10 Mistakes to Avoid while Preparing for NABARD Grade A Exam

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) conducts an annual recruitment exam for the post of Assistant Manager (Grade A) in various disciplines. The exam is highly competitive and requires a lot of preparation and hard work. However, many aspirants make some common mistakes that hamper their chances of success. In this article, we will discuss the 10 mistakes that you should avoid while preparing for the NABARD Grade A exam.

Not following the syllabus and exam pattern

The first and foremost mistake that many candidates make is not following the syllabus and exam pattern of the NABARD Grade A exam. The syllabus covers a wide range of topics from agriculture, rural development, economic and social issues, general awareness, reasoning, quantitative aptitude, English language, computer knowledge and general discipline-specific topics. The exam pattern consists of three phases: Preliminary (online objective test), Main (online descriptive test and objective test) and Interview. You should be well aware of the syllabus and exam pattern and plan your preparation accordingly.

Not revising the basics

Another common mistake that candidates make is not revising the basics of the subjects. The NABARD Grade A exam tests your conceptual clarity and application skills in various topics. You should not neglect the basics and fundamentals of the subjects and revise them regularly. You should also practice questions based on the basics to improve your accuracy and speed.

Not solving previous year papers and mock tests

One of the best ways to prepare for any competitive exam is to solve previous years’ papers and mock tests. This will help you to understand the level of difficulty, type of questions, weightage of topics, time management and exam strategy. You should solve as many previous year papers and mock tests as possible and analyze your performance. You should also learn from your mistakes and work on your weak areas.

Not updating yourself with current affairs

The NABARD Grade A exam has a significant portion of questions based on current affairs, especially related to agriculture, rural development, economic and social issues. You should update yourself with the latest news and events happening in these domains and read newspapers, magazines, reports and online sources regularly. You should also make notes of important facts, data, schemes, policies and programs related to these topics.

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Not focusing on discipline-specific topics

The NABARD Grade A exam has different streams such as General, Animal Husbandry & Dairy Technology, Economics & Agricultural Economics, Environment, Food Processing etc. Each stream has its own discipline-specific topics that are asked in the Main exam. You should focus on these topics and study them in depth. You should also refer to the official notification and syllabus for the detailed list of topics for each stream.

Not improving your English language skills

The NABARD Grade A exam has a section on English language in both Prelims and Mains phases. The English language section tests your grammar, vocabulary, comprehension, writing and communication skills. You should improve your English language skills by reading books, newspapers, magazines etc., learning new words, idioms and phrases, practising grammar rules and exercises, writing essays, précis, letters etc., and speaking in English with others.

Not preparing for the descriptive test

Mains exam of NABARD Grade A has a descriptive test that consists of essay writing and letter writing. The descriptive test is conducted online and you have to type your answers using a keyboard. You should prepare for the descriptive test by practicing essay writing and letter writing on various topics related to agriculture, rural development, economic and social issues etc. You should also follow the format, structure, word limit and guidelines for writing essays and letters.

Not preparing for the interview

The final phase of the NABARD Grade A exam is the interview that carries 25 marks out of 225 marks. The interview is conducted by a panel of experts who assess your personality, knowledge, attitude, communication skills etc. You should prepare for the interview by reading about NABARD’s vision, mission, objectives, and functions etc., reviewing your academic background and achievements, brushing up on your discipline-specific knowledge etc. You should also practice mock interviews with your friends or mentors and get feedback on your performance.

Not managing your time effectively

Time management is one of the key factors that determines your success in any competitive exam. You should manage your time effectively while preparing for the NABARD Grade A exam by making a realistic study plan, setting daily or weekly goals, prioritizing your topics etc. You should also manage your time during the exam by allocating sufficient time for each section or question, skipping difficult or lengthy questions etc.

Not maintaining your health and well-being

In the rush of preparation, you should not ignore your health. It’s not like you are studying so much that your health starts falling off which would eventually affect your performance in your studies. A walk in the morning/ evening will refresh your mind. Taking 10-15 minutes of breaks between long study hours will recharge you and will further catapult your performance. Taking care of your health coupled with proper preparation will definitely lead you to success.

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