SSC CGL & Banking Exams: Speed, Accuracy, and Strategy

While UPSC tests your depth of knowledge, SSC CGL (Staff Selection Commission) and IBPS/SBI (Banking) exams test your speed and accuracy. You have less than a minute per question. The strategy here is completely different.

1. Understanding the Difference

• SSC CGL: Heavy focus on Advanced Maths (Geometry, Trigonometry, Algebra) and General Awareness.
• Banking (IBPS/SBI): Heavy focus on Logical Reasoning (Puzzles), Data Interpretation (DI), and English Comprehension.

2. Quantitative Aptitude: The Speed Game

You cannot solve questions using traditional "x" methods. You need Vedic Maths and shortcuts.

• Calculation Speed: Memorize tables up to 30, squares up to 50, and cubes up to 20. This is non-negotiable.
• Resources: Rakesh Yadav’s Class Notes for SSC and Arun Sharma (Level 1 & 2) for Banking DI.

3. Reasoning: The Puzzle Trap

In Banking exams, puzzles can be time sinks. If you can't crack the logic in 2 minutes, skip it.

• Practice: Solve 5 puzzles and 5 DI sets daily. Consistency builds the intuition needed to spot the pattern quickly.

4. English: Grammar vs. Comprehension

• SSC: Focus on Grammar rules (Active/Passive, Direct/Indirect speech). Plinth to Paramount is a standard book.
• Banking: Focus on Reading Comprehension. Read editorials from The Hindu or The Economist to improve reading speed.

5. General Awareness (GA)

For SSC, static GK (History, Science) is important. For Banking, focus entirely on Current Affairs (last 6 months) and Banking Awareness.

6. The Mock Test Strategy

This is the most critical part. You should spend more time analyzing a mock test than taking it.

• The 50-50 Rule: If you take a 1-hour test, spend 1 hour analyzing it.
• Identify "Time Wasters": Questions you got right but took 3 minutes to solve are actually failures. Find a faster method.

Final Advice: These exams are about rejection, not selection. Learn which questions to skip to maximize your score.