Steps to prepare for Banking Probationary Exams

The first entry point for starting a career in the banking industry is to take the Probationary Officer exam. After the successful completion of this exam one is appointed as a probationary officer, which gradually moves up the ladder to attain positions like Manager, General Manager etc. Since the whole process of competing in the Banking Industry is based on the individual performances of a person, graduates show huge interest in applying for Bank Jobs.

Examination 

The Bank Probationary Officer exam consists of both Objective and Descriptive tests. The objective part consists of sections like reasoning, quantitative aptitude, English test and general awareness. The objective part has 1/4th negative marking for wrong answers, so it’s advisable to leave the question if you aren’t sure about its answer rather than attempting it getting 0.25 marks deducted. On the other hand the descriptive part requires the candidate to write essay type answers for the questions provided. Although this test is conducted just for the purpose of qualifying the exam, its marks are not added to the final rankings.

Preparation 

1. Idea behind test : The whole idea of this test is to judge the skills of a student in the areas such as, management, calculations, time allocation and quick responsiveness. So one should really practice to make them efficient in all these fields i.e. getting their fundamentals correct.
2. Objective style questions : The objectives section will have 200-250 questions that a student has to attempt in a time frame of 2 hours, which require time to make their decisions and calculations very fast.
3. Devote time : In context of allocating time, devote more time in preparing for aptitude and reasoning since they are meant to confuse you to the core.
4. Quantitative aptitude test prepare : The quantitative aptitude deals with basic mathematics and its components such as algebra, arithmetic, percentage calculation etc. So it is advisable for students to practice these subjects using your class 10th books as they have all the fundamentals that you will need to prepare for this examination.
5. English : English sections will majorly have questions from grammar and vocabulary, so having a nice book on the essentials of English language would be more than sufficient to solve your problems.
6. General Knowledge (GK) : To prepare for general awareness one is required to read magazines and newspapers on a daily basis along with getting a copy of a yearbook consisting of up to date information on various fields.
7. Previous papers : Get hold of some previous years question papers along with a bunch of other sample question papers to practice from. This helps you in developing a speed and understanding for the type questions that are asked on a general basis.
8. Practice : Last but not the least, practice is the mantra for succeeding in this examination. The more you practice the better would be your chance to stand out in the examination. To crack the PO test at least one year of preparation is required along with proper guidance form teachers and other seniors.