The banking exams are not same as were in previous years. The competition has shot up exponentially in the last couple of years. Therefore if one wants to clear banking exam, the best fit strategy is a must. In this article, you will get to know the best fit strategy for attempting IBPS Clerk exam.
How to Attempt Upcoming IBPS Clerk Prelims Exam 2019
The IBPS Clerk exam 2019 -20 is conducted in two phases Prelims and Mains exam. The preliminary exam has three sections English Language and Comprehension, Reasoning Ability and Quantitative Aptitude. The exact pattern is:-
| Section Name | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks |
| English Language | 30 | 30 |
| Numerical Ability | 35 | 35 |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
It means we are having 60 minutes to attempt 100 questions. To attempt all questions in this time limit is not practical. The next big question is how many questions one should attempt. The answer lies in the previous year’s cut-offs. The overall cut off for the previous year was from 58 to 73 marks out of 100. If we consider the competition level and current trend of the exam, the candidates are required to attempt at least 72 to 76 questions out of 100 (considering the upper limit, it may vary state to state). The subject wise strategy to be followed for achieving this target is given below:-
Best Way to Attempt Upcoming IBPS Clerk Prelims 2019- 2020
English Language and Comprehension: – In English Language and Comprehension the candidates should give 12 to 14 minutes and attempt 23+ questions with utmost accuracy. To achieve this target of 25+ questions the candidates are advised to attempt this section in two phases. In a first phase, the candidates should attempt well prepared and easy questions to secure sectional cut off. In a second phase, the candidates should attempt moderate questions to increase the score in this section. The sequence of a type of questions for these phases is given below:-
Phase 1:- To secure sectional cut off
- Cloze test: – This type of questions remains easy to tackle if you first read complete paragraph quickly and then start attempting blanks one by one. (10 Questions)
- Spotting errors: – These types is also easy and less time consuming as either you know the error or leave the question (10 Questions).
Phase 2:- To increase marks
- Passage: – Synonyms and Antonyms. (3 to 4 Questions)
Quantitative Aptitude: – In this section also there are questions from easy to moderate and sometimes difficult also. The candidates should attempt this section in two phases, first to secure sectional cut off and second to increase the score. The candidates should attempt 25+ questions in 22 to 24 minutes. The sequence of the type of questions for these phases is given below. However, you can also increase your speed of attempting quant questions by practicing mock test for IBPS Clerk exam 2019.
Phase 1: – To secure sectional cut off
- Simplification: – This type of questions is easy to solve and take less time. The candidates can easily attempt 13+ questions in 10 to 11 minutes.
- Series: – The candidates can easily solve 3+ questions out of 5 in this section in 3 minutes. If you are able to get the clue of pattern in first 10 seconds, then you should attempt it else leave the question.
Phase 2:- To increase marks
- Data Interpretation: – In this type of questions the candidates can easily attempt 3+ questions in 3 minutes or less time. If the question is direct and involves fewer calculations you should attempt it else leave the question.
- Miscellaneous: – This type is a mix of easy, moderate to difficult types of questions. The candidates should hunt for easy and moderate questions. The difficult questions should be skipped. In this manner, the candidates can attempt 3 to 5 questions in rest 6 to 8 minutes.
Reasoning Ability: – In this section also there are questions from easy to moderate. The candidates should attempt this section in two phases, first to secure sectional cut off and second to increase the score. The candidates should attempt 28+ questions in 20 to 22 minutes. The sequence of a type of questions for these phases is given below:-
Phase 1:- To secure sectional cut off
- Inequality: – The questions of inequality remain easy to attempt. The candidates can easily attempt all 5 questions in 3 minutes.
- Number /alphabet series: – This type of questions is from easy to moderate the candidates should attempt the easy questions first and then moderate ones. The candidates can attempt 7+ questions in 5 to 7 minutes. The candidates should not waste time if they are not able to get the pattern in the first 10 seconds.
Phase 2:- To increase marks
- Miscellaneous: – In miscellaneous questions are from easy to difficult. The candidates should attempt easy and moderate questions. They should skip difficult questions in order to save time. The candidates can attempt 4+ questions in 3 minutes.
- Puzzles: – If the puzzle is having two or less than two parameters attempt it else leave it. There remain three puzzles out of which two puzzles can be solved with proper time management. The candidates thus can attempt 10 questions in 9 to 11 minutes.
Now the sequence of attempting these sections is important. The candidates can follow the given below sequence or can follow their own sequence as per the level of comfort in the particular section.
- Reasoning Ability
- Quantitative Aptitude
- English Language and Comprehension
The candidates are advised to go through this article very carefully and practice mock tests using this strategy and analyze their progress. The above strategy is based on the assumption that the difficulty level and type of questions will remain same this year. The reason for this assumption is the pattern and level of difficulty followed in the preliminary exam of recent banking exams.
IBPS Clerk Prelims Exam 2019- 2020 Details
If you wish to be updated regarding all the competitive exams, their patterns, syllabus, all other important information & notification, just visit our website. It provides free study material, mock tests, and all the updates of various competitive exams.