The preliminary exam will be of total 200 marks. As clearly mentioned in the exam pattern, English, Economic & Social Issues, and Agriculture & Rural Development sections have higher weightage in marks (40 marks each) as compared to the remaining sections.
✦ Tip - 1: Create a realistic timetable. As you can see, the syllabus of the exam is vast. So, having a realistic timetable will definitely help you to go about your NABARD Grade A preparation. Keep your strengths and weaknesses in mind while you create your timetable. Allocate more time for your weak subjects and topics. Also, allocate separate time for learning new topics, solving practice questions, and revising old topics.
✦ Tip - 2: For NABARD Grade A preparation for English Language section of both Prelims and Mains, cultivate reading and writing habits. Read English newspapers and magazines regularly. Note down new words that you come across and learn their meaning and usage. Also, brush up your basic English grammar knowledge. While practicing, pay extra attention to Comprehension Tests, Cloze Tests, Para Jumbles, and Error Spotting. Read and write essays on social, political, economic, and cultural issues. Be aware of the different formats of writing letters.
✦ Tip - 3: To ace the Reasoning Ability section, have a deep understanding of the theories behind every concept and learn the steps to solve the questions. Do not try to learn the shortcuts at first. Do that only after you have mastered the systematic steps to solve the questions. Keep your mind calm while practicing reasoning questions. Important topics for Reasoning Ability section includes Syllogism, Sitting Arrangements (both circular and linear), Puzzles, Data Sufficiency, Mathematical Inequalities, etc.
✦ Tip - 4: The Quantitative Aptitude section of NABARD Grade A preparation needs the application of a lot of formulas. Remember the formulas of every chapter by heart and solve practice questions of all difficulty level to master the application. Revise the formulas regularly. Also, learn the shortcut and tricks to solve complex problems. Solve a lot of practice questions on Data Analysis and Interpretation, Profit and Loss, Simple and Compound Interest, Mensuration, Percentage, Number Series, Probability, etc.
✦ Tip - 5: General Awareness section needs a regular reading of newspapers and magazines. Also, read latest yearbooks to know about important events that has happened around the world. Pay attention to events and news related to banking, finance, and economy. This is very important for your NABARD Grade A preparation.
✦ Tip - 6: For Computer Aptitude section, spend an hour daily to learn about basic computer hardware and software.
✦ Tip - 7: For both Economic & Social Issues section and Agriculture & Rural Development section of your NABARD Grade A preparation, read newspapers and magazines regularly. Make notes about banking policies, economic policies, social issues (especially the ones related to the economy), statistical data about agriculture sector and rural development, various policies implemented for rural and agricultural development, etc.
✦ Tip - 8: Solve practice questions diligently every time you finish a chapter. For questions that you find difficult to answer, revise them regularly. Practicing rigorously to master the application of your knowledge is an important aspect of your NABARD Grade A preparation.
✦ Tip - 9: Take bank mock tests in order to have an idea about the nature and level of questions asked in the exam.
✦ Tip - 10: Analyse your performance. Focus on the sections/ chapters/ topics that you are weak at. Evaluating yourself at every step of your NABARD Grade A preparation is very important.
✦ Tip - 11: Time management plays a crucial role in NABARD Grade A exam. So, as you practice, try to solve questions in a time-bound manner.
✦ Tip - 12: Regular revision is very crucial to your NABARD Grade A preparation. So, revise regularly. Otherwise, you will forget the concepts and topics that you had finished long ago.