Test of English Language - Topics to Cover

We have talked a lot about improving your english skills, in here.For late starters, it may not be possible to follow those tips right before the common exam.We have listed the important topics to concentrate while preparing for english, especially for those weak in english & are looking for guidance.

 

Test of English Language:

As the name suggests, this section is to check your knowledge about english language.Although questions are of basic level, the options will confuse the candidate as 3 out of 4 would look similar.Practice & proper time allocation will enable you to complete the section easily.

As stated earlier in the clerk exam pattern, this part comprises of 50 questions totaling 50 marks & will be considered for final score.

 

Topics to cover: The below list is not definitive, but covering these chapters  will help you in attending atleast 80% of questions.

• Comprehension question (answer based on the given passage)
  • Questions would not be direct & hence have to understand the passage to answer.
• Usage of words
  • Fill in the blanks with a correct word from the choices
• Meanings & Opposites
  • A phrase may be given asking you to choose a single word similar or opposite in meaning.
• Tenses (past, present, future & their variations)
  • example: gave,give,giving,had given,have been giving
• Sentence formation
  • complete the sentence by selecting the best words from options
• Error spotting (finding grammatical errors in a sentence)
• Ordering (random sentences to be arranged in a sequential manner)
• Preposition (above,down,under,between,till etc.,) & Conjunctions (and, but,or,yet,although,since etc.)
• Choosing the right adjective, noun or verb in completing a sentence

The above were compiled by referring common po exam & previous clerk exam papers.

 

There is no guarantee of questions to be asked only from these areas but it certainly would serve as a starting point for english test preparations.

Test of Computer Knowledge – Topics & Model Questions

Most candidates feel questions asked in computer section are easy & answerable.This may be to the regular usage of computers for our daily activities.But what to expect in test of computers? Here is a guide about the

question pattern that can be expected in IBPS common written exam.

 

Test of Computer knowledge:

The main intent of this test is to check the awareness of computers & its operations among applicants.Computer terminals have replaced large chunks of physical documents in banks.So it becomes necessary for a candidate to have good knowledge of operating a system in adding, retrieving or searching details of customers.

The important chapters to concentrate while preparing for computer test & the topics to cover under them are given below along with few sample questions,

• Computer hardware (function & uses of various devices) 
  • What is the most widely used input device?
  • What is the function of CPU?
  • Difference between RAM & ROM
• Windows OS (origin of windows,versions,salient features etc.,)
  • In Windows XP, what does XP stand for?
  • What does GUI mean?
• Shortcut keys & its actions
  • CTRL+O initiates what action
  • What happens with CTRL+P
• MS Word, Powerpoint & Access (know about the basic tools,operations & working on a new document)
  • What is the meaning of macros
  • What is find & replace?
  • What does the “T” icon mean?
• MS Excel (cells, columns, sorting, filtering, merging, functions, formulas)
  • What program saves a file with .xls extension
  • What is the purpose of using Excel software
• Internet & Networks (LAN, WAN,Wi-Fi,File sharing,servers,router)
  • What is the command to check connectivity between 2 systems?
  • What is a modem
  • What does WWW stand for?
• Virus
  • Questions about computer virus, Trojan, Blackhorse, Keyloggers, Firewalls, Anti-virus & precautions to prevent virus attacks
• Latest news from computer field
  • What is the name of the recent supercomputer
  • Apple computers run on what OS?
• Technologies & terms used in banking (ATM, Internet banking etc.,)
  • How ATMs communicate with each other
  • What is the meaning of phishing
  • What is e-governance

Books for computer awareness are available on Internet also.Some are,

* Computer knowledge & awareness (solved papers) – Rs.124 – Buy online

 

The following presentation has few model question papers,

Reasoning Questions in Bank Exams – Topics to Cover & Preparation Tips

We have been covering the various sections of common written exam & inline with that, the analysis of ‘Test of reasoning’ is here.Apart from bank exams, this section is also a part of many placement tests,competitive exams & CAT/ MAT.So knowing how to prepare for reasoning section can help you with other exams as well incase you intend to appear for them.

 

Logical reasoning tests your thinking capabilities.In this paper, options for each question will look similar but the correct answer must be chosen by judging the right strategy & taking into account various factors described in the question.

 

As mentioned in the clerk exam pattern, the reasoning section has,

Questions: 50 | Total marks: 50 | Negative mark: 0.25 for wrong answer

 

Topics: Along with a list of probable chapters, explanations or few sample questions are  provided to give you a better understanding.

• Arrangement of words (sample: If MOUSE has a code word of PRUQC, what is the code for SHIFT)
• Representation through Venn-diagrams (you will have to choose the next pattern from the answers)
• Number & symbols ordering (choose the next among a specific set of words or numbers)
• Comprehension questions (max of 3)
• Statement & assumptions (few sentences would be given & based on what you understand from them, answer must be chosen)
• Statement & conclusions (from the Interrelated sentences, select one answer which is true)
• Statement & actions (understand the given situation & choose a correct decision, from the options).
• The above four topics would account for nearly 15-17 questions out of 50. 

Preparing for reasoning does not involve reading any theory materials. All you need are – focus on the question, take it to your mind & pick the correct option

• Just like numerical ability, constant practice is necessary to answer reasoning questions.
• The statements & comprehension questions might confuse you.In that case, proceed to answer the other sections & return to reasoning part later.
• Don't guess the answers in reasoning as all options seem correct & in most case you would get it wrong.Also the negative marks can hurt your final score.
• Although the questions will not be of the level asked in CAT or MAT exams, those study materials can be referred to try out different sets.

Check out our previous posts about the preparing for general awareness & numerical ability.

 

Books for reference containing all sections can be bought from internet with cash /netbanking or cards,

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

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

Numerical Ability Exam – Syllabus & Topics to Prepare

Be it school or college, mathematics & numbers have been the most feared subjects for many.The trend continues in bank exams too as many assume numerical ability to be tough.So, in continuation of our series about preparing for common written exam, we shall look at the syllabus for numerical ability this week.

 

Numerical ability is all about calculation of numbers.Unlike quantitative aptitude, this paper would require simple mind calculations only.Given the job profile of a bank employee, test of numerical ability mainly aims to find out how fast you arrive at the correct answer. 

 

The clerk exam pattern depicts this section to have 50 questions each carrying 1 mark.(50 x 1 = 50 marks) & each wrong answer shall reduce 0.25 marks.

Topics to cover: Based on questions repeatedly asked in previous banking exams, we have provided a predictive list of important chapters for preparing.

1. Numerical problems (missing no.,series completion etc)
2. Percentages (like profit & loss %, marks,shares etc.,)
3. Market price,Cash price & Expenditure problems.
4. Time & Work, Speed & Distance problems
5. Fraction, Ratios, Average & Volume
6. Factoring (LCM, HCF..)
7. Mensuration formulas (asking you to calculate length, breadth or height of square,rectangle cube etc)
8. Simple interest & Compound interest (find missing variable or direct question)

Preparations:

• Read & understand the question first before answering.
• Know about BODMAS (Brackets, Order, Divide, Multiply, Add, Subtract) & workout problems implementing the rule.
• Use common sense to solve questions that are real life oriented (like distance, age, time)
• Calculators are not permitted inside the exam hall.Hence learn shortcut methods or formulas to solve a question quickly.
• Time management is essential while attending mathematical problems.So tryout some mock tests with the same number of questions while preparing.
• Practice as many model papers & previous year question papers with a clock - because time management is essential for mathematical problems.

Candidates who are weak in maths shall buy books like pratiyogita darpan, kiran publications or other workbooks/guides & practice min.5 yrs solved  question papers to memorize the concept.

 

Getting ready for IBPS Clerk CWE? Checkout the Topics for general & banking awareness exam

General & Banking Awareness Exam – Topics to Prepare

Ever thought of answering questions from a subject that gets updated everyday?If not, then get ready to prepare for General knowledge a.k.a General awareness that has become an integral part of banking exams. With the IBPS CWE round the corner let us see the GA section & the type of queries asked in detail

 

What kind of questions are likely to be asked in GA sections as part of the upcoming common bank exams?See below

 

* What is the full form of NPA?

* How many public sector banks does India have?

* What is the current base rate fixed by RBI?

* Who is the chairman of State Bank of India?

* How to denote ‘account payee’ on a cheque?

 

The clerk exam pattern has included a section ‘General Awareness with special reference to Banking Industry’. It is also a part of PO written examination

Apart from the regular GK you can also expect questions about banks, economical indicators, trade etc say common PO exam attendees.

Topics to cover in banking awareness:

1. Base rate	6.0%
   Savings rate	4%
   Repo rate	8.25%

   Questions about RBI, its governor, recent rate hikes will be asked.Visit rbi.org.in & look for the current rates (see table for latest)
2. Latest technologies used in banking (Internet, Mobile & SMS banking)
3. Names of banks chairman/MD, RBI governor & important financial organizations
4. Terms used in banking field (like NEFT,RTGS,Repo rate,NPA etc.,)
5. Money instruments (cheque,DD,ATM,debit, credit cards etc) & how, when to use them.
6. Five year plans,recent developments in banking sector,mergers,Indian economy, policy decisions (newspapers & GK books will cover this) 
7. Of the 50 questions, atleast 20 would be related to banks.

General awareness: This is a vast subject but we have listed some must-read topics based on previous papers.

1. Names of popular people,govt. departments,building,rivers,projects
2. About the functioning of government (who reports to whom, job role etc.)
3. Population of India (poverty line,planning commission,census etc.,)
4. Recent news of importance (Lokpal,RTI,Telecom policy,CAG,CWG etc.,)

Get some books

The biggest problem while preparing for general knowledge/ awareness papers is - new details are added every second.Rather than searching those info yourself, it is always better to have atleast few guides or books from which you can know the basics.

 

Few books related to banking knowledge are available on Internet, which can be bought by paying in cash/ netbanking or debit/credit cards.One such is,

* Banking awareness 2012 (with practice papers) – Rs.131 – Buy online

 

Prepare notes: You may have a good GK book & newspapers but it wont be possible to read them again during the final preparatory stage.Here are some tips that would help you to plan.

• Take notes while reading for the first time itself by writing hints & short sentences.
• Make sure its understandable as you wouldn't want to see a note that is hard to recollect at the time of revision.
• Glance through them everyday to avoid forgetting.

Start now: It can be very hard to memorize the dates, famous persons, abbreviations, definitions & numbers - all in one day.

Preparation for general & banking awareness tests must be an ongoing activity.

Incase you have not begun, allot 1-2 hours daily from today to read the materials & transfer them onto your scribble book.