SBI PO Exam 2013 Analysis – Are High Cutoffs Possible?

The most expected event for millions of bank job aspirants got over on April 28th.It was when SBI PO exam 2013 was held at various centres across India.State Bank of India, being the largest public sector bank attracts young graduates for its recruitments.Call it brand value or employee benefits, this bank still ranks no.1 among those looking for jobs in public sector.

 

With the SBI PO examination 2013 coming to an ending, the wait for results shall start immediately.Before that its time to analyze your performance & gauge with others as it can help perfect your skills for upcoming IBPS PO exams

 

In a bid to review SBI PO exams BankExamsIndia.com has compiled candidate responses who describe about the paper & their chances.

 

Sectional Review - Was that English?

To start with, the written tests were conducted in two slots – morning & noon/evening slot.As discussed earlier the question booklet contained 200 questions from 4 sections.

 

Most candidates seemed comfortable answering General awareness/computer & Data analysis questions.They called those sections as easy to moderate level

 

Reasoning is always known to take time & moreover the bank had already specified it as high level.Though the problems were on the tougher side, difficulty level was on expected lines.

 

English language turned out to be the surprise package for many.It did have questions from regularly asked topics but the standard was higher than normal SBI exams, said most candidates.

In trying to understand the question properly, they spent precious minutes which led to shortage of time for other sections.

 

What they said: Our Facebook page had people share their views & opinions.Here are some:

 

Dinesh says, The SBI PO exam was easy compared to IBPS PO 2. English was little different this time &  they were in such a manner that none can answer.Data interpretation was easy but time consuming.Overall it wasn't an tough paper.   Since there is heavy competition, cut offs could go higher.

 

Evan also has similar views,

Reasoning was a bit tough & English was time consuming.I could have attended all questions with half hour extra time.

 

There were contrasting comments as well with Shikha saying,

This was not a PO level exam.Too simple…

 

Nitin summed it up through

The paper was strategically designed.One cannot say it was easy as time was limited.Honestly a person can attempt 125 to 130 questions.Lets wait for the merit list.

 

Expected SBI PO 2013 Cutoffs

The written test is preceded by group discussion & personal interviews.It is required for candidates to secure minimum marks also called cutoffs to qualify for these stages.

 

SBI had advertised to shortlist 3 times the total number of vacancies of 1500 to participate in GD process.It means approx. 5000 candidates only will be required for next stages.(see previous year SBI cutoffs)

 

In such a scenario there are two possibilities

1. The min. pass mark in each section could be raised OR
2. SBI might introduce an additional cutoff on total marks similar to what IBPS follows for its common exams.

Looking at the unprecedented competition individuals who sat for the test are also of the same view.

 

Sourav comments on FB ,

Cutoff would be high as 2013 SBI PO exam was 10 times easier than IBPS PO 2 CWE.

 

SBI PO Results

State Bank of India normally takes atleast 3-4 months to announce exam results.Since there are large number of participants this year & coding sheets were only used the publication of results might extend further.

 

While we wait for the official announcement do share your thoughts about the exam & cutoffs via comments.

17 Lakh Apply for 1500 SBI PO Jobs; 4500 To Get Interview Call

State Bank of India commands a name which no other public sector bank carries.This factor seems to have come into play in the recent SBI PO recruitment 2013 bringing in 17 lakh applications.The Indian banking sector has been looking up for past couple of years even after the global economic turmoil.So is the reason for bank jobs turning hot favorite among young people.

 

An advertisement to fill 1500 probationary officer vacancies was released by State bank of India in January 2013.The last date to submit online applications closed on February 23rd.

 

How Many Have Applied?

With the written examination on April 28, SBI has inserted ads in all leading newspapers thanking applicants for registering & termed the response as ‘overwhelming’.

 

Although exact numbers were not revealed, the bank says that over 17 lakh applications have been received.

 

In addition to wishing registrants for the written test, the notice also informs candidates to download their call letters from SBI website starting April 8th.

 

Highest in Recent Times

Taking cue from such ads, business newspapers also carried articles related to this unprecedented response for SBI PO recruitment 2013 mentioning possible reasons.

Ever since common written exams (CWE) & interviews were introduced for jobs in 20 other public sector banks, Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has been mandated to conduct recruitments (State bank group is not part of it) 

14 lakh registrations were recorded for the inaugural common test for PO`s in 2011.But IBPS CWE are held for 20 participating organisations whereas SBI stands separately.

 

This level of competition to get inside India`s largest govt.owned bank makes one look in awe.

 

4500 Only Required

Based on the average marks of qualifiers in objective & descriptive tests, categorywise listing shall be prepared upto 3 times the vacancies & they would be called for Group discussion & personal interviews, says SBI PO recruitment notification.

 

This simply means the bank will shortlist only 4500 candidates for phase II selection process that includes GD/ PI

 

Having now known about the interest among aspirants SBI will have to decide on its shortlisting strategy.So either of the following is bound to happen,

• The level of question paper could be increased OR
• Section wise & combined cutoff marks may be set higher to select desired number of individuals.(see previous yr SBI PO cutoffs)

With 17 lakh people waiting for their chance, registrants should put their heads down and start preparing for SBI PO exam more seriously in the coming days.(Read important topics to cover for SBI PO exam)

Salary, Probation & Service Bond in Banks - The Complete List

Public sector bank recruitments in India have undergone massive changes in the last one year.There are certain rules for new joinees like probation, minimum service period & bond which are explained here.From a situation where aspirants had to apply for each PSB, list of all bank jobs are now disclosed in advance for candidates to choose and join.

 

Government owned banks to increase their business and compete with private sector banks have started opening new branches in unbanked areas thereby pushing up manpower needs.This has resulted in large intakes for past few years with 60000 vacancies advertised in 2012 alone.

 

Institute of Banking Personnel Selection for 2013-14 declared 22400 PO jobs across 21 public organizations that are to be filled by merit listed qualifiers.

 

Salary & Bond in Banks

Since candidates have to register their order of preference among the participating banks many readers requested us to provide a comparative study.

 

So for the first time ever we present a list containing details such as probation, service bond & salary that one must know before joining a bank.

 

 

 

Data in the above tabulation were collected from recruitment notices issued by corresponding banking organizations in 2012.It is possible for them to modify these requirements while recruiting for current or future vacancies.

 

Doubts answered

There could be some who might not understand certain sections in the list.For their benefit, answers for commonly asked questions can be found below.If you still have any more there is comment box at the end.

 

What is na in the above table?

Na stands for Not Available. It means either the salary, probation period or service bond details were not found in their respective recruitment notifications. They may disclose it for the upcoming jobs.

 

Will I get the same amount of salary given above?

No.With basic pay scale for scale I PO at Rs.14500 - 25700 across all banks, your monthly salary could vary depending on posting location,allowances and other entitled benefits.The figures quoted above were taken from their advertisements which again are approximate.

 

On an average, you may be offered between Rs.22,000 - 25,000 /month.

 

Salary of bank employees could increase upto 35% from current levels if the 10th bipartite settlement is implemented with demands of wage revision being accepted.

 

Since negotiations between unions & IBA are at early stages it could take some more months for concerned parties to reach an understanding.But once its done arrears amount shall also be paid with revised salary.

 

Should I pay the bond amount in advance?

No.The specified value should be paid to the bank only if you resign from service before the end of minimum service period.But it is necessary to sign/execute this service agreement while joining.

 

We hope this compilation from BankExamsIndia.com will help you in comparing the joining conditions for all 20 banks in india (see best public sector banks of india) and register your order of preference with confidence starting February 20th.

IBPS Releases Final Scores for PO Recruitment | Allotments in March

The action from IBPS does seems to end with continuous updates about their common selection procedure.As announced earlier the combined marks of candidates has been released paving way for recruitment of PO/ MT in public sector banks.It was only few days back the list of upcoming bank jobs for the year 2013 were revealed.

 

All government owned banks (except SBI & its associate banks) had mandated the institute of banking personnel selection to conduct common written examinations for entry level positions.

 

Replacing earlier methods, a common interview process was devised for over 60000 candidates who qualified in the IBPS CWE II on June 2012

 

Final Combined Results

The written test was conducted for a total of 250 marks & scores of each individual were displayed along with their result status.Common interviews were scheduled in mid January for those declared as successful.

Since all testings came to an end, the institute has come out with its final results & total combined score (cwe+interview).These scorings can now be viewed by logging in using your registration details at ibps website here

 

 

This score shall be used in preparation of merit list based on which appointment offers would be sent.

 

What is the Formula to Calculate Scores?

Ever since the news of final results were out candidates have been busy trying to find the methodology behind their scores.So here it is for everyone to calculate themselves

 

By applying weightage ratio of 80:20 (set by govt.) on CWE & interview scores, the formula is

 

Total combined score (Tcs) = (CWE score / 250) * 80 + Interview score (IS) IS = (CWE / 250) * 80 – Tcs

 

Interview Marks

On the current webpage, there is no column for interview marks.We believe the common interviews could have been for 100 marks.So to find your original mark,

Interview marks = (IS / 20) * 100

While the minimum marks fixed to qualify in interview is 40% for general category, its 35% for others.

 

Although IBPS has not attached any official notification the above formulae seems to work for many.Incase if it doesn't, there is no other choice apart from waiting for the institute to unveil it.

 

Steps Ahead

With the completion of common selection procedure, candidates are to register their order of preference for all participating organisations from the last week of February.

 

A detailed notice along with category wise listing of 22400 PO jobs was put up for aspirants to decide their choices in advance and be prepared to register.

 

Once the choices are taken allotments depending on the merit list and vacancies shall happen within March 2013.

IBPS Clerk Exam Results – 1 Lakh Pass & Appear for Common Interviews

The IBPS results for clerk exam held in December 2012 were released few weeks ago.Since then candidates are eagerly waiting to know about their score and ranks.Be it any competitive exam the total number of passouts determine future course of selection.Similarly for upcoming bank jobs the competition shall be among 1 lakh qualifiers.

 

Institute of banking personnel selection was mandated to conduct a single common written examination (CWE) for probationary officer, clerk and specialist officer vacancies in 20 public sector banks.One has to posses necessary marks in it for entering banking sector.

 

1 Lakh Qualify in 2nd Clerk CWE

The clerical cadre tests for 2013-14 were computer based (online) replacing the traditional OMR coding sheets.The need of computer systems made IBPS to schedule exams on multiple dates such as December 15,16,22,23,29 and 30.

According to newspaper items, the institute has revealed some numbers pertaining to December`s clerk cwe & results.

Exam attendance: 10 lakhs approx. || Number of qualified: 1 lakh candidates

All these 1L people automatically become eligible for taking part in common interviews that could happen in the months of February or March 2013.

How many Clerk Jobs in 2013?

This is one question constantly asked by aspirants after every exam to analyze their chances. Following the release of IBPS results, the chorus will only grow high.However the following shall set things straight.

Of 65000 banking jobs created in 2012 – 33000 belonged to clerical cadre

The year 2013 shall also see 30000 clerk vacancies being filled, says IBPS

Since the ratio of selection is normally 1:4 one can strongly place belief in above claims.The complete list of vacancies in each bank shall be published after common interviews.

Interest Decreasing for Bank Jobs?

Looking at the response for previous clerical exam (on Dec 2011) one may feel that number of appearances in recently concluded tests have come done due to disinterest.

The table below compares them,


But one interesting to note is the reduction in minimum qualifying scores fixed for each section. An applicant should secure equal to or above a certain score determined after the exams.

Dec 2012 exam sectional cutoffs : 19 (general) & 17 (others) 2011 section wise cutoffs: 24 (gen) & 21 (oth)

They are clearly low from previous levels but such differences cannot be taken as signs of lowering interest levels.

Govt. of India had also proposed many changes in eligibility & test pattern which were implemented by IBPS in this CWE. (see who can apply for bank exams in 2013)

It simply means the selection procedures are fine-tuned to filter few thousand candidates from lakhs.

The stats shall help aspirants understanding the level of competition for bank jobs which one must remember during his/her common clerk interview preparations

60000 Bank Jobs in 2012 | How Many in 2013 [Explained]

The year 2012 is nearing expiry making way for fresh months & its time to look back at things that have happened over the past 365 days.It was definitely a good year especially for aspirants eyeing government jobs.As 60000 bank jobs were filled in 2012 many candidates successfully realized their dream.

 

For the past couple of years, Indian banks are recruiting aggressively to compete with private banks.It continued in 2012 as well but with major changes in the selection procedures.

 

Bank Recruitments 2012 - The Full List

The chart below shows the total number of positions created by PSB`s  

 

A total of 64,639 posts were notified by 19 banks that recruit via CWE platform & State Bank of India group.

 

Since details of joining, dropouts, waitlist etc are not publicly displayed, it is not possible to know how many were actually filled.

 

Lakhs of Competition

Although vacancies were only in few thousands the response were much higher.Here are some statistics:

• 7.5 lakh people sat for IBPS PO CWE held in June 2012
• 45 lakh applications were received to take part in clerical common test.
• 15 lakh candidates submitted their registrations for the recently concluded rural bank exams.

These figures only showcase the growing interest for government jobs (such as banks,SSC,PSC etc) among Indian youth.

 

With uncertainty still prevailing in private sector – more graduates shall opt for secured careers pushing up registrations even further.(see 2 crore jobs in government sector)

 

2013 – What’s in Store?

Bank exams in 2013 for both PO & clerks shall happen only after June as they are to be held once an year hereafter.(see common exams once an year only)

The fist question that most will encounter while stepping into 2013 is – “Will banks recruit in huge numbers again?”

The no. of bank jobs in 2013 will hover around 18-20k officers & 25-30k clerks.State Bank of India or its associates by staying out of CWE may also conduct its own recruitment for few more thousands.(read 60000 bank jobs to be filled by Mar 2013)

 

With common interviews in place to eliminate candidate selection in multiple banks, you can be hopeful of securing appointment in the coming year.

 

Also take a look at best public sector banks in India – choice of masses!!

The Best Public Sector Banks in India [Candidates Choice 2013]

The common written examinations by IBPS for entry level bank jobs have changed the recruitment landscape of banking sector altogether.But which are the best & most popular public sector banks in India according to bank job aspirants?Comparing previous years, the selection process has become more streamlined & candidates are now in a position to choose banks they wish to join.

 

Although there are numerous IT companies, working in Infosys is considered dream come true and prestigious for many.It is difficult to single out a reason for such choices as each individual has a different opinion about an organization.The same applies for government banks as well.

 

In a bid to find the best & popular government owned bank in the eyes of a jobseeker we ran a poll on BankExamsIndia.com few months back.Here are its exclusive results.

 

PNB – The choice of masses

‘Which bank do you like to work’ – was the question put forth to our visitors. Since common exam (CWE) scorers are eligible to apply for vacancies in 19 banks (now 20), names of these nineteen PSB's were listed as options.

 

The image below shows the number of votes received, 

 

Over 25000 voted to pick their favorite & they did choose a winner. Punjab National Bank emerged as the top choice of bank job applicants with 4900 people aspiring to work for them. Bank of Baroda coming second with 3500 votes was not a surprise considering the brand value BOB carries. Garnering 2800 wishes, Bank of India occupied the 3rd position. UCO bank came last with 487 votes Since State Bank of India does not come under IBPS selection procedure & conducts separate recruitments for its vacancies, SBI did not feature in the poll list.Needless to say, State Bank group is everybody`s 1st first choice.

 

These rankings may not be the choice of everyone but certainly is an eye-opener to know about the mindset of young generation waiting to start their career as bankers.

 

Why this Survey Results are Important?

The findings of this polling gains significance in the current scenario, especially after the recent announcement of 22000 bank jobs (PO) as part of IBPS common recruitment procedure.We can hear you asking how.

 

Once the combined final merit list of CWE & interviews are released, IBPS shall ask qualifiers to submit their order of preference for all participating banks (from most to least preferred).

 

Based on your overall score, vacancies advertised in each PSB & preference - appointment in one bank would be offered.

 

Disqualified candidates will have to appear for the CWE next year as there is no second chance in this new process.See (how common interviews have made bank job selection tough)

 

From the above table candidates can get to know the demand for each bank & can predict to some extent whether they stand a chance to join them or not.

 

So, have you started feeling the heat of competition?

Which Banks Ask for 60% in Degree for PO Jobs [Answered]

To all those aspirants looking for bank jobs in 2012, these are testing times.Everyday they get to hear some info related to IBPS common exams which creates a stir, spills over to online forums & gains momentum.The recent confusion is about the minimum marks required in graduation.

 

Ever since the banks opened registrations for new vacancies, the above question has cropped frequently among those having less than 60% marks.

 

The process: 20 public sector banks will be filling probationary officer positions by selecting candidates qualified in the common written examinations conducted by IBPS.

 

New Rules Set

At the time of online application registration for PO CWE in March 2012, IBPS had invited degree pass-outs.But early July `12, changes in the recruitment process were forwarded to PSB heads by Ministry of finance.(see Govt steps in with changes)

 

Some of their important recommendations are, * To fix minimum education for clerks as graduation & 60% in degree for PO`s, * To conduct common interviews

 

While the rule of ‘graduates only’ is implemented for the upcoming clerk common exam, 61000 qualifiers of PO CWE 2012 are not sure of whether 60% in degree will apply for them or from next exam onwards.

 

Who Called Whom?

If banks are allowed to fix their own eligibility criteria, it is possible for them to stick with qualifications specified in past recruitments.

 

So here is a tabulation describing the education details of each PSB..

 

Pass (no marks)	55% marks	60% marks
Bank of Baroda	Indian Bank	Punjab National Bank
Central Bank of India	Punjab & Sind Bank	Indian Overseas Bank
Allahabad Bank	Syndicate Bank	Canara Bank
Bank of Maharashtra	UCO Bank	Bank of India
Corporation Bank	Union Bank of India
Dena Bank	United Bank of India
IDBI Bank
Vijaya Bank
Andhra Bank
Oriental Bank of Commerce

(These details compiled from their previous notifications are indicative & may change in future)

 

What Could Happen?

As IBPS has not clarified on above fronts let us see the decisions they have at their disposal:

• Conduct common interviews for all qualified candidates of PO 2012 with old qualifications & apply education criteria for PO exams in 2013 OR
• Comply with the proposal of ministry & call only those having 60% in graduation for common interviews OR
• Postpone new rules & stay with previous system of bank recruitments (individual interviews) which is highly unlikely considering the multiple selection issue.

Since the new scores shall become active only from December 2012 (after expiry of previous scorecards), Institute of banking personnel selection may well make an announcement in the coming days.

IBPS PO Exam 2012: Scores & Cutoffs Released Online

After a brief lull IBPS is back in news as the institute has opened its gates for those who appeared in its 2nd PO common written exam to know their scores.Earlier they were only able to know their status (pass/fail).The institute also shares about the TWS calculation methods & cutoffs scores.

 

To apply for probationary officer jobs in public sector banks, IBPS had conducted a pan-India written test on June 17 that was attended by over 7.5 lakh aspirants.

 

The results announced few weeks back saw 61000 clear the exam which is just 8% of the total appearances.While the paper was said to be tough, the other reason is cutoff scores.

What's your mark?

The scores of all candidates are now published by IBPS which can be accessed by entering your roll/ registration no. & password/ date of birth from their website here

 

The facility to view your exam scores online, is not only available for pass class but unsuccessful ones could also check out their weak areas.

 

 

Here, we shall see some of the common scenarios that would have lead to your disqualification (screenshot of result page shown above).

 

Minimum qualifying scores

The process followed by IBPS for arriving at standard scores are complex as it involves equating, standardizing etc.,The detailed handout can be had from their site

On the other hand, calculating TWS (total scores) is easy & can be easily understood.

  

Now we shall look at how cutoffs are implemented.To qualify in the common test, you

• Must have secured minimum standard score in each test paper
  • 24+ for general & 21+ for others
• Must have the required Total weighted standard score (TWS)
  • Gen/OBC: 135, SC: 127, ST:106

A candidate is considered qualified only if he/she has scored equal to or above the fixed cutoffs mentioned overleaf.

 

If the score is not above the required limit in any one section, you shall be considered as ‘FAIL’.In such cases, descriptive paper will not be taken for evaluation.

 

Why 0? 

Some are shocked to see 0 as score in certain papers & argue they have attended maximum no. of questions in those sections.But there are other ‘factors’ such as,

• Negative marks: This could have played a vital role in bringing down your score as each wrong answer reduces 0.25 marks.

What matters most is the no. of correct answers, than the the number of answered questions.

 

Lost in Descriptive 

The descriptive test is taken up for evaluation only if you have minimum scores in all subjects.At the same time, it is necessary for you to qualify in this section also for being declared ‘PASS’

• Some have cleared all subjects but failed to get shortlisted as their score in descriptive test was below the specified cut-off.

This part contains writing long essays, comprehension etc., that test one`s english language skills.Infact many had complained about lack of time after the exam.

 

Revaluation possible?

Many applicants who have lost their chance by just 1 or 2 marks are enquiring with us about re-checking & re-evaluation of answer sheets.

 

Unfortunately, there is NO PROVISION given by IBPS to apply for revaluations & hence it is not possible.

 

To improve your current scores – you will have to appear for the next PO common exam.

Bank Jobs Selections To Go Tougher With Common Interviews

Banking sector has been the forerunner in generating jobs for the past few years.The trend is expected to continue for next few years considering the amount of retirements in public sector banks.The Indian government seems to have sensed this & decided to overhaul the bank recruitments.Read on to find out how it matters.

 

The present generation of graduates are more interested in choosing safe & secured careers over high paying jobs in private companies.

 

It is evident from the numbers released occasionally.Over 7 lakh people appeared for the latest IBPS common written exams & approx. 36 lakh applied for 11000 clerk jobs in SBI few years back.

 

Birth of Common Interviews

Ever since multiple selections cropped up in PO recruitments frustrated candidates started to vent their anger on banks across various online forums. Infact most were in favour of a single interview system similar to the common exams.

 

The banks were also facing dropouts from their final selection lists since many were chosen in 2 or 3 other banks.

 

After top level discussions, the Govt. of India finally approved the proposal to conduct common interviews for bank jobs which could start off with the 2012 PO exam passouts.

 

Just 1 Chance

Many heaved a sigh of relief on hearing this announcement hoping to see multiple selections end. Yes it may, along with other benefits such as lower fees & decrease in time taken by banks to complete hiring.

 

But there shall be only one chance for all aspirants to get through the exam & interview. If you fail to qualify in any one – you are out & have to register for the next IBPS exam after 6 months (common exams for probationary officer & clerk posts are held twice a year)

 

 

Earlier each public bank conducted written test & personal interviews separately. So even if a person couldn't`t qualify in 1 bank there was always an option to apply for another bank & go through the same processes. 

With the introduction of common procedures, there is no opportunity for failed applicants to improve and reappear again immediately.

This would particularly put more pressure on those attaining the maximum age to try and get through at one shot.

 

Toppers Get In

Normally IBPS fixes cutoffs keeping in mind the number of vacancies making sure there are enough people to choose from.

 

Let's assume 15000 vacancies exist this year.60000 people have cleared the tests. From this huge pool, only the top 15000 scorers (exam + common interview) will get appointments.The remaining 45000 have to just wait for the next IBPS CWE.

 

Hence passing the common test or interviews alone does not guarantee a job in banks.It all depends on the final scores & your ranking against fellow competitors.

In simple words - higher your scores, better are your chances for making it to the final lists.

Banks anyhow are well placed since they would be able to pick the best available talent & fill their vacancies at shortest possible time.

 

Action Awaits

The rules for common interviews are yet to be announced & when its made public things shall become clear (see can common interviews solve selection issues)

 

But without any doubt - selections for upcoming bank jobs are set to become more competitive and tougher for job seekers.

 

So those candidates who were not able to clear or have low marks in CWE need to put in more hardwork during preparations for posting high scores rather than just passing.

IBPS PO 2012 Results in October & Common Interviews to Start

‘Multiple selections’ - could be the one thing that makes numerous young people turn red in anger against banks & top scorers of common written exams in the ongoing recruitments for bank jobs.What else could be their reaction to see the same candidates being shortlisted in all banks? This could well be a thing of past as common interviews for bank jobs are set to be introduced.

 

The issue of repeat selections has been haunting many since the start of interview process for PO vacancies & has been widely criticized.

 

Though banks were also not able to get the employees they wanted, nothing much could be done as policy decisions had to be finalized at the top level in public sector enterprises.The latest developments appeared in ET recently

 

Announcement soon

The finance ministry in July 2012 was in consultations with PSU banks regarding this methodology which seemed to have attained shape.(See Govt steps in with an idea)

 

The strategy for common interviews has reached final stages & could well be implemented this year itself as senior officials of IBPS & PSB`s have agreed to the proposal, says the newspaper report.

 

Update on October 5: The Government has given green signal for common interviews in bank recruitments & passouts of IBPS 2012 PO common exam would most probably the 1st batch to attend this new procedure.

 

IBPS PO results in October

As per the daily, over 7.5 lakh candidates sat for the PO examination & their results shall be out before October 10th.

 

Though we couldn’t confirm the attendance with the institute, it is possible for such a turnout comparing last year that saw 10.4 lakh appear.

If all fall in place, qualifiers of IBPS CWE held on June 17^th 2012 could be the 1^st batch to go through these common interviews.

In such a case, they need not appear before a panel of each bank but have to enter the interviewing hall just once similar to single test for all bank jobs.

 

** Update: Results of IBPS PO CWE held on June 17 declared 

 

Can common interviews solve selection issues?

Mr.Venky Prasad Reddy, trainer at a Hyderabad based competitive exam coaching academy believes the new initiative would be very beneficial for bank job aspirants.

 

“With already a common written exam for clerk and officer posts in place, common interviews will make bank recruitments simpler, save time & most importantly minimize multiple selections.

 

Candidates also need not prepare throughout the year like in earlier cases but would get only once chance to prove themselves. In case of missing it, they shall have to wait for the next attempt after 6 months.

 

But I still have the following questions in mind because BSRB (banking services recruitment board) was abolished on many of these grounds,

• Will candidates be allowed to choose the bank they wish to join?
• Will banks be able to choose their desired candidate?
• How many choices will a qualifier be provided?
• Will scorecard be seized by the bank on appointment?
• Is there any possibility of waiting lists/ 2nd lists in this process?

These areas should be taken into account by the authorities while preparing the notification & explained clearly upfront to avoid last minute procedural hiccups.

 

As competition among students & vacancies in banks swell at higher rate - we have to get it right this time”, he concluded.

IBPS RRB Common Exams – 10 Lakh Candidates for 10000 Jobs

Institute of Banking Personnel Selection conducting a common written exam (CWE) for bank jobs is well known & in September 2012, the 1st CWE for jobs in regional rural banks (RRB) was held.The response was quite impressive as usual & atleast 10 lakh people might be appearing for these tests, it is said.

 

Like in public sector banks, qualifying candidates can apply for officer and office assistant vacancies in rural banking organizations once the results are announced.

 

What's my chance?

Public sector companies have found new fans in young graduates recently as many are willing to join them.But positions in govt. banks leads the race with millions actively looking for upcoming bank jobs & exams. A report in economic times reflects this mood..

 

 

As per it, 5.45 lakh applicants appeared for the Officer cadre exam on Sep 3, 2012 For Office assistant test on Sep 9th, 7.38 lakh have registered.

 

Even if another 5 lakh turn up for assistant exam, the total number vying for RRB postings would cross 10 lakh candidates.

With IBPS director estimating the around 10,000 vacancies in rural banks for this year – just think about the competition this announcement has generated.

 

Results in October

The results for these exams shall be put up before October end says the testing institute.

 

Based on the eligibility conditions specified by individual banks, candidates would be shortlisted & called for personal interviews in the month of December.

 

RRB steps up hiring

For all those who dont know abt RRB here is a quick primer.There are about 82 Regional Rural Banks in India spread across all states most of which are sponsored by the 19 public sector banks.

In 2011-12, these banks had collectively recruited close to 4000 officers & 5500 clerks.

With a network of 16000+ branches - RRB`s were formed to provide banking services for those in rural areas.

 

As the government & RBI push for financial inclusion, operations and recruitments in regional rural banks are only expected to increase in the coming years.

PO Scorers upto 141 still have Interview Chances [Candidate Analysis]

Months have passed since IBPS published results of PO common written examination.But there is one question which is being asked by many - ‘Is there any chance for those below 160’.We have seen numerous people wanting to know the answer for it through emails, our FB page & via comments section.

 

As predicting one`s chances wont be possible in competitive exams, we posted an analysis of TWS scores secured by candidates.It talked about the ‘probable cutoffs’ that banks may fix.

 

Mr.Jay Prasad, our reader from Hyderabad had sent in his study of the situation few days ago wherein he hopes qualifiers with scores upto 141 can expect interview calls.

Read them under,

1. Waitlists possible
2. Total no. of PO posts in banks
3. Reservation analysis 

Asked about the reason for working on this, he says, ‘I was not able to qualify in PO exam but have secured 128 in IBPS specialist officer (IT) test (Reg.no. 3000014630)’

As I wanted to be part of the Indian banking sector, I keep track of latest bank jobs & results through Bankexamsindia.com.

 

Going through comments, i found many people like me were getting annoyed over the selection process.So I came out with this analysis”.

 

Now lets move on Jay`s observations…

 

Waitinglist is for sure

Although an IBPS CWE qualified person could be shortlisted for interviews by many banks, he/she can join only 1.

 

Let` s assume that around 57765 candidates had applied for PO vacancies advertised by a bank.This may have been higher incases where graduation was only prescribed as educational qualification.

• With results coming in everyday, it is possible for some candidates to have already joined previous banks.
  • Those chosen in 2 or more banks have to let go one leaving that post vacant.
• Because of this banks will have to produce a second list from those who have already been interviewed
• By the time waiting lists are announced more candidates from it would have joined other banks which had notified results within that period. 

13000 for 19000 Posts?

This will lead public banks to call new set of candidates for fresh interviews creating an opportunity for those below 161.How?

 

• Approximately 19000 PO vacancies are to be filled this year (see table)
• But there are only 13592 qualifiers above 161, which clearly shows the shortage!
• Going by the ratio of 1:3 – atleast 57000 people should be interviewed for 19000 posts

 

Hence, candidates in the scoring range of 141 – 160 still have a very good chance to appear for Interviews but have to be patient & wait for their time to arrive.

 

“Clubbing vacant positions to next recruitment can happen only if 50 or lower no. of jobs remain unfilled.When its over 50, I am sure banks shall issue interview calls afresh as they also know the importance of fees paid by candidates.

 

Similarly, these openings were created for F.Y.2012 & will be completed only with qualifiers of IBPS I.Banks wont invite applications from those who qualify in IBPS CWE II (to be held in June 2012) after so many had paid fees & registered online”, he adds.

 

Influence of SBI associate results

Adding solidity to his evaluations, Jay presumes atleast 2000 people who cleared IBPS CWE may have secured appointment in SBI associate banks (total of 4000+ posts).In that case, they would prefer to join the SBI group.

Even if 50% of them were shortlisted by any PSB, those seats would also go vacant.

Hence SBI results can also be expected to play an important role in bringing the cutoffs down.

 

More Clarifications

Following some questions asked by readers about the category-wise possibilities, Jay Prasad has come up with more findings.

 

On applying category-wise reservation for the 19000 PO jobs, we get the following

 

Category	SC	ST	OBC	General
Reservation	15.00%	7.50%	27.00%	51.00%
Seats	2850	1425	5130	9690

Since all candidates are not called at once, lets take ratio of 1:2.As per it,

• For 2850 seats in SC, 141+ could be called. As there are 5850 above that score
• For 1425 seats in ST, 131+ might get a call since there are 2615 people above that range.
• For 5130 seats in OBC, 146+ can be called for the reason there are approx. 13000 qualifiers above it.
  • Although there exists some chance for 141-145, it may turn out to be very less if we consider banks treating OBC as Gen category. 
• For 9690 seats in General, 151+ could be called it has around 20,000 candidates.

Our Take

First, we extend our appreciations to Mr.Jay prasad for having put together all these data.

 

Regarding the analysis,

• Last week Union bank of India had sent offer letters to some candidates in waiting list, though it was not announced on their website.
  • So we do believe banks will have to release 2nd lists to make up for posts left vacant through multiple selections.
• Without doubt, a person can work only in 1 bank nomatter how many organizations shortlist them.

A final thing to add – While you remain hopeful of garnering interview it is necessary for registrants of the 2nd IBPS PO CWE to concentrate on preparations & post a better score.

Changes Coming in Bank Selections;To Restrict Multiple Offers

It seems there is light at the end of the tunnel for candidates with low scores in the IBPS conducted common written examination (CWE).Banks have decided to place a check on those who despite being selected in one or more banks, still appear for interviews in other banks.

 

A slew of proposals were discussed and decisions have been taken in last weeks`s meeting  attended by the IBPS, HR heads of public banks & Indian banks association, reports BL

 

As a result of it - the following changes have been agreed upon

• To put off graduation eligibility for clerks
• Reduce fee charges
• To restrict multiple selections
• To maintain adequate no. under waitlist status

Non-Graduation for Clerks

Earlier this month, few banks which announced clerical recruitment had fixed graduation as minimum educational qualification to apply.It was in relation with Khandelwal committee`s recommendation submitted to govt last year.Candidates without a degree but have qualified in the clerical CWE expressed shocked.

 

Now, it has been decided by banks to postpone the implementation of ‘graduates only’ rule for clerk posts.

 

By this move, non graduates would also become eligible to apply for clerical vacancies advertised this year.

 

Reduction in Fees

Before submitting the online applications applicants are to remit fees in the branches of recruiting banks.Since the fees are non-refundable candidates who aren't shortlisted for interviews were complaining of spending money for just applying.

 

Sensing discomfort, banks seem to have agreed on reducing the charges to Rs.100 from Rs.200 & Rs.20 from Rs.50.

 

But its not known for which posts (PO or clerk) this change would be effective but is a welcome move

 

Multiple Offers

There were heated arguments about multiple selections offered by banks to a section of top scorers, while others could not even secure a single call for interviews.The delay caused by these people in joining should have made banks to arrive at a decision.

 

Banks have decided to

• Minimize the joining time to 3 weeks
• Maintain adequate no. of candidates in waiting list
• Award the offer to the next eligible candidate (from waiting list) if the selected person doesn't turn up
• To conduct interviews for unfilled posts with already applied candidates (only if waitlist is exhausted)

The proposed changes would certainly bring cheer to the numerous young people aspiring for bank jobs.

 

Though registrations were over a month ago, some banks are yet to announce interviews.We believe the delay could be due to above reasons.

Banks to Test your Local Language Skills for Clerk Jobs

The number of applications received for the 1st clerical common written exam was 35 lakhs.To filter eligible candidates from such a vast pool, banks frame certain conditions that are to be fulfilled before applying.One such rule deals about possessing knowledge in local language of the state that a person chooses to apply.

 

Public sector banks have always stressed on the language constraint while issuing clerk job notifications as the vacancies are state-wise & their initial joining location could be any branch within that state.

During Interview

For clerk recruitment in banks, candidates can apply only for a state where they had appeared for the IBPS CWE.In addition he/she must posses proficiency in the regional language.

 

Dena bank quotes,

At the time of interview, candidates would be asked to write a passage/ essay in regional language to ascertain their knowledge.

Punjab & Sind bank, Andhra bank have also indicated similar methods of assessing your language skills.The interview panelists may ask you to answer questions or read/ write in the official language of state to confirm your abilities.

 

Could be Rural Postings

Rajeev prasad reddy,a freelance bank exams coach from Hyderabad says, “Clerical employees are the first point of contact to those entering a bank.It is necessary for them to write & speak in the local language as their job involves answering, conversing & explaining about the bank`s products to customers.

 

With public banks looking to open large no. of branches in rural areas as part of financial inclusion, new clerk recruits may be posted in such regions.[check out, can I apply for clerk jobs in any state?]

 

So by banks wanting to assess a person`s communication level, it seems they want to be doubly sure of his capabilities.”

 

‘I don't know to write/read’

We have heard many exclaim ‘I only know to speak but cant read or write’.If you are one among them & have applied to any of the above banks then you could face problems. 

• Going by the eligibility conditions if an applicant is not proficient in the regional language of that state he/ she is not eligible.

Apply for the correct state – Next time

An applicant originally from Kerala with proficiency in Malayalam language may be working in Bangalore but wont know to read/write Kannada.He must appear for exam in Kerala & not in Karnataka.

 

If you had applied for the wrong state & don't know the local dialect - there is no facility to modify it now.

 

As IBPS conducts clerk CWE once every 6 months, register for the next exam by choosing a test centre in an appropriate state.

 

Related reading: Non-graduates cant apply for bank clerical jobs

Bank of India Clerks Recruitment – Expected Cutoffs [Analysis]

Having seen & heard about the PO selection procedure, all bank job aspirants would have known that appearing for the IBPS CWE is not enough but securing high TWS would guarantee them interview calls right away.With clerk job recruitment notifications being released by public banks, the question of interview cutoffs have again come to the fore.

 

To help such confused minds understand their position, we are publishing the cutoffs that BOI might fix to shortlist candidates for Interviews.

How BoI shortlists?

Bank of India recruitment with 3149 posts has invited candidates holding valid clerk scorecards to apply but does everyone have a chance? No.

 

According to their notice,

only those who have secured the specified minimum IBPS TWS score & rank sufficiently high in the order of merit shall be called for a Personal interview in the ratio of 1:3 

Hence it becomes necessary for you to think & apply rather than submitting applications to all banks without forethought.

 

Expected cutoffs

IBPS had released recently released the scoring pattern of CWE qualifiers in each state. (see IBPS po & clerks scorelist)

 

Based on BOI`s above ratio & comparing it with the no. of candidates within a particular score range, we have calculated cutoff scores for each category.

 

* states with less than 15 vacancies were not been taken. 

 

Will it reduce

‘Something is better than nothing’. Likewise these permutations could help you in deciding whether to apply for this Bank of India clerk recruitment or wait for other banks.

 

Having said that, final cutoffs to be announced by the bank may differ - meaning it may go up or down.

 

Let`s see some events that may lower the cutoffs,

• Some clerical exam toppers may have joined or would be attending the personal interview process for probationary officer positions
• In addition, few may be ineligible due to improper selection of state,knowledge of local language etc.,

So you can expect a variation of only +/- 5 marks from our analysis since the competition is very high with a major chunk between 150-180 in many states.

Summary 

After looking at the list, you should have bynow calculated your chances.To sumup in simple words,

States with min. vacancies & large no. of pass-outs will see high cutoffs, as BOI would only choose the toppers who fall inline with ratio of 1:3

Though Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh,Uttar Pradesh have 400+ clerical posts each & might call 850-950 (approx.) gen. candidates for interview, the cutoffs for General & OBC categories will still be above 175!

 

Not a Graduate? Can`t Apply for Bank Clerk Jobs Anymore!!

Applying for clerk jobs in banks is set to become a distant dream for those with only XII th (HSC) marks.The government of India had notified all banks to revise the entry qualifications for clerical cadre employees & it could be the reason for some banks to fix graduation as the minimum eligibility in the ongoing clerk recruitments through the common exam platform.

 

The news report recently published in the businessline gains importance at a time when banks have just started to release notifications to fill clerk vacancies across their branches.

Government`s Order

A committee headed by Dr Anil K Khandelwal (former chairman of Bank of Baroda)formed to look into the HR issues in public sector banks submitted its findings in 2010.

 

Of the 105 recommendations suggested by them, the government accepted 56 in the month of October 2011 which were then circulated to the heads of public banks.

 

One of the key proposal which has been approved was,

• Minimum educational qualification for clerical recruitment to be graduation

Common exam held for non-graduates

Similar to common written exam (CWE) for POs, the same was introduced for clerical level also.The registrations began in August 2011 & test was conducted in the month of November 2011.

 

As per the advertisement released by IBPS then, educational qualifications were,

Pass with 60% marks in Matric/SSC/SSLC/10th std. OR Pass with 50% marks in HSC/12th std. OR Pass in any degree

The results announced in March 2012 saw 5.3 lakh candidates clear the test who have been issued scorecards.

 

Degree – a necessity from next year

Chairman of IBPS Mr.M.Balachandran had said to Businessline that this order about change in eligibility was issued after the exams were conducted & graduation shall be  the minimum qualification to register for IBPS clerk CWE from next exam onwards.

 

What about current recruitments?

By this development, a person who has scored high marks in the CWE but does not posses any degree cannot apply for banks which asks for graduation.

 

Of the 6 banks which recently announced clerical vacancies – only Bank of Baroda & Andhra bank had prescribed degree.

 

This should make qualified candidates breathe easy atleast for this year hoping most other banks also continue with the older format before implementing the new rule from next project.