Cracking banking exams is not a one-attempt journey for most aspirants. It requires patience, consistency, and the ability to keep going even after repeated failures. The journey of Chetan Ramesh Bondre perfectly reflects this reality.
Starting his preparation journey in 2019, Chetan faced multiple setbacks—failing in prelims for 1–2 years and later missing out in mains exams like IBPS PO, IBPS RRB PO, and IBPS Clerk. However, instead of giving up, he stayed consistent, kept practicing, and eventually cleared multiple prelims exams, moving closer to his goal. His story is a strong reminder that success is not about avoiding failure but learning from it and continuing the journey.
Q1. Tell us about your preparation journey?
I started my preparation in 2019. Initially, I struggled a lot and faced failures in the prelims exams for 1–2 years. After that, I started clearing prelims exams like IBPS PO, IBPS RRB PO, and IBPS Clerk. However, I still couldn’t clear the main exams, which was disappointing. Despite this, I didn’t stop preparing and kept working on improving my performance.
Q2. How did you prepare for the English section?
For English, I focused on reading editorials regularly. This helped me improve my comprehension skills, which are very important for main exams.
Along with that, I practised using:
- Topic tests
- Sectional tests
- Full-length mock tests
This combination helped me understand different types of questions and improve accuracy.
Q3. What was your strategy for Quantitative Aptitude?
I prepared for quantitative aptitude through:
- YouTube classes for concept clarity
- Practice mock topic tests
- Sectional and full-length tests
My focus was on understanding concepts first and then practicing a variety of questions to improve speed and accuracy.
Q4. How did you prepare for the Reasoning section?
For Reasoning, my strategy was simple, practice as much as possible. I relied on:
- PracticeMock PDFs
- Topic-wise tests
- Sectional tests
- Full-length mocks
Regular practice helped me get comfortable with different types of puzzles and logical reasoning questions.
Q5. How did you prepare for General Awareness?
For GA, I covered:
- 6 months current affairs PDFs
- Weekly MCQs from PracticeMock
This helped me build a strong base for the GA section, which is crucial for mains exams.
Q6. Did you follow any specific strategy?
No, I did not follow a fixed strategy. My preparation mainly revolved around consistent practice and mock tests.
Q7. What challenges did you face during your preparation?
Yes, I faced a lot of failures. For the first 1–2 years, I couldn’t clear prelims exams. Later, even after clearing prelims, I failed in mains exams like IBPS PO, IBPS RRB PO, and IBPS Clerk.
These failures made me feel very disappointed at times. However, my friends, who got selected in different government banks, kept motivating me and encouraged me to continue.
Q8. How did mock tests help you in your preparation?
Mock tests played a very important role in my journey. From the beginning, my friend suggested this platform, and I started using it regularly.
The key benefits were:
- High-quality, exam-level questions
- Sometimes tougher than the actual exam
- Detailed analysis
- Real exam-like experience
These mocks gave me an extra boost and helped me perform better in the real exam.
Q9. What message would you like to give to aspirants?
Success in banking exams is not just about intelligence. It is a test of:
- Consistency
- Patience
- Self-belief
Even if you face failures, don’t give up. Keep practicing and trust the process.
Conclusion
Chetan Ramesh Bondre’s journey shows that failures are not the end—they are part of the process. From struggling in prelims to clearing multiple exams and getting closer to final selection, his story is a testament to perseverance. His preparation approach focused on practice, mock tests, and continuous learning, highlighting what it truly takes to succeed in competitive exams. For every aspirant reading this:
Stay consistent, believe in yourself, and keep moving forward. Your success is just a matter of time.
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