Posted on by Successlynk
The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) conducts Probationary officer (PO) examination. In this exam, General Awareness (GA) section is the game-changer. So you need to prepare in a very holistic manner. Here are a few practical tips to score well in the General Awareness section.
- Have a strategy: Divide your GA into sub-sections so that it will be easy for you to focus and prepare. For example, your sub-sections can be static GK, Current Affairs (CA), banking industry. Focus on geography, history, science, economics, sports, awards, constitution, politics, history, culture etc. Spend one hour every day on CA. Check out the type of questions that were asked in previous years’ papers and prepare accordingly. In other words, prepare for frequently asked questions.
- Read from multiple sources: You need to read a lot from multiple sources for example, books, different newspapers, blogs, magazines, newsletters, different websites etc. You may make notes, so that it will be helpful while revision. But reading the same thing from different sources in a different way gets the information registered in your memory.
- Read Newspaper diligently: Newspaper is one of the most informative sources. You may choose any newspaper, English or regional language. But reading one English newspaper will be helpful to you in your English section also. It’s better to read two newspapers. Keep one as your primary newspaper, which you read every day. Read the other in your spare time. Read the primary newspaper from cover to cover and the Editorial page of the secondary newspaper. You can read the newspapers from the internet also. Note the News bits on Awards and Honours, Sports, Finance, Agriculture, History of Banking, Countries and their Capitals and Currencies, Books and their Authors.
- Increase your Banking Awareness (BA): You can easily improve your BA by first reading FAQs from RBI website. Check out the videos and lectures on Banking available on internet. Note the Banking Terms, RBI Functions, Fiscal-Monetary Policies etc. Know the types of loans, risks and inflation, types of payments and money transfer, types of accounts and deposits, KYC, new technologies and schemes in Banking, international financial institutes etc.
- Prepare for static GK: Focus on Indian Static GK. Like Dams and rives, National Park and WLS, Nuclear, Thermal and Hydro Power Plants, CMs and Governors, HQs of major Organizations. Remember also the capitals and currencies of the countries to which our PM or President recently visited or the countries whose heads visited India. Read GK books and magazines. Note the important dates and events.
- Follow News channels: Watch regularly the News channels in your mother tongue and in English. Watch the panel discussions.
- Listen to radio: Radio is a good source of information. You can know the local news as well as other news.
- Read your notes regularly: Whatever may be your source of study, you may be making notes while reading or gathering bits of information. Read this frequently. It will help you to remember easily. Pay special attention to Current Affairs of last six months in reference to Banking Industry and Questions on Indian Economy, International Economy, UNO and Indian Constitution.
- Take mock tests: Mock tests are time-bound. They increase your efficacy. They help to manage your time better and increase your confidence. Hence, take up mock tests frequently. The more number of tests, the better. Check out the various tests of SuccessLynk
There are no limits to what you can achieve, except the limits you place on your own thinking. Take the plunge and move forward. All the best!
Posted in IBPS PO