In today’s time, government jobs are becoming the first choice for many students. One of the most popular among them is the Bank PO exam. PO is a short form; it stands for Probationary Officer, which is an entry-level post in banks. Every year, thousands of students appear for exams like SBI PO, IBPS PO, etc., in the hope to get selected. But, cracking this exam is not easy. It needs dedication, planning, and the right approach.
Here, we will explain how a student can prepare for the Bank PO exam step by step, even if he or she is average in studies.
Know the Exam First
Before starting the preparation, it is very important to understand the exam structure. Bank PO exams are usually conducted in three main stages:
- Preliminary Exam
- Main Exam
- Interview
The prelims are only qualifying in nature. The marks of mains and interview are counted for the final selection. If you don’t clear prelims, you don’t go to the next round. So you have to clear each stage to get selected.
Make a Simple Study Plan
Once you know the exam pattern, the next step is to make a study plan. Many students just start studying randomly without planning. That is a big mistake. Make a daily routine that suits your timing. For example, if you are in school or college, study 2 to 3 hours a day. If you are preparing full-time, then aim for 6 to 8 hours.
Divide your time for different subjects – English, Maths, Reasoning, and General Awareness. Give more time to the subject in which you are weak. But also keep practicing your strong areas.
Subject-wise Preparation
Let’s now look at how to prepare each subject.
- English Language
Many students are scared of English. But the good news is, English in Bank PO exams is not that hard. You don’t need to be an expert. You just need basic grammar, vocabulary, and comprehension skills.
What to do:
- Read newspapers like The Hindu or Times of India daily
- Note down new words and their meanings
- Practice reading comprehension and error spotting
- Solve cloze tests and fill-in-the-blanks
Also, keep writing short essays or letters once in a while, as the mains exam has a descriptive English paper too.
- Quantitative Aptitude (Maths)
This is one of the toughest parts for many students. But if you clear your basics and practice regularly, you can improve a lot.
Important topics:
- Simplification
- Percentage
- Profit and Loss
- Time, Speed, Distance
- Time and Work
- Simple and Compound Interest
- Data Interpretation
Tips:
- Start from NCERT Maths books of class 8 to 10
- Learn shortcuts and tricks for quick calculation
- Practice with a timer to improve speed
- Revise formulas regularly
- Reasoning Ability
This part tests your logical thinking. There is no formula here, only practice can help.
Important topics:
- Puzzles
- Seating arrangements
- Blood relations
- Syllogism
- Coding-decoding
- Directions
Start with easy topics and slowly go to tough ones like puzzles and arrangements. Try solving questions without looking at the answer first. With time, your brain will become faster.
- General Awareness
This part comes only in the mains exam but it’s very scoring if you prepare well.
How to prepare:
- Read current affairs of the last 5 to 6 months
- Focus on banking and economic news
- Read about important government schemes, RBI news, appointments, and national events
- Use monthly current affairs PDFs or apps like AffairsCloud or Adda247
Make short notes and revise them every week. Don’t try to remember everything at once.
- Computer Knowledge
This section is small but easy. It checks basic computer knowledge like:
- Parts of a computer
- Operating system
- Internet and MS Office
- Shortcuts and basic terms
Just study from any basic computer book like Lucent Computer or watch free YouTube videos.
Start Giving Mock Tests
After 1-2 months of basic preparation, start giving online mock tests. This is a very important part of your preparation. Mock tests help in:
- Understanding the real exam format
- Managing time during the exam
- Finding your weak areas
After every test, go through each question and understand why you got it wrong. Don’t get discouraged if you score low in the beginning. Keep improving slowly.
Solve Previous Years’ Papers
Try solving question papers from the last 5–10 years. This helps you understand the type of questions asked and the level of difficulty. Some questions even get repeated in different exams, so solving old papers is always a smart move.
Improve Writing for Descriptive Paper
The mains exam has a descriptive paper where you have to write an essay and a letter. Many students ignore this part and later regret it.
To prepare:
- Practice writing on topics like banking, economy, social issues, etc.
- Learn the correct format of formal and informal letters
- Keep your essay simple, clear, and to the point
- Don’t make grammar mistakes
Also, work on your typing speed, as the descriptive test is done on a computer.
Stay Motivated and Consistent
One of the biggest challenges in competitive exams is staying motivated. Some students give up after a few months when they don’t see results. Remember, success takes time.
Tips to stay motivated:
- Set small weekly goals
- Celebrate little achievements
- Avoid negative people and social media distractions
- Talk to people who have cracked the exam for inspiration
- Take breaks when needed but don’t quit
Even if you’re an average student, you can still succeed with hard work and the right plan.
Books You Can Refer
Here are some good books that students usually follow:
- Quantitative Aptitude – R.S. Aggarwal
- Reasoning – Arihant’s Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning
- English – Wren & Martin, or Objective English by S.P. Bakshi
- Current Affairs – Monthly PDFs from online websites
- Computer – Lucent’s Computer Knowledge
Final Words
Bank PO exams is not something that can be cracked in one week or one month. It takes time, effort, and patience. But it is not impossible. If you plan your preparation properly, stay regular, and keep practicing, you can surely clear it.
It is not that you should think you have to be a topper or genius to succeed. Even an average student can crack this exam with dedication and hard work. Just focus on daily progress and believe in yourself.
Good luck to all future Bank POs!
