With the prestige, the pay and the perks offered by a bank job, it is not surprising to see lakhs of candidates signing up to take the bank exams every year. But landing a bank job in India is not just a checklist you need to work across. If one wants to pin a seat in the banking sector, then he/she must know the intricate details and nuances of each step that will get you there. This article is designed to provide the groundwork for you to get started.

Recruitment Method

The banking sector needs dexterities of all kinds. For which, it has an all-embracing process of recruitment. They recruit through bank exams - the process is quite elementary, and the competition is anything but. Based on the scores and the relaxations (if any), one can secure the ideal designation. There is a wide range of bank exams that you can write. Do not consider this troublesome, rather think of it as a series of recurring opportunities.

Exam Dates

Some recruitment bodies such as the SBI, RBI and IBPS (Institute of Banking Personnel Selection) require candidates to pass two or more stages - Prelims exam, Mains exam and interview - of the recruitment process to land a lucrative job. Keep track of the dates of exams you wish to attempt, especially since the current pandemic situation is bound to shift the usually followed schedule. You can check the IBPS PO Exam Dates to learn more about the exam and the exact schedule/ dates for the IBPS PO Exam. Traditionally, the bank exams have been spaced apart well enough to allow candidates to improve themselves after each attempt. Do make use of this and plan your preparation and revision accordingly.

Applying for an exam

Bank exams offer the advantage of applying online, hence saving you a lot of time and effort. You will, however, need scanned copies of certain documents. Take a look at the IBPS PO application form to get a better picture of how the application process goes, and what documents you will need. This detailed write up will also provide a general idea of what most bank exams require when you apply for them. We will also cover some of the frequently asked questions candidates may have regarding the exam/selection process itself and address some of the queries you may have.

Here is a list of the most popular bank exams that you can take:

Exams conducted by State Bank of India (SBI)

SBI Probationary Officer (PO) Exam
SBI Specialist Officer (SO) Exam
SBI Clerk Exam

Exams conducted by Reserve Bank of India (RBI)

RBI Grade B Exam
RBI Assistant Exam

Exams conducted by Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS)

CWE Probationary Officer (PO) / Management Trainee (MT)
CWE Specialist Officer (SO)
CWE Clerical
CWE Regional Rural Banks (RRB)
CWE refers to a ‘Common Written Exam’

Exam conducted by India Post Payments Bank (IPPB)

IPPB Exam

Exam conducted by the National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development (NABARD)

NABARD Exam

The Syllabus

Banking exams have a common blueprint and differ only in their methods of questioning. This syllabus will typically include four sections:

Quantitative Aptitude
Logical Reasoning
English Language
General and Banking Awareness

Each section will have a cluster of topics that you will need to cover. You may notice how these sections are rather generalized and not necessarily difficult. It is, in fact, the competition that makes scoring past the cut-off more difficult and not the syllabus itself. This division of sections will require candidates to approach each section uniquely. 

The Preparation Plan

Before you dive into preparation, make sure to take a look at the fine details of the exam pattern. This includes knowing which sections have negative marks allotted and how much time is required for attempting each section and clearing the sectional cutoff.

It would be unwise to start preparing without mentally jotting the order in which you want to finish the syllabus. Try to cover one section at a time and work your way across. It is not advisable to skip chapters, as difficult chapters may allow for easier questioning. Try to have a simple & realistic preparation plan and stick to it, no matter what. The revision will play a key role once you’re familiar with the subjects. It is recommended you solve as many questions as possible and make use of question papers from the years before.

We hope this article helped in your quest towards landing a bank job. Feel free to explore our other articles on our website. We wish you the best of luck.

Happy learning!

About Author: Digvijay Singh Kanwar is a professional content writer and digital marketing expert and he loves to write about finance and tech-based articles. You can contact him on digvijaykanwar96@gmail.com