How to prepare Reasoning for Bank Exams like SBI / IBPS / RBI

If you want to succeed in SBI clerk prelims 2021, then you have to work hard and score 30+ in reasoning ability. You take have enough time for preparing for these exams. Prepare a study plan and adhere to the timing and topics. If you are also preparing for competitive exams like, Bank PO Clerks (IBPS  SBI), SSC Exams (CGL, CHSL, CPO), Police SI Constable and Defence exams (CDS  AFCAT) these tips will be very useful.

Hope you have read the previous article on Quantitative Aptitude Tips. If not Click here

The best way to master the reasoning section is by understanding the concept of logic, regular practice and writing mocks.  The level of the SBI Clerk 2021 exam is difficult, so the only way to ensure your success is to score as high as possible. Reasoning ability  session comprises of questions based on critical thinking or analytic logic. If you develop higher logical reasoning ability you can score higher in this section. To ensure you place in Mains we recommend consistent practice and apply our strategies on how to score 30+ marks in reasoning.

Tips for Scoring 30+ in SBI Clerk Reasoning Section

Firstly we will discuss some Tips for reasoning section followed by Exam pattern and Topic wise Tips and tricks:

Important Reasoning tips for IBPS / SBI Exams:

  1. To score more in the SBI Clerk Prelims 2021 exam, you should start with those topics in which you have a very good command..
  2. While you start preparing, start with easy topic solve practice questions for that chapter. Begin with the easy questions and gradually move on to questions that are more difficult. This will act as catalyst for your confidence.
  3. Since in Bank exams like SBI / IBPS exam, there is a negative marking of 0.25 mark, accuracy is the most essential aspect to score high marks in reasoning. This only comes with practice.
  4. Competitive exams is all about Speed, Accuracy and time management skills. So during the practice sessions make sure that you maintain these three factors and solve questions in a time-bound manner lead to a higher score.

  5. Study Plan:

You should chalk out a study plan giving timing for all the sections of Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning, English as well as Mains preparation in between.  The study plan should be such that you divide equal time to each section of the exam. We will discuss about detailed study plan in the next article.

  1. Questions like 2-3 variables puzzle or seating arrangement are time consuming, so try attempting these questions at last. As there is only 20 minutes allotted for 35 questions of Reasoning this is one the main tip to remember.
  2. Start with questions on miscellaneous topics like syllogism, alphanumeric series, direction distance, and other topics likewise. Note: start your reasoning section with questions that are not in the form of puzzles.
  3. Allocate the preparation time based on the number of expected questions from each topic. If you spend more time on topics that do not yield questions in exam, then you are on the wrong track.
  4. If you are aim is to crack any exams then ensure that you will not take gap in preparation and will have to be consistent. To achieve your goals you have to sacrifice all deviating activities like social media and maintain a disciplined schedule until you write the exam. Maintain a daily schedule time table and adhere to the timings.
  5. YouTube Videos: 

There are number of videos available for free in YouTube for bank exam preparation. These videos will be helpful for revision and clearing any doubts. You Can find good number of videos in Rankers Hub YouTube Channel or also similar channels.

  1. Mock  exams / tests:

Writing as many Mock tests as possible, you should take both sectional and full-length mock tests during preparation. While analyzing your performance, you should identify the weak areas and work upon improving those areas. Before the last 15 days, try to should attempt at-least two mock exams per day. Also, you must analyse your performance after every mock test.

Reasoning Ability Section

Before starting your preparation, it is quite essential to know the weight age of each topics in SBI exams. Though there are many topics in reasoning the under mentioned topics are most important and approximate expected number of questions is given against each topic:

  1. Seating Arrangement and Puzzles – 20 Questions
  2. Coding-Decoding / Inequality / Input output – 5 Questions
  3. Blood Relations – 3 Questions
  4. Distance and Directions – 2 Questions
  5. Syllogism – 3 to 4 Questions
  6. Miscellaneous – 1 to 2 Questions

Topic-wise Tips and Tricks in SBI / IBPS PO and Clerk Reasoning

We have discussed about topic wise tips and tricks in Quantitative in our previous article. In the someway it is also important to understand the same in Reasoning to score more marks. Lets us study about the reasoning section topics one by one.

  1. Distance and Directions

This one of the easiest and most scoring of all the questions asked in Reasoning. If you can read the statements carefully by focusing on one aspect at a time and make diagrams then you answer is not far away. You should have a clear understanding about the directional coordinates and facing directions concept. If you perfect in the concept then you will never miss a mark.

  1. Analogy

Starting reasoning session with Analogy, Order and ranking, Alphanumeric Series, syllogisms will fetch easy marks as these sections is straightforward based on general knowledge and common sense.

In analogy questions, you have to identify the relation between two components and find out the missing element having a similar relationship with another element. Practicing more number of questions will fetch you marks.

  1. Order Ranking

In order and ranking there are a few formulas to solve these types of questions and making diagrams can also help. These questions are given to determine the rank/position of the person from top[1]bottom/left-right.

  1. Alphanumeric Series

Perhaps one of the most interesting topics in reasoning is series questions. These questions are based on the identification of the pattern in a given series

  1. Syllogism

There are two methods to chose to solve syllogisms, either you can choose the A, E, l, O rules method, or the traditional Venn Diagram method. It’s up to you to decide which method you will practice, scoring is important. It is important to read the questions before attempting the answers in syllogisms. Be clear regarding the statements and about the assumptions.

  1. Blood Relations

We can expect two questions from this topic. Read the question carefully and draw a family tree accordingly. It should be noted that generations and relations in between the characters asked should not be confused. You can easily score marks if you draw a perfect family tree.

  1. Inequalities

Mathematical Inequalities questions are complex expressions with mathematical symbols. You need to determine the relationship between different variables. Coded Inequalities questions consist of expressions coded with symbols. So first, you have to decode the symbols and then find the conclusions.

One the best way is to make a table and decode the given symbols. Thereafter rewrite the relationships using the decoded symbols. Combine all the relationships to get the combined statement to draw an accurate conclusion.

  1. Seating Arrangements

In seating there are various models like circular, linear, square etc. These questions are critical, tricky and time consuming. To master the topic there is only one tip to “more you practice, the more you gain mastery over this topic”.

  1. Puzzles

Year by year the importance of the topic is increasing. More questions are asked from this topic, these are tricky and also time consuming. Analyze and collect all the statements, do not miss any clue. The only way to master this topic is again the same practice – practice and more practice. You cannot ignore this topic to succeed in Bank exams. Complete your syllabus and do practice and practice more practice.

  1. Input and Output: Questions on Input and Output are not difficult to solve, but are time taking. To solve these questions its important to remember that you should not miss any detail when processing the input because that is common error which lead to wrong answer.
  2. Miscellaneous topics.

There are other small topics that come under reasoning and may need attention such as data sufficiency etc. Practice these topics as they can be handy in fetching one or two marks. Data Sufficiency questions may be of any form. Data Sufficiency questions are likely to take the maximum time in solving them. Hence, with adequate practice and solving mock tests, candidates will be able to be score good marks.

All the best

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