Every year lakhs of aspirants which include both fresh graduates and experienced professionals appear for various banking exams conducted throughout the year to secure a banking job. One such important banking exam is the SBI Clerk exam which is conducted each year by The State Bank of India (SBI) to recruit qualified candidates for clerical posts such as junior associates.
Banking aspirants often plan their preparation keeping in mind multiple banking exams such as IBPS PO, IBPS Clerk, IBPS, RRB, SBI PO, SBI Clerk, IBPS SO and more as they have more or less the same syllabus. Therefore, when a notification of a major banking exam like SBI Clerk is released they get minimal time to have a focused SBI Clerk exam preparation.
On that note, let’s talk about some important tips that will help candidates to prepare for the SBI Clerk exam in 4 months which are sufficient to crack the exam.
How to Start for SBI Clerk Exam Preparation?
The first thing before starting with your SBI clerk preparation is that you must go through the exam pattern and syllabus in detail. This will help you get the knowledge of different stages, section-wise weightage, topics to cover in different sections, number of questions and time duration of the Prelims and Mains exam.
Apart from this, examine previous years’ SBI Clerk question papers to get insight into the type and pattern of questions to expect, and the weightage of different topics in the exam.
Lastly, take a look at the previous year’s SBI Clerk Cut Off to get an estimate of the overall cut off to expect in the prelims and mains exams.
First Month
A good start is vital for any exam preparation. Discussing Quantitative Aptitude, applicants should begin with certain major yet elementary topics such as Simplification, Approximation, Number system, Algebra, Quadratic equation, Ratio and proportion, Average and Percentage. Candidates can refer to books like RS Agrawal and must go through the concepts and examples in each topic before attempting the questions given in exercises.
They must start with easy level questions and practice enough of them before moving to the advanced level. Candidates must practice as many questions as possible of each type in each topic to build accuracy and speed along with getting a proper grip on the concepts behind them.
In Reasoning ability, applicants should start with easy topics to build momentum such as Alphabet/ Numeric/ Alphanumeric series, Coding and decoding, Inequality, Blood relation, Direction and distance. Aspirants should learn all rules and short tricks in these topics before solving questions on them. With this, they must solve and practice questions belonging to these topics from previous years’ SBI Clerk question papers.
In English, aspirants should start learning basic grammar rules and attempt enough questions in topics like Fill in the blanks, sentence rearrangement, Spotting error and Comprehension passage. Also, they can refer to books like Word Power Made Easy and learn a few roots as well as new words daily from it.
Aspirants must start memorizing significant dates and events in Indian history, Basic banking/financial terms and abbreviations. Apart from this, they must go through daily and weekly current affairs of national and international importance. With this, they must read daily English newspapers and magazines which will also help them in improving vocabulary.
After the first fifteen days, take out time to revise what you have studied and attempt online mock tests and quizzes in each section and topic.
Second Month
During the initial days of the second month, revise previously studied topics in different subjects. After which study the below-mentioned topics and practice questions in them.
Reasoning ability – Sitting arrangement, Puzzles, Order and ranking, Syllogism, Data sufficiency.
Quantitative Aptitude – Profit and loss, Simple and compound interest, time and work, Mixture and alligation, Speed time and distance, partnership, Data interpretation.
General Awareness- National parks and sanctuary, Awards and honors, history of the Indian banking system, Monetary and fiscal policies.
English- Synonyms and antonyms, Para jumble, Cloze test and Comprehension passage.
After you are done with these topics in different subjects, solve previous years’ papers and give online mock tests and practice sets.
Third Month
During the third month, practice different types of questions in Data interpretation, Pipe and cistern, Upstream and downstream in Quantitative aptitude.
Furthermore, in English, aspirants should attempt topic-wise quizzes and practice tests on different topics. Along with this, practice a few comprehensive passage questions daily and keep working on your vocabulary skills.
In Reasoning ability, Machine input, Statement and assumption, Cause and effect, Drawing inference, problems and course of action.
For General/Banking Awareness, applicants should acquire knowledge of Government schemes and policies, Financial policies and more. Towards the end of the third month do revision and attempt practice sets.
Fourth Month
The fourth and last month should be used by the candidates for giving frequent mock tests and revision to boost their preparation. Candidates must quickly go through notes of formulas and short tricks in quantitative aptitude and short notes in other subjects to quickly recall what they have learnt.
At the same time, giving more frequent mock tests will improve their speed and accuracy. Lastly, candidates must read carefully the important instructions on the SBI Clerk Admit Card beforehand to avoid any confusion on the exam day.
