must time themselves to know how fast and accurate they are at marking the answers.
- Make a Study Plan and Stick to It
The aspirants must also develop a study plan or strategy, and more importantly, stick to it. Moreover, they must have a goal that they are eager to achieve and work towards it. The aspirants must create a strategy keeping in view their own needs.
Furthermore, they must also assess their level of preparedness to write the exam, along with their strengths and weaknesses. They must dedicate the time required to prepare for the exam if they are serious about coming out on top and bagging a job as a clerk in a reputed bank.
Final Thoughts
The aspirants must prepare well by focusing on the essential topics and analyzing their strengths and weaknesses. Also, solve as many of the previous years’ question papers as possible, and attempt mock tests.
It is also important to strengthen the foundational knowledge of high-scoring topics and attempt them first during the exam. Finally, candidates must remember to stay calm during the exam and not panic. If they get stuck on a question and cannot figure out the answer, it is best to move on to the other questions instead of wasting their time.