Every year lakhs of job seekers and graduates, fresh out of college join the bandwagon of Government/Bank Exam aspirants. The job security that Government jobs come with will only increase the number of applicants for such exams. You will have to do everything and more to make it past the cut-throat competition. This is why we will go over a few time tested tips and strategies that will help you crack the Government exams and Bank exams effortlessly.
#1 Know thy Exam:
As cliched and unimportant as this sounds, trust us it is an integral part of your preparation. Familiarize yourself with the syllabus, exam pattern, marking scheme, sections involved. Set reminders for all the important dates – deadline to apply, the date on which the hall ticket is released and the D-Day itself.
#2 Formulate the Ideal Study Plan:
Formulating a REALISTIC plan, with timelines that you can actually stick to, is of the utmost importance. A crucial step is to find out where you stand currently and where you want to get to (the GOAL). The best way to do this is to take the previous year’s exam (without any extra prep) while emulating actual exam conditions. You will be able to find previous years’ question papers for most exams on the internet.
Now, you may be wondering how do I set goals and how do I know where I stand?
Don’t fret! We’ve got you covered. All bank exams and Government exams release the official answer keys using which the actual exams are evaluated. They also announce the exact cutoffs for various categories and posts. Your goal should be to at least 15 marks ahead of the previous year’s cutoff for your category.
For Instance, if you are preparing for the UP TET then you can check the UPTET Answer Key and previous year cutoff before designing your preparation strategy.
Analyze the mock test to identify strengths and weaknesses across subjects and topics. Allot enough time in your study plan to capitalize on your strengths and devote more time to convert your weaknesses to strengths. Please don’t skip any topic and ensure that you account for breaks while coming up with a study plan. The last few weeks of your study plan should be set aside for taking mock tests and analyzing them.
#3 Gather the Right Resources:
Finding reliable sources to study from is as important as studying itself. There are tons of free material available online. Choose and stick to just one resource for a subject or topic to avoid confusion. Ensure that the information provided is up-to-date and it is tailored to suit your style of preparation. Prepare notes, if possible, for last-minute revision.
#4 Winning Exam Strategy:
Competitive Exams are a test of Speed and Accuracy. Bank/Government Exams aren’t conceptually intricate like the CAT or IIT-JEE but ensuring conceptual clarity will help in the long run. The only way to reinforce concepts is to become a cold-blooded question killer. Solve questions immediately after learning concepts.
Watch the video interview of previous year’s toppers. They have been there and done it. You may learn a thing or two.
#5 Mock Exam Frenzy and Error Log:
Once you have cemented your understanding of concepts by putting pen to paper, put your skills to test by taking up mock tests and solving previous year papers. Emulate the actual exam conditions while you take up mocks. These tests are meant to boost your confidence and not demoralize you so, never take mocks without preparing thoroughly.
Analyze the mocks in detail, maintain an error log and go back to the concepts that you are weak at and just PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE.
Pro-Tips to Attempt mocks:
- Quick read the remaining questions
- Mark and attempt the easy and medium ones
- Repeat loop
If you have done all this, then you have put your best foot forward. Get enough sleep and eat healthy food in the run-up to the exam. Come exam day, KILL IT!