Syllabus and tips

Syllabus and tips

Here’s a detailed syllabus for major banking exams in India, such as IBPS PO, SBI PO, IBPS Clerk, RBI Grade B, and other similar competitive exams. The syllabus is typically divided into several sections: Reasoning Ability, Quantitative Aptitude, English Language, General Awareness, and Computer Aptitude. Each section tests specific skills, and the weightage of each section may vary based on the exam. The syllabus remains similar across most exams, with slight variations.

1. Reasoning Ability

This section tests a candidate's logical reasoning and problem-solving abilities. It is one of the most important sections in banking exams and appears in both Prelims and Mains.

Topics:

• Puzzles: Floor puzzles, seating arrangements (circular, linear, rectangular, square), tabulation puzzles.
• Seating Arrangement: Circular arrangement, linear arrangement, double line arrangement, square arrangement, and rectangular arrangement.
• Syllogism: Basic and reverse syllogisms, statements, and conclusions.
• Blood Relations: Family trees, coded relations, and puzzle-based relations.
• Coding-Decoding: Letter coding, number coding, symbol coding, word coding.
• Inequalities: Coded inequalities and direct inequalities.
• Direction Sense: Based on movement and directions (N, S, E, W).
• Order and Ranking: Based on rank, height, weight, age, etc.
• Alphanumeric Series: Letter, number, symbol sequences; pattern-based series.
• Input-Output: Machine arrangement, shifting, and pattern-based processes.
• Data Sufficiency: Questions where you decide if the information given is sufficient to answer the question.
• Logical Reasoning: Statements and assumptions, statements and arguments, cause and effect, course of action, critical reasoning.
• Distance and Direction: Questions related to the movement of people based on directions.

2. Quantitative Aptitude

This section focuses on numerical ability and mathematical problem-solving. It requires good calculation speed and accuracy.

Topics:

• Number Series: Missing numbers, wrong number series, and pattern recognition.
• Simplification/Approximation: BODMAS rules, fractions, decimals, and approximation techniques.
• Data Interpretation:
• Tabular Data Interpretation
• Bar Graphs
• Pie Charts
• Line Graphs
• Mixed Graphs
• Caselets
• Percentage: Calculating percentages, increase/decrease percentage, profit/loss percentage.
• Ratio and Proportion: Simple ratio and proportion problems.
• Profit and Loss: Cost price, selling price, discount, and profit/loss percentages.
• Simple and Compound Interest: Calculation of interest over time, difference between simple and compound interest.
• Time and Work: Work completion, efficiency, wages.
• Speed, Time, and Distance: Problems on trains, boats and streams, races, and relative speed.
• Mixtures and Allegations: Mixing of two or more entities and solving ratio-based questions.
• Averages: Calculation of averages, weighted averages.
• Mensuration: Geometry-related problems (areas, volumes, perimeter of 2D and 3D figures).
• Partnership: Profit sharing based on investment ratios.
• Permutation and Combination: Arrangement of items, selection of items, basic counting principle.
• Probability: Basic problems involving probability.
• Quadratic Equations: Solving quadratic equations to find roots.

3. English Language

The English section tests a candidate’s grammar, vocabulary, reading comprehension, and verbal ability. It appears in both Prelims and Mains exams.

Topics:

• Reading Comprehension: Passage-based questions that test reading skills and comprehension. Questions may include synonyms, antonyms, inference, theme, tone, and vocabulary from the passage.
• Cloze Test: Fill-in-the-blank exercises where candidates must choose appropriate words from options to complete a passage.
• Error Spotting: Identify grammatical errors or incorrect usage in a sentence or part of a sentence.
• Para-Jumbles: Rearranging scrambled sentences to form a coherent passage.
• Sentence Correction: Identifying and correcting grammatical mistakes in a sentence.
• Fill in the Blanks: Single and double fill-in-the-blanks, where candidates must choose the correct word(s) to complete a sentence.
• Phrase Replacement: Replacement of phrases within a sentence with grammatically correct or meaningful phrases.
• Sentence Improvement: Improving sentence structure or correcting a part of a sentence.
• Vocabulary: Synonyms, antonyms, word meanings, idioms, and phrases.

4. General Awareness

The General Awareness section primarily appears in the Mains exam and focuses on current events and general knowledge, especially in banking and finance.

Topics:

• Current Affairs: Latest news related to national and international events, important appointments, government schemes, sports, awards, and honors.
• Banking Awareness:
• Basics of banking and financial systems.
• Important banking terms like repo rate, reverse repo rate, CRR, SLR.
• RBI policies, monetary policy, and financial regulations.
• Indian banking structure, financial institutions like SEBI, NABARD, and IRDAI.
• Digital banking, fintech, UPI, payment systems.
• Priority Sector Lending (PSL), financial inclusion.
• Recent developments in the banking sector (mergers, reforms, new policies).
• Static GK: Important dates, national parks, dams, Indian states and capitals, countries and currencies, headquarters of organizations, sports events, history of banking in India.

5. Computer Aptitude

The Computer Aptitude section tests the candidate’s knowledge of basic computer operations, software, hardware, and digital banking.

Topics:

• Basic Computer Fundamentals: History and generations of computers, types of computers (supercomputer, mini, micro), and components.
• Hardware and Software: Input/output devices, storage devices, types of software (system software, application software), and operating systems.
• MS Office: Basics of MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, and their features.
• Networking: LAN, WAN, IP addresses, routers, protocols (TCP/IP), and types of networks.
• Internet and E-mail: Basic internet concepts, browsing, search engines, email services, and terminology.
• Digital Banking: Mobile banking, internet banking, NEFT, RTGS, IMPS, and digital payment systems like UPI.
• Cyber Security: Basics of cyber threats, firewalls, data protection, encryption, and digital security tools.
• DBMS (Database Management Systems): Fundamentals of databases, tables, queries, and keys.

6. Descriptive Test (For Officer Level Exams like IBPS PO, SBI PO, and RBI Grade B)

In the Mains exam of officer-level positions, a descriptive test is included, which tests the candidate’s writing skills. It typically consists of essay and letter writing.

Topics:

• Essay Writing: Candidates are required to write a well-structured essay on topics related to current events, economic issues, banking and financial sectors, government policies, social issues, or technology.
• Examples:
• Impact of digital banking on the economy.
• The role of AI in financial services.
• Financial inclusion through banking reforms.
• Letter Writing: Formal or informal letters on topics related to customer service, complaints, recommendations, or professional scenarios.
• Examples:
• Letter to the branch manager regarding discrepancies in a bank account.
• Letter to a friend recommending a good investment plan.

7. Professional Knowledge (For Specialist Officer Exams)

Specialist officer exams like IBPS SO include an additional section for testing professional knowledge based on the field applied for, such as IT, Marketing, HR, Agriculture, and Law.

Topics:

• IT Officer: Databases, networking, programming languages (C, Java, SQL), software engineering, data structures, web technologies.
• Marketing Officer: Principles of marketing, digital marketing, advertising, consumer behavior, sales management.
• HR Officer: Recruitment, employee relations, HR policies, performance management, training and development.
• Law Officer: Constitution of India, legal terms, laws related to banking (Negotiable Instruments Act, Companies Act, Banking Regulation Act).

Conclusion

The syllabus for banking exams is comprehensive and requires focused preparation across multiple subjects. Candidates need to balance their study time across different sections and ensure they are well-prepared for both the Prelims and Mains stages of the exam. Understanding the detailed syllabus helps in creating a structured study plan and focusing on areas of improvement for better performance in the exam.