SBI PO preliminary Exam Experience

I took my first competitive test on June 9, 2019, which was the SBI PO preliminary exam. Coincidentally, my final semester examinations were also taking place that month, but fortunately, the test dates did not clash.

I prepared for the exam for two months using various resources, including books, PDFs, and question papers from previous years. I noted that the previous cutoff for the unreserved category (UR) was 57. I figured that if the cutoff increased by 4–5 marks this time, it would still be around 65, and I needed to aim close to that number. At that point, my speed was not very good because I was overly focused on “learning everything,” which I later recognized as my first mistake.

The day before the test, I mentally decided how many attempts I would make in each section: 25 in English, 25 in Reasoning, and 25 in Quantitative Aptitude. This turned out to be my second big mistake, and I cannot even explain why I set those limits.

As a result, I completely bombed the test. I attempted 68 questions and scored 61 marks. That year, the cutoff for the unreserved category soared to 71, leaving me short by 10 marks. While I was disappointed, I viewed it as a valuable learning experience.

Key Takeaways from My Experience:

1. Never take cutoffs too seriously. No one can accurately predict them.
2. Avoid entering an exam with a predetermined number of attempts in mind. Always adjust based on the actual difficulty of the test.
3. Focus on maximizing both speed and accuracy.
4. Don’t try to learn everything. Develop a strategy and stick to it.
5. Question selection is crucial.
6. Mock tests are essential for clearing preliminary exams.

After this setback, I worked hard and successfully cleared all the competitive exams I attempted afterward, including SBI Clerk, LIC Assistant, IBPS PO, and IBPS Clerk.

Thank you for reading!