As you know 2023 banking exams are almost over. Some of you may have performed very well this year and many of you might have joined their first job. Congratulations to all of you who have succeeded this year. Those who weren’t able to cross the line this year anyhow, this post can be very beneficial for you.

First of all, do not feel disheartened as you are not alone. Many aspirants who got success in 2023 have faced setbacks in their preparation journey. The key to overcoming these setbacks is to see them as opportunities for improvement. Let’s begin the preparation for 2024 keeping in mind all of the failures of 2023 and taking motivation from them armed with renewed determination and a more effective strategy.

Upcoming Banking Exams in 2024

As you already know Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) is an autonomous organization that was established in 1975 to conduct the recruitment of candidates in various Public Sector and Regional Rural Banks in India. It facilitates the provisional allotment of candidates to different banks based on their preferences and the availability of vacancies. Like every year, here are some upcoming banking exams which will be conducted in 2024:

RRB Clerk

RRB Officer Scale 1

RRB Officer Scale 2

RRB Officer Scale 3


IBPS Clerk

IBPS Probationary Officer (PO)

SBI Probationary Officer (PO)

IBPS Specialist Officer (SO)

SBI Specialist Officer (SO)

These exams are conducted by IBPS throughout the year. Along with these there are some exams conducted by Regulatory bodies like RBI, NABARD, SEBI, and SIDBI. The best part of banking exams is that you get your results within 15-30 days. In 3-4 months you can get a job if you prepare well. Now let us dive into the strategy part. Remember this strategy can be very helpful to you if you follow it well and be honest with your preparation. Chances are high that you can get your dream job.

Assess yourself First

Before starting your preparation for bank exams assessing yourself is very important.
  • Conduct a self assessment of your knowledge by taking a Smartkeeda Mock test.
  • Identify the subjects or topics in which you feel most confident and those where you need improvement.
  • If you’ve attempted the exam previously check your previous scorecards and analyze where you did well and where you struggled.
  • Prioritize weak areas in terms of amount of time and effort you need to invest in them.
  • It’s essential to be honest when assessing your knowledge.
  • Avoid overestimating your abilities in certain areas to just feel good or confident.

Strategy to Stay ahead of the curve

After assessing yourself, now it’s a time to make a good strategy. As you very well know that banking exams are highly competitive, so to stay ahead of your competitors you need a proper planning and comprehensive strategy to excel. Let me help you in making a good study plan:
 
  1. Develop a structured study schedule that allocates a sufficient time for each subject and section.
  2. Stick to your schedule consistently and ensure that your To-Do-Lists are realistic and manageable.
  3. Set small goals which you can complete on time to stay motivated. Setting high or bulky goals should be avoided.
  4. Break each subject into small and manageable segments and make sure to cover every topic.
  5. Practice is important. Solve a variety of questions and Mock test papers regularly to improve your problem-solving skills. You can take Mock tests on Smartkeeda.
  6. Revise your study notes regularly. Revision is essential to retain information effectively.

Time Management Skill

Success in banking exams not only depends on your knowledge but also on your ability to utilize the given time efficiently. Effective management of time ensures that you can complete all questions within the allotted time with accuracy. Your journey to learn time management starts from day 1 of your preparation. Only then you can perform well on the D-day. Here are some tips which will definitely help you in managing your time:
 
  • Familiarize yourself with the actual exam format. This will help you plan your time accordingly
  • Practice regularly with a mock test series which matches the actual exam format. Smartkeeda is good to go in this.
  • Prioritize questions based on the difficulty level. Answer the easy questions first followed by moderate and then if time allows give a try to difficult questions as well.
  • Assign a specific time limit for each question or a set of questions like Puzzles, Data Interpretation or Reading Comprehension. Do not spend too much time on a question.
  • Improve your Mental Math skills to perform quick calculations without relying on calculators.
  • If you encounter a challenging question, don’t get stuck. Mark it and move on to the next. You can return to it later if time allows.
  • Stay calm and focused in the examination hall. Stress can affect your time management.

Banking exam resources for 2024

Preparing for competitive exams like banking requires a systematic and disciplined approach. Remember in banking exams success often requires months of dedicated preparation.  If you are preparing for banking exams make sure to have a quality study material so that you don’t have to run here and there for resources. Ensure that your study materials are up-to-date and cover the entire syllabus. Let me help you finding a good study material:

Books: Books are the base of any competitive exam. You need books to cover your entire syllabus. So be smart while choosing books as there are many resources out there in the market. Here are some of the books you need:
 
  • Quantitative Aptitude by R S Agarwal
  • Quantitative Aptitude by Sarvesh K Verma
  • Word Power Made Easy for English
  • SP Bakshi for Grammar
  • Reasoning by RS Agarwal
Memory based Papers: Solving memory based papers is crucial to understand the exam pattern and the type of questions asked. They will give you a reality check about your preparation. You can find all the memory based papers of prelims as well as mains on Google.

Online study Material: There are many websites and apps which can be very helpful in your preparation journey. They offer free and paid study materials including, PDF notes, practice questions, and video lectures. Here are some of the popular online platforms:
 
  • Telegram App for PDF notes and doubt discussion
  • Apps on play store for calculation practice
  • Smartkeeda Website for online quizzes
  • Smartkeeda App for Current Affair quizzes
  • YouTube App for video lectures
Online Mock tests: You need to practice Mock-Tests regularly to improve your time management and assess your progress. For Test Series you can trust Smartkeeda blindly. As you know competition is increasing day by day, so staying ahead of your competitors is very crucial nowadays. The test series provided by Smartkeeda matches the real exam and comes at a very minimal cost as well.

Current Affairs: In banking exams current affairs usually comes in mains. You need to stay updated by reading newspapers, magazines and online news portals. Some popular newspapers which you can read are The Hindu, Indian Express, The Times of India, and Business Standard. For current affairs Smartkeeda provides online mock drills which include PDFs as well as Quizzes. Many aspirants who cleared bank exam gave a very good rating to these mock drills. You can go for it as well.

Additional Resources: In addition to above mentioned resources, you can explore YouTube channels and online Podcasts where experts and successful candidates share tips and strategies for banking exam preparation.

Health and well being

Maintaining your health and well being is crucial while you are preparing for banking exams. A healthy body and mind are essential for effective studying and performing your best on the exam day. Here are some tips on how to prioritize your health during preparation:

  • Exercise Regularly
  • Eat a balanced diet
  • Stay hydrated
  • Get a sufficient sleep
  • Manage stress
  • Stay socially connected
  • Set realistic goals
  • Stay organized
  • Practice self-care
  • Positive self talk
  • Limit distractions.

Be patient, stay focused and believe in yourself. Stay consistent as consistency is the key. Stick to your study plan and don’t get discouraged by setbacks. Try to improve yourself every day. With a right approach and determination you can increase your chances of success in banking exams in 2024. Good Luck!

Author : Shashi Garg

Hey, I am Shashi Garg, an aspiring writer, and a Passionate Wordsmith. I Prepared for banking exams for 1-1.5 years and also cleared some. I have been writing for a while now on a popular platform Quora. I feel excited about it because it allows me to share my opinions and experiences with the world. Every piece of information I shared in this post is based on my experiences.

FAQ’s

Preparing for banking exams requires understanding the syllabus, exam pattern and creating a study plan accordingly.

Like every year in 2024 as well IBPS is going to conduct exams like RRB Clerk, RRB PO, SBI PO, IBPS PO, IBPS Clerk, and SBI Clerk.

Technology has made high-quality study materials, video lectures, and practice tests accessible through e-learning platforms.

Traditional banking topics remain relevant in banking exams, as they form the foundation for candidates aspiring to work in the banking sector.

To stay updated regularly check the official website of IBPS. They often provide updates on exam dates, syllabus changes, and notifications.