How to Prepare GA for IBPS PO and Clerk

The General Awareness (GA) section of the IBPS PO and Clerk exams can be a double-edged sword. It tests well-rounded knowledge, but its vast syllabus can feel overwhelming. Fear not, aspiring banker!

With the right approach and dedication, candidates can transform the GA section from a hurdle to a stepping stone in the IBPS Exam journey. The given article will guide candidates with the knowledge and strategies to transform GA from a mystery into a mastery.

Understanding General Awareness Section For IBPS PO and Clerk

The first step is to understand the General Awareness Section for the IBPS PO and Clerk Exam. The key components that the GA section includes are as follows:

• Current Affairs: This is the ever-changing landscape, comprising national and international events of the past 6 months. Candidates must focus on topics with high weightage, such as government policies, economic trends, global issues, and science & technology advancements.
• Static General Knowledge (GK): This is the foundation of factual knowledge. One should brush up on the sections of history, geography (including India and the world), polity (Indian Constitution, political system), economics (basic concepts and current affairs), and science (general principles).
• Banking Awareness: The requirement of banking awareness is a deep understanding of the banking sector. Learn about RBI functions, monetary policy, financial markets (stock market, bond market), banking products (loans, deposits), and key financial terminologies.

General Awareness Syllabus For IBPS PO and Clerk

Candidates aspiring to qualify IBPS Clerk and PO Exam should be acquainted with the General Awareness Syllabus. The list of topics that one has to prepare are as follows:

• National Current Affairs
• International Current Affairs
• State Current Affairs
• Sports News
• Central Government Schemes, Agreements/MoU
• Books & Authors
• Summits & Conferences
• Defense News
• Science & Technology News
• Banking and Financial Awareness
• Static Awareness
• Recent RBI Circulars-Based Questions
• Business & Economy Related News
• Important Days
• Obituaries
• Important Appointments
• Important Awards & Honours
• Union Budget
• Economic Survey
• Ranks/Reports/Indexes

How to prepare GA for IBPS PO and Clerk?

The effective strategies that one should follow while preparing the General Awareness section for IBPS PO and Clerk are as follows:

• Become a News Ninja: Develop a daily habit of reading a reputed newspaper. Focus on national and business sections, underlining important information, and creating short summaries.
• Magazines for the Win: Subscribe to a weekly or monthly current affairs magazine for in-depth analysis of important news stories.
• Yearbooks: Yearly Dose of Knowledge: Utilize the latest yearbooks to gain insights on important facts, figures, awards & recognitions, and government schemes.
• The Power of Online Resources: Supplement the knowledge with credible online news websites, government portals, and educational platforms specializing in competitive exams such as Adda247.
• Become a Note-Taking Master: Develop a note-taking system that works to remember General Awareness. Use notebooks, mind maps, or digital note-taking apps to organize information by topic.
• Flashcards: Create flashcards for key facts, definitions, important dates, and people in the news. Revise them regularly.
• Make it Visual: Utilize flowcharts, diagrams, and concept maps to represent complex topics and relationships between concepts. This can be particularly helpful for remembering historical events or economic cycles.

Preparation Tips For General Awareness

Don’t try to cram everything at the last minute. Dedicate a manageable amount of time each day for studying General Awareness. Consistency is crucial for retaining information and building a strong foundation of knowledge.

• Regular Revision: Regular revision is essential for retaining information. Revisit the notes, flashcards, and mind maps at spaced intervals to enhance long-term memory.
• Current Affairs Debate Club: Form a study group with friends and hold weekly debate sessions on current events. Assign opposing viewpoints and present arguments to enhance critical thinking and communication skills.
• Weekly Mock Tests: Take online mock tests regularly to simulate the exam environment and identify the weak areas. Treat them as practice battles, analyzing the mistakes and learning from them.
• Educational Games & Apps: Make learning interactive with educational apps and websites that offer quizzes, puzzles, and simulations based on GA topics. Gamifying the preparation can boost engagement and make the process more enjoyable.