Ten Mistakes to avoid while preparing for CAIIB exam

Ten  Mistakes to avoid while preparing for CAIIB exam

1.Not allocating sufficient amount of Study time daily:

This is a very common mistake done by many CAIIB aspirants, Cramming the information before the night of the exam or before two days may helped you in JAIIB examination (Although it is a wrong way of preparation).  But here in CAIIB examination it won’t help you to even score thirty marks. A thorough understanding of concepts are needed for almost all topics so having a daily study routine is must for all aspirants.

I know it is very tough to find time during our busy banking hours. If you don’t have time for continuous 2 hrs then split the study hours into three or four sessions of 30 to 40 minutes a day. Since syllabus of CAIIB subjects cover many topics; In depth understanding of each topic is also needed to answer questions that test our knowledge, analytical skills and problem solving skills.  So daily allocating sufficient amount of study time is necessary.

2.Not having clear focus on optional paper:

Selecting the correct optional paper and having clear focus on it, is must for successful completion of CAIIB exam. Although the Retail banking and Financial Banking are easy papers to clear, You need choose your optional paper based on your knowledge, interested areas in banking and career development. Don’t follow others recommendation for optional paper blindly. You have to analyse and decide your optional paper.

Remember CAIIB is not only for increments; it also provides many useful theoretical knowledge in different areas of banking.

3.Not learning the basic concepts:

Every topic of a subject has basic and fundamental concepts to be learnt by heart. Learning them thoroughly makes us to understand the more complex concepts. Complex concepts are nothing but complex combination of simple and basic concepts. We should have studied the fun1damental concepts in JAIIB (who knows it now ;P ;)). If not revise it then and there when it is required.

To learn the fundamental concepts of economy, business maths, accountancy you can refer more books from your commerce background friends. Remember learning complex concepts won’t be useful if you don’t understand the fundamental concepts behind them.

4.Not understanding and giving importance to syllabus:

In any examination if we want to pass that exam we should thoroughly understand the syllabus first.  Because understanding the syllabus will give us a clear picture of what we are going to learn. We also get some insights about the subject. It also helps us to have an idea whether we are familiar with that topic or not. This will help you to assess the complexity of the subject and how much time you need to spend with a topic.

Give importance to syllabus helps to choose the right books for our preparation. Because there are materials that doesn’t cover the full syllabus (only the main areas of the syllabus) are available free in many study groups and websites. Aspirants who doesn’t aware of syllabus simply read those material and attend the exam.

5.Not having a preparation strategy and study plan

This is a common mistake many aspirants do, thinking there is no necessary for planning your study. They even think it is a waste of time. Whatever excuses we give, having a preparation strategy and study plan is must for any type of exam. It will help us to be goal oriented and stay focused of our target. If you do your targeted studies every day, it will make you motivated. As your progress through your schedule you will feel relaxed and your stress level for exam is reduced.

Creating a schedule will hardly take one to two hours of your time. While creating a schedule of your own you will also analyse the syllabus. There are many benefits can be pointed for having a good study plan. Though the initial effort may look too much; But the benefits are fruitful and long-lasting.

6.Not taking effective notes while studying itself

Many aspirants not even consider taking notes is a part of study. While studying if you take notes you will give importance to details. Giving importance to details will make you to ask more questions and to find short answers for it. This enhances your understanding about the topic. It also makes you to break down the contents of your learning in an easy way. Therefore your memory increases and whenever you see the notes you can recollect the content.

Thus taking notes helps you for better and easy revision. I know it is time consuming but once you are familiarised, it will be easy for you to take notes. Because your eyes can spot the important detail easily; Your mind organise them with an analogy for easy remembrance.

7.Not solving and practising mathematical problems:

Unlike JAIIB, here calculations, formulas and case studies are very important. You definitely need to solve all the problems in your study materials and work books you got. Don’t simply study a formula using one example of a problem related to it. Change the parameters and create problem of your own then solve it. By doing so, you will learn about importance of each parameter of the formula.

Practice, Practice, Practice!!!!!. There is no replacement for practising when solving problems, case studies and balance sheet analysis. When solving problems related to Balance sheet also use the same method as described above. There by we can improve our problem solving skills and analytical skills

8.Not revising the topics regularly:

Many aspirants ignore the importance of revising, stating there is no time for revising. If you are not making study plan you will not even find time to complete the syllabus. So no excuses, use your notes to revise the topic at regular intervals. For example every Sunday spare  20 to 30 minutes for revising, in addition to your study time.

 “Revise little but often” is the key strategy. Repeated revision make you feel bored and gives a feeling “Ahh!!! I know it. Don’t need to study”. But it makes you to master a topic; If five questions are asked from a single topic for knowledge testing; You can answer all, with 100% accuracy.  

9.Not learning from the mistakes:

The biggest and costliest thing is learning from your mistake. If you have failed in an attempt, accept the failure and analyse where you lacked. When I say accept your failure that doesn’t mean to blame yourself. It means asking yourself questions related to find the cause of the failure. What is the main reason for non completion of the syllabus? In which topic i should improve my knowledge? etc,. How can I improve my reading ability further?

The answer to the questions should not be too general. It should be specific to spot your weakness. When you find your weakness please work on it. Nobody is perfect in the universe; So find your weakness and mistakes; Try to rectify it before your next attempt.

10.Not using the technology for proper and effective preparation of exam:

Because of the technology we can study anything from anywhere. So use your mobile, internet, websites, facebook communities,forums and blogs etc,.You can get any information from internet in just a single click or a single press of your finger. I am not saying you to depend on them but to use them as effectively as possible. So do your search whatever you feel useful subscribe to them.

Also many websites offering free mock test use them to test your knowledge. While giving mock test take it as serious as an exam. Then only you can know your time management under pressure and boosts your confidence.