IBPS PO Cloze Test Questions, Mistakes to Avoid While Attempting

The Cloze Test is one of the most crucial components in the English Language section of the IBPS PO Exam. It evaluates a candidate’s grammar, vocabulary, comprehension skills, and contextual understanding. Scoring well in this section can significantly boost your overall score if approached with the right strategy. However, many aspirants lose marks due to some common mistakes. This blog provides a detailed guide on Cloze Test questions, common mistakes, and expert tips to maximize your score.

What is a Cloze Test in IBPS PO Exam?

A Cloze Test is a passage with certain words missing, where candidates are required to fill in the blanks using the correct option from the given choices. Usually, 5 to 10 questions of this type are asked in the exam and in the Prelims exam, every question carries 1 mark. Therefore, clearing the concept of this topic will help you in solving questions from other topics as well.

• Number of Questions: 5–10
• Marking Scheme: 1 mark per question, negative marking for wrong answers (0.25 marks)
• Skills Tested: Grammar, Vocabulary, Contextual Understanding, Reading Speed

Example:
The new education policy aims to ____ learning opportunities and make education more ____ for all sections of society.
a) restrict, inaccessible
b) expand, inclusive
c) reduce, difficult
d) ignore, limited

Correct Answer: b) expand, inclusive

Importance of Cloze Test in IBPS PO Exam

Cloze Test questions are one of the most scoring questions, and they test your grammar and reading skills. This topic is time-saving, and questions from this topic are most frequently asked in the exam.

1. High Scoring Section:
   • With proper preparation, the Cloze Test can be solved quickly with high accuracy. 3 to 5 questions are asked every year.
2. Tests Multiple Skills:
   • These questions improves your reading comprehension, grammar, and vocabulary skills simultaneously.
3. Time-Saving:
   • Compared to puzzles and reading comprehension, Cloze Tests consume less time if approached smartly.

3 to 5 Cloze Test Questions are asked every year in the IBPS PO English Language section.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Cloze Test

Many candidates lose marks in the Cloze Test due to small errors. This costs you 4 to 5 marks if not attempted well. The first step is to understand the most common mistakes that you make in this type of question, and then know how you can avoid them. Below are the top mistakes that many of you make and tips on how to prevent them:

Ignoring Context of the Passage

The first mistake most candidates make is avoiding the context (what the passage is trying to say) of the passage.

Mistake:

Choosing words based only on dictionary meaning without reading the full sentence.

Avoidance Tip:

Understand the theme of the passage first. Read the sentence before and after the blank.

Relying Only on Grammar Rules

The second mistake is completely relying on grammar rules and not applying common sense properly.

Mistake: Attempting blanks using only grammar rules without checking logical flow.

Avoidance Tip: Combine grammar knowledge with contextual understanding for accuracy.

Skipping Vocabulary Preparation

The third mistake is to skip the vocabulary preparation. You need to understand that daily editorial vocabulary is your asset for solving most of the English Language questions in the exam.

Mistake: Not knowing the meaning of options often leads to guesswork.

Avoidance Tip: Build a strong vocabulary by reading newspapers, editorials, and practicing word lists.

Overlooking Collocations and Phrases

Collocations are natural word pairings or combinations of words that frequently appear together in English. They sound “correct” to native speakers because they are commonly used in that way, even if grammatically other combinations are possible.

For example:

• Make a decision (common collocation)
• Do a decision (sounds unnatural)

Mistake: Ignoring word pairings like “take responsibility” or “make progress”.

Avoidance Tip: Practice collocations and idiomatic expressions frequently asked in banking exams.

Attempting in a Hurry

The last mistake is that you attempt the question without reading it properly, and you attempt the question in a hurry, and make a mistake even when you know the correct answer.

Mistake: Quickly selecting options without double-checking the meaning and tone.

Avoidance Tip: Spend a few extra seconds to ensure the word fits logically and grammatically.

Tips to Solve Cloze Test Accurately

Understand the context of the sentence or the passage and use elimination and the trial-and-error method if you cannot guess the answer immediately. When you read daily editorial vocabulary, these questions will seem easy to you in the exam.,

Tip 1: Read the Passage First:

• Understand the central theme before attempting blanks.

Tip 2: Use the Elimination Method:

• Remove grammatically or contextually wrong options first.

Tip 3: Check for Tone:

• Identify if the passage is positive, negative, or neutral to pick the correct word.

Tip 4: Identify Keywords:

• Words surrounding the blank give hints about the answer.

Tip 5: Practice Previous Year Questions:

• Solve IBPS PO Cloze Test PYQs to get familiar with patterns.

IBPS PO English PYQs and Test Series

PYQs and Test Series help you accelerate your exam preparation and solve previous year cloze test questions to maximize your score in the English Language section.

English Test Series

Practice Example For Cloze Test

Passage:
Due to heavy rains, the river water has ____ and the nearby villages are now under the threat of ____.

Options:
a) risen, flood
b) increased, dryness
c) decreased, storm
d) reduced, safety

Correct Answer: a) risen, flood

You should not take more than 10 seconds to solve a Cloze Test Question in the IBPS PO exam. With Practice, you will be able to solve it in less than 10 seconds.

Conclusion

Cloze Test questions in the IBPS PO Exam are high-scoring and less time-consuming if approached correctly. Avoiding common mistakes like ignoring context, relying solely on grammar, or attempting in haste will improve accuracy. Regular practice of previous year questions, vocabulary building, and mock tests will help candidates achieve a high score in the English section.

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Also Read:

IBPS PO Cloze Test Questions: FAQs

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