Bank Exams Pattern

bank exam preparation

Bank exams typically consist of various sections designed to test a candidate’s aptitude, knowledge, and skills required for banking jobs. While specific Bank exams pattern may vary between different banks and exams.

Bank exams pattern

here’s a general breakdown:

1. Preliminary Examination:

  • English Language: This section assesses grammar, vocabulary, and comprehension skills through questions on reading comprehension, error spotting, fill in the blanks, etc.
  • Quantitative Aptitude: Tests mathematical and numerical abilities covering topics like arithmetic, data interpretation, number series, etc.
  • Reasoning Ability: Evaluates logical and analytical thinking through puzzles, seating arrangement, syllogism, coding-decoding, etc.

2. Main Examination as per Bank exams pattern:

  • General/Financial Awareness: Covers banking and economic-related current affairs, static GK, banking awareness, and financial knowledge.
  • Reasoning & Computer Aptitude: Tests high-level reasoning, computer knowledge, and decision-making skills.
  • Quantitative Aptitude: Similar to the preliminary exam but with more complex and in-depth questions.
  • English Language: May involve essay writing, comprehension, letter writing, and more advanced grammar questions.
  • Descriptive Test: Involves essay writing, letter writing, or precis, aiming to evaluate communication and writing skills.

3. Interview (in some cases):

  • After clearing the written exams, candidates may face a personal interview. This aims to assess personality, confidence, and suitability for the banking job role.

Note: The Bank exams pattern can differ for various positions within the banking sector (clerical, probationary officer, specialist officer, etc.). The syllabus and difficulty level might also vary from one exam to another.

Preparation for these exams often involves a combination of understanding the exam pattern, practicing mock tests, improving time management, and enhancing subject knowledge. Candidates also need to stay updated with current affairs and economic developments, which play a significant role in the general awareness sections.

Bank Exams Syllabus on the Bank exams pattern

Written tests in bank exams generally ask questions to test the General Aptitude of the candidates. In Prelims, 100 questions are asked from three different sections .

Quantitative Aptitude (35 Questions), Reasoning Ability (35 Questions), English Language (30).

While in the Mains exams, 200 questions are asked covering Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning Ability, English Language, General Awareness and Basic Computer Knowledge.

Quantitative Aptitude:

Number Systems, Ratio & Proportion, Percentage & Averages, Profit & Loss, Mixtures &Alligations, Simple Interest & Compound Interest, Surds & Indices, Time & Distance, Mensuration – Cylinder, Cone, Sphere, Sequence & Series, Permutation Combination & Probability, Quadratic Equations, Data Interpretation.

Reasoning Ability :

Sitting Arrangements, Tabulation, Logical Reasoning, Syllogism, Input Output, Coding Decoding, Alphanumeric Series, Ranking / Direction / Alphabet Test, Data Sufficiency, Coded Inequalities, Non Verbal Reasoning.

English Language :

Reading Comprehension, Cloze Test, Error Spotting, Sentence Correction, Para Jumbles, Vocabulary, Multiple Meaning Words, Paragraph Completion and New Pattern Questions of various types.

Computers :

Number System, History of computers, Hardware, Software, Database (Introduction), Communication (Basic Introduction), Networking (Lan, Wan), Internet (Concept, History, Working Environment, Application), Security Tools, Virus, Hacker, MS Windows & MS Office, Logic Gates.

Current Affairs:

Banks in NEWS, Economy based current affairs, Business NEWS, Agreements, New Appointments, Visits, Government Schemes, Awards and Honors, Summits, Committees, National and International, Obituaries, Reports and Indexes, Books and Authors, Defense, Sports.

Banking recruitment drives:

Several banks conduct recruitment drives at different times of the year to fill various positions. Some of the prominent banks globally known for their recruitment include:

  1. State Bank of India (SBI): One of the largest and most prestigious banks in India. It regularly conducts exams for Probationary Officers (PO), Clerks, and Specialist Cadre Officers.
  2. Reserve Bank of India (RBI): Conducts exams for Grade B officers, Assistants, and various other positions within the central bank.
  3. Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS): Conducts exams for multiple public sector banks in India. This includes PO, Clerk, and Specialist Officer positions.
  4. Private Sector Banks: Institutions like ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, and others also conduct their recruitment drives for roles such as Probationary Officers, Clerks, and Specialist Officers.
  5. Multinational Banks: Global banks like Citibank, HSBC, Standard Chartered, and others recruit for various positions across regions.
  6. Regional Rural Banks (RRBs): Conduct separate recruitment for Officer Scale I, II, III, and Office Assistants (Clerk) positions.