The last year is full of semesters, projects, and ultimately, the most important question of what will be next. For those who wish to pursue a promising, successful, and prestigious career in the public sector, there is nothing better than taking banking exams such as SBI PO, IBPS PO, and IBPS Clerk.
But it is a big mistake to start preparing right after finishing college, as you will face very difficult competition. It is always better to start preparing early, especially in your last year of college, as it will give you a strong competitive edge. You can lay a solid foundation without rushing and stressing over the upcoming deadline. This article presents a step-by-step roadmap for preparing for the bank exam simultaneously.
Best bank coaching can be of great benefit to last-year college students, as it helps them develop an organised approach to studying, understand the fundamentals, and prepare well in advance for tough banking exams.
Final-year college students: how to start preparing for bank exams early
Here are the pointers given below for preparing for the bank exams and college exams simultaneously:
Understand the exam landscape first
Before investing money in books and course subscriptions, spend a couple of days understanding the pattern of bank exams. The most commonly used banking recruitment exam pattern for SBI, IBPS, and RRB is that of a two-stage selection process followed by interviews:
- Preliminary exam(prelims): This exam tests the speed and aptitude for English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability.
- Mains exam: This tests advanced problem-solving, Data Interpretation, and General/Banking Awareness, and includes a Descriptive English paper as well (for POs).
- Interview: Personality & Communication skills, along with financial knowledge, are tested for Officer positions.
This will help you in planning your daily activities according to the format.
Build your fundamentals side-by-side with college studies
You do not have to devote 8 hours a day to preparing for banks while handling your studies. 2 to 3 hours of studying per day will be more than sufficient for your final year.
- Quantitative aptitude: begin with fundamental arithmetic concepts such as percentages, ratios, averages and profit & loss. The above constitute the basis for data interpretation, which features heavily in both the prelims and mains.
- Reasoning ability: spend 30-45 minutes each day trying your hand at basic puzzles, seating arrangement questions, and syllogisms. Consider them brain teasers.
- English language: devote yourself to developing an excellent reading habit. Reading editorials every day will develop your vocabulary, grammatical comprehension, and reading speed.
Leverage current affairs early(your secret weapon)
The General and Banking Awareness test in the Mains exam is the key determinant of candidates' selection and rejection. Whereas it is difficult for graduates to read 6 months of current affairs in a hurry, the final year candidates can always stay ahead:
- Spend 15-20 minutes each day studying financial news and/or compilation of current affairs.
- Study RBI circulars, government schemes, economic policies, and banking terms.
- Taking daily short bullet points of digital notes will save countless hours during revision.
Master time management and micro-habits
To manage your college tasks, exams, and banking preparation, you will need good time management rather than continuous learning.
- Use commuting time and breaks: Utilize commuting time or breaks from class in order to do short online quizzes(topic tests in 10-15 minutes) using mobile apps.
- Take a break from bank preparations during semester exam time: As mid-term or last-semester exams approach, it is recommended to reduce your bank preparation and focus solely on your studies. A strong academic profile is very important for the interview round.
- Accuracy before time management: in the initial period of your last year, accuracy should be given priority over timing. Once you have reached an accuracy level of 85-90%, include timed tests on your weekends.
Transitioning from college to full-fledged prep
During the last month of your semester:
- Transition from doing individual topic questions to Prelims test paper practice.
- Commence your practice in essay and letter writing using the computer to be ready for Mains.
- Go through previous year’s question papers to understand question trends as well as cutoff trends.
Best coaching for SSC CGL can help students who want to pursue both their college education and government exams simultaneously.
Conclusion
It is not an attempt to burden oneself with work, but to get into a routine and boost self-confidence by spending a few hours each week learning basic concepts, staying aware of happenings around the world, and practicing test-taking. As a result, by the time one has graduated from college, one is no longer searching for opportunities but is all set to crack their exam in one go.