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.
