IBPS Specialist Officer CWE 2013 – Eligibility, Selection & Books!!

The IBPS specialist officers common written examination 2013 has been announced by Institute of banking personnel selection making it the 1st banking test this year.This call comes close on the heels of hugely popular CWE for PO & clerk posts.

 

Although banks are said to be more interested in appointing officers with specialized knowledge than generalists, the number of vacancies created in 2012 for such people were low.

 

Directly read about eligibility, selection process, books to prepare & registration methods

 

3 Lakh Appeared in 2012

16000 candidates cleared the previous exam which saw over 3.9 lakh registrations. Since the validity of scorecard issued to these qualifiers expires in April, Institute of Banking Personnel Selection has decided to conduct specialist officer CWE 2013.

 

So securing pass marks is required to become eligible for specialist officer jobs in 20 public sector banks.The exact name of available positions are

Events:

Online Registrations/ Applications from January 10 to 28, 2013

Fee payments to be made between above dates only

Date of written exam – March 16 or 17, 2013

 

Eligibility

The criteria for registrants to fulfill are listed below for each discipline (as on Jan 2013)

 

* For all scale I posts, the age is to be between 20 & 35 years & no requirement of work experience

* Must posses the following educational qualifications,

 

I.T.Officer	Must have UG or PG in IT/Comp. science/ Comp.applications/ Electronics/ ECE/E & I/ E & T OR Any degree with DOEACC level ‘B’ certificate.
Agriculture field officer	Degree in agriculture or subjects related to agri. sciences.
Technical officer	BE in Electrical/ IT/CSE/ Textile/ Mechanical/ Chemical/ Production/ or B.Pharm
HR/Personnel officer	UG & PG or diploma in Personnel management/ Industrial relations/ HRD/social work OR Degree/dip. in business admin. or management with HR (specl.)
Marketing officer	PGDBA/ PGDBM/ MBA(marketing) or other degree with marketing specialization
Law Office	Degree in Law (LLB)

 

* Applicants (except IT officer) should have studied computers/ IT as a subject in high school/ college or any institute & hold a degree/ diploma or certificate.

 

Testing Methods

IBPS had taken the online route for PO & clerical CWEs. Similarly specialist officer examination would also be a computer based test thereby replacing coding sheets.But there is no change in exam pattern compared to previous year.

• Online written exam to be conducted at various centres in India in March 2013
• With 200 objective questions totaling 200 marks & duration of 120 minutes - 0.25 negative marks shall be added for every wrong answer.

A paper/ section on ‘Professional knowledge’ would have questions from the subject related to the post you apply (Agriculture for agri field officers,Computers & IT for IT officer,Marketing for marketing officer etc.,)

 

Books:

Since there are books/ guides available for IBPS specialist officer cwe, preparations wont be a difficult job.Listed below are some good reference materials for each post available at Flipkart.com   * IBPS Specialist Officer CWE Guide – Rs.436 – Buy Online * Agriculture Officer Guide – Rs.375 – Buy online * IT Officers Guide (covers all papers) – Rs.396 – Buy Online * IT question bank (for IT officers prof.knowledge) – Rs.85 – Buy online * Marketing Office Guide – Rs.315 – Buy online

 

Application:

Eventhough you are eligible for all positions application must be submitted for any one post.Fee of Rs.50 (SC/ST) or Rs.400 (others) must be paid between Jan 10 – 28 via

1. Online – through netbanking, credit/ debit cards.The facility is made available at the IBPS website itself OR
2. Visiting bank (any branch of BOB,BOI,IOB,PNB,UBI, Central bank) from 2nd day of registering & using the CBS challan given on the website, make the payment within 3 days.

As proof the counterfoil of challan must be obtained from the bank after remitting fees. Incase of online payments, do not forget to print the e-receipt after funds transfer.These original receipts should be handed over at the exam venue.

• After collecting the necessary details, proceed to submit the online  application form given at www.ibps.in
• If registered successfully, you will receive an email or sms with a reg. number & password that must be noted to download or print call letters in future

Read carefully

>> Those interested in IBPS Specialist officers common exam 2013 are to download the notification from their official website here (pdf file)

IBPS Cancels Dec 15 Evening Clerk CWE; Reexam on Dec 29

IBPS has decided to cancel the evening session of clerical common exam held on December 15.While many candidates were heaving a sigh of relief for completing a major test, this news is bound to keep on feet.The dates for reexams have also been put up.

 

To fill clerk vacancies arising in 20 public sector banks, common written examinations are conducted by Institute of Banking Personnel Selection.The exams were scheduled to be held in batches on Dec 15,16, 22 & 23 owing to computer based online mode.

 

Evening Session Scrapped 

What could be more worse than knowing a major testing process that you had attended is being scrapped.It has exactly happened 2 days after the event putting many participants in a sense of shock.

An announcement from IBPS declares the cancellation of online clerk exam - December 15 (1:30 PM session).It also advises candidates to be ready for the online re-exam either on December 29 or 30.

Individuals affected in this move shall be notified individually via email and SMS about their test venue/time etc.

 

** Update: Re-Exam call letters are now available for download on IBPS website here

 

Those who were part of the CWE on 15 (morning) & 16th need not worry as this latest development pertains only to the evening batch.And does not have any bearing on other sessions.

 

Same Question Paper for both Shifts?

The institute has stopped by just citing ‘unforeseen circumstances’ thereby not divulging any reasons for cancelling its first ever online test for bank jobs.

 

But candidates seem to know the cause for this debacle.Right after the examination many had shared their reviews about clerical exam on our website that predominantly pointed these

• Most questions from general awareness & computer sections asked in morning were repeated for the evening session
• Some say the maths questions did not carry correct answer options.

Whatever be the reason, one thing is known – Re-exam is to happen in the last week of December.

 

Will applicants posses the same enthusiasm and turn up for the tests once again is the question now.

IBPS Online Clerk Exam – Easy but Long [Candidates Speak]

The 1st IBPS Online Common Examination for clerk posts in 20 public sector banks was held on Nov 27, 2011.Since the test had gone online, Institute of banking Personnel Selection decided to conduct the exam in batches – Dec 15, 16, 22 & 23.So how did the candidates perform?Based on the first reactions of candidates here is a review of IBPS clerk cwe 2012.

 

Applicants had a taste of the testing platform beforehand through a mock test made available at the time of downloading call letters.In addition, the list of documents to carry was also published in advance.

 

‘It was Easy’ 

Many candidates who took the test on Dec 15 agreed the paper was easy & every section was answerable.

“The initial feedback from our students are positive.Since the pattern was similar to previous year, preparations were also inline”, said a banking exams trainer from Orissa.

One of our FB fan shared his views - “I would rate the paper somewhere between easy to moderate difficulty.I felt little awkward to click answers on the computer at first but got used to it.Questions were from expected subjects only”

 

He did share a piece of advice for fellow aspirants – Never touch any keys on the keyboard.It can lock down your system.So be careful. 

 

Lack of Time:

Unlike previous year the pattern of IBPS clerical CWE is slightly changed.The total number of questions was reduced to 200 & duration of 2 hours.But still many citied

shortage of time.

According to Sameer, the difficult part was to look at the question on monitor, solve it on paper & then choose the right answer in computer.

Some of the main causes that led to increase in time,

• The concept of online test was new for some & had to spend time in knowing its options.
• Need to perform rough work in separate sheet
• Reasoning & Numerical ability section had few tricky questions
• Not moving to the next question, if any answer is not known

Hence time management is required.Inspite of all these shortcomings, majority seemed to have attended atleast 160 questions!!

 

Lessons to learn:

Based on these experiences, here are some important tips to those appearing for online CWE in the coming weeks.

• First start answering Computers & GK sections.They are generally easy & carry 80 marks of total.
• Start with a section that you are confident rather than breaking your head with a tough problem.
• Try to attend atleast 35-38 questions in each test with 98% accuracy, so you don't lose out to competition.
• Do not leave an entire section unanswered – you have to secure minimum cut-off in each section to qualify for common interviews.
• Remember about negative marks as well & use calculative risk approach incase of doubt. 

For others waiting to enter the exam hall: Don't get nervous!

IBPS Clerk CWE 2012 – Documents to Carry, Final Tips & More

As the date of IBPS bank clerk exam gets near, doubts related to the proceedings are also reaching a high.Since results of this online test are required for a career in Indian banking sector you better be double sure of the process.Questions on what to do, what not to do, what to be taken etc., are being asked by anxious candidates.

 

The 2012 clerical common exam is different in many ways when compared with previous ones.For the first time, bank exams are going online & qualifiers of this test shall appear for common interviews.

 

The institute has already released a mock test for practice.So we have compiled a list that will assist applicants to better understand the procedures much better.

 

What to carry?

IBPS has advised all eligible candidates to bring the following items,

Call letter with passport photo pasted in the given space ID proof – original & few copies Ball point pen

* Original fee payment receipt/ challan is not mandatory, this year

 

You will not be allowed to continue, if any of the above documents are not produced during verification.Let us see each in detail,

 

Call letter: This is similar to a hall-ticket for the exam to be held on December 15,16,22 & 23.We hope all registrants for this IBPS PO CWE have downloaded their call letters from the institute`s website.

 

If not, visit the page here, enter login details & take a print.On the printed sheet paste your recent passport photo in the specified blank area & have it ready.

 

Proof of Identity: Do not forget to take your original & some copies of photo identity proof as the call letter along with an ID proof copy should be submitted to the exam invigilator.

 

Any one of the following documents can be considered as valid ID proof - PAN card, Voter`s ID, Passport, Driving license, Bank passbook with photograph, Aadhar card with photo, Photo id issued by a gazetted officer, Employee ID or College ID card.

 

About Online Test:

It is possible to commit some silly mistakes on the D-day due to pressure, nervousness or even bad luck! Here is a quick rundown of tips so readers can make conscious efforts in avoiding mistakes while on computer.

 

Answering questions:

• There are 5 sections (200 questions) & candidates can move from one section to other at any point.
• The test is for 120 minutes but you should not click on ‘submit’ button before the time ends.
• Once the duration is reached, system automatically submits your answers.
• Do not press any keys on the keyboard while the exam is underway.

Rough work:

• Questions in numerical ability & reasoning may require calculations to be done, as both are maths oriented.
• Rough work must be performed only on the sheet provided which must be handed over to the invigilators before leaving the test room.

Reach on time:

• Reach the venue before 30 mins of scheduled time.
• Those reaching late wont be permitted to enter the hall & such incidents did occur in previous cwe`s
• Plan your travel in advance taking into account the traffic, mode of transportation, distance etc.,
• If possible, visit the test centre before a day to calculate time taken.

Marks & Cut-Off:

• It is essential to score the minimum cut-off in each paper.
• No invite for common interview if you don't qualify in this online CWE.
• The cut-off marks shall be fixed based on performance of everyone in each section.
• Negative mark of 0.25 will be added for each wrong answer (read about minimising negative marks)

We hope this article helps you to face the online clerical exam by IBPS with confidence. All the best!!

IBPS Clerk Exam from Dec 15 – Call Letter, Mock Test Released

Here comes the big news for aspirants eyeing bank jobs.The wait for the IBPS Clerk 2012 Common Written Exam (CWE) is finally over with the announcement of dates.For the first time ever bank exams are to go online and this being the starter, candidates were eagerly waiting to know about the methodology.Now it has also been revealed with the possibility of mock tests.

 

Institute of Banking Personnel Selection in October had invited applications for common exams leading to clerk jobs in 20 public sector banks.Qualifiers from this test would be called for common interviews & based on final results, appointments shall be offered.

 

1st Batch on December 15:

Normally banking exams were conducted on a single day across various centres wherein applicants had to shade the correct answer in OMR sheet.

 

With the mode of exam shifting online this year, IBPS seems to have taken into account the need for large number of computers while fixing dates.While some are allotted Dec 15, others have it on 16, 22 & 23 (saturdays & sundays)

 

To know your roll number, date of exam & venue – login with registration no. and password/date of birth at the ibps webpage here

 

Online Clerk Exam – Mock Test:

There was lot of uncertainty over the online testing platform & doubts such as What will online clerical examination question paper would be like, How do i return to unanswered ones, Is it possible to recheck were constantly raised.

As a reply to all of them IBPS has activated a mock test that will help candidates get acquainted with the system.So try all options in the assessment window.

Access the clerk CWE practice test and also download the information handout from their website here

 

 

The ‘Online Assessment Platform’ to be used for these test is a product of TCS & instructions on attending each question is clearly explained at the first screen.

 

Those who are set to attend the IBPS clerk exam 2012, you have just 13 more days.For final preparations, refer to our previous article Clerical CWE pattern & topics to prepare

Who Can Apply For Bank Exams In 2013 [New Rules Explained]

Exams leading to government jobs have always attracted Indian youth for long.Though secured career is the primary reason, relaxations offered in eligibility conditions enabled many to turn government employees.But applying for upcoming bank jobs & exams in 2013 shall become tough with latest amendments.

 

A committee under the chairmanship of Dr.A.K.Khandelwal (former MD,Bank of Baroda) was setup in the year 2009 to study the HR issues in public sector banks.

 

The submitted report contained 105 recommendations & most of it was accepted by Govt. Of India.A notification was also sent to all public sector banks in October 2011 for executing the aforesaid.

 

In the same year, common written examination (CWE) for banking jobs were introduced. But candidates were not happy with the selection process & many complaints were forwarded to various officials.

 

Govt Initiates Makeover!

The Ministry of Finance finally took stock of the situation & after consultations with stakeholders, decided to bring in changes – not only in selection procedures but also from the application stage.

In a communiqué dated Oct 2012 the ministry gave its approval for certain measures (published on their website) 

Here are the new eligibility conditions for those looking to register for IBPS common bank exams.

 

Age limit for clerical & PO cadre shall be the same. Minimum: 20; Maximum: 28 years (relaxation in max. age for sc/st/obc/PWD/EXS as per current rules) The min. educational qualification for clerk: Graduation & for PO`s: Graduation with 60% Literacy in computers in compulsory for both cadres.The applicant must either have a certificate in computer operations OR should have comp.sci./IT as a subject in school/college.

 

Although aspirants could be surprised, the criteria are inline with the recommendations of khandelwal committee.

 

When is the Implementation?

With new criterion in place the next question in mind would be related to its enforcement.

On raising this query to a senior official at IBPS, he said ‘This is a government directive & we will abide by it.’

Institute of Banking Personnel Selection had invited applications for the forthcoming clerical common exam with these recent eligibilities only. So it has already come into force.

 

Regarding the conditions for officer posts, he replied ‘They will be effective from next PO exam’

 

Few more amendments have been made in addition to the above.They include arranging common interviews & conducting of common exams once a year.

IBPS to Conduct Common Bank Exams Only Once a Year

The first question asked by candidates who couldn’t clear the bank exams & those aspiring for bank jobs is – when is the next ibps common exam? While CWE did generate good response, the manner in which PSB`s chose the qualifiers for interviews didn’t augur too well.This has made the government to announce some changes which also includes making the CWE an yearly event.

 

Gone are the days when banking exams were held regularly throughout the year as per their requirement.

 

In 2011, Government of India to address the growing need of manpower in public sector banks decided to fasten recruitment activities and proposed a single exam for jobs in all public banks except SBI.

 

One Exam a Year

The change approved by Department of Financial Services (Ministry of finance) has also been notified through a letter sent to IBPS, IBA and CEO`s of banks participating in this selection process.

 

As per it, Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) will be conducting common written examinations once a year for PO and clerk level jobs hereafter.This was also confirmed by BankExamsIndia.com with Prof.A.K.Konar (Division head, IBPS)

 

This move shall put more pressure on aspirants preparing for upcoming bank exams as those failing in CWE will have to wait for the next year before reappearing.Even those passouts need to qualify in a common interview for securing appointment in any one of the 20 PSB`s.

 

Just like a coin, every decision has two sides.While it could affect some there are certain advantages attached to this new plan,

• Reduces overlapping - qualified candidates need not fear of next batch taking away their chances.
• Vacancies announced for an year shall be filled with qualifiers of that specific year assuring employment for maximum.

So in a way, getting selected for bank jobs in India is to become more competitive than ever before. (see bank job selections to go tougher in future)

 

IBPS Exams – So Far

The institute has successfully completed 2 CWE for PO`s & 1 clerical common exam (the 2nd is to be held in Dec 2012)

 

Here is an image showing timeline of tests that have happened since 2011,

 

The examinations were previously advertised as an event to be held twice a year.But the recent clerical CWE notification from IBPS does not mention this line, indicating the things to come.

 

Therefore the next common tests could well take place in June 2013 (PO) & December 2013 (clerks).

 

In addition to these, IBPS is also responsible for executing exams such as Specialist officers & regional rural banks which are yearly affairs.

IBPS Common Clerk Exam in Dec 2012 Announced;New Rules

Following on the heels of PO results, the IBPS clerk exam 2012 announcement has been released.It is one of the most expected notice & with this Institute of Banking Personnel Selection is to conduct the 2nd common written examination (CWE) for clerk jobs in govt. owned banks.As thought earlier, many new additions have been made to this 2012 edition.

 

Qualifying in IBPS clerical exam is necessary to apply for clerk vacancies in 20 public sector banks.

 

The number which remained at 19 has new entrant from this year onwards - IDBI bank has joined the list.So you can find employment in any of the twenty banking companies.

 

Remember to read through the sections of

• Changes in clerk exam 
• Selection process & books to prepare

Note this:

Application registrations from October 15 to November 5, 2012

Written test (online): Dec/ Jan 2013

 

Highlights:

As mentioned above, sweeping changes have been incorporated by IBPS for this 2012 clerical cadre exam.They are

 

Click the correct answer: Gone are the days of shading on OMR sheets as you will appear for an online written test. Ready for common interviews: All qualifiers of this exam shall appear for common interviews.Based on the total score & choice of banks appointments will happen. No Std.XII passouts: Widely anticipated & now its official.Individuals with degree are only eligible for clerical positions.Those in college or with backlogs cannot register.(see only graduates can apply for clerk jobs)

 

In addition to these, read on to know more about the regular details

 

Eligibility:

It is compulsory for registrants to satisfy the criteria as it shall remain the same in all banks.

• Age to be min 20 years & max. 28 yrs, as on Oct 1.2012 (+5 yrs for sc/st & + 3 for obc)
• Pass in degree (any discipline) from a recognized university, as on 1.10.2012
• Ability to read/write/speak in local language of the state applying is necessary.
• Computer knowledge is compulsory (certificate from computer institute or must have studied computers in highschool/college)

Still have doubts? Checkout the article on eligibility questions for answers.

 

Selection Process:

An online written test (objective type) shall be held in the month of December at numerous centres across India. For 200 marks, the exam will comprise of 200 questions & 0.25 would be reduced as negative mark for each wrong answer.

 

The test papers are Reasoning, English, Numerical ability, General awareness & Computer knowledge.For more details, read IBPS clerk exam pattern & topics to prepare

 

Books

Since the examination is round the corner, its better you start to preparing with books for IBPS clerk exam books.Here are some of our recommendations * Clerk common exam guide – Rs.240 -  Buy online * IBPS clerical CWE practice book (20 papers) – Rs.189 – Buy online

               

What after exams?

All those passing in CWE shall appear for common interviews & once IBPS release their results, statewise/categorywise vacancy lists of banks will be put up for which candidates can give their order of preference.

 

Depending on the final scores, no. of available post & choice submitted, banks will intimate applicants about their selection.(read getting bank jobs go tough with common interviews) 

 

How to Register:

Fees of Rs.50 (SC/ST) or Rs.400 (others) can be paid via two methods

• Online (from Oct 15 to Nov 5) OR
• Take a print of the challan (generated by system after registration) & visit any branch of Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, Bank of Maharashtra, Central bank of India, Indian Overseas Bank, Punjab National Bank, United Bank of India & deposit the amount into the given account.

After 2 days of offline fee payment, registration confirmation will be sent through Email/SMS.In all cases, registrants can take a print of their application forms after 3 days of paying fees.

 

Download notice

Those interested to apply for clerk jobs in banks have to appear for this 2012 IBPS clerk exam.Do remember to read through the notification from their website here (pdf file)

IBPS Clerk Common Exams 2012 – Eligibility Doubts Answered

Its registration time once again with IBPS announcing common written exam (CWE) 2012 for clerk jobs in banks.Although this is not new, the questions raised about eligibility are massive.Some rules implemented for clerical CWE 2012 is one of the reason for doubts to arise among aspirants.

 

Inorder to help those stuck in deciding whether they are eligible or not, we are providing here a list of frequently asked questions & answers.This should solve most of your doubts related to registering for the all India banking test.

 

Questions on education

Q: I heard there are some new changes in educational qualifications.What are they?

A: To register for this IBPS clerical CWE, you must have completed graduation (any degree/stream)

 

Unlike previous years, std.XII criteria has been scrapped & those who haven't completed degree are now not eligible for clerk jobs in public sector banks.

 

Q: I am currently in final year/semester of degree.Can I apply?

A: No. As said above, registrants should hold a degree as on October 1, 2012. So, if you are currently undergoing any course in college, you are not eligible.

  

Q: To calculate total marks, should I take the marks in optional/honor subjects also?

A: Yes. The marks in secured in all papers for all the years should be considered while filling the percentage field in application form.

 

Q: My college released results in September but the marksheets were given only last week. Am I eligible for the clerk exam?

A: No.The date appearing on mark sheet or provisional certificate should be on or before October 1, 2012.If the date is later, you don't posses the eligibility condition.

 

Q: I belong to general category & my age is 28 years & 3 months.Am I fit to apply?

A: No. Applicants of general cat. should be 28 years or less.The max. age is relaxed by 5 yrs for SC/ST, 3 yrs for OBC etc.,You should not exceed the specified agelimit even by a day.

 

Questions about language & computer proficiency

Q: I have studied computer science.Should I need a computer certificate too?

A: No. Candidates who had computer operations or language/ IT as a subject in high school/college are not required to produce certifications.

 

Q: I have done a software course from an institute & have its certificate.Is that enough?

A: Yes. As per the IBPS advt, certificates issued by any computer training institute can be used as proof of possessing comp.literacy.

 

Q: Can I choose any state to appear for test?

A: The recruitments for clerk vacancies is done state-wise.Hence the test centre should be located in that state only.

 

So register for written test in one specific state you wish to work on selection.Remember, its not possible to change the state after results are released.

 

example – if you want to work as clerk in Andhra Pradesh banks, choose AP under ‘centre of examination’ in the online application & select test location from the list.

 

Q: I know only to speak a certain language.Can I apply for that state?

A: No. You should be able to read/write & speak the official language of the state  registering for.

 

example situation: Lets say, you are residing in Bangalore & can speak kannada but don't know to read or write it.On the other hand, you are proficient in hindi.In this case, its better to apply for states which have hindi as official language.

    

For detailed info on selection & applying procedures, see the announcement of IBPS common clerk exam 2013

IBPS PO CWE 2012 Results Announced; 61000 Qualify

Expectations are always high among participants of competitive examinations & especially in India with majority of youth vying for govt jobs, the wait is always haunting. But aspirants looking for bank jobs in India will feel relieved as IBPS PO 2012 results have been released today by the institute.

 

In 2011, Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) was given the mandate to conduct common written examinations (CWE) on behalf of 19 public sector banks for Officer & Clerk positions.

 

 

IBPS PO CWE 2012 Results

Since then, tests arranged by individual banks have been abolished to bring a single testing pattern for all banking organizations.Accordingly, the 2nd common exam for probationary officers was held on June 17, 2012 by the institute.

Approximately 7.5 lakh sat for the exams of which 61,339 candidates have cleared & would proceed further.

If you are one of those who attended the event, you can now check the status (Pass or Fail) from the results page here.

 

 

When can I see my marks?

Individual scores in each paper, minimum qualifying marks & total weighted scores (TWS) can be viewed online at their website itself after 10 days.

So qualifiers can expect to receive scorecards from the 3rd or 4th week of October. 

It is not only necessary to secure minimum marks totally but also in each paper. So even if you have not qualified in one paper, it amounts to complete disqualification. Infact, that is the reason for many candidates to flunk in such exams

 

New jobs from 2013?

As IBPS has also said that these latest scores can be used from December 12, one can expect new bank recruitments for IBPS 2012 passouts to be announced starting 2013.

 

With talks of common interviews for banking jobs already underway, banks have got more time to finalize & notify the exact process.(see common interviews for bank job vacancies from this year)

 

‘The exam was tough’

What do applicants have to say on these results?We caught up with few.

 

Karthik from Chennai says, “I have failed to get in.I was not able to attend many interviews due to low marks in last year`s CWE but was determined to post good scores this time atleast.   From my experience, the test was tough since 7 of my friends who went for bank exams coaching have also not qualified & they also said the same.   With the IBPS results out, my hopes are pinned on SBI recruitments & other government exams as the next common test for PO jobs will happen only after 6 months” , he concluded positively.

 

 

Have you passed?Then consider reading whats next after PO exam results

 

Those of you who couldn't qualify – worry not as opportunities are plenty.Keep practicing & you can get hold of your dreams very soon.

 

Just remember – Failures are the stepping stones to success.

IBPS Common PO Exam 2011 – How Did Candidates Perform?

The 1st ever common written exam (CWE) for PO/MT posts was conducted by IBPS at various centres across India on Sep 18 2011.A pass in this test will enable them to apply for bank jobs in 19 public sector banks of India.Come June 17, 2012 aspirants will again sit for the CWE.

 

Experiences shared by others can help others avoid doing the same mistakes again.

Some candidates had sent in their review of CWE 2011, which is being reproduced in their own words for your benefit.

 

How did you perform?

 

Vignesh details his exp. as,

Filling the bio-data form itself took 25-30 mins.The answer sheets were distributed around 9:20 a.m and by 9:30 a.m. questions papers were given. After filling the bio-data form I started the exam around 9:40a.m.   In 45 mins, I attended only 22 questions in reasoning since it was tricky. At the same time invigilator was checking answer sheet to make sure there is no error in filling the bio-data. Then they took thumb impression in attendance list as well as on the exam call letter.All these took around 3-5 mins.   In QA, i attended only 10 questions which itself ate 30 mins and i hence moved over to the next sections GA,computer awareness & english attending 29,30 and 22 respectively in 35-40 mins time. In the last 10 mins – I returned to the QA to answer 10-12 of which was able to solve only seven as others were tricky.   I was totally disappointed with these and was not able to concentrate in descriptive & left an essay.

 

Neha says,

The QA section was time consuming & I was unable to allocate time planned for other sections.The computer awareness questions seemed to be of high level.There were many comprehensions in english section which again took more time.GA was okay.

 

Manish explains his situation,

It was really unexpected.The reasoning paper was tough than SBI & SBI associate exams. I was calm after answering other sections in 45 mins and hoped to solve atleast 35 Q of reasoning in remaining time, but became nervous on seeing the questions. Finally attended only 23 Q with only 70% accuracy.

 

Ashish was on the same page as others,

I was really going strong after solving 100+ questions in GA, Computer & English in 01 hr 10 minutes. But the lengthy questions in QA section made me to solve only 15 questions in 1 Hr.

 

Test sections:

Apart from the above voices many others summarized their attempts…

 

Lack of time: This was a commonly heard answer from many candidates when asked about the paper.

Duration of the exam is 2 hr & 30 mins (objective) & 1 Hr for descriptive test

Lengthy questions, need to perform many calculations for arriving at correct answer etc., were top reasons.

 

Reasoning & QA: More than 50% were of the view that reasoning & quantitative contained high level questions which led them to spend more time on these two sections.

 

GK, English & Computers – Easy?: There were mixed opinions about the English language section.But majority claimed them to be easy while few complained of twisted questions!

 

The same can be said about general/ banking awareness & computer knowledge questions.Many had infact prepared well in these subjects by referring newspapers & previous solved papers

 

Lessons to learn:

From the experiences & views shared above, here is a list of things that you should concentrate on while appearing for the IBPS common written exam.

• Time is gold.Make use of it appropriately.
• Complete answering the easy & known questions/ sections first.
• Take calculative risk for doubtful answers (read minimize negative marks by guessing)
• Don't stick onto one question for more than 10 minutes unless it requires detailed workings.
• Decide on the time to allot for each section while preparing itself & stick to it during the test.
• Finally, don't take descriptive test lightly.
  • If you have just started preparations – make sure to read the english newspapers for the current week atleast.(see descriptive paper pattern & expected questions)

We hope this post would have thrown some light on things to expect on the exam day.

Lost Bank Exam Fee Receipt? – Steps to get Duplicate Copy

The common written exam for bank jobs is coming near but we get candidates asking,”I have missed the payment receipt.What to do.Can I write the exam”.Inorder to help them, we have compiled the options available for those who have lost their challan.This article also aims to create an awareness among other applicants on the need to preserve their receipts.

 

No receipt, No exam: In a recently concluded written exam for SBI PO recruitment, candidates without original fee receipt were not allowed to write the test (report).

 

With Payment challans being the only proof to ensure that a candidate has paid the fee for bank jobs, IBPS & public banks are advising all applicants to carry their original payment receipt to the exam & interview centre.

 

Banks have started to announce vacancies for those with valid scorecards & candidates interested to apply will have to remit fees again to each of them.

 

So it has become necessary to preserve your challan receipt, after payment of money at the branch.

 

Here are some of the common situations that you may face & the required steps to take,

Lost the receipt after registering application: If you have completed the application registration process, but lost the payment receipt,

* Visit the branch where you deposited the fees along with the application printout  & payment details

* Request a duplicate challan copy by showing the application that has  transaction id,reference no. etc.,

Lost receipt before filling application: If you have lost the payment receipt before entering it on the application,

* Check if you have noted the transaction ID, challan no. or any payment info elsewhere.If yes, head for the branch & request for a duplicate copy from them with those details.

* Incase you don't have any info of payment, then it may be difficult to get a duplicate copy.But you can approach the bank to see if they can help you but the chances of them issuing a duplicate is low as banks will ask for some proof of payment made at their branch.

The below option is only for IBPS common exam,

Lost online payment receipt: Some applicants pay/ have paid their fees through debit/credit cards,netbanking etc.,To get a copy of receipt for online payment,

* Visit the online application link (used for registration) at IBPS.in website.

* Click on ‘eInvoice Printout Reprint’ & enter the required details.

* Take a printout of the generated receipt.

 

Remember to carry the original payment receipt along with application form or call letter, photo ID or any other documents mentioned in the notice, as you will not be permitted to attend bank exams or interviews without it.

 

Don't forget !!

IBPS Common Exam 2012 for Bank PO/ MT Jobs Announced!!

Institute of Banking personnel Selection seems to be in a workaholic mode for the past few weeks.With back to back important news & releases, the latest is about the 2nd common written examination for PO/ MT posts.The results for the first edition were notified in the month of December 2011, based on which banks are recruiting for Probationary officer posts.

 

IBPS had been entrusted with the task of conducting, evaluating & publishing results for an all India common test to facilitate filling of bank jobs.Candidates clearing the test would be issued scorecards using which they can apply for PO/ MT vacancies in 19 public sector banks

 

Following this, the banks shall shortlist, fix a cutoff & call them for Interview that leads to appointment.

Dates:

Online registrations shall be from March 9 – 30, 2012

Fee payment (online): 09-03-2012 — 30-03-2012 

Offline fee payment shall be from March 12 – April 7, 2012

Written exam on June 17, 2012 

Eligibility

You must satisfy the following conditions, as on 1.01.2012

• Agelimit: 20 - 30 yrs (+3 yrs for OBC,+5 yrs for SC/ST)
• Should posses a degree (any discipline, no specific percent) from a recognized university

Selection:

The IBPS common bank exam pattern contains both Objective & Descriptive papers for a total of 250 marks.For every wrong answer in objective test, negative mark of 0.25 would be reduced.

 

The descriptive paper will be evaluated only if you qualify in each objective test section.

 

Books to prepare for the IBPS common PO exam can be bought online & paid in

cash on delivery/ ATM or debit cards/ Netbanking etc.,Some are

 

* Common Written Exam Guide (PO) – Rs.436 – Buy Online

* Bank PO previous yrs solved papers – Rs.259 – Buy Online

Scorecards:

The scorecards (valid for 1 year) shall be sent to candidates who secure a minimum qualifying score in each paper.Using this, you can apply to banks that advertise their vacancies for Probationary officers or Management trainees post.

Note that each bank will specify their own eligibility (that includes age,degree & test score) while calling for applications. 

Those looking to improve previous scores can also apply & brighten their chances of getting selected by garnering better scores.[read, Old scorecards wont be seized]

Registration:

The application fees are fixed at Rs.50 (SC/ST) or Rs.450 (others) with the option of paying it through,

1. Online: (from Mar 9 – 30): Visit ibps.in & click on the online application to fill the necessary details.After submitting the form, you would be directed to the online fee payment gateway.
   • Pay the appropriate fee amount using netbanking/credit or debit cards
   • After the transaction is complete, print the generated e-receipt
   • If application submission is successful, a registration number & password would be shown that has to be noted.
2. Offline: (from Mar 12 – Apr 7): Logon to ibps.in & visit IBPS common exam webpage to fill the online application.Enter the asked details & submit.
   • On submitting the application, note the generated Reg.no & password (also will be sent to your Email/ SMS)
   • Take a print of the challan that shall be generated after the above step.
   • After 2 days, deposit the fees at any branch of BOB, BOI, PNB, IOB, United bank of India or Central Bank of India using the printed challan
   • As a confirmation of paying fees, you will receive Email/SMS after 2 days.
   • The facility to print the filled-in application form would be enabled after 3 days of fee payment.

Read it here

The complete advertisement of IBPS Common PO Exam 2012 can be downed from their website here

IBPS Common Exam 2011 - 1.1 Lakh Pass PO Exam

‘How many cleared the IBPS PO exam 2011’ was one of the question that was frequently asked by many in online forums, once the results for the common test were out.The answer for it has come now.Yes, a little over 1 lakh have made it through. With these numbers coming out, its sure to create more talk. There are some interesting stats to share prior to this update.Lets see them!

 

The IBPS PO exam results were announced on December 12, 2011 based on the written test conducted in the month of September `11 that was attended by 10.4 lakh bank job aspirants.The online website displayed their status as ‘Pass’ or ‘Fail’.

How Many Passed?

As per a news article published on businessline, Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has said,

• 1,11,993 candidates have passed the 1st common test for PO/ MT posts.
• 36% of them are women
• around 30% of the total are from rural areas

See graphic to compare the numbers.

 

Only 10% Clear Test

We have decoded the statistics for you to understand more easily.

• From the 10.4 lakhs who appeared for the test, only 1.11 lakh have passed – which is just 10.7%!!
• Around 40,000 are women applicants & an equal number belong to rural parts of the country, as per the report.

What could be the possible reasons for the low level of pass percentage?

* Being the first common exam for bank jobs, candidates were nervous about the pattern & difficulty level.

* The paper was tough & lengthy that lead to shortage of time (see PO exam review)

* The necessity to secure minimum cut-off in each section to qualify could have also played a role.

So. it is clear from the above details that a lot of hardwork has to be put in for the next IBPS exam in 2012.

 

Clerk Results in February

There was something to cheer about among this gloomy numbers.The results for clerk exam held in the month of December shall be released in February 2012, said an official of IBPS.

Bank PO Common Exam Results Out – What To Do Next?

Not long ago, public banks were known to announce results for their recruitment after 6 months which made the process of selection & filling posts take nearly an year.Thanks to the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) for implementing this common written exam for PO postings in which the results have now come out within a period of 3 months.

 

Having got to know the test results of CWE, many applicants are anxious to know on what to do after this.

 

So we have described the steps that candidates can expect to happen from hereon.

About the results:

For all those who have not attended the common bank test, here is a screenshot of the results page.

 

As you can see, it just displays the status of a candidate as pass or fail.The scorecard will have more info on the scores, which would be sent via speed post.

 

Securing minimum cut-off marks(set by IBPS) in each section is a must to qualify.

What Next?

After the results, what should you be looking for

• Receive the scorecard issued by IBPS through post.There is no facility to see the marks or to download the score sheet online.
• Look in newspapers or in this site for new bank jobs notified by public banks to fill vacancies.
• The notification would contain the eligibility criteria such as education, age & most importantly the required cwe score.
• If you satisfy the conditions & have the prescribed score, follow the instructions on applying for the post.Mostly it would done through the bank`s website.
• The bank will shortlist candidates & call them for personal interview by preparing a merit list with top scorers at the top .
• Once the interview is complete, final appointment is made.

Doubts answered

There were some doubts raised in connection with the marks of common test, by our readers.Here is a compilation of answers to those..

 

Q: Can I apply to any number of banks after the exam?

A: The validity of scorecard is 1 year.So if you are within this period & fulfill the required eligibility conditions, applying for any bank is possible.

 

Q: The test result shows ‘Pass’.Will I surely get a bank job?

A: No.Clearing the test alone does not guarantee any job.You have travelled only 50% of the road & to cover the balance 50%, it is necessary to apply for the recruiting bank with your test score & appear for Interview to complete the final selection.

 

Q: My result status shows ‘Fail’.Will I receive scorecard?

A: No.Scorecards are sent only to candidates who have cleared/passed the exam.

 

Q: I have failed/ I did not write the test.When to apply again?

A: The exact date is not known but IBPS may start registrations for the next PO common exam in the months of January or February 2012 

 

Q: Will banks have separate cutoffs?

A: Not cutoffs, but each bank will specify a minimum IBPS CWE score for each section in the notification & only those who have secured that shall apply for vacancies.

 

Selected? Check out our interview tips section that includes common interview questions & real experiences from candidates,

 

If you have not passed, worry not & start preparing for the upcoming PO exam as common written exams are to be conducted twice a year.

IBPS Common Bank Exam: 50 Lakh Applications & Clerk Results in Feb

One exam for all bank jobs in India, was a necessity to counter the huge gap in matching the talent with industry demands.The common banking examinations could well be the answer for bridging that shortage as it facilitates faster filling of vacancies.New details have emerged from IBPS about the tests & results. See for yourself

 

Institute of Banking Personnel Selection(IBPS) introduced an all India competitive common bank exam on the lines of CAT.The first edition of CWE was conducted for PO/ MT posts on September 18 & in the month of December 2011 for clerical positions.

In Numbers

• 14,65,945 candidates registrations were received, of which 10,42,484 appeared for common PO test.
  • Approximately 71% have turned up
• For clerks common exam, 43,14,315 applicants had registered & the exams arranged in 3 phases - November 27, December 4, 11 are nearing completion.
  • since the tests are underway, the total attendance is not provided. Assuming it as 70%, over 30,00,000 candidates should have given the clerical CWE!
• IBPS has termed this response as overwhelming!

Based on the above statistics, it is clear that over 57 lakhs (clerk +po) have showed interest & registered for this all India common exam for banking jobs.

IBPS Common Exam Results

One of the main reason for devising a common test was the delay caused by banks in releasing the results.IBPS seem to serve the purpose as they say,

Results of PO common exam held in the month of September 2011 were announced in the 2nd week of December 2011 & 1.1 lakh candidates got qualified

That is, within 3 months you shall be able to know you scores.The move is definitely a massive improvement to shorten time-delay.

 

The clerk exam results can be expected to be out by February 2012.

Bank Jobs in 2012

If results are declared on time, we may witness some massive recruitments by banks for PO & clerk posts in the year 2012, as no new bank jobs were advertised since the start of IBPS CWE.Few estimates pin the vacancies to be around 1.5 lakh.

 

With just interview sessions to appear & no need to write separate exams – those looking for career in banks would greatly benefit from this latest development.

 

Also in the coming years, public sector banks can be expected to recruit in large numbers considering the ready availability of vast pool of candidates & minimal selection procedures to follow.

 

So get ready to apply for the upcoming bank jobs in 2012

IBPS Clerk CWE 2011 - Detailed Look of Question Pattern

The preparations for common clerk exam to be held in the month of November would be underway.A lot have been discussed here on BankExamsIndia about the IBPS selection process, eligibility etc.,Now moving on, we have decided to explain in detail the question paper pattern.

 

The written exam is scheduled to take place on November 27, 2011 & similar to the PO test, it might be conducted in 3 sessions to accommodate the large number of applicants (estimated to be approx. 50 lakhs)

 

Pattern breakup: Structure of the question paper is given below;

 

 

Here is a quick look at some of the important titbits,

• Duration: 150 minutes
• Total questions: 250
• Total marks: 250 

Planning for the test in advance like time required for each question & section is necessary because of the equal weightage in objective test.

• As there is no descriptive test, your objective test marks will only be considered in calculating the cut-off score.
• Each question carries 1 mark & for every wrong answer – 0.25 will be reduced as negative mark
• The minimum educational qualification for clerks is 10th/ SSLC, hence the questions could be answerable but twisted.
• Referring school text books to understand the basic concepts shall be useful in solving problems related to mathematics.

Comparison: The Clerk & PO common exam pattern may look same but has two main differences,

Clerks have Numerical ability while Probationary officer CWE had Quantitative aptitude

Numerical ability mostly contains questions involving LCM, HCF, percentage, compound interest, averages, ratio, profit/ loss, choosing the best alternative etc.,To know the formulas, concepts & applying them in mind using short methods is important to complete this paper within the stipulated time.

The maximum marks for english section is 50 while it was 25 in PO

There is nothing new to add in preparing for english language paper as it attempts to measure the english skills of a candidate with questions about the language.Usage of grammar (includes fill in the blanks, choose the best answer) & comprehension type of questions will occupy a major part.

 

See our detailed post on preparing for each paper – Reasoning, Numerical ability, English, General awareness & Computers.Here, you can also find the important topics to read.

 

Here are some clerk exam books that may be useful for preparing.You can purchase them through Internet & pay in cash/ netbanking or cards.

* Common exam – clerk guide – Rs.176 – Buy Online

* Previous clerk exam solved papers – Rs.277 – Buy Online

Not allowed for IBPS PO Exam? One More Chance Here

Still feeling for missing the common PO exam held in September? Then this could be good news – IBPS has decided to conduct a separate exam for those who were not allowed to appear for the examinations due to various reasons.So get ready to take up your 2nd chance.

 

All set: Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) had advised all candidates eligible for the PO/ MT common written exam to report at the test centre on September 18, before 30 mins along with originals of Call letter, Fee receipt, Photo ID etc., A day before the exam, we also carried an article on this website about the last minute tips.

 

Careless attitude: But on the D-day, some came late & some turned up without the prescribed documents who were refused entry into exam hall by officials.

Newspapers also reported on this confusion that went on to say about a group of expelled candidates from Nagpur even lodging a police complaint & demanded IBPS to conduct exam for them!

 

Once more: Since this is the 1st common bank test, IBPS seems to have taken a lenient view by announcing a supplementary exam for candidates who were not allowed to take the test.To appear, they will have to register online again (fee payment not required) & sit for the exams, to be held in select cities across India.

* Online application process from Oct 5 to Oct 12, 2011

* Written test on November 13, 2011

* The call letter for this supplementary test must be downloaded from IBPS website from Nov 1 & would not be sent by post.

Make sure you have the original fee payment receipt, roll no & other previous details for filling the application & submitting at the test centre.

 

To read the exam notification & apply online, visit the IBPS website here

Common Exam for Bank Clerks 2011 | Apply Online

August 23, 2011 – Following the close of common written exam (CWE) application process for bank PO/MT positions, Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) is back in action to conduct the 1st common test for clerks in public sector banks.

 

This common exam score is necessary while applying for Clerk recruitments in the following 19 public banks -  Allahabad Bank,Andhra Bank, Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, Bank of Maharashtra, Canara Bank, Central Bank of India, Corporation Bank, Dena bank, Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce, Punjab National Bank, Punjab & Sind Bank, Syndicate Bank, Union Bank of India, United Bank of India, UCO Bank & Vijaya Bank.

 

Dates: Online application process: August 25 – Sep 28, 2011 (date extended)

Written test: November 27, 2011

 

Eligibility criteria for all India bank clerk written exam,

* Agelimit: 18 - 28 yrs, as on 1.08.2011

* Secured 60% marks in Matric/ Std.10th/ SSLC OR 50% marks in Hsc/ Std.12th or Intermediate/ Pre-university level OR Pass in degree (any discipline) from a recognized university, as on 1.08.2011

* Have to appear for test from a state where you prefer to work (can apply to vacancies in that state only, in future)

* Should possess proficiency in the official language of that state.

 

Written test for clerical cadres will have Objective tests only, comprising 250 questions.While the total marks is 250, for each wrong answer - 0.25 would be reduced as negative mark.

 

Books: If you are looking to prepare for the test, here are some books that can bought over internet & can be paid in Cash/ Netbanking or Debit cards

* Common exam – Clerk guide – Rs.200 – Buy Online

* Previous clerk exam solved papers (upto 2011) – Rs.193 – Buy Online

 

After exam, those who fetch minimum cut-off mark will receive scorecards from IBPS. As these scores are valid for 1 year, candidates can directly apply for interview with public banks after they announce clerk recruitment, provided he/she satisfies the eligibility conditions set by each bank (like age,education,test score etc)

 

Application: Fee of Rs.50 (SC/ST) or Rs.350 (others) can be paid online (credit/ debit cards) OR by making the payment at any of the branches of Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, Central bank of India, Indian Overseas Bank, Punjab National Bank & United Bank of India OR through NEFT to the given account, from 24.08.2011 to 28.09.2011.

 

- After obtaining payment receipt, proceed to fill application online at www.ibps.in.On successful registration, a reg.number & password will be sent through Email, SMS.It is necessary to upload your signature & photo along with the online application

 

>> To apply for clerk jobs in banks, appearing for common exam is compulsory.So those looking to join banks - download the notification from their website here (pdf file)