IBPS RRB Prelims 2017: Last minute tips for candidates

Tomorrow you’ll appear for the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) officers Scale I preliminary examination 2017 for recruitment in participating regional rural banks (RRBs) and this is the time to finish off your preparation, revise, and relax.

You need not buzz your mind with questions about the exam as you have done your part with proper preparation and adequate practice.

Just keep in mind the essentials and foremost thing for the exam and here are some important tips to do so:

1. Make your own plan

Every person has different strong and weak points and you need to identify your strengths and devise your exam plan yourself. Do not blindly follow your peers and friends, think smartly and act smartly. This exam has two sections: Quantitative aptitude and reasoning with 40 questions in each section for a composite time of 45 minutes where you have to divide time for both the sections. Take a test today and finalise your plan for the day of the exam. You can also read the section wise strategy for IBPS RRB PO Prelims 2017-18 then plan accordingly.

2. Devise your strategy: Taking a test today can help you

This can help you a lot in adding that much-needed finishing touch to your exam strategy. Take a mock test and practice your skill of time and topic management before the actual face off. Analyse your performance after the test. You can test yourself with Adda247’s Test for IBPS RRB PO 2017.

3. Avoid unnecessary tension, equip yourself with necessary documents

This point could not take a back seat in our checklist because it is the foremost thing to be taken care of and the sooner the better. Take a print out of your admit card and ID proof and read the instructions on your admit card.

4. Take two trips while solving the paper

In the first attempt, solve the questions you find easy to approach. Finishing them off will boost your confidence and keep you at bay from any stress. After you are done with all that, go for the second trip and try to attempt the questions you feel you can do with a little extra effort.

5. Be careful while choosing

Your every move and every decision will make or break your deal so it is very important that you choose very carefully what you are going to attempt in the exam. Don’t be tempted and get engrossed in any particular section or question for too long.

6. Don’t take anything on your ego

You may feel you know the concepts to solve a question just too well and yet unable to crack it during the exam. So just skip it and try another question. Skip a question if you feel it is too time-consuming or you might not be able to get it right, at the end you have to score enough to clear sectional and overall cut off. Let nothing kill your speed! There are 80 questions to be solved in mere 45 minutes, so keep a track of your time and don’t get stuck anywhere.

7. Be wise and spare some extra seconds to carefully read instructions

It is good to be fast and save time when you have 80 questions to attempt in just 45 minutes but you have to be wise and careful as well. Instruction or directions for a question are very important and you should read them for every question you are about to attempt. What if it was something you’ve already practised but asked in a twisted way. You can actually save marks by reading directions carefully.

8. Divide time for each section

You need to keep in mind that you have to do a decent number of attempts in both the sections of IBPS RRB PO Prelims exam. Twenty minutes for reasoning and 25 minutes for Quant can be your mantra of maximum time spent per section.

9. Do not ignore simple questions

Simple or easy level questions can be your saviour in RRB PO prelims so don’t just get engrossed in the difficult ones. Read the instructions carefully and attempt simple or easy level questions to gain plus points in your scoring bag.

10. Avoid making ‘silly mistakes’, they’ll cost you a year

You have been looking forward to this opportunity to be a probationary officer. So tomorrow, do not make silly mistakes. Solve and analyse questions carefully, do not presume things, read the directions, and be careful as you will have negative marking.

11. Get thoughts of cutoff out of your head

If the exam is of an easy level, it will be so for everyone else and vice versa. You should rather be practising rather than thinking about the cutoff. First, concentrate on the exam and making a decent number of attempts according to its difficulty level. Rest of the things will fall into place. So, don’t overburden yourself and refrain from diverting your concentration.

12. Keep your calm and be confident

Your confidence will sail you through. No matter what the difficulty level you will face in the exam, just stay calm and believe in yourself. With a composed mind you will be able to crack through, so sleep well and don’t stress yourself out. If you’ll say ‘I can and I will’ nothing can stop you from achieving your aim.

(Anil Nagar is the founder and CEO of Adda247. Views expressed here are personal.)