Banking exams like IBPS PO, IBPS Clerk, SBI PO, and SBI Clerk are very difficult. Every year, thousands of students apply for a job in banks and government financial institutions. Many students feel that they require coaching classes to clear these exams. The fact is that you can clear banking exams and get a job in a bank without coaching classes if you have a proper plan and work hard. 1. Familiarize Yourself with the Pattern and Syllabus of the Exam Before you begin preparing for the exam, you should know what the exam is like and what you are going to study. Banking exams have sections like Reasoning Ability, Quantitative Aptitude, English Language, and General or Banking Awareness. For example the SBI PO prelims exam has three parts and the mains exam has reasoning, aptitude, English and banking awareness. If you know what the syllabus is you can plan what to study and study well. 2. Create a Study Plan Making a timetable is very important when you are studying on your own. Divide your day into parts for each subject. Set goals for each day and each week so you can cover all the topics on time. Make sure you have time to review what you have studied and test yourself. Studying regularly is more important than studying for a time. 3. Use Good Study Materials Choose books and online resources to study from. For reasoning and aptitude books by R.S. Aggarwal and banking awareness guides are very helpful. Use question papers to see what kind of questions are asked in IBPS and SBI exams. Practice with these papers regularly to build your confidence. 4. Make Notes and Revise When you are studying make notes to help you review quickly. Write down formulas, rules and facts. These notes will be very helpful in the few weeks before the exam. Review what you have studied regularly so you do not forget what you have learned. 5. Practice Mock Tests and Previous Papers Practicing with tests is very important when you are studying on your own. Mock tests help you check how fast you can answer questions how accurate you are and where you need to improve. Try to practice with many mock tests as possible. Check your results. Focus on the topics where you score low. The more you practice the better you will be at managing your time. 6. Improve Time Management Banking exams have a time limit so you need to learn to answer questions. Practice with a timer to improve your speed. In the exam answer the questions first and then move to the harder ones. This will help you answer questions and score higher. 7. Stay Updated with Current Affairs General Awareness and Banking Awareness are parts of the banking exams. Read newspapers such as The Hindu or Times of India daily. Make a note of economic news, RBI policy changes, and banking terms. This will give you an edge over others in this section of the exam. 8. Stay Motivated and Consistent Studying without coaching needs discipline. Do not have any distractions like media when you are learning. Join study groups or forums to stay motivated. Reward yourself for your accomplishments to keep your spirits high. Recommended Online CoursesIf you don’t want full-time coaching, you can enroll in affordable online courses that offer structured preparation:Banking Foundation Course – Covers basics of reasoning, aptitude, and English for beginners.IBPS PO/Clerk Complete Course – Section-wise lessons + mock tests.SBI PO Crash Course – Focused preparation before prelims and mains.Quantitative Aptitude Fast Track Course – Shortcut methods and speed math techniques.Reasoning Mastery Course – Puzzle solving and high-level reasoning practice.Current Affairs & Banking Awareness Course – Monthly updates + RBI policies + financial news.Descriptive Writing Course (For PO Mains) – Essay and letter writing practice.Platforms like Unacademy, Adda247, Testbook, and Oliveboard offer affordable structured courses and mock test series. Choose a course that fits your budget and learning style.Passing banking exams without coaching is not easy but it is possible. With a plan, the right study materials, regular review, and consistent practice, you can get your dream job in a big bank. Just believe in yourself. Stay focused on banking exams. You can crack banking exams. Get a job in a leading Indian bank. Stay focused on banking exams. You will succeed.
