Not sure how to start preparing for the IBPS clerk exam? Here is a head-start

The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection, widely known as IBPS began with an objective to recruit and place undergraduates, postgraduates, and doctorates in Public Sector Banks (PSBs) throughout India. It is a recruitment agency for bank personnel under the administration of the Ministry of Finance, India.  Presently, IBPS operates as an autonomous body committed to conducting competitive exams for PSBs at different levels such as for probationary officers, specialist officers, clerks, and officers in the banking sector. In this article, we will be looking at the steps you need to take to become an IBPS clerk. Let’s get started.

IBPS clerk exam

IBPS clerk, a common written exam held by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) to recruit people for clerical positions in government-owned public sector banks.  This exam is an essential requirement for the selection of staff for clerical positions. Candidates who are selected will be on probation for six months. After which, the candidates may be made permanent based on their performance assessment. This exam is held every year and the competition level is very high, so students must be properly prepared for the exam.

IBPS clerk eligibility criteria

Only candidates who satisfy the following criteria can apply for this examination.

• The minimum age required to apply for the IBPS clerk exam is 20 years. Candidates up to the age of 28 can apply for this exam. However, candidates belonging to reserved categories are provided relaxation with respect to the upper age limit.
• Graduation/Degree from a known university in any discipline or an equivalent qualification.
• Candidates must be Indian citizens.
• Candidates must be well versed in the official language of the state or union territory for which they are applying. This means that candidates need to know how to read, write and speak the local language of the state.
• Having good computer knowledge is a must. Candidates should have practical knowledge and operational experience of computers. For this, candidates should possess a certificate/ diploma or degree in computer operations/ language or should have studied it as one of the subjects in high school or college.

IBPS Clerk Exam Pattern and Syllabus

Let’s look at the IBPS Clerk Syllabus 2021 as well as the exam pattern. The IBPS clerk exam takes place in two stages: Prelims and Mains.

Prelims:

The preliminary exam is a qualifying test. The exam syllabus consists of three main sections – reasoning, quantitative aptitude, and English. It consists of 100 objective-type questions. The duration of the test is one hour which means that candidates get twenty minutes to complete each section. Once the time limit for a particular section is over, candidates can’t return to that section.

To qualify, candidates will have to secure the minimum cutoff marks decided by the IBPS, in each of the sections. As per requirements, several candidates from each section will be shortlisted for the IBPS clerk main exam.

Mains:

Only those candidates who clear the prelims are called to appear for the mains. The main exam syllabus comprises four broad sections- English, quantitative aptitude, reasoning and computer aptitude, and general financial awareness. These sections have different time limits. It consists of 190 objective-type questions and a candidate’s final merit is based on their score in this phase of the exam. Candidates will have a total of 160 minutes to complete the test.

Earlier, the reasoning and computer aptitude section was conducted separately. However, presently these two sections have been merged into one.

Steps to becoming an IBPS clerk

• Check the IBPS clerk notification

IBPS releases the clerk notification every year. People aiming for this position should access it for information regarding the number of vacancies, exam dates, and eligibility criteria.

• Check Eligibility

Candidates should go through the eligibility criteria and check whether they fulfill them. If they do, they can go forward with the next step.

• Apply Online

Step 1: Registration

• Candidates can visit the official website- ibps.in and click on the CRP clerical tab.
• .Find the registration link.
• You will have to provide basic details such as name, date of birth, and email ID to register for the exam. If you have successfully registered, a registration number and system-generated password will be sent to your enrolled email ID and mobile number.

Step 2: Upload scanned documents

At this stage, candidates need to upload four files- signature, photograph, left thumb impression, and handwritten declaration.

Step 3: Filling the application form

In this section, candidates are required to provide their educational qualifications, personal details, and language preferences.  They will also have to select an IBPS Clerk exam center and select their preferred banks from the given choices. Candidates are advised to carefully fill out this form. Click on “save and next” after verifying the accuracy of the details provided by you. Remember, once you click the submit button, you will not be able to make any further changes.

Step 4: Make the payment

Next, candidates have to make the payment to complete the application process for IBPS clerk. The payment can be made via debit card, credit card, IMPS, net banking, or mobile wallets. Candidates can choose any of the payment options depending on their preference. If the transaction is successful, an e-receipt is generated. Candidates are advised to download/print it out for future reference.

• Check the result

After candidates appear for the exam, they can check the results online on the official website.

Few preparation tips for the IBPS clerk exam

• When preparing for the exam, candidates should be updated about the exam pattern and syllabus.
• It is recommended to devise a study plan and stick to it. Allot time to each section and start your preparation as soon as possible.
• Candidates are also advised not to refer to numerous study materials and to only select a few useful ones.
• Solve mock tests to track your preparation. This will also familiarize you with the paper pattern and the kinds of questions asked.

The above information should help you prepare for the IBPS clerk exam and succeed in it with flying colours.