Success Story of Arijit Mitra, From Failing by 0.5 to Clearing IBPS PO & Clerk

Have you ever failed an exam by just 0.5 or 0.75 marks? It hurts, right? Today, we are sharing the amazing success story of Arijit Mitra from West Bengal, who faced exactly this. Starting his journey in August 2022, he struggled to clear even the prelims. The competition was tough, especially with the high cutoffs in their state. But instead of giving up after failing multiple interviews and missing cutoffs by a hair, he studied hard for 10 to 11 hours every single day. By his third attempt in 2024, he not only cleared the exams but scored a massive 34.75 in the Clerk Mains Quantitative Aptitude section! Finally, he proudly cleared both IBPS PO and IBPS Clerk. Let’s read about his incredible journey of hard work, patience, and never giving up.

1. Please brief us on when did you start preparing for the competitive exams and how was your preparation journey.

Started from August 2022. Initially, it was not that easy, and it was more so as I belong to a state like West Bengal, where cutoffs have recently remained relatively high. Struggled to clear prelims in 2022. Then, in 2023 cleared almost all the prelims, including RBI assistant prelims, but struggled to get going in the mains exams. But next year in 2024 tried harder, and now I could clear prelims, mains, as well as interview in my 3rd attempt.

2. Which exams did you appear in till date and what were their results?

In 2022 appeared in IBPS PO, SBI JA, and SSC CGL. Among those exams, I could only clear the SSC CGL tier1 without gaining enough knowledge, having just started preparation back then. Then next year in 2023 cleared all prelims starting from RRBs (except RRB clerk), IBPS PO & Clerk, SBI JA, SBI PO, RBI assistant, but couldn’t clear their mains. The only exam in 2023 that I went to interview for after clearing its prelims and mains is NICL AO(insurance exam), but I failed in the final result. The following year, in 2024 cleared almost all the prelims yet again, cleared some mains like IBPS PO, IBPS clerk, RRB PO, NIACL AO, IRDAI AM, SSC CGL TIER1, etc., and then gave interviews for IBPS PO, RRB PO but failed to clear RRB PO in the final allotment and couldn’t clear SSC CGL tier2 as well. But finally cleared IBPS PO & Clerk.

3. How did you prepare for the English section?

As I hail from a strong English-medium background, it was a huge bonus for me. I kept things very simple. Didn’t run after fancy words. Kept improving my already improved grammatical skills and liked reading various articles, be it online or offline. Finally gave plenty of mock tests to boost my skills. The English section of Practice Mock’s mock tests is of a top-notch level. Really helped me a lot moving forward.

4. How did you prepare for the Quantitative Aptitude section?

First, I learned all the basic things, gave topic tests to get a good command of each and every topic, and maintained a strategy while attempting the questions within the stipulated time. Kept on practicing high-level DIs, arithmetic for understanding the mains exam, and eventually cleared it. In clerk mains, I got the maximum in Quants (I got 34.75), so with practice, it became my strong zone.

5. How did you prepare for the Reasoning section?

In Reasoning as well, I learned the basics and did it with more interest, as this subject was completely new to me at the beginning. Gave topic tests, gained confidence while solving various puzzles, and sitting arrangements, etc. Practiced the main level questions as initially I found it difficult, but finally aced it.

6. What was your strategy for the General Awareness section? (If Applicable)

To be very honest, this was my weakest section, not because of the difficulty level, but I found it really hard to retain a lot of things even after reading 2-3 times. However, I began to spend some time on it and improved from where I was initially. I know that in future exams, which I might target, I have to work on this particular section. I used to read weekly and monthly.

7. What was your overall strategy? Did you follow a study schedule? If yes, please share the details.

The study schedule was not anything rigid as such. But yes, I tried to cater to my weak sections. Initially, I couldn’t attempt a lot of questions in Quants and Reasoning, but I gradually improved with every passing day. I always tried to utilize the time in the best possible way. On average, I used to study 10-11 hours per day. Yes, I maintained a strategy in attempting questions that helped me to fetch marks and get an edge over others. My strategy was quite simple, like for English, I attempted Error detection, fillers, match the following, para jumble, word swap, etc and later did the RC.(Used to keep approximately 9-10 mins at hand, considering the prelims exams), For Quants, I used to first attempt speed maths, DS, Q1-Q2, then DIs, and finally arithmetic, and in Reasoning, I first tried to attempt the miscellaneous portion, then DS, CR, and finally seating arrangement and puzzles. In GA, I used to 1st answer all those questions that I knew surely, and then I used to make some educational guesses.

8. Did you face any hurdle as well? How did you overcome it?

Yes, plenty of them. Couldn’t clear the 2nd waiting list of SBI JA (clerk) by just 0.75 marks. Failed to clear UIIC AO ga sectional cutoff by just 0.5 marks (although had a lead of approximately 14 marks), failed in my 1st interview overall in NICL AO, failed in my 2nd interview in RRB PO. But if there is a will, there will always be a way. I kept believing in myself, backed myself, had the urge to improve, and just remained hopeful that one day that moment of selection would surely arrive, just as every dark cloud has a silver lining.

9. Did PracticeMock help you in your success? Please elaborate.

Yes, the mock test series of Practice mock tests was of immense help to me in understanding where I stand in the competition. So yeah, absolutely.

10. What’s your message for the fellow aspirants who are preparing for competitive exams?

I would say never give up before you feel that you have given your 100%. Keep on trying, follow the right realistic strategies, try to get proper guidance, remain hopeful, don’t let setbacks get big on you, take key lessons as far as possible from your failures, and move on from there, as there are plenty of opportunities coming your way.

Conclusion

What a powerful and honest story. This journey perfectly proves that failure is just a stepping stone to success. Missing a cutoff by 0.5 marks or failing multiple interviews could easily break anyone’s confidence, but Arijit Mitra chose to fight back. By studying 10-11 hours a day, taking PracticeMock tests seriously, and sticking to a clear strategy during the exam, they turned their weaknesses into their biggest strengths. If you are ever feeling low about your mock scores or a recent exam rejection, bookmark this story. Keep pushing, give your absolute 100%, and your moment of selection will definitely arrive.

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