How to prepare for bank exams? And how to crack bank exams on the first attempt? These are the most common questions for beginners entering competitive exams. In India, the landscape is filled with prestigious opportunities such as UPSC, SSC, State PSCs, and the highly sought-after Banking sector (IBPS, SBI, RBI, and various RRBs). Every year, millions of Bank exam aspirants compete for a limited number of vacancies, making it very hard to get selected. To stand out, you need more than just hard work; you need a structured, step-by-step roadmap. If you think 'I don’t know how to start', in this blog, we provide complete details of Eligibility and Exam Pattern, Study Plan, Daily Study Routine, Subject-wise Preparation Strategy, Mock Tests and Analysis, and common mistakes to avoid. Based on feedback from thousands of successful candidates and toppers, we have curated this expert guidance to take you from zero to hero in your bank exam preparation strategy. Whether you are starting from scratch or looking to refine your speed and accuracy, this guide is your ultimate resource for success in 2026. For more queries, refer to the FAQ section given below.

Bank Exam Syllabus 2025

What Are Bank Exams in India?

Bank exams in India are standardised recruitment tests conducted to hire professionals for various roles across public sector, private, and regional banks. These exams are primarily categorised into three levels: Probationary Officers (PO) for managerial roles, Clerical cadre for customer service and front-desk operations, and Specialist Officers (SO) for technical niches like IT, Law, or Marketing. Major conducting bodies include the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS), which handles recruitment for most public sector and regional rural banks (RRBs), the State Bank of India (SBI), and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for apex-level positions like Grade B officers. Most of these exams follow a rigorous multi-stage process involving a Preliminary screening, a detailed Main examination, and a personal interview for officer-level posts, all designed to test your speed, accuracy, and mental aptitude.

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Eligibility and Exam Pattern

To keep your preparation on track, here are the essential eligibility criteria and the standard exam pattern for 2026 bank exams.

Eligibility Criteria

• Educational Qualification: You must hold a Bachelor’s degree in any stream from a recognised university. For Clerk roles, basic computer literacy and proficiency in the local language of your state are usually mandatory.

• Age Limit (General Category):

  • Probationary Officer (PO): 20 to 30 years.

  • Clerk / Junior Associate: 20 to 28 years.

  • RRB Office Assistant: 18 to 28 years.

• Age Relaxation: Upper age limits are relaxed by 5 years for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC (Non-Creamy Layer), and 10 years for PwD candidates.

• Nationality: You must be a citizen of India (subjects of Nepal/Bhutan or certain Tibetan refugees are also eligible under specific conditions).

Bank Exams Eligibility Criteria 2025

Exam Pattern

The bank exam pattern generally consists of three stages: Prelims, Mains, and Interview. The Preliminary exam usually includes objective-type questions from Reasoning Ability, Quantitative Aptitude, and English Language, designed to test basic aptitude and speed. Candidates who qualify the prelims move to the Mains exam, which has a higher difficulty level and covers sections such as Reasoning & Computer Aptitude, Data Analysis & Interpretation, General/Economy/Banking Awareness, and English Language. For Specialist Officer posts, professional knowledge is also included. Some exams also have a descriptive test in English. Candidates clearing the Mains are shortlisted for the Interview, which assesses communication skills, subject knowledge, confidence, and suitability for the banking role. Final selection is based on the combined performance in the Mains and the Interview.

Best Books For Bank Exams

Best Study Plan for Beginners and Intermediates

Here we have provided a bank exams study plan for Beginners and Intermediates table below, for aspirants in Bank Exams:

How to Prepare for Bank Exams - Daily Study Routine 

Below, we have listed a few study routine tips from our experts to crack the exam, and on this page, we have added the bank exam syllabus and preparation to boost your confidence.

• Begin the day with current affairs and banking awareness revision (30–45 minutes).

• Practice Quantitative Aptitude or Reasoning concepts with questions for 1–2 hours.

• Spend 45 minutes to 1 hour on English (reading, grammar, vocabulary).

• Attempt at least one sectional test or practice set daily.

• Analyse mistakes properly and note down shortcuts or weak areas.

• End the day with a light revision of what you studied.

Subject-wise Preparation Strategy for Bank Exam

Following this, we have provided subject-wise bank exam preparation for beginners to help them successfully prepare for the bank exam.

• Reasoning Ability: Practise puzzles, seating arrangements, and syllogisms daily to improve logical thinking.

• Quantitative Aptitude: Focus on calculation speed, simplification, DI, and arithmetic word problems.

• English Language: Improve vocabulary, grammar basics, and reading comprehension regularly.

• General Awareness: Read daily current affairs, banking news, and revise static GK weekly.

• Attempt mock tests subject-wise to identify weak areas and improve them systematically.

Mock Tests and Analysis for Bank Exam

The following tips are helpful to improve your confidence by practising mock tests and analysis.

• Take full-length mock tests after completing each topic to check real progress.

• Track your scores section-wise to understand where you are losing marks.

• Learn time management by practising section-wise mocks regularly.

• Compare your attempts with toppers’ strategies to improve speed and accuracy.

• Revise the questions you got wrong and note shortcuts or better methods.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The following mistakes must be avoided in your exam preparation, and knowing these mistakes is helpful for bank exam aspirants to be confident and efficient.

• Do not guess answers blindly, as negative marking can reduce your score.

• Avoid studying new topics just one day before the exam.

• Don’t rely only on theory; regular practice is equally important.

• Avoid long study hours without breaks, as it reduces focus and retention.

• Do not ignore previous year questions—they help understand exam trends.
  
  

FAQs

Q: Can beginners crack bank exams?

Yes, beginners can crack bank exams within 4 to 6 months of disciplined study by focusing on speed-building and mastering basic concepts from day one.

Q: Is coaching necessary for bank exams?

Yes, coaching is helpful for bank exams as it gives proper guidance, clear study plans, and expert tips. Guidely provides online coaching with personalised mentorship and offline coaching at selected centres, making preparation easier and more effective.

Q: Which subject is most important?

While all sections are vital, General Awareness is a game-changer for Mains, and Reasoning/Quants are crucial for clearing high Prelims cut-offs.

Q: How many mock tests per week?

Beginners should take 1–2 full-length mocks weekly, while advanced aspirants should aim for 3–4 mocks to refine their speed and accuracy.

Q: Best books for bank exams?

Highly recommended books include R.S. Aggarwal (Quants/Reasoning), Wren & Martin (English), and Arihant’s Banking Awareness for the general knowledge section.