All of you who are going to take IBPS Clerk Main Exam
must be busy now doing GK and Computers for the exam. Now since you
have cleared the first level (Clerk Prelim Exam), you should prepare
very well for the Main Exam leaving all other things for some time,
otherwise you will have to start again next year with the first level.
The sections which are going to be asked in the exam:
You should divide your time accordingly for each section. Quant and
Reasoning section are always time consuming, so do not get panic while
attempting these sections. Do not attempt the questions in speed for
making the number of attempts higher, but do with accuracy to not have
negative marking.
The way, the sections should be attempted is:
Quant Section
If Simplification questions are there, start with these questions. In Clerk Prelim Exam, quadratic equations were not asked, so it is expected that in Main Exam the questions from this topic will be asked, so next move on to this and do all the 5 questions. Next you can go for DI which seems to be easy and questions that not contain much calculation. In miscellaneous questions, select the question of topics in which you are good at – select questions from averages, ages, partnership, probability, etc. according to you ease. 2-3 questions from 5 number series questions are easy to attempt.
Reasoning section
In Clerk Prelim Exam, Syllogism was not asked so this time it is expected to be asked. Start with syllogism questions. Then do inequalities, miscellaneous questions (blood relation, direction sense, etc.), coding decoding.
Next choose the easy puzzle. Do not waste time in puzzles in which all confusing information is given (like A does not like red color, B does not live on 2nd floor). Just leave these kinds of puzzles because at the end they will leave you empty handed (no questions solved and time waste). Questions form Statement- Arguments, Statement-Assumptions will also be asked, read the statements very carefully.
English Section
Many students are not good at this section, so for those an advice is mark only those answers which you are very much sure about so that at least you can clear the sectional cutoff.
Reading Comprehension as asked in Clerk Prelim Exam was story based. So if this time also it comes like that try to do most of the questions, otherwise do only the synonyms and antonyms. Next move on to cloze test. Then rearrangement questions – if it is also story based try to do them all but if not story based and not easy to understand at least mark the answer of question in which 1st sentence is being asked (this can be easily known). Then do remaining questions – error finding, sentence improvement, spell checks, etc. as are asked.
Computer Section
This section is expected to be easy. In IBPS PO Main Exam, many questions were from previous IBPS and SBI exams so do all the questions of previous papers. They can help you in Clerk Main Exam also. Other than this do the quizzes posted on the site.
General Awareness Section
This section is easy for those who are continuously reading current affairs and questions related to them. Read at least previous 4-5 months current affairs. Also see the questions which have been asked in IBPS PO Main, SBI PO Main, and RRB exams so that you can have an idea of the type of questions going to be asked.
In current affairs – 1 Obituary will surely be asked (like Ravindra Jain who passed away recently was a __), author – book, Nobel Prize winners 2015, etc.
Static GK also forms a main part of this section. The questions like country – capital, country – currency, national parks situated where, important dates, constituencies of ministers (like Sushma Swaraj’s is Vidisha), important terms and trophies related to different sports, famous Indian sportsperson related to which sport, headquarters of banks, other financial institutions (NABARD, SEBI, etc) and international organizations (UNESCO, UNICEF, etc), CENSUS 2011, etc.
Apart from these, schemes of BJP government after it came to power – like housing for all till __, scheme of Skill Development for minorities (Nai Manzil), bank related schemes – what is the lock in period of KVP, overdraft facility in PMJDY, MUDRA Bank, age range under Suraksha Bima Yojana (18-70), etc.
And last in this section is Banking Awareness Questions –like who prepares the bi-monthly policy, who funds for RRBs, how much FDI in various sectors, etc.
In IBPS PO Main Exam, Reasoning Section was very time consuming, so in Clerk Main exam also it can be expected, so divide your time according to that.
Start with English Section, then GK, then Reasoning, then Computers and last Quant, or as you wish but in between Reasoning and Quant section take an easy section so that mind can relax for 10-12 minutes in between.
Make your own strategy and try in Mock Tests before giving the MAIN Exam.
ACCURACY should be the main aim along with maximum attempts.
Do not forget to take the Admit Card with photograph affixed, Photo Identity Proof in original and a photo-copy of it (Ration Card and E-Aadhar Card are not accepted). Your name in ID Proof must exactly match with the one you have in your Admit Card.
The sections which are going to be asked in the exam:
| Sections | No. of Questions |
Maximum Marks |
Composite Time |
| Quant | 40 | 40 | 120 minutes |
| Reasoning | 40 | 40 | |
| English | 40 | 40 | |
| General Awareness | 40 | 40 | |
| Computer | 40 | 40 | |
| Total | 200 | 200 |
The way, the sections should be attempted is:
Quant Section
If Simplification questions are there, start with these questions. In Clerk Prelim Exam, quadratic equations were not asked, so it is expected that in Main Exam the questions from this topic will be asked, so next move on to this and do all the 5 questions. Next you can go for DI which seems to be easy and questions that not contain much calculation. In miscellaneous questions, select the question of topics in which you are good at – select questions from averages, ages, partnership, probability, etc. according to you ease. 2-3 questions from 5 number series questions are easy to attempt.
Reasoning section
In Clerk Prelim Exam, Syllogism was not asked so this time it is expected to be asked. Start with syllogism questions. Then do inequalities, miscellaneous questions (blood relation, direction sense, etc.), coding decoding.
Next choose the easy puzzle. Do not waste time in puzzles in which all confusing information is given (like A does not like red color, B does not live on 2nd floor). Just leave these kinds of puzzles because at the end they will leave you empty handed (no questions solved and time waste). Questions form Statement- Arguments, Statement-Assumptions will also be asked, read the statements very carefully.
English Section
Many students are not good at this section, so for those an advice is mark only those answers which you are very much sure about so that at least you can clear the sectional cutoff.
Reading Comprehension as asked in Clerk Prelim Exam was story based. So if this time also it comes like that try to do most of the questions, otherwise do only the synonyms and antonyms. Next move on to cloze test. Then rearrangement questions – if it is also story based try to do them all but if not story based and not easy to understand at least mark the answer of question in which 1st sentence is being asked (this can be easily known). Then do remaining questions – error finding, sentence improvement, spell checks, etc. as are asked.
Computer Section
This section is expected to be easy. In IBPS PO Main Exam, many questions were from previous IBPS and SBI exams so do all the questions of previous papers. They can help you in Clerk Main Exam also. Other than this do the quizzes posted on the site.
General Awareness Section
This section is easy for those who are continuously reading current affairs and questions related to them. Read at least previous 4-5 months current affairs. Also see the questions which have been asked in IBPS PO Main, SBI PO Main, and RRB exams so that you can have an idea of the type of questions going to be asked.
In current affairs – 1 Obituary will surely be asked (like Ravindra Jain who passed away recently was a __), author – book, Nobel Prize winners 2015, etc.
Static GK also forms a main part of this section. The questions like country – capital, country – currency, national parks situated where, important dates, constituencies of ministers (like Sushma Swaraj’s is Vidisha), important terms and trophies related to different sports, famous Indian sportsperson related to which sport, headquarters of banks, other financial institutions (NABARD, SEBI, etc) and international organizations (UNESCO, UNICEF, etc), CENSUS 2011, etc.
Apart from these, schemes of BJP government after it came to power – like housing for all till __, scheme of Skill Development for minorities (Nai Manzil), bank related schemes – what is the lock in period of KVP, overdraft facility in PMJDY, MUDRA Bank, age range under Suraksha Bima Yojana (18-70), etc.
And last in this section is Banking Awareness Questions –like who prepares the bi-monthly policy, who funds for RRBs, how much FDI in various sectors, etc.
In IBPS PO Main Exam, Reasoning Section was very time consuming, so in Clerk Main exam also it can be expected, so divide your time according to that.
Start with English Section, then GK, then Reasoning, then Computers and last Quant, or as you wish but in between Reasoning and Quant section take an easy section so that mind can relax for 10-12 minutes in between.
Make your own strategy and try in Mock Tests before giving the MAIN Exam.
ACCURACY should be the main aim along with maximum attempts.
Do not forget to take the Admit Card with photograph affixed, Photo Identity Proof in original and a photo-copy of it (Ration Card and E-Aadhar Card are not accepted). Your name in ID Proof must exactly match with the one you have in your Admit Card.
