Tips to ace the IBPS Clerk Mains Exam

Given that the time between declaration of results (expected any time soon) and the date of the Mains Exam, it is imperative that students continue their preparation for the Mains Exam. Today, let us look at pattern changes and thereby the strategy you need to employ to ace the Mains Exam.

Curtains have now come down on the first step of the selection process for the 7883 Clerk vacancies notified by IBPS. Over the last couple of weekends, 20 lakh plus applicants have appeared for the Preliminary Examination and close to 2 lakh plus candidates are expected to make the cut to the next round – the Mains Exam, scheduled for 21-Jan, 2018.

Given that the time between declaration of results (expected any time soon) and the date of the Mains Exam, it is imperative that students continue their preparation for the Mains Exam. Today, let us look at pattern changes and thereby the strategy you need to employ to ace the Mains Exam.

Changes in the Test Pattern

Compared to last year, aspirants this year will have fewer questions to attempt (190 vs 200) and more time to attempt the same (160 minutes vs 135 minutes). Check out the table below for number of questions in each section and the time allocated for the same.

Almost all sections in the exam have seen a change either in the number of questions asked or the time allocated. Major changes in the paper pattern include

A. Increased focus on General Awareness – an increase in number of questions (50 vs 40) as well as time allocated (35 vs 25 minutes).

B. Reduced focus on Computer Aptitude – last year saw a separate Computer Aptitude section (40 questions accounting for 20 marks) which is now subsumed into the Reasoning Ability section. Though the number of questions has come down (80 down to 50), the time allocated for the merged section remains almost the same as last year (45 vs 50 minutes)

C. Increase in number of questions (50 vs 40 questions) as well as time allocated (45 vs 30 minutes) for Quantitative Ability

What do these changes portend for you? How do your preparation and exam-taking strategies change on account of these changes?

For one, given the increase in time per question in all the sections, you can surely expect a higher percentage of difficult questions.

The paper would still consist of east questions; however, you now need to more vigilant in your selection of questions. Going by the trend noticed in IBPS and SBI PO Mains Exams, Reasoning Ability and Quantitative Aptitude sections could see a higher difficulty.

Two – make sure you are focusing on the general awareness section – this could turn out to be the game changer this year.

Generally, this is a high scoring section and previous trends suggest a higher number of questions from banking related concepts compared to questions based on current affairs. You would do well to brush up your concepts of banking and websites such as ours –  www.conduiraonline.com provide you relevant video lessons to help you do so.

Three, expect to see newer question varieties – particularly in the English Language section. While the underlying concepts might be the same, the way you are evaluated on these could change. Ensure that you are taking multiple mock tests so that you are exposed to different question varieties to avoid surprises in the actual exam.

Possible Cut-Offs

Predicting cut-offs is a job fraught with danger and is certainly foolhardy to do before the actual exam is conducted. However, as a test-taker, you should have a figure in mind for the number of questions you need to attempt.

Different states have different cut-offs and last year, the cut-offs ranged between 37 and 42 for General Category (when scaled down to 100). Factors such as an increase in difficulty of questions could bring down the cut-off score while an increase in time allocated could push the cut-offs higher.

Taking these multiple factors in to consideration we believe that a serious aspirant should attempt 115 to 120 questions with high accuracy to clear the cut-offs this year. However, please be warned that this is only a guess estimate and actual cut-offs could vary.

In conclusion, over the course of next one month, ensure that you revise your basics across different sections, put in additional effort in to general and banking awareness concepts and take multiple mock tests to fine tune your test-taking strategies.

Finally, as we come close to the end of the year, let me take this opportunity to thank all our readers for accompanying us on this journey. It has now been more than a year since we have started interacting with you all through this column and it has been a great experience.

On behalf of Conduira Online, I hope that the new year brings you loads of joy, happiness and success – both on personal and professional fronts.

-P V Rama Sasank, Chief Platform Officer, Conduira Online.

SOURCE : https://telanganatoday.com/tips-ace-ibps-clerk-mains-exam

DATED : 25/12/2017

How to Create Job Stability for Yourself

It's not always easy to feel secure in your career, especially if your industry is constantly changing. Whether you're already working for a company or actively searching for a job, feeling apprehensive about your professional future can affect your performance and drive.

Instability is a concern for many workers, but there are ways to work through it. The first step is to create job stability for yourself. Based on advice from career experts and business leaders, here's how to do it.

1. Choose the job you love.

When you're doing something you enjoy each day, you'll feel more inspired and confident. You need to choose not only an industry that suits your interests, but also a company that aligns with your values and desires as a worker.

"If you are part of a company that values your insight and opinions – a place where you feel comfortable to collaborate and share – you will have confidence to be a part of the change, and not afraid of the changes that are occurring around you," said Amanda Beers, vice president of learning and development for The Learning Experience.

Remember that you do not need to stick with the same company forever. When you have the experience and incentive to move on to a better fit, don't hold yourself back out of fear.

"There is no such thing as professional loyalty any longer," said Alex Wojcik, Midwest sales representative at Epic Brewing Company. "In especially fast-moving industries, be prepared to go with that flow. You may feel you are damaging yourself by making job changes, but truthfully, it's all positioning. No one cares how long you worked in one place, especially when they need you to get the job done urgently. Diversify your skill set, and you will fit into more places than you could have imagined."

2. Make yourself more profitable.

If you want to feel stable in your career, you need to make yourself an asset in your industry. Lisa Rangel, president and CEO of Chameleon Resumes, advised creating a demand for the work you do.

"Factually document your wins, and share these wins in the right venues to remind your employer and their competitors that you rock and are at the top of your game," she said.

Additionally, Wojcik recommended attending seminars, getting to know competitors, and understanding the ins and outs of the company you work for.

It's also important to continue investing in yourself and your potential, said Beers.

"Take the time to learn what skills you can continue to develop and spend time investing in those," she said. "Whether it is additional credentials and certifications or seeking out a mentor, take the opportunity to invest in your growth and development."

3. Be active on social media platforms.

Regardless of whether you're actively searching for a job or not, you should maintain a professional online presence on sites like LinkedIn and Twitter.

"The days of updating [just] your resume have become part of the past," said Beers. "Today, we can not only see what skills you have but who has endorsed those, who you are connected with and what sparks your interest."

Not only should you be active on your own profiles, you should also be researching potential companies for a glimpse at their culture.

"Through platforms like Glassdoor, LinkedIn and Twitter, you can see authentic pictures, posts and responses for a glimpse into how the company can benefit you and your needs," said Beers.

4. Expand your professional network.

Knowing people in your industry – or even in other industries – will help you when searching for job opportunities, which is why it's so important to network.

"Marketing yourself is no different from marketing a product or service," said Rangel. "Work with a coach to craft your message that will organically grow your professional network."

Beers recommended attending social events, philanthropic activities, networking groups, professional development days and more to meet and engage with people in your industry.

"If you see collaboration happening, offer your insight and suggestions, and actively participate in activities and meetings," she said. "Get to know all the people who make up your organization, because people outside your department can be a mentor too."

Above all, she advised to always be yourself.

"The more you shine, the larger your network will grow," said Beers.

Source : businessnewsdaily

Dated : 22/10/2017