Bank exams are difficult; our sympathies are with you. And yes, it is true many might not get through the first time, but it is also true that many do. And you can, too, and go onto have a wonderful career in the banking sector. You might ask how to crack the bank exam on the first attempt? Worry not. We are here to help you clear your examinations on your first try and soar through your career!

For those who do not know, there are bank exams for usually three posts. These are bank PO, bank SO, and bank clerk. And the first step to acing this exam--or any exam--is knowing and understanding it. 

But before that, you must consider whether you want to consider coaching an option. If you are a working professional or just someone who needs more structure and guidance in their life, you might find coaching a viable way to prepare for your exams. 

There are many coaching institutes with professionals and experts who are extremely familiar with how the examinations work and know the best way on how to help you. 

There is no shame in opting for going to a coaching center. It will make sure you are better prepared, allow you to learn all the tips and tricks, and make you more adept at solving the papers with more speed and accuracy. If you can afford it, definitely go for it. It might change the game. 

So now that we have dealt with that, here are some points which will answer your question, how to crack the bank exam in the first attempt:

Get to Know the Exam Pattern and Syllabus

The exams, likewise, are split into five sections. These include English, Reasoning, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, and Computer Knowledge. 

Let us look at these sections closer. 

1. English: The section deals with grammar, fill in the blanks, spellings, and comprehension. They also involve the phrasing of sentences and jumbled paragraph questions. These are easy to score in if you have command over the language. 
2. Reasoning: The section includes coding-decoding, directions, logical puzzles, rankings, and syllogisms. They require a lot of practice, focus, and concentration if you want to solve them properly. 
3. General Awareness: The section includes knowledge about current affairs, static GK, and banking and financial awareness. To score well in this area, you need to update yourself on daily news by reading newspapers and non-fiction books. 
4. Quantitative Aptitude: The section includes quadratic equations, data analysis, interpretation, and world problems in areas like ratio and proportion, and time and work. Quantitative aptitude requires quite a bit of practice if you want to score high. 
5. Computer Knowledge: The section involves the basics of computers, and it is quite easy once you prepare for it. A lot of candidates seem to score full marks in it. 

Create a Study Plan 

Once you know your syllabus, you can go on to the next step: that is, to create a study plan. Put together a list of all the things you need to study, gather your reference books, and make a timetable for every day leading to the week or day of the exams. Arrange your subjects in decreasing order of how much you need to focus on, and then things become easier--all you have to do is practice, practice, practice. 

But, the essential part of creating a study plan is learning to stick to it. With discipline, dedication, and a strong commitment to what you are doing, there is no reason why you would not crack your examinations the first time. 

Practice with Previous Papers & Mock Tests

It is of vital importance that to be truly prepared for the exams, you need to go through previous years' bank exam question papers and mock tests to be thorough in your preparation. The question bank will give you valuable insights into what kind of questions will be asked, how these questions will be framed. It will also ensure that you become more familiar with the pattern of the paper. Solving previous years' question papers will also make you more skilled at answering questions, giving you the practice you need. It will help you analyze the standard of exams, as well. 

There is a lot of material available online that you can use to practice. But there are also paid courses and subscriptions you can opt for, should you wish to do so. 

While doing these mock exams, you must take notes on where you go wrong and make short notes of reference so that when you revise, you do not miss out on it and make silly mistakes. 

You should constantly go back and check on topics that you struggle with and those frequently asked questions, so you d not have to deal with them all at the last minute. Taking care of it as you go along will ensure that you consistently build on your strengths and correct your weaknesses while simultaneously targeting to increase your accuracy. 

As these exams are time-based, taking timed mock exams will also allow you to learn how to manage your time. Time management is perhaps js an essential element of exam preparation. Once you have that down, the rest is sure to come easy. 

Now that you know what you can do before the exam let us see some of the things you can do while writing the exam. 

Start with the Section You Are the Most Confident About 

Candidates are much more likely to clear their exams if they go from the easiest sections to the hardest. It helps build confidence, but it also allows candidates to not waste their time right off the bat. They can also use all that extra time they have accumulated to deal with the more difficult questions. 

Do Not Guess During the Exam 

As the exams have negative markings, it is wise to leave the questions you do not know the answers to as it will eliminate the chances of deduction and increase your chances of clearing your exam. 

Do Not Waste Time

When you are struggling with a section, it always best to move and come back to it when you are done with what you know. If you utilize more time than you have on a particular section, then you will have less time left for the rest of the paper. So, remember to be smart!

Ah, that is all the wisdom we can impart for now. It should definitely be enough to help you to get better clarity about how to crack bank exam in first attempt. All the best!

Also Read: Tips & Tricks to crack Competitive Exam