In Bank Exams, English is a crucial component that tests candidates grammar, vocabulary and comprehension skills. Aspirants preparing for bank exams must not overlook this section, as it not only carries substantial weightage in most banking exams but is also a vital part of communicating in the banking sector. A strong command of the English language can give you a significant advantage in getting good scores as well as selection. In this article, we will discuss the English section of the banking exam which includes the syllabus, weightage and effective preparation tips.
Syllabus of English for Bank Exam
The syllabus of the English for Bank Exam indicates the different topics that are commonly tested in language proficiency and assessments.
| Syllabus of English for Banking Exam | |
| Topic | Description |
| Vocabulary | Building and understanding word meanings and usage in context. |
| Grammar | Rules governing the structure of language, including syntax, morphology, and semantics. |
| Sentence Structure | Understanding and constructing sentences with correct syntax and logical structure. |
| Synonyms | Words with similar meanings. |
| Antonyms | Words with opposite meanings. |
| Correct Usage | Applying words or phrases in the appropriate context. |
| Spot the Error | Identifying grammatical or typographical errors in a sentence. |
| Fill in the Blanks | Completing sentences or passages with missing words or phrases. |
| Synonyms/Homonyms | Identifying words with similar or identical spellings but different meanings. |
| Antonyms | Identifying words with opposite meanings. |
| Spellings/Detecting misspelt words | Identifying correctly spelt words and correcting misspelt ones. |
| Idioms & Phrases | Understanding and using expressions with figurative meanings. |
| One-word Substitution | Using a single word to replace a phrase or concept. |
| Improvement of Sentences | Enhancing the clarity, coherence, and effectiveness of sentences. |
| Active/Passive Voice of Verbs | Recognizing and using active and passive voice constructions. |
| Conversion into Direct/Indirect | Converting sentences from direct to indirect speech or vice versa. |
| Shuffling of Sentence Parts | Rearranging parts of a sentence to form a coherent structure. |
| Shuffling of Sentences in a Passage | Rearranging sentences in a paragraph or passage to improve coherence or test understanding. |
| Cloze Passage | Fill in missing words in a passage to maintain coherence and meaning. |
| Comprehension Passage | Understanding and answering questions based on a given passage. |
Weightage of English Section
The weightage of the English Section varies across different bank exams but typically ranges from 20% to 30%. The weightage of English in some common bank exams is tabulated below.
| Common Bank Exams English Section Weightage | ||||
| Exam Name | No. of Qs. of English | Marks | English section Weightage | |
| IBPS Clerk | Pre | 30 | 30 | 30% |
| Mains | 40 | 40 | 20% | |
| IBPS PO | Pre | 30 | 30 | 30% |
| Mains | 35 | 40 | 20% | |
| SBI Clerk | Pre | 30 | 30 | 30% |
| Mains | 40 | 40 | 20% | |
| SBI PO | Pre | 30 | 30 | 30% |
| Mains | 35 | 40 | 20% | |
| IBPS RRB Clerk | Pre | – | – | – |
| Mains | 40 | 40 | 20% | |
| IBPS RRB PO | Pre | – | – | – |
| Mains | 40 | 40 | 20% | |
| RBI Assistant | Pre | 30 | 30 | 30% |
| Mains | 40 | 40 | 20% | |
Note: In PO exams, there is a descriptive test also.
English Questions & Answers for Upcoming Bank Exams
Here are some practice questions to help you prepare for the English Language for the bank exams. Working on these types of questions can help you boost your score.
Tips To Prepare English for Banking Exams
- Clear Basic Grammar Rules: Start by strengthening the basics of English grammar rules and vocabulary. Understand the fundamentals of sentence structure and parts of speech.
- Read Regularly: Develop a reading habit of various sources, such as newspapers, novels, magazines & articles (online). This will not only improve comprehension skills but also build vocabulary. Also, candidates will get to know the different writing styles and genres.
- Practice Mock Tests & Previous Years’ Questions: Regularly practice Mock Tests and Previous Years’ Question papers to familiarise yourself with the question types, exam patterns and difficulty levels.
- Build Vocabulary: Understanding word roots, prefixes & suffixes and antonyms & synonyms can help in deducing the meaning of unfamiliar words and thereby expanding vocabulary.
- Focus on Time Management: Develop time management strategies during practice, and try to complete questions within the allocated time to improve speed and accuracy.
- Revise & Review: Regularly review grammar rules, vocabulary, and reading comprehension. Revise topics periodically to retain rules and concepts.
Common Mistakes to Avoid in the English Section of Bank Exams
The English language section of the Bank Exam is high scoring and usually takes less time to complete as compared to other sections. Making avoidable mistakes can cost valuable marks & may decrease the chance of selection. Here are the common mistakes to avoid in the English section of Bank Exams
- Neglecting Basic Grammar Rules:
- Mistake: Overlook fundamental grammar rules such as tense, subject-verb agreement and correct usage of articles and prepositions.
- Solution: Prioritize revision of basic grammar rules/concepts and try to apply them while practising and in day-to-day life. Regularly review grammar rules and common error types to minimise errors in error-spotting and sentence correction questions
- Misunderstanding Question Types:
- Mistake: Misinterpreting the question types and approach incorrectly or applying incorrect strategies.
- Solution: Familiarise thoroughly with the various question types and practice by applying specific concepts or skills they assess.
- Rushing through passage:
- Mistake: Read comprehension passages hastily, which leads to misunderstanding and incorrect answers.
- Solution: Approach reading comprehension passages systematically by first skimming through the passage to grasp the main idea and structure. Then go to questions and read it carefully.
- Ignoring Context in Cloze Tests:
- Mistake: Filling the blanks in cloze test questions without considering the context of the passage.
- Solution: Pay close attention to the context and tone of the passage when filling in the blanks. Use surrounding words and sentences to infer the meaning of the missing words and ensure coherence with the overall passage.
- Incorrect sentence correction:
- Mistake: Choosing the wrong option in sentence correction questions due to a lack of understanding of grammatical rules or misinterpretation of the sentence.
- Solution: Carefully analyze each part of the sentence and identify the error before selecting the correct option. Review common error types such as subject-verb agreement, parallelism, and modifier placement to improve accuracy in sentence correction questions.
- Improper Time Management:
- Mistake: Spending too much time on a question which leads to an incomplete paper or rushed responses at the end.
- Solution: Allocate time strategically to each question based on its difficulty level. If you encounter a particularly challenging question, consider skipping it temporarily and revisiting it later if time permits. Prioritize answering easier questions first to ensure maximum coverage within the allotted time.
