Quantitative Aptitude: Topicwise Breakup

Topicwise Breakup IBPS CWE PO/MT 2011 2012

Data Interpretation (DI) 20 15

BODMAS/Simplification 10 10

number sequence-series(although reasoning topic but asked here) 5 5

Linear Equation 4 3

Permutation-Combination-Probability 5 2

Average 2 1

%, profit loss, simple-compound interest 2 3

Ratio-Proportion-Variation 2 3

Number theory (Remainders) 0 1

Time-Speed-Work 0 1

Geometry (Area-Volume-Perimeter) 0 6

total 50 50

Obviously high priority = DI + BODMAS + Sequence-series.

And, Although not many questions are coming from the individual topics of percentages, profit loss, simple-compound interest, Time-

speed-word, ratio, averages etc. but collectively, these topics help you raise your score by atleast 10 marks. Hence their Cost:Benefit is

quite good. (compared to the amount of data you’ve to memorize to get 10 marks out of Misc.GK/Sports/Persons in News type MCQs.)

Therefore, donot run away from Maths, prepare it diligently.

Ignore following topics

1. Quadratic equations (ax2+bx+c=0)

2. Geometry theory (except area-volume-perimeter)

3. Trigonometry

4. Coordinate Geometry

5. logarithmSpeed Maths

In Both previous years, at least 25 out of 30 questions came from Data interpretation+ BODMAS only

for both ^these topics, speed Maths=essential. Although internet is full of techniques of Speed Maths, Vedic Maths, but you must atleast

master following techniques:

1. Trachtenberg’s Techniques for:

1. Multiplication by 5.  It also indirectly helps you find out half (50%)of the given number as well. Because “m”x5=

10m/2. This helps you eliminate wrong answers quickly whenever you’ve find percentages.

2. Multiplication by 9. It indirectly helps you guestimate the division by 11 as well. Because m/11=~0.9m

3. Quick multiplication by 11. It indirectly helps you guestimate the number division by 9 as well. Because

m/9=~0.11m

here is the wiki link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trachtenberg_system

2. Two digit division / long division / percentages approximation explained on

http://mrunal.org/2012/11/aptitude-long-division-two-digit-division-calculation-without-tears-and-without-boring-vedic-

speed-maths.html

3. Divisibility rules for various numbers (Given in NCERT, Quantitative aptitude books)

4. Multiplication tables of 2 to 9, 12 to 25 must be learned by heart. Especially the tables of 13, 17, 19 and 23.

5. Squares upto 29 and cubes upto 12  (required for the sequence-series questions and BODMAS)

6. After that, as per your time and mood, learn the Vedic math techniques for finding cube-roots, square-roots of large

numbers; three-digit multiplication etc.etc.etc.Booklist for IBPS Quantitative AptitudeNCERT Maths

for clearing the basic concepts:

Statistics Class 11 (Only 3 Chapters for DI/Avg. concepts)Download

Mathematics Class 8 Download

Mathematics Class 9 Download

Mathematics Class 10 Download

Mathematics Class 11 (Only AP, GP) Download

Mrunal.org/aptitude

for simplified techniques on %, Compound interest, permutation-combination-probability etc.

Any one BankPO paperset

Require mainly for the Data interpretation practice.

1. Arihant’s paperset of previous Bank PO exams

2. Kiran Prakashan’s Practice book workbook for IBPS PO/MT (with FREE CD for computer test)

3. If you’ve paperset from any other publication, that’ll also work just fine.

Any one book

onMaths/Quantitative Aptitude

I’m biased for Sarvesh Kumar (Quantam CAT) by Arihant Publication

Reason: for the given price range Sarvesh Kumar helps in all competitive exams: starting from SSC

CGL, PSU, IBPS, UPSC to all the way upto CAT.

While its competitors (RS.Aggarwal, M.Tyra etc) start biting dust when it comes to geometry-theory,

trigonometry, and quadratic equations for SSC-CGL and CDS.

However, As far as IBPS is concerned, all books work fine.

Hell, You can even do without a book, by combo of NCERTs+ mrunal.org/aptitude +practice

papersets.

#1: Data Interpretation (DI)

Can be of two types

DI with photo (Chart) without photo

Example

1. pie chart

2. bar graphs

3. line graphs

1. Paragraph/caselets (you’re given a lengthy paragraph on how a company has total

1200 workers out of them 500 are males and 300 union-workers etc.etc.etc.)

2. You’re given a big table about temperature, number of students in university etc. and

you’ve solve questions based on that.

Essential

Skill

1. percentage: calculation and

approximation

2. multiplication and long division

(two-digit division)

3. Ratios

Addition-subtraction. (although sometimes will require %, ratio, division as well.)

How is Bank DI different from other exams?

In SSC CGL, LIC, State PCS exams, usually chart- based simple case. Doesn’t involve lengthy calculations.

In IBPS/Bank PO, even if chart-based DI is asked, often you’ll be given an additional table showing ratio/sales etc. So

you’ve to utilize the information from both chart + table to derive the answers.

How to approach?

Data interpretation doesn’t have much theory, except in pie-chart case (about conversion between % and circle degrees + when and

where will the answer = “data-insufficient’)

1. First master the minimum speed math techniques given above.

2. Understand the Ratio related concepts.

3. Understand the basic concepts of bar graph, pie-charts etc.  from Class 11 NCERT Statistics.

4. Then start solving DI questions given the paperset book (Arihant / Kiran )#2: BODMAS/Simplification

Bank exams (PO and Clerk) have an unwritten rule: first 10-12 questions must be from BODMAS.

Here are two sample questions

1. [Square root (6354)] x 34.993=?

2. 39.89% of 4331 divided by 58.779% of 5003=?

#1: first clear you basic concepts about following

Simplification (BODMAS) NCERT Class 8 Chap 1

Surds, indices1. NCERT Class 8 Chap 12

2. Then NCERT Class 9 Chap 1

Roots, squares, Cubes Basics from NCERT Class 8 Chap 6 and 7.

#2: then master the speed math techniques I listed earlier.

#3: Have a target of solving atleast 10 questions from your paperset every night, before going to sleep.

#3: Number sequence-series

Although it is a reasoning topic, but they’ve asked it in Maths section. Consider following examples from previous IBPS papers

Q. In the following number series, only one number is wrong. Find out the wrong number

8424,  4212, 2106, 1051, 526.5, 263.25, 131.625

Answer-choices

1. 131.625  

2. 1051

3. 4212 

4. 8424 

5. 263.25

Preparation source

1. for the warm up exercise, go through chapter 3 (Classification) of RS Aggarwal’s Reasoning book

2. Then maximum practice, go through your paperset book.

Bad thing about such questions: Sometimes you’ll be able to decipher the pattern within a minute, and sometimes, even after doing trial-

error for more than 15 minutes, you might not see the pattern. Therefore, my suggestion is: during the exam, you put the entire set of

sequence-series questions on “mark and review”. (And when you’re done with other sections, come back and solve these questions at

the end of exam.) Don’t waste initial momentum here.

#4: Linear Equations

Another ‘reliable’ area in IBPS. Sometimes, you’ll need to apply concepts of linear equations, to tackle questions from Time-speed-

distance, ratio-proportion-variation, averages etc as well.

Here are some samples questions from previous exams:

1. Rubina could get equal number of Rs. 55, Rs. 85 and Rs. 105 tickets for a movie. She spends Rs. 2940 for all the

tickets. How many of each did she buy?

2. The ratio of the present age of Manisha and Deepali is 5 : X. Manisha is 9 years younger than Parineeta. Parineeta’s

age after 9 years will be 33 years. The difference between Deepali’s and Manisha’s age is the same as the present

age of Parineeta. What should come in place of X?

3. Akash scored 73 marks in subject A. He scored 56% marks in subject B and X marks in subject C. Maximum marks in

each subject were 150.The overall percentage marks obtained by Akash in all the three subjects together were 54%.

How many marks did he score in subject C ?

Two things to be kept in mind, while solving questions on linear equation:

#1: keep minimum variables

Suppose the question runs like this “The sum of present ages of father and son is 56, and 5 years ago Son’s age was……….blah blah

blah….find the present age of Father. ”

avoid this do this

assume father’s present age “f”

son’s present age “s”

assume father’s present age “f”

assume Son’s present Age=(56-f)

here you assumed two variables “f” and “s”= lengthier calculations and chances of

mistakes.

here you’ve to worry about only one variable

“f”

#2: Cannot be determined

Suppose you end up with two equations like this:

1. x+y=5

2. y+z=6

Here you’ve two equations but three variables (x, y and z). You can never find out the unique value of  x, y, z in such situation. Hence

answer = “Cannot be determined”.

But sometimes, even two variable-two equation set can be impossible to solve. For example

No solution infinite solution

1. x+ 2y=4

2. 2x+ 4y= 122x+ 3y=94x+ 6y=18

To learn more about ^this, refer to NCERT Maths Class 10, Chapter3, table given on the page #9.

Preparation source for Linear Equations

1. Understand basic concepts from

1. NCERT Class 8 Chap 2 and 9.

2. Then NCERT Class 9 Chap 4

3. Lastly NCERT Class 10 Chap 3.

2. Then maximum practice from your Quantitative Aptitude book and OR paper set book.#5: Permutation-Combination-Probability

Most of that can be solved without memorizing any formulas. In my opinion, this is the easiest of all math problems. Go through following

articles

Permutation-Combination

1. [Aptitude] Permutation Combination made easy without Formulas

2. [Aptitude] Combination: Coins possible Sums (without formula)

3. [Aptitude] PnC: arrange such that two people Always sitting together?

4. [Aptitude] PnC: How many Ways to arrange letters of word “RECUPERATE” (Permutation without Formulas)

5. [Aptitude] PnC Arrange digits in ascending order to form numbers (asked in UPSC 2009)

6. [Aptitude] PnC: Conditional Selection in Committee

7. [Aptitude] PnC: Binomial Expansion. How many ways to select one or more out of given Items?

Probability

1. [Aptitude] Probability Made Easy (Extension of Permutation Combination Concept!)

2. [Aptitude] Probability : Two Dice problems Sums and multiples

Then solve maximum questions from your Paperset book.

Sample Questions from previous exams

1.  (IBPS 2011) An urn contains 4 green, 5 blue, 2 red and 3 yellow marbles. Answer following questions

1. If two marbles are drawn at random, what is the probability that both are red or at least one is red?

2. If three marbles are drawn at random, what is the probability that at least one is yellow?

3. If eight marbles are drawn at random, what is the probability that there are equal numbers of marbles of each

colour?

4. If three marbles are drawn at random, what is the probability that none is green?

5. If four marbles are drawn at random, what is the probability that two are blue and two are red?

2. (IBPS 2012) A bag contains 13 white and 7 black balls. Two balls drawn at random, what is the probability that both

are of same color?

3. (IBPS 2012) In How many different ways can the letters of the word “THERAPY” can be arranged so that the vowels

never come together?#6: Average

Go through following articles, then maximum practice from your paper set book.

1. [Aptitude] Averages: Entry / Removal of 1 element => Increase / Decrease in Average Shortcut method explained

2. [Aptitude] Averages: More than two elements added / removed : shortcut technique explained

Sample questions

1. The average marks in English of a class of 24 students is 56. If the marks of three students were misread as 44, 45

and 61 in lieu of the actual marks 48, 59 and 67 respectively, then what would be the correct average?

2. The sum of the ages of 4 members of a family 5 years ago was 94 years. Today, when the daughter has been

married off and replaced by a daughter-in-law, the sum of their ages is 92. Assuming that there has been no other

change in the family structure and all the people are alive, what is the difference in the age of the daughter and the

daughter-in-law?

3. In an entrance examination, Ritu scored 56 percent marks, Smita scored 92 percent marks and Rina scored 634

marks. The maximum marks of the examination is 875. What is the average marks scored by all the three girls

together?Alligations (Wine-Water Mixture)

Although not asked in previous exams but since it is an allied topic of “averages, so just to be safe, go through following articles

1. [Aptitude] Alligations,Mixtures,Alloys: Water,Milk,Wine mixing: Weighted Average Made Easy for

CSAT,CAT,CMAT,IBPS Aptitude

2. [Aptitude] Alligation: Advanced applications in Interest rates, Profit-loss, Average Wages (Wine-Water Concept) #7: Ratio-Proportion-variations

NCERT Class 8 Chap 13.

then max practice from your Quantitative Aptitude book and or papersets

Also prepare the allied topic: “Partnership”, using this article http://mrunal.org/2012/05/aptitude-partnership-and-

profit-sharing.html

Sample Questions from previous papers

1. A certain amount was to be distributed among A, B and C in the ratio 2 : 3 : 4 respectively, but was erroneously

distributed in the ratio 7 : 2 : 5 respectively. As a result of this, B got? 40 less. What is the amount?

2. Rs.73,689 are divided between A and B in the ratio 4 : 7. What is the difference between thrice the share of A and

twice the share of B?

3. The fare of a bus is  X for the first five kilometers and  13/- per kilometer thereafter. If a passenger pays Rs. 2402/-

for a journey of 187 kilometers, what is the value of X?#8: Percentages, profit-loss, SI-CI

No need to mugup any formulas. Can be solved effortlessly, just go through following articles

1. [Aptitude] Concepts of Marked Price and Successive Discounts (Profit-Loss) without (stupid) formulas

2. [Aptitude] Compound Interest Rate, Population Growth without Formulas

3. [Aptitude] Product Consistency: If Sugar price increases then consumption should be Decreased by What %, Time-

Speed-Distance problems,

Then solve maximum sums at home.

Sample Questions from previous IBPS PO Exams:

1. An article was purchased for Rs.78.350/. Its price was marked up by 30%. It was sold at a discount of 20% on the

marked up price. What was the profit percent on the cost price?

2. What is the difference between the simple and compound interest on Rs. 7,300/- at the rate of 6% per annum in 2

years?

3. The simple interest accrued on an amount of Rs. 22,500 at the end of four years is Rs. 10,800. What would be the

compound interest accrued on the same amount at the same rate of interest at the end of two years?

4. Ramola’s monthly income is three times Ravina’s monthly income, Ravina’s monthly income is fifteen percent more

that Ruchika’s monthly income. Ruchika’s monthly income is Rs. 32,000. What is Ramola’s annual income?#9: Number theory and Remainders

topic approach

Divisibility, remainders

LCM and HCF

Unknown numbers from given conditions

Fractions-comparisons.

This article explaining the concept of HCF, LCM click me

NCERT Class 7 Chap 2, 9 (fraction)

NCERT Class 10 Chap 1 (divisibility)

Finally practice sums from your Quantitative aptitude book / Papersets.

Sample Questions from previous papers

1. When X is subtracted from the numbers 9, 15 and 27, the remainders are in continued proportion. What is the value

of X?

2. The product of three consecutive even numbers is 4032. The product of the first and the third number is 252. What

is five times the second number?

3. Sum of three consecutive numbers is 2262. What is 41% of the highest number?#10: Geometry (Area-Volume-Perimeter)

1. Basics from

1. NCERT Class 8 Chap 3, 11.

2. NCERT Class 9 Chap 9, 12, 13.

3. NCERT Class 10 Chap 13

2. Then maximum practice @home.

Sample Questions from IBPS-2012

1. The area of a square is 1444 square meters. The breadth of a rectangle is 1/4th the side of the square and the

length of the rectangle is thrice the breadth. What is the difference between the area of the square and the area of

the rectangle?

2. The premises of a bank are to be renovated. The renovation is in terms of flooring. Certain areas are to be floored

either with marble or wood. All rooms/halls and pantry are rectangular. The area to be renovated comprises of a hall

for customer transaction measuring 23 m by 29 m, branch manager’s room measuring 13 m by 17 m, a pantry

measuring 14 m by 13 m, a record keeping cum server room measuring 21rn by 13 m and locker area measuring 29

m by 21 m. The total area of the bank is 2000 square meters. The cost of wooden flooring is t 170/- per square meter

and the cost of marble flooring is Rs.190/- per square meter. The locker area, record keeping cum server room and

pantry are to be floored with marble. The branch manager’s room and the hall for customer transaction are to be

floored with wood. No other area is to be renovated in terms of flooring.

1. What is the respective ratio of the total cost of wooden flooring to the total cost of marble flooring?

2. If the four walls and ceiling of the branch managers room (The height of the room is 12 meters) are to be painted

at the cost of 1901- per square meter, how much will be the total cost of renovation of the branch manager’s

room including the cost of flooring?

3. If the remaining area of the bank is to be carpeted at the rate of Rs. 110/- per square meter, how much will be

the increment in the total cost of renovation of bank premises?

4. What is the percentage area of the bank that is not to be renovated?

5. What is the total cost of renovation of the hall for customer transaction and the locker area?#11: Time-Speed-Work-Distance

All of them can be solved with our universal STD formula. See following articles to learn the concept

1. [Aptitude] Trains, Platforms TSD (Time,Speed,Distance) made easy

2. [Aptitude] TSD: Average Speed made easy without Formulas

3. [Aptitude] Pipes and Cistern problem: 3 pipes, 2 work together

4. [Aptitude] Time n Work : P and Q start together but P leaves after some days

5. [Aptitude] Boats and Streams made-easy using our STD-Table Method

6. [Aptitude] TnW: A is thrice as good as workman as B

7. [Aptitude] Time n Work: 4 men and 6 women can complete a work in 8 Days then

8. [Aptitude] Time n Work :Daily Wages and Share in Payment

Sample Questions from previous IBPS exams

1. A and B together can complete a task in 20 days. B and C together can complete the same task in 30 days. A and C

together can complete the same task in 40 days. What is the respective ratio of the number of days taken by A when

completing the same task alone to the number of days taken by C when completing the same task alone?AP-GP

Although these questions were not seen in recent exams but if you’ve time and mood left, prepare the basics from NCERT and practice a

few MCQs. You might get lucky for question or two!

Arithmetic Progression NCERT Class 10 Chap 5.

Geometric Progression NCERT class 11 chapter 9.

Prologue

Total five articles on how to prepare for IBPS Bank Interviews

1. Stop Feeling Guilty and Tell me about yourself, Stupid cutoffs and Insecurities about Profile  (you’re here).

2. Why BankPO? Preparing the Sales Pitch: Career growth, job satisfaction, negative factors, work-profile, Promotion,

hierarchy, Sample Answers

3. Banking, Economy, Current Affairs, HR and GK related questions for BankPO/MT

4. Graduation related Questions: IT, B.E., B.Tech, Biotech, B.Com, BBA, Arts, sample questions from previous interviews

5. Stress Interviews, When things don’t go as planned, B.Tech, Engineers and IT Why BankPO?

all those things come later, first thing is:

Stop feeling guilty

Many of you have the IBPS BankPO/MT interviews in a few days, but still suffering from guilt, insecurity and inferiority

complex because of your written score, bio data, academic profile and other personal issues.

As long as you remain guilty- your answer tone and body language will defensive, pessimistic, submissive. The

interviewer panel willnot get positive vibes to select you. Therefore, first step is to become guilt free. Let’s check the

common reasons behind guilt:Guilt#1: Low score in IBPS Written

Some random expert on internet predicted that your written score is not sufficient for final selection- citing some previous statistics about

final cut offs. So now you’re just spending time inquiring on various blogs, forums, facebook communities “my score is xyz, will I get

selected or not?”

I say every score is good score.  And you must fiercely prepare for the interview.  Why?Reason #1: reliable work horses

If banks had to select candidate just by looking at their written score, they wouldn’t waste time interviewing people. They conduct

interview to find mainly two things

1. “ye tikegaa ki nahi?” (Will this guy stay in our bank or not?).

2. “thik kaam karegaa ki nahi” (will this guy work sincerely or not? )

In short, As long as they get good feeling about you being a reliable workhorse, you’ll get the job- at one place or another.

Reason #2: Learning XP

A formal interview with complete strangers gives you better picture of your own shyness, strength, weaknesses,

than you’ll ever get by interacting with your friends, relatives and parents.

The interview experience will help you prepare yourself better for the next round of whatever exam you’re giving.

that-

“I should have prepared more from my graduation topics, I should have prepared more current affairs etc.,

I shouldnot have said abc thing in DEF question because it lead to xyz followup question where I fumbled…”and

so on.

You cannot buy that type of mental conditioning and experience in any other mock interview conducted by anyone-

because the real-life stress factor will be absent in such mock interviews.

So, Even if you fail in a real interview=> money spent on travel and lodging is not wasted. Because it is a great

learning experience that will definitely help you in the next interview for whatever job you’re applying.Reason#3: CAT

Many CAT aspirants give IBPS exam just for ‘fun’ or for career backup.

CAT-2013 result will come around 14th January 2014. Then IIMs and various other MBA institutes will start their GDPI

round (group discussion / personal interview). Most probably from mid-feb onwards

IBPS allocations are to be made in March-April 2014.

Now comes the interesting part: Most of the tier-II MBA colleges will declare their final result before IIM final results.

(That’s is a loot-technique, if a candidate has given interview in both non-IIM and IIM then he’ll pay the 10-20-50

rupee non-refundable deposit in non-IIM institute for just for “seat-insurance”, before IIM final result comes.)

Similarly, some candidates would have made calculation about which banks they will not get city posting. So they’ll even forfeit offers

accordingly.

And there will be upward movement in the buffer list / waitlist.

How much movement? Well, I cannot predict but my point is: Not all candidates with good IBPS score will finally join

the bank. Therefore, You MUSTNOT   lay down your weapons and accept defeat even without going for interviews-

just because some   gyani baba   has predicted that final cutoff will be xyz.

Moving to the next guilt factor:

Guilt#2: Insecurity about “Profile”

You’re afraid because any of the following reasons:

1. After graduation, you’ve spent past 1-2 years in competitive exams, without any success. So, your biodata has

“empty” years and no job-experience. You’re afraid interviewer will ask tough question about it.

2. You don’t post-graduation degree

3. You’re from some less famous college / university

4. You’ve poor academic scores in class 10-12- college or you’ve failed in some semesters etc.

5. You met another IBPS candidate who has higher score than you PLUS

1. he has done some special banking related course

2. he has work-xp from private bank.

3. he has a thick file with plenty of extracurricular certificates.

You must get rid of all these guilty feelings because:

1. If banks wanted only university toppers and students with high CGPA, they’d have directly hired from

campus instead of organizing exam through IBPS and wasting their own time.

2. All they want is reliable workhorses who’ll not run away from non-city postings. As long as they get good feeling

about you being a reliable workhorse, you’ll get the job- at one place or another.

3. Time machine is not invented yet. You cannot go back in past and fix those issues. The only way is to move forward

in life, is with whatever baggage you’re carrying but without feeling guilty.

4. (worst case scenario) IF at all they ask you something about “why low score in class 10-12-college?” then, don’t

make long stories and excuses. Just summarize what was wrong and then shift focus of your answer on how with age

you’ve matured, understood the value of money, career, hardwork and you’re no longer the same lazy person from

that is shown in the marksheet.Guilt#3: Personal issues

You’re feeling loser just because your cousin, brother, sister, relative, neighbor’s kid, batch mate etc. have got high paying jobs. You

think that “even if I get this PO job, I’ll be never as successful as they’re.”

You must come out of this loser mindset, because:

1. 5-7 years from now, all the “career-glamour” will be over (like whatever IAS/IPS/bigger job or degree your cousins

and batch mates have got.) By that time, new youngsters will take your place and all your relatives and neighbors

will start comparing them and trash talking about them. So, instead of trying to please and impress others, you

better pursue the career you’re interested in.

2. 15-20 years from now, the only thing that will matter is: can you provide for a good education, home and life to your

kids or not?

3. On those criteria BankPO doesn’t suck. It has great potential, people with no IIT/IIM degrees have started career as

PO/MT and made it all the way to MD/CMD positions. (More details under “Sales Pitch-Why BankPO” topic in next

article click me.)

Finally, Some of you may also be feeling guilty about your looks, height, skin color whatever. Again stop feeling guilty about it. These

interviews are conducted to find reliable workhorses for banking sector and not actors for Karan Johar’s next movie.

Measures to become guilt free:

first of all, Stop being in company of idiots, negative talkers, crybabies and pessimistic people. You’ve already met them in library, in

coaching class, in online forums. They never study, they just keep chatting all the time:

1. this time cut off has gone very high “ab kya hogaa”

2. SSC has changed pattern for CGL exam “ab kya hogaa”

3. this time UPSC papers were too tough “ab kya hogaa”

These type of dookhi-atmaa (sad souls) infect your brain with their negativity. So, avoid them like hell- even after this IBPS interview is

over.

1. Avoid taking phone-calls, whatsapp messages, facebook updates from college batchmates. They just want to talk for

time pass and give you ‘gossip’ of how much salary package they’ve got, who joined which company, who got what

promotion, who is dating whom etc.etc.

2. Because their universe is confined to only those petty things. You’re destined to do something bigger and better. If

you keep paying attention to their life and issues, then self-doubt and guilt-feeling will come automatically.

Remember what the coach said to Milkha Singh “the birds who’re meant to fly high in the sky, should not

keep their hearts attached to small trees.”

3. Exercise regularly. Lazy brain and lazy body always picks up negative thoughts. And by exercise, I mean only two

things: running and pushups. After a few weeks, you’ll automatically start feeling good about yourself, every time

you look in the mirror. And then self-confidence and positive vibes will come automatically.

4. In your head, Keep telling yourself “I’m totally awesome.”

How to handle Bank interview?

A conventional IBPS Bank PO interview runs on following pattern

1. Tell me about yourself (introduction) + followup on personal qs.

2. A few questions on graduation

3. then “why Bank PO”

4. Then a few questions from banking sector.

5. If time permits, some more questions from economy, current and GK.

Since every panel has to handle hundreds of candidates over a span of few week, the Average interview time is ~10-15 minutes. That’s a

double edged sword.

good because not good because

1. Because they don’t ask lot of questions from diplomacy,

International relations, current affairs etc. that are not related

with banking and economy.

2. Most of the interview centered on just the standard pattern listed

above (introduction, grad, why PO, banking qs).

3. You don’t have to prepare lot of data for individual topic. Because

they’ll usually interrupt you after a minute or two and ask another

question.

Such short interaction is no good way to measure an

individual’s potential.

It doesn’t allow you to elaborate your views. They throw a

new question within 2-3 minutes and break your chain of

thought.

If you mess up in the first 3-4 questions related to

graduation / banking then it might turn into a stress

interview. (Especially for Engg/IT.)

Given this short duration interview, you must prepare certain answers in advance.

Tell me something about yourself

Very common question. The moment you enter room and sitdown, one of the member may ask

“Please introduce yourself. OR tell me something about yourself.”

Experts are divided on its ‘right’ answer:

VIEWPOINT #1 (CONSERVATIVE) VIEWPOINT #2 (LIBERAL)

answer should be only limited to these things

1. name

2. place

3. Graduation. (if you’ve first class or above, then it should

be specifically mentioned)

4. Computer certificate. (If you’ve then specifically mentioned.)

5. Work-ex if any.

Apart from those details (name place etc.),

he should also mention “Why you want to join banking

sector.”

Should not mention hobby, family members.

Because those things are considered informal conversation.

should also mention following:

1. family members and their occupation

2. Hobby, extracurricular activity, notable

achievement.

You can try either way, or mixture of both BUT answer must be at the tip of your tongue.

If you don’t prepare this at home, you will fumble during interview and you might forget mentioning some important

information.

You must also prepare all the routine ‘followup’ questions associated with “tell me about yourself” question. for

example

tell me about yourself follow-up question that should be prepared in advance

Myself ____. Or My name is ____.

1. What is the meaning of your name?

2. Which famous personality shares the same name as yours. + A few

basic biography related questions from that famous person.

I’m from ______.  orI belong to _____.

Note: After speaking this, take a little pause so he may ask

you a followup question. (Which will be safe than if he asks

something from graduation!)

1. What is famous about your city / town? tourism/culture/business.

2. Which famous personalities (freedom fighter, politicians, sportsmen,

and authors) are associated with your place?

3. What is the nearest branch from your house? As a customer, how much

will you rank ‘nearness’ for choosing a bank to open an account? (and

all the other marketing type questions. Like how will you convince

someone to open account if your branch is faraway…)

4. Name of governor, HC chief justice of your state.

5. what is the GDP of your state (both in % and absolute figure)

6. Basic census details: education, sex ratio.

I’ve done ___ from ___ college of ___ university in the year___

with ___ class.

Notes:

1. If university is famous but college is not so famous then

avoid mentioning college name. Just tell univ. name.

2. If you’ve blank years after graduation, then avoid

mentioning passout-year. (e.g. when you failed in 2-3

competitive exams.) Although he can still find it through

biodata but don’t you attract his attention to that

unnecessarily.

3. If you have continuous work-xp right from college

passing, then graduation year must be mentioned.

4. If you’ve first class or above, then it must be

mentioned.  If you’ve second class, then don’t mention.

5. if you have done any course on computers, it must be

mentioned.

1. Who was the founder of your college / university?

2. Name a few famous personalities associated with your college/univ.?

3. What is/are special things about the city where you college was

located?

4. What do you think about ragging?  What should be done to prevent it?

(more about graduation based questions in separate article, click

ME)

Work XP: For last ___ years, I’ve been working in ____

company as a _____.

Note: Don’t immediately start explaining why you want to

leave that job. Let the panel ask you a follow-up question.

1. What does your company/office do? What is the turnover?

2. Nature of your work, powers and responsibilities.

3. Why do you want to leave it?

4. Why do you want to work in bank, when you’re getting more salary in

that other job?

Ex-Serviceman.

I’m an Ex-serviceman, I served from __ to ___ in ____.

1. How many commands/division/regional HQ in your service?

2. Previous chief-Current chief-next chief.

3. Who won Ashok Chakra this year?

4. Name a few special loan/account facilities by the bank for military

personnel.

(optional) Family:

My father is ___.

Mom is ___. Brother/sister is working in ____.

1. Do you live in a joint family? What are the problem / benefits of joint vs.

nuclear family?

2. If you’re posted in a faraway area, who will take care of your family?

3. In which bank does your father have account? Does he use ATM or net

banking? Have you ever tried to convenience him to use it?

4. What is the full designation of your father’s job. Why did not you pick

his career line?

In the next article, we’ll see the second question: “Why do you want to become a BankPO?” click me

by the way…

Why formal dress for interview?

Copying a few lines from NSA Shiv Shankar Menon’s speech to IFS officers:

A word about dress. Some younger colleagues have asked me why dress so formally and why they could not dress as they chose. The

answer is that we normally dress to make the other person take us seriously and to be persuasive, not to express our personalities or

look good or stylish, or for comfort.

Like it or not, people judge you by your appearance. How we dress depends on the culture we operate in and the statement we choose

to make.

I have a theory about why diplomats, soldiers and bankers dress so conservatively, each in their own uniforms. Notice how the more

an occupation deals with risk, the more uniform their dress is? A soldier risks his life, the banker risks your money, and the

diplomat deals with the risks of war and peace.

It is in order to convey the assurance that they know what they are doing, to reassure society, the client or the interlocutor that these

professions dress in what amounts to a uniform. And it seems to work.

(end of copy paste)

Quantitative Aptitude: Topicwise Breakup

Topicwise Breakup IBPS CWE PO/MT 2011 2012

Data Interpretation (DI) 20 15

BODMAS/Simplification 10 10

number sequence-series(although reasoning topic but asked here) 5 5

Linear Equation 4 3

Permutation-Combination-Probability 5 2

Average 2 1

%, profit loss, simple-compound interest 2 3

Ratio-Proportion-Variation 2 3

Number theory (Remainders) 0 1

Time-Speed-Work 0 1

Geometry (Area-Volume-Perimeter) 0 6

total 50 50

Obviously high priority = DI + BODMAS + Sequence-series.

And, Although not many questions are coming from the individual topics of percentages, profit loss, simple-compound interest, Time-

speed-word, ratio, averages etc. but collectively, these topics help you raise your score by atleast 10 marks. Hence their Cost:Benefit is

quite good. (compared to the amount of data you’ve to memorize to get 10 marks out of Misc.GK/Sports/Persons in News type MCQs.)

Therefore, donot run away from Maths, prepare it diligently.

Ignore following topics

1. Quadratic equations (ax2+bx+c=0)

2. Geometry theory (except area-volume-perimeter)

3. Trigonometry

4. Coordinate Geometry

5. logarithmSpeed Maths

In Both previous years, at least 25 out of 30 questions came from Data interpretation+ BODMAS only

for both ^these topics, speed Maths=essential. Although internet is full of techniques of Speed Maths, Vedic Maths, but you must atleast

master following techniques:

1. Trachtenberg’s Techniques for:

1. Multiplication by 5.  It also indirectly helps you find out half (50%)of the given number as well. Because

“m”x5= 10m/2. This helps you eliminate wrong answers quickly whenever you’ve find percentages.

2. Multiplication by 9. It indirectly helps you guestimate the division by 11 as well. Because m/11=~0.9m

3. Quick multiplication by 11. It indirectly helps you guestimate the number division by 9 as well. Because

m/9=~0.11m

here is the wiki link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trachtenberg_system

2. Two digit division / long division / percentages approximation explained on

http://mrunal.org/2012/11/aptitude-long-division-two-digit-division-calculation-without-tears-and-without-boring-vedic-

speed-maths.html

3. Divisibility rules for various numbers (Given in NCERT, Quantitative aptitude books)

4. Multiplication tables of 2 to 9, 12 to 25 must be learned by heart. Especially the tables of 13, 17, 19 and 23.

5. Squares upto 29 and cubes upto 12  (required for the sequence-series questions and BODMAS)

6. After that, as per your time and mood, learn the Vedic math techniques for finding cube-roots, square-roots of large

numbers; three-digit multiplication etc.etc.etc.Booklist for IBPS Quantitative AptitudeNCERT Maths

for clearing the basic concepts:

Statistics Class 11 (Only 3 Chapters for DI/Avg. concepts)Download

Mathematics Class 8 Download

Mathematics Class 9 Download

Mathematics Class 10 Download

Mathematics Class 11 (Only AP, GP) Download

Mrunal.org/aptitude

for simplified techniques on %, Compound interest, permutation-combination-probability etc.

Any one BankPO paperset

Require mainly for the Data interpretation practice.

1. Arihant’s paperset of previous Bank PO exams

2. Kiran Prakashan’s Practice book workbook for IBPS PO/MT (with FREE CD for computer test)

3. If you’ve paperset from any other publication, that’ll also work just fine.

Any one book

onMaths/Quantitative Aptitude

I’m biased for Sarvesh Kumar (Quantam CAT) by Arihant Publication

Reason: for the given price range Sarvesh Kumar helps in all competitive exams: starting from SSC CGL, PSU,

IBPS, UPSC to all the way upto CAT.

While its competitors (RS.Aggarwal, M.Tyra etc) start biting dust when it comes to geometry-theory,

trigonometry, and quadratic equations for SSC-CGL and CDS.

However, As far as IBPS is concerned, all books work fine.

Hell, You can even do without a book, by combo of NCERTs+ mrunal.org/aptitude +practice papersets.

#1: Data Interpretation (DI)

Can be of two types

DI with photo (Chart) without photo

Example

1. pie chart

2. bar graphs

3. line graphs

1. Paragraph/caselets (you’re given a lengthy paragraph on how a company has total 1200

workers out of them 500 are males and 300 union-workers etc.etc.etc.)

2. You’re given a big table about temperature, number of students in university etc. and you’ve

solve questions based on that.

Essential

Skill

1. percentage: calculation and

approximation

2. multiplication and long division

(two-digit division)

3. Ratios

Addition-subtraction. (although sometimes will require %, ratio, division as well.)

How is Bank DI different from other exams?

In SSC CGL, LIC, State PCS exams, usually chart- based simple case. Doesn’t involve lengthy calculations.

In IBPS/Bank PO, even if chart-based DI is asked, often you’ll be given an additional table showing ratio/sales etc. So

you’ve to utilize the information from both chart + table to derive the answers.

How to approach?

Data interpretation doesn’t have much theory, except in pie-chart case (about conversion between % and circle degrees + when and

where will the answer = “data-insufficient’)

1. First master the minimum speed math techniques given above.

2. Understand the Ratio related concepts.

3. Understand the basic concepts of bar graph, pie-charts etc.  from Class 11 NCERT Statistics.

4. Then start solving DI questions given the paperset book (Arihant / Kiran )#2: BODMAS/Simplification

Bank exams (PO and Clerk) have an unwritten rule: first 10-12 questions must be from BODMAS.

Here are two sample questions

1. [Square root (6354)] x 34.993=?

2. 39.89% of 4331 divided by 58.779% of 5003=?

#1: first clear you basic concepts about following

Simplification (BODMAS) NCERT Class 8 Chap 1

Surds, indices 1. NCERT Class 8 Chap 12

2. Then NCERT Class 9 Chap 1

Roots, squares, Cubes Basics from NCERT Class 8 Chap 6 and 7.

#2: then master the speed math techniques I listed earlier.

#3: Have a target of solving atleast 10 questions from your paperset every night, before going to sleep.

#3: Number sequence-series

Although it is a reasoning topic, but they’ve asked it in Maths section. Consider following examples from previous IBPS papers

Q. In the following number series, only one number is wrong. Find out the wrong number

8424,  4212, 2106, 1051, 526.5, 263.25, 131.625

Answer-choices

1. 131.625  

2. 1051

3. 4212 

4. 8424 

5. 263.25

Preparation source

1. for the warm up exercise, go through chapter 3 (Classification) of RS Aggarwal’s Reasoning book

2. Then maximum practice, go through your paperset book.

Bad thing about such questions: Sometimes you’ll be able to decipher the pattern within a minute, and sometimes, even after doing trial-

error for more than 15 minutes, you might not see the pattern. Therefore, my suggestion is: during the exam, you put the entire set of

sequence-series questions on “mark and review”. (And when you’re done with other sections, come back and solve these questions at

the end of exam.) Don’t waste initial momentum here.

#4: Linear Equations

Another ‘reliable’ area in IBPS. Sometimes, you’ll need to apply concepts of linear equations, to tackle questions from Time-speed-

distance, ratio-proportion-variation, averages etc as well.

Here are some samples questions from previous exams:

1. Rubina could get equal number of Rs. 55, Rs. 85 and Rs. 105 tickets for a movie. She spends Rs. 2940 for all the

tickets. How many of each did she buy?

2. The ratio of the present age of Manisha and Deepali is 5 : X. Manisha is 9 years younger than Parineeta. Parineeta’s

age after 9 years will be 33 years. The difference between Deepali’s and Manisha’s age is the same as the present

age of Parineeta. What should come in place of X?

3. Akash scored 73 marks in subject A. He scored 56% marks in subject B and X marks in subject C. Maximum marks in

each subject were 150.The overall percentage marks obtained by Akash in all the three subjects together were 54%.

How many marks did he score in subject C ?

Two things to be kept in mind, while solving questions on linear equation:

#1: keep minimum variables

Suppose the question runs like this “The sum of present ages of father and son is 56, and 5 years ago Son’s age was……….blah blah

blah….find the present age of Father. ”

avoid this do this

assume father’s present age “f”

son’s present age “s”

assume father’s present age “f”

assume Son’s present Age=(56-f)

here you assumed two variables “f” and “s”= lengthier calculations and chances of

mistakes. here you’ve to worry about only one variable “f”

#2: Cannot be determined

Suppose you end up with two equations like this:

1. x+y=5

2. y+z=6

Here you’ve two equations but three variables (x, y and z). You can never find out the unique value of  x, y, z in such situation. Hence

answer = “Cannot be determined”.

But sometimes, even two variable-two equation set can be impossible to solve. For example

No solution infinite solution

1. x+ 2y=4

2. 2x+ 4y= 122x+ 3y=94x+ 6y=18

To learn more about ^this, refer to NCERT Maths Class 10, Chapter3, table given on the page #9.

Preparation source for Linear Equations

1. Understand basic concepts from

1. NCERT Class 8 Chap 2 and 9.

2. Then NCERT Class 9 Chap 4

3. Lastly NCERT Class 10 Chap 3.

2. Then maximum practice from your Quantitative Aptitude book and OR paper set book.#5: Permutation-Combination-Probability

Most of that can be solved without memorizing any formulas. In my opinion, this is the easiest of all math problems. Go through following

articles

Permutation-Combination

1. [Aptitude] Permutation Combination made easy without Formulas

2. [Aptitude] Combination: Coins possible Sums (without formula)

3. [Aptitude] PnC: arrange such that two people Always sitting together?

4. [Aptitude] PnC: How many Ways to arrange letters of word “RECUPERATE” (Permutation without Formulas)

5. [Aptitude] PnC Arrange digits in ascending order to form numbers (asked in UPSC 2009)

6. [Aptitude] PnC: Conditional Selection in Committee

7. [Aptitude] PnC: Binomial Expansion. How many ways to select one or more out of given Items?

Probability

1. [Aptitude] Probability Made Easy (Extension of Permutation Combination Concept!)

2. [Aptitude] Probability : Two Dice problems Sums and multiples

Then solve maximum questions from your Paperset book.

Sample Questions from previous exams

1.  (IBPS 2011) An urn contains 4 green, 5 blue, 2 red and 3 yellow marbles. Answer following questions

1. If two marbles are drawn at random, what is the probability that both are red or at least one is red?

2. If three marbles are drawn at random, what is the probability that at least one is yellow?

3. If eight marbles are drawn at random, what is the probability that there are equal numbers of marbles of each

colour?

4. If three marbles are drawn at random, what is the probability that none is green?

5. If four marbles are drawn at random, what is the probability that two are blue and two are red?

2. (IBPS 2012) A bag contains 13 white and 7 black balls. Two balls drawn at random, what is the probability that both

are of same color?

3. (IBPS 2012) In How many different ways can the letters of the word “THERAPY” can be arranged so that the vowels

never come together?#6: Average

Go through following articles, then maximum practice from your paper set book.

1. [Aptitude] Averages: Entry / Removal of 1 element => Increase / Decrease in Average Shortcut method explained

2. [Aptitude] Averages: More than two elements added / removed : shortcut technique explained

Sample questions

1. The average marks in English of a class of 24 students is 56. If the marks of three students were misread as 44, 45

and 61 in lieu of the actual marks 48, 59 and 67 respectively, then what would be the correct average?

2. The sum of the ages of 4 members of a family 5 years ago was 94 years. Today, when the daughter has been

married off and replaced by a daughter-in-law, the sum of their ages is 92. Assuming that there has been no other

change in the family structure and all the people are alive, what is the difference in the age of the daughter and the

daughter-in-law?

3. In an entrance examination, Ritu scored 56 percent marks, Smita scored 92 percent marks and Rina scored 634

marks. The maximum marks of the examination is 875. What is the average marks scored by all the three girls

together?Alligations (Wine-Water Mixture)

Although not asked in previous exams but since it is an allied topic of “averages, so just to be safe, go through following articles

1. [Aptitude] Alligations,Mixtures,Alloys: Water,Milk,Wine mixing: Weighted Average Made Easy for

CSAT,CAT,CMAT,IBPS Aptitude

2. [Aptitude] Alligation: Advanced applications in Interest rates, Profit-loss, Average Wages (Wine-Water Concept) #7: Ratio-Proportion-variations

NCERT Class 8 Chap 13.

then max practice from your Quantitative Aptitude book and or papersets

Also prepare the allied topic: “Partnership”, using this article http://mrunal.org/2012/05/aptitude-partnership-and-

profit-sharing.html

Sample Questions from previous papers

1. A certain amount was to be distributed among A, B and C in the ratio 2 : 3 : 4 respectively, but was erroneously

distributed in the ratio 7 : 2 : 5 respectively. As a result of this, B got? 40 less. What is the amount?

2. Rs.73,689 are divided between A and B in the ratio 4 : 7. What is the difference between thrice the share of A and

twice the share of B?

3. The fare of a bus is  X for the first five kilometers and  13/- per kilometer thereafter. If a passenger pays Rs. 2402/-

for a journey of 187 kilometers, what is the value of X?#8: Percentages, profit-loss, SI-CI

No need to mugup any formulas. Can be solved effortlessly, just go through following articles

1. [Aptitude] Concepts of Marked Price and Successive Discounts (Profit-Loss) without (stupid) formulas

2. [Aptitude] Compound Interest Rate, Population Growth without Formulas

3. [Aptitude] Product Consistency: If Sugar price increases then consumption should be Decreased by What %, Time-

Speed-Distance problems,

Then solve maximum sums at home.

Sample Questions from previous IBPS PO Exams:

1. An article was purchased for Rs.78.350/. Its price was marked up by 30%. It was sold at a discount of 20% on the

marked up price. What was the profit percent on the cost price?

2. What is the difference between the simple and compound interest on Rs. 7,300/- at the rate of 6% per annum in 2

years?

3. The simple interest accrued on an amount of Rs. 22,500 at the end of four years is Rs. 10,800. What would be the

compound interest accrued on the same amount at the same rate of interest at the end of two years?

4. Ramola’s monthly income is three times Ravina’s monthly income, Ravina’s monthly income is fifteen percent more

that Ruchika’s monthly income. Ruchika’s monthly income is Rs. 32,000. What is Ramola’s annual income?#9: Number theory and Remainders

topic approach

Divisibility, remainders

LCM and HCF

Unknown numbers from given conditions

Fractions-comparisons.

This article explaining the concept of HCF, LCM click me

NCERT Class 7 Chap 2, 9 (fraction)

NCERT Class 10 Chap 1 (divisibility)

Finally practice sums from your Quantitative aptitude book / Papersets.

Sample Questions from previous papers

1. When X is subtracted from the numbers 9, 15 and 27, the remainders are in continued proportion. What is the value

of X?

2. The product of three consecutive even numbers is 4032. The product of the first and the third number is 252. What

is five times the second number?

3. Sum of three consecutive numbers is 2262. What is 41% of the highest number?#10: Geometry (Area-Volume-Perimeter)

1. Basics from

1. NCERT Class 8 Chap 3, 11.

2. NCERT Class 9 Chap 9, 12, 13.

3. NCERT Class 10 Chap 13

2. Then maximum practice @home.

Sample Questions from IBPS-2012

1. The area of a square is 1444 square meters. The breadth of a rectangle is 1/4th the side of the square and the

length of the rectangle is thrice the breadth. What is the difference between the area of the square and the area of

the rectangle?

2. The premises of a bank are to be renovated. The renovation is in terms of flooring. Certain areas are to be floored

either with marble or wood. All rooms/halls and pantry are rectangular. The area to be renovated comprises of a hall

for customer transaction measuring 23 m by 29 m, branch manager’s room measuring 13 m by 17 m, a pantry

measuring 14 m by 13 m, a record keeping cum server room measuring 21rn by 13 m and locker area measuring 29

m by 21 m. The total area of the bank is 2000 square meters. The cost of wooden flooring is t 170/- per square meter

and the cost of marble flooring is Rs.190/- per square meter. The locker area, record keeping cum server room and

pantry are to be floored with marble. The branch manager’s room and the hall for customer transaction are to be

floored with wood. No other area is to be renovated in terms of flooring.

1. What is the respective ratio of the total cost of wooden flooring to the total cost of marble flooring?

2. If the four walls and ceiling of the branch managers room (The height of the room is 12 meters) are to be painted

at the cost of 1901- per square meter, how much will be the total cost of renovation of the branch manager’s

room including the cost of flooring?

3. If the remaining area of the bank is to be carpeted at the rate of Rs. 110/- per square meter, how much will be

the increment in the total cost of renovation of bank premises?

4. What is the percentage area of the bank that is not to be renovated?

5. What is the total cost of renovation of the hall for customer transaction and the locker area?#11: Time-Speed-Work-Distance

All of them can be solved with our universal STD formula. See following articles to learn the concept

1. [Aptitude] Trains, Platforms TSD (Time,Speed,Distance) made easy

2. [Aptitude] TSD: Average Speed made easy without Formulas

3. [Aptitude] Pipes and Cistern problem: 3 pipes, 2 work together

4. [Aptitude] Time n Work : P and Q start together but P leaves after some days

5. [Aptitude] Boats and Streams made-easy using our STD-Table Method

6. [Aptitude] TnW: A is thrice as good as workman as B

7. [Aptitude] Time n Work: 4 men and 6 women can complete a work in 8 Days then

8. [Aptitude] Time n Work :Daily Wages and Share in Payment

Sample Questions from previous IBPS exams

1. A and B together can complete a task in 20 days. B and C together can complete the same task in 30 days. A and C

together can complete the same task in 40 days. What is the respective ratio of the number of days taken by A when

completing the same task alone to the number of days taken by C when completing the same task alone?AP-GP

Although these questions were not seen in recent exams but if you’ve time and mood left, prepare the basics from NCERT and practice a

few MCQs. You might get lucky for question or two!

Arithmetic Progression NCERT Class 10 Chap 5.

Geometric Progression NCERT class 11 chapter 9.