I can’t afford expensive banking coaching classes. Can I still crack the exams?

Many aspirants often wonder if a banking exam can be cracked without following the conventional model of coaching classes. Well, coaching’s didn’t exist when these bank exams were launched. People still used to prepare themselves and used to crack banking exams successfully.  

Now, we are not saying that the coaching system is not good for anyone or it’s just a façade. The point is you can and it’s a decision you need to take for yourself. You need to analyze all the pros and cons of not joining coaching and with due consideration of your present situation.  

For many, it’s also their financial situation that can affect decision-making. But you also focus on the fact that many who want coaching but can’t access it due to any reason but still prepare and do well in these exams. It’s really about all your efforts, strategy, and most importantly the consistency.  

Here are some tips for cracking banking exams without joining coaching:

Make Internet Your Best Friend

The world has never been the same since the arrival of the internet. And now in India, the cost of data consumption is extremely low. Accessing all kinds of information is a reality. Earlier, information was limited about everything. But now you get to access it all.  

• Follow credible blogs and YouTube channels for gathering all the necessary information
• Try to connect with people who cracked any of the banking exams without coaching.
• Download previous year question papers for analyzing the exam pattern and questions
• Look for various book recommendations for all the different subjects and sections
• Listen to the stories of aspirants and focus on what kind of strategy they followed
• It’s better if you make your notes of important information such as syllabus, eligibility criteria, marking scheme, exam pattern, for every exam separately. Otherwise, it might get very chaotic for you to remember all these details.
• Regularly visit the official bank or exam sites for all the announcements and updates regarding the exam.
• Also, note all the important dates from the notification letter. Don’t miss out on registration deadlines.
• Make a habit of reading good newspapers such as “The Hindu” & “Indian Express.” Most competitive exams keep a section of general awareness. It will also help with the English language section.
• YouTube has a lot of free classes on all the subjects, live question-solving classes, etc. Pick your sources which you find credible and stick to them.

Prelims vs Mains

When you get the notification, you will be able to see two different dates for prelims and mains. You will notice that gap between the two dates isn’t much. And if you look at the syllabus of Prelims and Mains is also nearly the same but the mains are definitely much harder compared with prelims. The difficulty of questions is quite noticeable when you analyze mains mocks or previous year question papers.  

So, ideally, your goal should be to prepare for mains rather than prelims. If you are able to do well in the mocks of mains then cracking prelims won’t be an issue.  

Also, note the key differences between the syllabus of prelims and mains. For example, SBI PO has an extra English language section of essay writing and letter writing which isn’t the case with every other exam. Missing out on such details can be fatal for your results.  

Limited Time vs Handful of Questions

All such banking competitive exams follow a pattern where the first most challenge is not just to solve the question but to get the right answer within the acceptable time frame. You are being asked to solve each question within seconds or you won’t even get to see the entire section. Here are some tips for working on your speed and accuracy: 

• Start reading extensively. Reading comprehension is impossible without a good reading speed.

Read this article to get an idea of English Preparation 

• Learn various speed math techniques for avoiding the time taken to do basic calculations.

Read this article on some of the techniques which can boost your calculation speed.  

Regular Mock Tests

At first, you just give a basic mock test for knowing your base level marks. Get a feeling of what such exams are really about. See which sections are the most challenging for you and identify the areas where you need to focus on a priority basis. Sign-up for a free mock test today to start your journey.  

Interest in SBI PO?  Complete guide for general awareness resources you will need for preparation

Conclusion

You can surely crack bank exams without coaching classes if that’s what you want. You might face some challenges but isn’t that true for aspirants who have subscribed to coaching classes!? Focus more on strategy, regular practice, comprehensive mock test analysis, and all other tips mentioned in this article.  

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