How to Prepare for Bank Exams Without Coaching

Bank jobs are considered among the most sought-after jobs in India. Every year lakhs of aspirants apply for various bank exams but only a few thousand make it to the final list. It is a widespread myth that joining a coaching centre is absolutely necessary to become successful in these exams. However, you just need a strategy and its efficient implementation. With rapid advancement in technology and availability of online preparation material, aspirants are increasingly searching strategies for self preparation. Paucity of time and the option of flexibility and convenience are also driving the growth of the online preparation industry. Let us discuss how to utilize self study and complement it with online study tools.

Understanding the Exam Pattern and Syllabus

The first and foremost requirement is to understand the patterns of various bank exams. Most of these are conducted in two phases – Preliminary and Mains. These are followed by a personal interview.

The Preliminary section of banking exams is almost the same whereas the Mains exam is variable. Below is the general exam pattern for bank preliminary exams:

Sections	No of Questions / Maximum Marks	Time Duration
Reasoning Ability	35 / 35	60 Minutes
Quantitative Aptitude	35 / 35
English Language	30 / 30
Total	100 / 100

There is no specific exam pattern for the Mains exam as different banking exams have different patterns. The subjects generally included in the Mains exam are as follows:

Reasoning Ability
Quantitative Aptitude
Computer Awareness
General Awareness
English Language

Preparing a Study Plan

Most of the bank exams are usually held at same time each year. Keep this time frame in mind while preparing a detailed study plan.
Break down the syllabus into topics and divide them across the months you have at hand.
Set your goals for different tiers – daily, weekly, monthly. You can also take help of online tools like TCY Study Planner, which can save you a great deal of time and effort.
Start with the basic concepts in Quantitative Aptitude and English. Supplement these with regular practice sessions for strengthening your foundation of every concept. Revise your concepts again and again.
Keep a slot for a weekly mock test to identify your strengths and weaknesses. The catch here is to spend more time on post-test analysis than the test itself. Make a note of all the mistakes and go back to the concepts where you have faltered. This is the most important step, which many students tend to skip.
Subscribe to an online test series to keep assessing your preparation level. Try Free Tests provided by TCYonline here.

The Real Grind

Many well-thought-out plans fail due to a single reason – implementation. Many students think a lot about their study plans, but still fail to achieve success. It is important to understand the importance of implementation, which becomes even more vital in case you are doing self study, as no tutor is available in person to motivate and push you.

Start following your study plan bit by bit, taking small steps initially.
If you face some backlog piling up, try spending some more time on weekends to get back on track.
Revisiting and analyzing your progress on the plan is equally crucial.
Also, try setting up little rewards for yourself on completion of your planned tasks. This may be as simple as indulging in your favorite ice cream or watching an episode of your favorite sitcom. Studies have shown that this helps in keeping the motivation levels high.

It may be a bit overwhelming at first to prepare without formal coaching, but once you have set your goals and decided to achieve these, nothing is impossible. Take the first step towards your dream and start your journey by following the suggestions mentioned above. Hard work and diligent efforts will surely bear fruit. Push yourself and have faith that you can do it.

All The Best!

Article Source : https://www.tcyonline.com/exam-preparation-bank-po-preparation-tests/100241/bank-po-so-clerical