"Everyone has a story and every story is inspiring" says Abhishek Mishra

Greetings everyone! My name is Abhishek Mishra. I am from Lakhimpur kheri, Uttar Pradesh. I have completed my graduation B.Sc. Honour’s in physics from Kirorimal college, Delhi University in may 2018. Recently the final results of IBPS PO 2018 were announced and I have been allotted first preference of mine, Punjab National Bank.

Having completed my graduation,I came back to home and started preparing for IBPS PO as I knew my parents’ unconditional love and support would help me prepare better for the examination and I could clear it in my first attempt at the age of 20. Exams in which have appeared are -:

•IBPS PO (selected in PNB)

•IBPS Clerk (selected in BOB)

•Indian Bank PO PGDBFA (selected)

•CAT percentile 92.47

•IIM Indore PGP Interview (result awaited)

Preparation journey-:

I believe “Everyone has a story and every story is inspiring.” So I will tell you everything whatever I have done from the beginning, you need to choose and plan accordingly because what worked for me, may or may not suit you, you have to come up with your own plan.

Coming back to home I have researched all about the exam pattern and process, drawn the conclusion that I need to focus exclusively on the mains exam preparation part because it will help me clearing prelims too.

For prelims time management and speed is most important thing that will come by practice. 20 days before the prelims exam I have started attempting 1 mock daily and analysed after onwards. I have focused extensively on mains from the start reason being mains marks would only get me selection, prelims is just qualifying in nature.

For mains accuracy and choosing the right set of questions is very important. I’ve attempted 1 mock and analyzed it 2 days because most of the learning for mains exam comes from analysing mocks. I’ll try to explain what I did for individual sections-:

Data analysis and interpretation-:

Seeing the last year exam analysis I have found that most of the DI and data sufficiency questions come from percentage,profit loss and discount,time work ,time speed distance etc. So I cleared my basics from ACE Quant book, I’ve tried not to use much shortcuts because in exam that doesn’t work and this year’s mains paper confirms that one should try to use fundamental method to get the question right. Once the basics were done I have just relied on mocks heavily, mains mocks questions were a notch higher than the actual ones that helps you maintain your calmness during a tough exam. When you attempt a mock setting the exam environment before the actual one then only you’ll be able to find your strong area as I’ve found out if any DI/Sufficiency question comes from boat and stream/profit loss, I can do that. So accordingly you have to find your own strong area.

Reasoning and computer aptitude-:

I have studied topics like syllogism and inequality from some online sources (useful only for prelims) but mains paper comprises mostly puzzles and seating arrangement, input-output and critical reasoning questions. I have just utilized mocks and tried to solve every question on my own then looked for the solution so that I can have a general idea about my strong/weak zone area. In most of the mocks I’ve attempted all the Critical reasoning questions ,circular seating , matrix based and never attempted input output question similarly you should plan which to choose/skip.

English language-:

I was not an avid reader of newspaper so I just attempted and analysed mocks and learnt from my mistakes, noted them down so I don’t repeat them in final exam. In last months I started reading articles that were really useful. My approach in this section was to read~comprehend ~infer that worked for me.

General awareness-:

This section consists of banking part, current affairs and static awareness. Seeing few exam papers I have got to know that most of the questions come from current events related to banking and economy.

Current affairs – I have followed adda247 for day to day updates from June and made my handwritten notes of it. For revision I found ADDA247 PDF really good and revised my notes one week before the mains. I think one should try to cover current atleast from april/may and important updates of budget and economic survey as 2 to 3 questions are asked from it.
Banking Awareness – I have done this part from banking and economy PDF, they have explained in such a elaborate manner that it helped in mains as well as interview.
Static Awareness – Although I have made notes of all the national parks, biosphere reserve, classical dance forms etc. from bankersadda pdf, the cost benefit ratio is very low in this part so if you have less time you can skip it.

Descriptive English-:

In this section format of essay and letter is most important, I had referred to the descreptive PDF. Once I was acqintend with the pattern, I have prepared about the topics related to banking and economy like NPA problem, merger of banks, RBI section 7 etc for essay and letters to editor, bank manager about EMI/Loan/ATM etc.

Interview( final stage)-:

Once I was done with the mains exam I started preparing for the interview and this was the stage I enjoyed preparing the most because whatever you have learned you have to apply and interpret here, I have divided my preparation into parts-:

Personal information (like hobbies, strength/weakness, why banking etc).
Graduation based (just basics of physics).
Banking and Economy ( Monetary policy, financial inclusion, cts ,negotiable instruments etc.)
Budget and economic survey (recapitalization of PSBs, NPA issue etc.)
Current events (related to banking economy )

Finally when I am writing this I am feeling extremely joyous because it feels amazing from reading someone else’s story to writing your own. Seeing the smile on your parents’ face and all the near and dear one’s wishes make you feel blessed.

There are many ups and downs in every aspirant’s journey, sometimes you will think whether you are going to get it or not. The only motivational lines that I had with me were by Steve jobs speech at stanford-:“You can only connect the dots by looking backward not by looking forward.” He says what ever actions you are going to take today if they may have any adverse impact on tomorrow you’ll never take those actions. So take those actions which make you think the efforts that you have put, were the best that led you to the success of today.

I feel the best step I had taken was attempting and analysing all the mock tests passionately that led me to the day of mine 1st april 2019. I wish you too the best wishes from my side, make yourself and your parents proud all the very best.

You’ve become an achiever from an aspirant, its time you pass on your knowledge and help other aspirants by guiding them with how your journey was? What helped you? What you believe in? How Adda247 and bankersadda helped you??

We’ll post your journey’s video and your success story on bankersadda.com and on our Facebook pages. This way, you can inspire others to aspire for their future!! mail us at blogger@adda247.com

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SBI PO 2019 Notification out-2000 Vacancies.

SBI PO 2019- Notification and FAQ-2000 Vacancies