IBPS Clerk Books 2024: Important Books for Prelims, Mains

The English Language section tests a candidate's knowledge regarding vocabulary and English grammar. The English Language section comprises topics such as Reading Comprehension, Cloze Test, Fillers, Spotting Errors, Sentence Improvement, Fill in the Blanks, etc. The best books to refer to for English Language section are Reading Comprehension, Cloze Test, Fillers, Spotting Errors, Sentence Improvement, Fill in the Blanks, etc. Candidates can check below the preparation tips for IBPS Clerk 2023 English Language section.

• Candidates need to familiarise themselves with the format of the English section including the types of questions that are asked in the exam
• Candidates need to identify their weaknesses
• Candidates need to improve their reading, writing and vocabularly skills

The Quantitative Aptitude section tests a candidate's calculative ability. Questions are asked from the topics such as Number Series, Simplification/ Approximation, Quadratic Equations, Data Interpretation, Data Sufficiency, etc. Candidates for the Quantitative Aptitude section can refer to Quantitative Aptitude by R S Agarwal, Data Interpretation by Arun Sharma, Objective Mathematics for Competitive Exams by Tarun Goal and Fast Track Arithmetic by Rajesh Verma. The tips and tricks to improve IBPS Clerk Quant section are given below:

• Candidates should practice variety of questions on different topics
• Candidates must attempt mock tests and analyse their strengths and weaknesses
• Go through the previous years' question papers to understand and analyse the weightage of each subject
• Candidates must improve their speed and accuracy of solving questions

IBPS Clerk Reasoning Ability section assess a candidate's logical aptitude. Questions in this section are asked from Puzzle and Arrangements, Inequality, Syllogism, Coding-Decoding, Blood Relations, Direction sense and Order and Ranking, etc. For the Reasoning Ability section, candidates can refer to Modern Approach to Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning by RS Agarwal, Analytical Reasoning by MK Pandey and A New Approach to Reasoning: Verbal and Non-Verbal by BS Sijwali and Indus Sijwali. To ace the Reasoning section, candidates must practice mock tests to improve their speed and accuracy of solving questions. Candidates must learn the shortcut tricks of solving questions. Candidates must practice previous year question papers to know the type of questions asked in the exam.

The important topics for IBPS Clerk English are given below:

• Fill in the Blanks
• Rearrangement
• Spotting Errors
• Reading Comprehension
• Synonyms and Antonyms 
• Cloze Test

In the prelims exam, a total of 30 questions are asked from this section and the total marks allotted to this section are 30. In the Mains exam, 40 questions are asked from this section and it carries 40 questions. To ace English section, candidates should read newspapers and books. Candidates should especially read the editorial section of the newspapers to improve their vocabulary. The books that candidates can refer to for the exam are given below:

• High School English Grammar and Composition by Wren and Martin
• Objective General English by Arihant Publications
• Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis

IBPS Clerk exam pattern is such that it comprises prelims and Mains exams. The both the stages of exams are conducted online. The final selection of candidates is done based on the Mains exam. The marks obtained in the prelims exam are not counted for the final merit list. The prelims exam comprises three sections and carries 100 marks. The Mains exam comprises four sections and carries 200 marks. The structure of the IBPS Clerk prelims and mains exams is given below.

IBPS Clerk Prelims Exam Pattern

IBPS Clerk Mains Exam Pattern 

IBPS Clerk marking scheme is prescribed by the examination authority. For correct answer, one mark is awarded to candidates. For incorrect answers, 0.25 marks are awarded. The score is calculated based on the number of correct and incorrect answers. The marks obtained by candidates are normalised to calculate the scores. Candidates need to secure the desired marks to get selected for the post of Clerk in the public sector banks in India. The total marks allotted to the prelims exam are 100. The total marks allotted to the mains exam are 200. The marks obtained in the prelims exam are not counted for the final merit list. Only the marks scored in the mains exam are taken into consideration for the final merit list.

Yes, there are sectional timings in IBPS Clerk exam. In prelims exam, candidates will get 20 minutes to answer each section. In the Mains exam, 35 minutes each will be given to answer questions from General/Financial Awareness, General English and 45 minutes each will be given to attempt Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude and Quantitative Aptitude questions. The section-wise exam timings for prelims and mains exam are given below.

Prelims Exam

Mains Exam

IBPS Clerk syllabus is divided into prelims and Mains exams. The syllabus for the prelims exam comprises the topics such as English Numerical Ability, and Reasoning. IBPS Clerk Mains syllabus includes Quantitative Aptitude English Language, Reasoning Ability, Computer Aptitude, and General Awareness. It is important to prepare according to the syllabus as the questions in the exam are framed based on it. Candidates must be well-versed with the IBPS Clerk syllabus to know the important topics for the exam. The benefits of knowing the syllabus are given below:

• IBPS Clerk syllabus outlines the topics that candidates need to prepare for the exam
• Going through the syllabus candidates can know the topics that are important for the exam
• Candidates can plan their preparation strategy based on the syllabus

The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) does not announce ideal score specifically for IBPS Clerk exam. The examination authority only announce the section-wise and overall cut off marks. Candidates need to secure equal to or more than the cut off marks inorder to qualify the exam. The score required to pass the exam varies depending on the number of candidates and the difficulty of the exam. However, generally speaking, the higher candidate's score, the better their chances of being selected for the clerk position. Candidates can also get an idea about the ideal score by checking the previous years' cut off marks. Candidates should prepare well for the exam inorder to qualify the exam.

The syllabus of IBPS Clerk and RBI Assistant exams are quite similar in nature as they both test candidates on similar topics such as General Awareness, Numerical Ability, Reasoning and English language. However, there may be some slight differences in the specific areas of emphasis or the types of questions that are asked on each exam. For example, the RBI Assistant exam may place more emphasis on Economics and Banking-related topics, whereas the IBPS Clerk exam may focus more on General Knowledge and Current Affairs. There is also difference in the difficulty level. IBPS Clerk exam is conducted for recruitment to the post of Clerks in the 11 participating public sector banks in India. RBI Assistant exam is conducted for recruitment to the post of Assistants in RBI.

The most authentic source of information for pattern of questions asked in the prelims and Mains exams are the previous years' question papers. When candidates solve these papers, they get an idea about what kind of questions are asked from different topics, which areas are more important, etc. The importance of solving IBPS Clerk previous years' question papers is given below:

• IBPS Clerk previous year question papers give candidates a real feel for the actual exam environment, allowing them to familiarize themselves with the format, time constraints, and overall difficulty
• By analyzing the IBPS Clerk question papers, candidates can gain a thorough understanding of the exam pattern, such as the number of sections, the distribution of marks, and the time allotted for each section
• IBPS Clerk question papers help candidates identify the recurring topics and areas of emphasis in the exam. This knowledge enables them to prioritize their preparation and focus on the most relevant subjects
• Solving previous year papers within the given time frame helps candidates develop effective time management skills, ensuring they can allocate the appropriate time to each section and complete the exam on time
• Regularly practicing with previous year question papers enhances candidates' speed and accuracy in solving problems. They become familiar with the types of questions asked, which leads to quicker problem-solving during the actual exam
• Analyzing performance in previous year papers helps candidates identify their weak areas. This knowledge enables them to allocate more time and effort to improving those specific topics or question types
• Solving IBPS Clerk Exam Previous Year Question Papers successfully builds confidence among candidates, as it validates their level of preparation and helps them understand their strengths