Success Story of Shashank Saha: From Repeated Setbacks to IBPS PO Selection

Cracking banking exams is not just about knowledge—it’s about resilience, smart strategy, and the ability to bounce back from failures. The journey of Shashank Saha perfectly reflects this reality. From missing cut-offs by razor-thin margins to finally securing a position as a Probationary Officer in Punjab National Bank (IBPS PO-IX) and becoming a state topper in Bank of Baroda (Clerk), his story is a powerful source of motivation for every aspirant.

Shashank Saha, from Raipur, Chhattisgarh, started his banking preparation journey in 2018–19. Despite having good conceptual knowledge, he struggled initially due to lack of speed and increasing competition. Like many aspirants, he faced repeated failures in prelims and mains stages.

In his early attempts, he could not clear exams like SBI JA, SBI PO, and RRB Clerk. Although he cleared RRB PO prelims, he failed in mains due to sectional cut-off by just 0.25 marks, despite scoring well above the overall cut-off. These setbacks could have discouraged anyone—but Shashank used them as fuel to improve.

With consistent effort, strong analysis, and a smart approach, he finally achieved success in multiple exams, including:

• IBPS PO-IX (Selected in Punjab National Bank)
• IBPS Clerk-IX (State Topper – Bank of Baroda)
• LIC Assistant

Preparation Strategy by Shashank Saha

Shashank emphasizes that every aspirant should develop their own strategy, but learning from others can help shape a better approach. Here’s a detailed look at his section-wise preparation strategy:

English Language Strategy

According to Shashank, English is all about reading ability.

• He did not rely on any specific book or source.
• Instead, he focused on reading articles, news, and online content daily.
• This helped him develop strong reading habits and comprehension skills.

He believes that mock tests are the best way to understand:

• Question types
• Weak areas
• Exam pattern

His key suggestion is to maximize attempts in English, as it can be a high-scoring section if prepared well.

Quantitative Aptitude Strategy

Shashank followed a topic-priority approach in Quant.

For Prelims:

• Quadratic Equations
• Number Series
• Approximation
• Data Interpretation
• Miscellaneous Arithmetic Questions

For Mains:

• Strong command over arithmetic concepts is essential
• Questions are unpredictable and often difficult
• Mental strength is important to handle pressure in the exam hall

He highlights that confidence and conceptual clarity are the keys to cracking Quant, especially in mains.

Reasoning Ability Strategy

Reasoning was initially challenging for Shashank, especially puzzles.

For Prelims:

• He started with miscellaneous questions
• Then moved to puzzles gradually
• Focused on improving puzzle-solving skills through practice

For Mains:

• Avoid jumping directly into puzzles
• Attempt miscellaneous, coding-decoding, and critical reasoning first
• Choose puzzles wisely based on comfort level

He emphasizes that question selection is the most important skill in mains reasoning, as not all questions are worth attempting.

General Awareness Strategy

For General Awareness, Shashank followed a limited but effective approach:

• AffairsCloud Monthly PDFs (Q&A format)
• Study IQ content

These sources helped him cover:

• 80–95% of questions in the exam

He advises aspirants to focus on quality over quantity and revise smartly instead of trying to cover everything.

Role of Mock Tests in His Success

Mock tests were the backbone of Shashank’s preparation.

He used mocks to:

• Understand exam pattern
• Improve speed and accuracy
• Identify strengths and weaknesses

He strongly recommends:

• Attempting mocks regularly
• Performing detailed analysis after each test

According to him, mock analysis is more important than mock attempts.

Challenges and Turning Points

Shashank’s journey was filled with challenges:

• Missing prelims cut-offs by small margins
• Failing in mains due to sectional cut-off despite high scores
• Missing SBI PO prelims by 0.xx marks

One of the most painful moments was scoring 35 marks above RRB PO mains cut-off, yet failing due to a sectional issue. However, instead of giving up, he stayed focused.

His breakthrough came with IBPS PO, where he delivered an excellent performance in both mains and interview, securing his preferred bank—Punjab National Bank.

Key Lessons from His Journey

Shashank’s story offers valuable lessons for every banking aspirant:

• Failure is part of the process
• Focus on improving speed along with concepts
• Practice mock tests regularly
• Analyse performance deeply
• Work on weak areas consistently
• Be smart in question selection during exams
• Stay mentally strong under pressure

Conclusion

The success story of Shashank Saha is a reminder that perseverance, discipline, and smart preparation can turn even the toughest failures into success. His journey shows that missing selection by a fraction of marks does not define your capability—it only highlights the need for better strategy and consistency.

As he rightly says, success in competitive exams requires a combination of hard work, smart work, and a bit of luck on the exam day.

If you are preparing for banking exams, take inspiration from his journey. Stay consistent, analyze your performance, and keep pushing forward despite setbacks. Your breakthrough moment might be just one exam away.

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