How To Prepare For RBI Assistant Exam

RBI Assistant examination is one of the most sought after exams, as it makes way for your entry (other than of course RBI Grade B Direct Recruitment) into the RBI.

The exam has simple eligibility conditions – 50% marks in graduation, and clearing the selection procedure entitles you to a salary higher than clerical cadre in public sector banks.

Simply put, it is one offer no government job aspirant would like to lose. So you have to be ready to work hard. Really, really hard.

Let me briefly explain the RBI Assistant exam structure, and then we will see how to prepare for the exam.

RBI Assistant Exam Pattern

Taking cue from other government agencies, RBI now conducts the assistant exam in online mode. The exam consists of only objective questions.

Within 120 minutes you have to answer 200 questions for 200 marks. There are 5 sections: Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, English, GK, And Computer Knowledge.

How to prepare for RBI Assistant Exam?

Alright now that we know the paper pattern, let us plan our approach.

The best method would be to choose a section wise planning, focus on your strengths, and work more on your weakness. Robust preparation combined with smart work will be the key to crack this paper.

Reasoning section

You can expect moderate to high level questions from this section. This section is to test your analytical and reasoning skills.

• As I always preach, for those who practice well, reasoning will be easy and a good scoring opportunity. Questions are similar to what is asked in the other exams.
• The level of questions asked is definitely easier than the PO papers but it is of higher level when compared to other assistant papers, but then you also get more salary than other assistants!
• Concentrate more on verbal reasoning.
• Blood relations and word formations are relatively easy and scoring topics. Practice more so that you get speed and high accuracy.
• For Coding-Decoding, alphabet series and syllogism it is better if you write down the alphabets and then approach to solve these.
• Sitting/Standing arrangements, who-stays-on-which-floor, in a group of working friends who likes which color and who works in which shift etc. kind of questions can be really tricky and if you are not thorough with practice these can take up a lot of time.

In this post we have recommended the best books for a section wise preparation, if you are interested in buying books which are specially made for RBI exam – don’t forget to read our other post.

Recommended Books For Reasoning

• A Modern Approach To Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning by R. S. Aggarwal – Buy on Flipkart or Buy on Amazon

Quantitative Aptitude

You should expect moderate to high level questions in this section.

• It is important that you start practicing the quantitative questions in a time bound manner. Speed is everything
• Do not spend too much time on a single question. If you find one sum to be too lengthy then or too time consuming do not fixate on that. There will be plenty others that you will be able to answer.
• Data Interpretation questions might be lengthy but not tough. So practice as many as possible to improve your speed and accuracy (however during past exams RBI has not asked from Data Interpretation and asked more from Simplifications type of problems.
• Questions from Interest (SI and CI), Profit and Loss, Percentage, Time and work, Time and Distance and Speed will be till 10^th-12^th
• If Maths isn’t your strong point do not panic. Grab any school level book and start your practice.

Recommended Books For Quantitative Aptitude:

• Quantitative Aptitude by R.S. Agarwal – Buy on Flipkart or Buy on Amazon
• Quicker Mathematics by M. Tyra – Buy on Flipkart or Buy on Amazon
• Arihant’s Fast Track Objective Arithmetic – Buy on Flipkart or Buy on Amazon

English

Expect Moderate level of questions.

• Spotting the wrong in a sentence, idioms and phrasal verbs fill in the blanks are comparatively easy and scoring. So practice them.
• Comprehension and jumbled sentences can be of comparatively high level.
• For jumbled sentences try taking 2-3 sentences at a time and arranging. One you have arranged that them it would be easier to put together all of them.
• Read English newspaper and magazines and especially the editorials. These will improve your command over language.
• You can prepare the grammar and Vocabulary from ICSE class X English language book.

Recommended Books For English:

• Objective General English by S.P. Bakshi –Buy on Flipkart or Buy on Amazon
• General English for All Competitive Examinations by S.C. Gupta – Buy on Flipkart or  Buy on Amazon

General Knowledge

Expect High level questions from this section. For current affairs, don’t go beyond past six months.

• Keep yourself acquainted with the economic terms, their cause and the effect on the economy. Say for example- Inflation: cause and effect. GDP, GNP etc.
• Focus on current affairs in the business and financial world.

Recommended Books For General Knowledge:

• Manorama Yearbook 2015 (English) – Buy on Flipkart or Buy on Amazon
• Lucent’s General Knowledge (English) – Buy on Flipkart or Buy on Amazon

Computer Knowledge

Expect Moderate to easy level questions. You are expected to have basic computer knowledge. If you use computers, just read any one of the books recommended below, like a story book and make sure you understand most of it. Don’t waste much time here.

• Questions are from operating system, MS Office, software and hardware, basic knowledge of Internet and networking system.

Recommended Books For Computer Knowledge

• Objective Computer Knowledge & Literacy : Kiran Prakashan – Buy on Flipkart or Buy on Amazon
• Objective Computer Awareness For General Competitive Exams: Arihant Publications – Buy on Flipkart or Buy on Amazon

Final Words

So we have explained the RBI Assistant exam pattern and also how to prepare for the RBI assistant exam.

You should allot a reasonable time frame to each section. Identify your strengths and weaknesses work accordingly. Got a problem? Ask us, we are here to help and guide you.

Good luck.