How to Crack IBPS SO in First Attempt

Institute of Banking Personnel Selection conducts a recruitment drive to select eligible candidates for the post of Specialist Officer in various branches of its participating banks. The institute releases IBPS SO recruitment notification to announce the details related to selection process, vacancy etc. Candidates are likely to start their preparation soon after the release of this notification. So we thought of providing some guidance on how to crack IBPS SO in the first attempt

This article will highlight the topic wise tips, overall preparation strategy, and important topics and tricks that you can use to boost your preparation and thus increase your chances of scoring more than the IBPS SO cut off marks.

Know the IBPS SO Exam Pattern 2021

Before we get to the tips to crack IBPS SO in the first attempt, we like to take you through the IBPS SO exam pattern. It is important to know the exam pattern as it will help you understand the importance of each section based on their weightage and thus help you plan your preparation strategy better.

Law Officer & Rajbhasha Adhikari Scale I Exam Pattern 2021

Name of Test	No. of Qs	Maximum Marks	Duration
Reasoning	50	50	40 mins
English Language	50	25	40 mins
General Awareness (With Special Reference to Banking)	50	50	40 mins
Total	150	125	2 Hours

Online (Objective Type) Exam for IT Officer Scale I, Agricultural Field Officer, HR/ Personnel Officer & Marketing Officer Scale I Exam pattern 2021

Name of Test	No. of Qs	Maximum Marks	Duration
Reasoning	50	50	40 mins
English Language	50	25	40 mins
Quant Aptitude	50	50	40 mins
Total	150	125	2 Hours

• Sectional timing has been introduced in Prelims.
• You have to qualify each and every test i.e. sectional and overall cut off.
• There will be a penalty of 0.25 for wrong answers marked in the objective tests.

Subject Wise Preparation Tips to Crack IBPS SO 2021

Given below is the list of topic wise preparation tips to crack IBPS SO in the first attempt. Take note of these and give a boost to your preparation immediately -

English Language

1. Spend time studying the basic rules of grammar.
2. Go through the commonly asked word lists and try to revise their meanings for the vocabulary section.
3. It is advised that you start with the grammar section first. Proceed to the Verbal Ability section as you can score multiple marks in one go.
4. Follow it with the Vocabulary section as it is the fastest. Finally move to the Reading Comprehension section. But make sure to attempt the fact and vocabulary-based questions in RC before attempting the topic/main idea based questions.
5. Keep practicing with English Quiz.

General Awareness

1. Prepare notes on topics like Indian Polity, History, Science, Geography, Constitution, Monthly Current Affairs etc.
2. Static GK Section from Testbook Blog can be very useful in preparing Notes for IBPS SO Exam and many more.
3. You should see all the breaking news and highlights of the day at the end of the day.
4. Take the time to watch the news which gives you the analysis of the whole day in a concise and clear way.
5. If you find any news important from exam point of view then note it down in your notes.
6. Read good magazines and books which can enhance your knowledge on daily happenings.
7. Along with the general journal, you also have to read the newspaper. This will give you a better grip on current affairs.

Quantitative Analysis

1. Always make sure to solve easy questions first as they will surely fetch you marks. There is no point in spending time on difficulties in the beginning.
2. This is one section, you should not spend too much time solving the questions. These questions are formula based. So either you know them or you don't.
3. If you find the paper somewhat difficult despite rigorous practice, don't panic. Difficult for one is difficult for all.
4. Keep practicing with Quant Quiz.

Reasoning Ability

1. Attempt all the coding-decoding, inequality, arrangement and pattern, series, analogy, classification, order and ranking questions first.
2. After that try puzzles and seating arrangement.
3. After that solve questions based on input-output, syllogism, blood relation and direction and distance.
4. Lastly, attempt any question that comes on data adequacy.
5. Skip the questions you cannot solve.
6. Keep practicing with Reasoning

Crack IBPS SO 2021 – Overall Preparation Tips

Tip 1 - Focus on Scoring Topics

• Now that the exam is near, you don't have much time left, so try to invest the remaining time carefully.
• Give priority to scoring topics during your preparation.
• Given below is a list of scoring subjects from each section.

Tip 2 - Attempt Mock Tests

• Attempt as many mock tests as possible, as they will help you understand your performance and preparation level.
• Analyze your performance after taking any exam. Observe your mistakes and learn how you can improve them.
• Mark all the difficult questions which you think you will need to revise before the exam.

Tip 3 - Go through the Model Question Papers

• Going through the IBPS SO Previous Year Papers will help you to know the exam pattern and weightage of the subjects.
• Solve the below mentioned live leak questions to boost your preparation.

Tip 4- Stay Healthy and Hydrated

• Don't overburden yourself and don't take stress as it will affect your health
• Health is wealth, as they say, so always prioritize your health.
• Take adequate rest days and breaks in between your study schedule

Do’s & Don’ts During Preparation

1. Set a Goal - Before everything else, set a goal. You must know your target before you strike for it. Don't take the test just for the sake of it. Know if this is what you really want to do and then start your preparation.
2. Study Plan - Calculate the days left for the exam and start dividing the syllabus equally in those days. Stick to your IBPS SO study plan.
3. Start your preparation- Once you are done with the study plan, start it as soon as possible. The longer you procrastinate, the more difficult it will be for you to complete the course. It is not possible to prepare for an exam like IBPS SO in a few days. It is very important for you to devote a lot of time to crack this exam.
4. Analyze - Analyze your preparation level. Even before you start preparing, you need to know how much you already know, so that you can work on your weak areas and improve on your strong points.
5. Strategize – Solve easy questions first in the exam. If you are stuck then don't waste your time on any question. Move on to the next questions and come back to them later if you have time. It is important for you to cover as many questions as possible.