How to Prepare for English for IBPS Clerk Prelims 2022 Exam?
Every year, the Institute of Banking and Personnel Selection (IBPS) conducts exams for clerical positions for the different public sector banks. There are two stages in this exam, including Prelims and Mains, and each phase comes with cut-off scores that candidates must secure to qualify for the subsequent stages in the selection process. Those applying for the IBPS clerk prelims exam must be between 20 and 28 years and must know the official state language, besides English and computers.
Table of Contents
IBPS Clerk: Notification
The IBPS Clerk Prelims exam will take place on August 28 and on September 3 and 4, 2022, as per the notification released by the body. Those who want to write this exam can apply between July 1, 2022, and July 21, 2022. The admit card should be out by August 1, 2022.
IBPS Clerk: Syllabus
The IBPS Clerk Preliminary exam consists of English, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning Ability. The first section, that is, English, will have 30 questions, where each question carries one mark. So, English in the IBPS Prelims will account for 30 marks.
Similarly, Numerical Ability and Reasoning Ability will each carry 35 questions, where every question has one mark. The exam lasts one hour, and candidates get 20 minutes to answer each section.
English consists of the following topics as part of the IBPS Clerk Prelims syllabus.
- Reading Comprehension
- Cloze Test
- Fill in the Blanks
- Sentence Correction
- Para Jumbles
- Error Spotting
The syllabus and the allotted time are reasonably straightforward.
Cracking English in the IBPS Clerk Prelims 2022
While you should have a comprehensive study plan to crack the IBPS Clerk Prelims exam, here’s what you can do to get through in English.
- Aim to secure the cut-off score instead of trying to attempt all the questions. Especially if you’re not up to speed.
- IBPS Clerk Prelims cut-offs change annually, depending on various factors, including vacancies, difficulty levels, candidate counts, and performance. So, check for the expected cut-off scores before deciding how many questions to attempt.
- There are 30 questions in English, and you probably should attempt 20, or 22, depending on your stronghold, to maximise your scores.
- Each topic requires a different approach. So, create strategies accordingly.
A Few Handy Tips
There are six topics in English in the IBPS Clerk Prelims Exam, and here’s what you can do to approach them and score better.
1. Fill in the Blanks
Candidates must read the statement thoroughly before starting and use suitable elimination techniques to figure out the words and where they fit so that it makes sense.
2. Cloze Test
All the sentences in the cloze passage are logically intact, and you can leverage this to zero in on the required answer. However, if that doesn’t work, you can use elimination to establish the logic.
3. Para Jumbles
You will need to get what the passage is all about to rearrange the sentences. The passages have both generic and specific information. So, it’s all about spotting them. However, you can also turn towards the options, and rule out the improbable ones, to save time. Generally, the first sentence always makes sense, and you can use it to construct the others.
4. Sentence Correction
Read the sentences carefully and spot the errors. Also, look at all the options, compare them with the original sentences, and eliminate those with mistakes. You can also compare the choices but don’t waste time comparing each option with the sentences.
5. Error Spotting
Read the sentences thoroughly and verify the subject-verb agreement. You can also try reading each part individually to know if there are any grammatical or logical errors.
6. Comprehension Passage
It would be best if you attempted the antonyms and synonyms questions first. The words in the passage may have different meanings as suggested in the options but remember that only one of those fits the context. So, try and find the answers using the passage. You can also use elimination to complete this section quickly. However, don’t formulate your answers based on external theories or inferences.
Conclusion
While English may be easy for those well-acquainted with the language, others may need to manage their time effectively, especially when you must attempt 30 questions in about 20 minutes. Use the strategies discussed above and try to attempt about 20, or 22 sure shot questions, to increase your chances.
