By admin 30 August 2019
How to ace the banking PO exam?
Every year thousands of students attend the probationary officer exam. Bank PO is conducted through two exams, one is SBI PO, and the other is IBPS PO. After clearing the test, the candidate would be eligible and will be trained as a probationary officer. Many Indian banks use this bank PO as a screening test and hire candidates who perform well in the exam.
If you are an aspirant, you can prepare by yourself, go to a coaching class, or take the help of bank PO online courses. A candidate must put in efforts and hard work to pass the exam and get qualified for further rounds.
When is it conducted?
1. SBI PO is held once a year. The preliminary exam is held in June. If a candidate clears prelims, he/she may sit for the mains exam, conducted in July.
2. IBPS PO is held once a year. The preliminary exam is held in October. If a candidate clears prelims, he/she may sit for the mains exam, conducted in November.
How many students appear for the exam?
1. Around 10 lakh students sit for the SBI PO prelims exam.
2. Approximately 8 to 10 lakh students sit for the IPBS PO prelims exam.
Eligibility criteria
The students must satisfy the following requirements to sit for the bank PO exam:
1. He (or she) must fall under the age group of 21-30 years.
2. Must hold a graduation degree from a designated university.
3. Must not have any criminal record marked against his (or her) name.
Subjects
Important subjects that one must focus on to ace the test are:
1. Quantitative aptitude: This section carries a whopping 35 marks and is one of the most crucial parts. It checks the mathematical ability of the student.
2. English: This section tests English language proficiency. It contains basic English questions framed as para jumbles, comprehension, word meaning, and error detection.
3. General awareness: read the newspaper and keep a tab on the current news and affairs. Read general knowledge books for more clarity.
4. Reasoning ability: It tests the critical and analytical skills of the student. This section contains problems based on blood problems, puzzles, data sufficiency, coding and decoding, and many other relevant topics.
5. Computer: Basic questions regarding computer and internet are asked in the exam.
Preparation tips
1. Before starting the preparation, take a mock test. This will give you a sneak-peak into the exam and the pattern. It will also help you analyze the strong and weak points and subjects which have more weight.
2. Make a study chart and follow it honestly.
3. Refer books or join a coaching class for more help. Nowadays, various bank PO courses are also available.
4. After completing the entire syllabus, take a few practice tests to improve precision, speed, and confidence.
5. Update yourself regarding the latest exam pattern to avoid any shocks.
Banks that participate in the selection process
Bank PO exams are conducted every year to hire new probationary officers. Some top banks that take candidates via these exams are:
1. State Bank of India
2. Bank of Maharashtra
3. Bank of Baroda
4. HDFC bank
5. ICICI bank
6. Cooperative bank
7. Allahabad bank
8. Punjab National bank
9. Indian Overseas Bank
10. Canara bank
Wrapping up
Clearing any competitive exam needs proper planning, patience, and hard work. With numerous coaching classes, online bank PO preparation courses, and study materials, available in the market, clearing the exam has become a lot easier. Follow the time table and revise the entire syllabus before sitting for the exam.