Learn How to Prepare for Bank Exams in 2024. Get detailed insights and preparation tips for Bank exams. Check best preparation plan for subjects like Reading Comprehension, Current Affairs for IBPS, SBI and other bank exams.
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A career in the banking sector has potential for self-development and self-growth, which is one of the main reasons why many individuals across India want a career in the banking sector. A result of this is higher competition in the bank exams. Thus, it is always beneficial to know certain preparation tips that will help you edge over other candidates for the examination.
Bank Exams - Exam Pattern 2024
It is always good for candidates to be fine-tuned with Exam Pattern to know what to expect in the question paper. Since the bank exams are not very easy to clear, they have to be taken seriously.
The recruitments for the bank exams are conducted in the following three stages:
- The first phase is known as the Pre, and it is a written test.
- The second phase is known as the Main, and it is also a written test.
- The last round includes the interview of the selected candidates.
- The authority can shortlist the candidates in any of the stages.
- The weightage is like- 80% for the Written Test and 20% for the interview. Using this weightage, the final result is prepared.
Also Read: List of Banking Courses in India: After 12th, Graduation, Online, Diploma, UG, PG Courses
Bank Exams - Exam Syllabus
The syllabus comprises the General Aptitude Test. There are a total of 100 questions from three different sections for the Prelims exam.
The general aptitude test for bank exams is as follows.
- A total of 35 questions will be there from the Quantitative Aptitude section and the Reasoning Ability section.
- A total of 30 questions will be there from the English Language section.
The syllabus of the Mains examination comprises English Language, Reasoning Ability, Quantitative Aptitude, General Awareness and Basic Computer Knowledge.
The total questions are 200, and the syllabus of all the sections are:
Quantitative Aptitude
Practising a lot of aptitude mock tests online can be helpful to the candidates while preparing for the bank exams.
These are the topics you need to put effort into:
- Surds & Indices
- Time & Distance, Mensuration – Cylinder, Cone
- Sphere, Sequence & Series
- Permutation Combination & Probability
- Quadratic Equations
- Profit & Loss
- Mixtures &Alligations
- Simple Interest & Compound Interest
- Data Interpretation
- Number Systems
- Ratio & Proportion
- Percentage & Averages
Reasoning Ability
The candidates with strong reasoning ability and strong problem-solving skills are recruited immediately. So it is recommended to improve your reasoning ability by practising tests.
Given below are the important topics:
- Alphanumeric Series
- Ranking / Direction / Alphabet Test, Data Sufficiency
- Coded Inequalities
- Non-Verbal Reasoning
- Sitting Management
- Syllogism
- Input-Output
- Coding-Decoding
- Tabulation
- Logical Reasoning
English Language
A primary qualification every exam demands is to have communication skills in English.
These are topics to cover and practise before going for the exam:
- Sentence Rectification
- Para Jumbles
- Testing Vocabulary
- Cloze Test
- Spotting Error
- Comprehension Reading
- Paragraph Completion
Current Affairs
Candidates are advised to read the newspaper daily, and the annual yearbook would also be a huge help.
Listed below are the topics to cover:
- National and International
- Sports
- Banks in NEWS
- An economy based on current affairs
- Obituaries
- Reports and Indexes
- Books and Authors
- Defence
- Business NEWS, Agreements
- New Appointments
- Visits, Government Schemes
- Awards and Honors, Summits
- Committees
Computers
Basic computer knowledge is also a must in most companies these days since everything is changing to digital.
These are the topics to practise and learn on the computer:
- Database (Introduction)
- Communication (Basic Introduction)
- Networking (Lan, Wan)
- Logic Gates
- Number System
- History of Computers
- Internet (Concept, History, Working Environment, Application)
- Security Tools
- Hardware, Software
- Virus, Hacker
- MS Windows & MS Office
Also Read: 10 Best Apps for Bank Exam Preparation
Bank Exam - Books
The following are the best books for bank exam preparation. Some of these books are recommended by toppers. Hence, candidates are suggested to follow the books for clearing the bank exam 2024.
| Books | Author/ Publishers |
| English Language | |
| High School English Grammar | Wren & Martin |
| Word Power Made Easy | Norman Lewis |
| Descriptive General English | SP Bakshi and Richa Sharma |
| Reasoning Ability | |
| A Modern Approach to Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning | R.S.Agarwal |
| A New Approach to Reasoning Verbal & Non-Verbal | BS Sijwali |
| Analytical Reasoning | MK Pandey |
| Quantitative Aptitude | |
| Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations | RS Agarwal |
| Fast Track Objective Arithmetic | Rajesh Verma |
| Magical Book on Quicker Mathematics | M Tyra |
| Quantitative Aptitude For Competitive Examination | The Pearson Guide |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Disha Experts/ Sarvesh Verma |
| Data Interpretation magical books series | BSC Publication |
| Data interpretation | Arun Sharma |
| Current Affairs | |
| Manohar Pandey Book | Arihant Publications |
| Guide to Banking General Awareness | R Gupta |
| Pratiyogita Darpan | Monthly Edition |
| Manorama Yearbook 2020 (English) Paperback | Philip Mathew |
| Banking Awareness for SBI/IBPS Bank Clerk/PO/SO/RRB & RBI exams | Disha Publications |
| Computer | |
| Computer | Rani Ahilya |
| Objective Computer Awareness | Somya Ranjan Behera |
| Objective Computer Knowledge & Literacy | Kiran Publications |
| Computer Knowledge | Disha Publications |
| Computer Awareness | Arihant Publications |
Also Read: Top 10 Short Term Certification Courses in Banking
Bank Exams Preparation Tips
Candidates frequently come across the question of how to prepare for bank exams? Therefore, use the following tips to prepare yourself for bank exams in 2024. Make sure you go through this article for more information on important books for bank exams preparation and ways to secure a position after the result. At Getmyuni, we also have articles detailing all the bank exams that you need to answer to secure a position in top banks across the country.
Follow the following preparation tips for clearing the bank exams:
Proper Planning
For clearing any of the exams, proper planning is necessary. Candidates must plan a schedule for giving time on each of the topics. In case planning is not proper, it will result in poor performance. So if the candidates want to secure good marks, they must go through every small thing that might help prepare. And they will get enough time to plan for the exam.
Time Management
Time Management is one of the foremost things that will help in the bank exam preparation process. It will help the candidates to prioritize their tasks and achieve their goals. Candidates must go through the following steps to manage their time effectively.
The steps are given below:
- Must have a time check
- Have a to-do list
- Set a time limit
- Start with the most important task
- Focus on one task at a time
- Use software tools for the time management
Understand the Syllabus
Candidates must go through all the modules and check for the syllabus of each module. Also, check which topic they should study in-depth. It will help the aspirants to know what types of questions are there from the syllabus.
Prefer E-Learning
E-learning is one of the biggest platforms for candidates for learning the topics about a particular exam or interview. Candidates can visit the sites related to bank exam preparation and check the sample papers, previous year question papers, etc. It will help them know what type of questions will be there in the question paper. So they will get to know which topic they should spend more time on, which topic they should practice more, and prepare accordingly. While studying, they must make a quick note about the subjects. So whenever they want to revise, they can take the help of quick notes.
Revision
Post completion of the syllabus, they should follow the quick notes and revise the topics again. The revision of the subject will help a lot. Candidates must learn for about two hours every day. Make a habit of making short notes while reading.
For securing good marks in the exams, candidates must follow the following steps. Candidates must have a goal to achieve their target. They must prepare properly by learning and practising every topic from the best book for banking exam preparation mentioned above. Besides, they must have the self-confidence that they can crack the exam.
Also Read: Upcoming Bank Exams: Notification, Dates & Eligibility
Banking Sector Career & Posts
The growth of the Banking Sector is increasing at a rapid rate in India. It is considered a developing sector of the Indian Economy. Any fresher can apply for the bank exams. The eligibility criteria for applying for bank exams is graduation. Candidates who completed their graduation and are preparing for banking jobs have chosen the best career options. But those who are applying for bank jobs for different posts must have a goal to crack these exams. Although the banking sector generates many jobs, it is not that easy for the candidates to crack the exam. Aspirants who are applying for bank jobs need to practice a lot to pass the written exam. The competitive exam is so much different from the regular exam conducted in colleges. When it comes to the competitive exam, students have to give utmost importance to their preparation.
The banking sector conducts recruitments at the following levels:
Bank Probationary Officer (Bank PO)
It includes a managerial position in a bank. After completing 1-2 months of training, they assign the candidates as Assistant Managers (AM) or Deputy Managers (DM). The starting salary of a Bank PO ranges from INR 30,000 - INR 40,000, and it depends upon bank to bank and on location as well.
Bank Clerks
It is a clerical position in a bank. Candidates can consider it an entry-level job in a bank, and it depends upon the bank to bank and on location. The range of pay of the Bank Clerk is INR 20,000 - INR 25,000.
Specialist Officers (SO)
There are some posts for specialist profiles like- IT Officer, Marketing Officer, HR Officer, Law Officer, Finance Officer, Agriculture Officer, and so on. The starting salary and grade of the Specialist Officers are the same as that of the Probationary Officer.
Bank Recruitment Exams in India
The preparation for all these examinations is similar, but a few differences depend on the authority conducting that particular examination for bank recruitment.
Some of the bank exams conducted in India are as follows:
- SBI Clerk
- SBI PO
- SBI SO
- IBPS Clerk
- IBPS PO
- IBPS SO
- IBPS RRB
- IBPS RRB PO
- IBPS RRB Office Assistant
- RBI Assistant
- RBI Grade-B
- RBI Recruitment
Also Read: How to Become a Banker in India?
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