How many hours per day does one need to prepare for Bank exams?

This is a question that every aspirant of a bank job craves the answer to. If you are a first-timer, then 20 to 25 hours per week is apt. However, if you have prepared for Bank exams earlier, then 12 to 15 hours per week would be enough depending on where you currently stand. As evident from the table, you have approximately four months to go for the first exam. 

Though the pattern of these exams varies, the syllabus covered is almost the same. You must prepare Numerical Ability, Reasoning Ability, English Language, Data Interpretation and Analysis, and General/Economy/Banking Awareness. 

Additionally, for Specialist Officer Exam, you would have to prepare professional knowledge as a subject, in the respective fields as per the eligibility criteria. 

Mantra of Basics, Application, Nurture and Kick 

• Basics in terms of concepts and formulae to be revised for each topic. 
• Exercises to be solved to understand Application of basics and concepts. 
• Topic wise tests to be taken to Nurture the level and one’s speed (through Test Gym) 
• Start writing the Mocks for Bank to Kick start your preparation to understand the overall exam. 

Now, let us discuss 5 last minute tips before Bank Exams 

1. Plan beforehand – By now you know what your strong and weak areas are and which section to attempt first and how much time to devote to every section. 

1. Time Management – Time management plays an important role in making or breaking the deal. You are aware that we have only 60minutes for 100 odd questions, which breaks up as 0.6 minute per question. It is wise to invest some time in the paper at the start itself. Before you move onto solving questions, have a quick glance at the paper keeping your focus on your strong areas. However, do not take too much time in it. 

1. Accuracy – Accuracy should be well taken care of. One wrong answer will cost you ¼ negative marks. Remember it is not important to attempt each and every question rather it is important to maximize your score and negative answers can prove to be a hindrance in it. 

1. Sectional Cut-Off – Do not forget that although one section maybe your strong area and other your weak area but that doesn’t mean you can focus on one section and ignore the other. Since there are sectional cut offs, you will have to qualify each and every section. You can maximize your overall score by performing well in your strong sections but at the same time make it a point to score minimum cut off score set for the other sections. 

1. Do not over spend time on a question – Many a times candidates get stuck on one question and are unable to solve it, in such questions candidates need not to take it their heart and worry about the time they have spent on it, rather, they should move on from that questions. Few questions are tricky and are meant to be left. Selecting the right questions will prove to be beneficial for you and by that you can keep you speed and accuracy both at check. 

Section-wise last minute tips: 

• English – Language sections are always unexpected and tend to throw surprises at you. You should always keep in mind these points while attempting this section: 

1. In the English Language section most questions can be solved by the elimination techniques which ensures accuracy; 

1. Try to attempt questions like Reading Comprehensions and Cloze Test first as in such questions reading one passage ensures solving higher number of questions. Reading Comprehension will mostly have direct questions, skip the ones which are indirect (inference based) and time consuming. 

1. If you are well versed with the grammar rules then you should attempt tricky grammatical questions else skip them; 

1. Give this section 15-17 minutes. 

• Quant – Put all shortcut techniques you have learned so far in use now. Advantage in this section is that you can be sure of your answer unlike in English where the surety of right answer is lesser. You should always keep in mind these points while attempting this section: 

1. Pick the easier DI sets and solve them first (if you are comfortable with speedy calculations); attempting sets help you ensure more marks; 

1. Pick the questions from your strong area; 

1. Keep your focus on accuracy and remember giving more and more time to a tricky question will not ensure that the answer is correct; 

1. Give this section 20-25 minutes. 

• Reasoning – This is one tricky section and can be time consuming for the candidates too. However, you cannot ignore any section. You should always keep in mind these points while attempting this section: 

1. Remember to read the instructions carefully; 

1. This section should be attempted with utmost concentration so as to catch the logic behind the question; 

1. Do no invest more than 5 minutes in a single set of question; 

1. Give this section 18-20 minutes. 

Most importantly – 

• Stay confident; 
• Do not stress or panic; 
• Keep calm. 

Stay tuned for more exam update and exam analysis after the exam. 

All the best!!