RBI Grade B Phase 1 exam is almost here! And every minute counts now. The biggest mistake most aspirants make at this stage is spending too much time on the least important topics. On one hand, no topic can be ignored completely in an exam like RBI Grade B, on the other hand, your revision hours should not be wasted where the return is low. RBI Grade B Phase 1 is qualifying in nature, so it’s time to prepare smartly, focus on the important topics, revise smartly, and minimize investing time in topics that rarely attract questions in the exam.
Take a Free Mock Test & Know How to Speed Up Your Revision 10x
Why It’s Important to Identify the Least Important Topics
Every topper knows that success in RBI Grade B Phase 1 doesn’t come from covering everything. It comes from covering the right things well. The syllabus is vast, but the exam pattern is predictable.
When you look back at the last 5 to 6 years of exam papers, you’ll find that certain topics appear repeatedly, while others appear once in a while or not at all.
Spending long hours on these low-probability areas can cost you valuable time that could otherwise be used for mock tests, revision, or GA preparation. The key is not to skip topics entirely, but to prioritize your time.
Give maximum hours to high-scoring and frequently asked areas, and minimal time for quick revision of lesser-weightage topics.
Least Important Topics in General Awareness (GA)
General Awareness carries 80 marks, he highest in Phase 1, and decides whether you clear the cut-off or not. Yet, even in GA, some areas deserve less attention.
Spend Less Time On:
- Very old Current Affairs (more than 6 months old)
- Obscure international events not linked to the economy or finance
- Historical facts about RBI or static GK beyond the basics
- Outdated budget or economic survey details (if not from the latest year)
- Government schemes that haven’t been updated recently
- Old reports or indices that are no longer in the news
Focus More On:
- Last 3–6 months’ Current Affairs
- Banking & Financial Awareness
- RBI circulars, monetary policy updates
- Important committees, reports, and rankings
- Government schemes with recent changes
Strategy: Spend 80% of your GA preparation time on recent Current Affairs, and only 20% revising older or static topics. Don’t overburden yourself with every PDF you find online — revise what matters.
Least Important Topics in Reasoning Ability
Reasoning is one of the trickiest sections. With 45 minutes allotted, smart selection of questions becomes crucial. Some topics are extremely time-consuming and rarely asked in the recent pattern.
Spend Less Time On:
- Coded Inequalities (very few questions appear now)
- Unusual Puzzles with 3–4 variable combinations
- Non-verbal reasoning (figure-based)
- Complex Puzzles and Seating Arrangements (2–3 variable types)
Focus More On:
- Input-Output questions
- Machine Input-Output with multiple pattern shifts
- Syllogisms
- Inequalities (basic)
- Blood Relations, Directions, and Alphanumeric Series
- Logical Reasoning (Assumptions, Conclusions, Cause & Effect)
Strategy: Instead of solving lengthy puzzles that eat up time, practice 2–3 sets daily of moderate difficulty. Accuracy matters more than attempting every question. Remember, even 35–40 good attempts can comfortably clear this section.
Least Important Topics in Quantitative Aptitude
Quantitative Aptitude is scoring but time-bound. Candidates often waste hours on high-level topics that have very low weightage in the exam.
Spend Less Time On:
- Permutation & Combination (usually 1 or 2 questions)
- Probability (rarely asked and time-consuming)
- Trigonometry & Geometry (not part of the main pattern)
- Complex Mensuration questions
- Data Sufficiency (if asked, only 2–3 questions)
Focus More On:
- Simplification & Approximation
- Number Series
- Data Interpretation (Table, Bar, Line, Pie Chart, Mixed DI)
- Arithmetic (Percentage, Ratio, Profit-Loss, Time-Speed-Distance, SI-CI)
Strategy: Avoid spending too much time solving difficult permutations or probability sets. Instead, master short-cuts for Arithmetic and DI — they cover 70% of the section. If you can solve 20+ questions accurately within 25 minutes, you are already in the safe zone.
Least Important Topics in English Language
The English Language section checks your comprehension and accuracy. Some aspirants waste too much time memorizing grammar rules or vocabulary lists. That’s not needed now.
Spend Less Time On:
- Rare Grammar Rules or Advanced Tenses
- Idioms, Phrases, or Proverbs not frequently used
- Direct-Indirect Speech or Active-Passive Voice (low frequency)
Focus More On:
- Reading Comprehension
- Cloze Test
- Para Jumbles
- Error Detection
- Fill in the Blanks (context-based)
Strategy: Practice through mock tests rather than revising grammar books. English improvement at this stage depends on pattern familiarity, not theoretical learning. Reverse-engineer mock questions — understand why an option is correct or wrong.
Don’t Skip, Just Strategize
It’s important to note, least important doesn’t mean unimportant. Anything can be asked in RBI Grade B. The smart strategy is to give less time to low-weightage areas and more time to high-scoring ones.
Use the 80–20 rule:
- 80% of your time on topics that contribute the most to your score.
- 20% for quick revision of topics that have lesser weightage.
This balance ensures you don’t skip anything but still optimize your time.
Takeaway
The RBI Grade B Phase 1 exam tests not just your knowledge but your judgment — how well you manage your time and focus. The least important topics shouldn’t drain your energy in the final days. Give them a quick glance, but keep your main focus on what truly matters: Current Affairs, Banking Awareness, Reasoning Puzzles, Data Interpretation, and Reading Comprehension.
The clock is ticking, so make every hour count. Revise smartly, practice consistently, and stay calm. Remember, RBI Grade B Phase 1 is qualifying, but every mark matters for your confidence and momentum toward Phase 2.
Start today with a Free RBI Grade B Phase 1 Mock Test and see where you stand.
Also Read:
- RBI Grade B Phase 1 Resources for Success
- RBI Grade B Phase 2 Preparation Resources for Success
- RBI Grade B Important Topics
FAQs
Focus less on low-weightage areas like rare probability questions, complex input-output puzzles, old current affairs, advanced trigonometry, and uncommon grammar rules. Quick revision is enough.
No. RBI Grade B Phase 1 can ask questions from anywhere. Least important topics should be revised briefly, but your main focus should be on high-yield areas.
Prioritize the last 3–6 months’ current affairs, banking updates, government schemes, and RBI reports. Spend 70–80% of your GA revision on these, and 20–30% on older or static topics.
Absolutely. Mock tests help you spot low-scoring areas, weak topics, and time-consuming questions. Use this insight to reduce time on less important topics during the real exam.
- Sign Up on Practicemock for Updated Current Affairs, Topic Tests and Mini Mocks
- Sign Up Here to Download Free Study Material
Free Mock Tests for the Upcoming Exams
- IBPS PO Free Mock Test
- RBI Grade B Free Mock Test
- IBPS SO Free Mock Test
- NABARD Grade A Free Mock Test
- SSC CGL Free Mock Test
- IBPS Clerk Free Mock Test
- IBPS RRB PO Free Mock Test
- IBPS RRB Clerk Free Mock Test
- RRB NTPC Free Mock Test
- SSC MTS Free Mock Test
- SSC Stenographer Free Mock Test
- GATE Mechanical Free Mock Test
- GATE Civil Free Mock Test
- RRB ALP Free Mock Test
- SSC CPO Free Mock Test
- AFCAT Free Mock Test
- SEBI Grade A Free Mock Test
- IFSCA Grade A Free Mock Test
- RRB JE Free Mock Test
- Free Banking Live Test
- Free SSC Live Test