The dates of RRB Clerk Prelims are falling in the month of August 1, 2, 8, 9 & 16, 2020. The notification of IBPS RRB was recently released and you have around 50 days left for the Prelims exam to take place. To help you get started with your preparation, we have come up with the preparation tips for Numerical ability in this article.
Let’s first have a look at the exam pattern of IBPS RRB Officer Scale I 2020 Prelims.
This is the exam pattern this year. There’s hasn’t been any change this year when compared with the last year’s exam pattern. Please keep in mind that there is no English section in Prelims although it is there in the Mains exam. Sectional as well as overall cut-offs are there in this exam. And on each incorrectly answered question, 0.25 mark will be deducted. If you’re concerned about how to start the preparation since the notification isn’t out yet, we’re here to help you. The syllabus mostly remains the same and we are providing it below.
IBPS RRB PO 2021 Prelims Syllabus
Reasoning Ability
Numerical Ability
Alpha-numeric/ Alphabetical Series
Age Problems
Analogy
Average
Analytical Reasoning
Boats and Stream
Blood Relations
Clock and Calendar Problems
Coded Inequalities
Data Interpretation – Charts and Graphs: Line Graph, Bar Graph, Pie Chart; Tabular; Caselet; Mixed DI
Coding and Decoding
Data Sufficiency
Data Sufficiency
LCM and H.C.F
Directions and Distances
Mensuration
Double Line-up
Mixture and Allegations
Inequality
Number Series
Input Output
Number System
Order and Ranking/Direction
Partnership
Puzzles – Box based, Floor, Calendar, Day/Months based, etc.
This is the syllabus of IBPS RRB Clerk 2021 Prelims with which you should get started with your preparation. It’s important that you take a Free Mock Test of RRB Clerk Prelims and see at what level you are right now. Once you know your current performance, you just need to take corrective actions to improve on your weak areas. Let’s get started with tips & important formulae on numerical ability preparation.
First things first, know the syllabus well. You need to be familiar with each & every topic mentioned in the syllabus above. If there’s any doubt, get it clarified immediately.
Take a Mock Test to assess your current preparation level. This Mock Test is absolutely free of cost.
Analyse your performance in the mock test. Make a list of the topics where you need to improve.
This is important. Create a schedule and ensure that each topic gets 2-3 days of attention. Give some more time to the topics of which you have made a list in Tip #3.
When you are learning the topic (as per the schedule), make sure that your concepts are crystal clear. Take the help of some books or online videos to clarify the concepts.
Practice at least 100 questions on each of the topic mentioned in the syllabus.
When solving questions, see if you can sense a pattern and come up with your own shortcuts.
You can also use the shortcuts shown in online videos and books but be very sure that you do understand the functionality of the shortcut/trick. Make sure that you don’t use any shortcut which you don’t understand.
Start using the shortcuts in the sectional tests and see if you are able to get the correct answer in a limited time.
Keep practising. Practising is the key to success.
Topic-wise Preparation Tips for Numerical Ability
As you prepare for different topics, keeping in mind the below points will surely be helpful in your preparation:
Tips for Age-Related Problems
When dealing with an age-related problem, be specific what do you want to assume as ‘x’ (so as to do further operations). Should it be past age, present age or future age? To deal with this, it is advisable to deem the present age as ‘x’.
If you take the present age as ‘x’, 5 years past will become x – 5 and 6 years in future will become x + 6.
If present age is not provided, and you need to find the present age, you can assume the age you are supposed to find as ‘x’.
Alternatively, you can put yourself in the question and try to calculate your age (as per the question).
You can also start with the given options and try calculating it backwards.
Tips for Data Interpretation
First things first, be thorough with all the topics and ensure that you have done adequate practice on 90% of the topics.
Practice at least 1 sectional test in exam-like conditions starting today until a day before the exam. There is no substitute to practice.
A big chunk of the questions involves the concepts of percentage, averages, and ratio. Be crystal-clear with their concepts and understand the usage of shortcuts. Remember, knowing shortcuts is important but what is more important is knowing when to use which shortcut.
Learn the square, square root, cube and cube root of numbers up to 30.
Also, don’t forget to memorize the tables until 30.
When solving DI questions, use approximation wherever you see its scope. Approximation comes particularly handy when there is a considerable difference in the values of different options. However, be informed that this skill comes by practice.
In DI questions you often need to switch several times between looking at the data and the question. Our advice would be to read a question slowly in one shot and understand it rather than reading it several times which may cost you some time.
Time is extremely important in this section but you shouldn’t undermine the importance of accuracy as well. With 0.25 negative marking per question in place, you have to have a perfect balance of speed and accuracy. “Practice�? once again will make you an adept in this.
Make a list of the topics you are not so good at. Solve a number of questions and see what is that you are getting stuck at and work on it to improve your performance.
Last but not the least, be prepared for any surprise in terms of the format of questions and structure of the paper. Whatever is new for you, is new for nearly everybody else. Not losing confidence and checking out what the question is actually asking will differentiate you from the majority.
Tips for Data Sufficiency
→Always look at the question with complete focus
This step is extremely important while answering data sufficiency questions. Sometimes, the question in the first instance looks like it’s asking something obvious whereas it’s actually asking something else. Check if the question is asking for a value/ratio or if it’s just asking if a particular relationship holds good.
→Don’t Presume Anything
It’s important not to presume anything apart from the information given in the problem and the 2 statements. Start with the calculation with a clean slate. Presuming any information may land you with an incorrect answer.
→Always Check the Statement II
It’s tempting enough not to move to the 2nd statement when you get the answer to the problem with the 1st statement itself. But remember, if you get the answer from the 1st statement itself, you still have the below two options pending out of which you have to choose one:
The data in statement I alone are sufficient to answer the question, while the data in statement II alone are not sufficient to answer the question.
The data either in statement I alone or in statement II alone are sufficient to answer the question.
So, in a nutshell, even if you get the answer from the Statement I, you need to check if Statement II is alone sufficient to answer the question and need to answer accordingly.
→Check whether the Combination Works
If the problem is not solved by either of the statements alone, you should try combining the information in both the statements and see whether you are able to come up with the answer. If even by combining the two Statements, you aren’t able to get the answer, you have to mark the option which says, ‘combined data in Statement I as well as Statement II is not sufficient to solve the problem’.
→Check the options as well
Generally, the options are laid down in the below way:
If the data given in statement I alone is sufficient to answer the question.
If the data given in statement II alone is sufficient to answer the question.
If the data given in either statement I or statement II alone is sufficient to answer the question.
If the data given in both statement I and statement II are sufficient to answer the question.
If the data given in both statement I and statement II are not sufficient to answer the question.
But once you’ve answered a question and have moved to another question, please don’t presume that the format of options will be the same. The options can be a shuffled mix. For each question you attempt, check if the options you are clicking has the answer you intend to give.
Important Formulae for Mensuration
Rectangle
Area = Length x Breadth
Perimeter = 2 x (Length + Breadth)
Diagonal’s Length = √(Length2 + Breadth2)
Square
Area = (Length)2
Perimeter = 4 x Length
Diagonal’s Length = (√2) x Length
Parallelogram
Area = Length x Height
Perimeter = 2 x (Length + Breadth)
Triangle
Area = ½ x Base x Height
Area = √[s(s-a)(s-b)(s-c)] where s = (a+b+c)/2 and a, b, c are three sides of a triangle
Area of an isosceles triangle = (b/4)√(4a2-b2) where a is the length of 2 equal sides and b is the length of the third side
Area of an equilateral triangle = (√3/4) x a2
Trapezium
Area = ½ x (sum of parallel sides) x (distance between parallel sides)
Perimeter = Sum of all sides
Rhombus
Area = ½ x Product of diagonals
Perimeter = 4 x l where l is length of one side
Circle and Semicircle
Area of a circle = πr2 = (πd2)/4
Circumference of circle = 2πr = πd
Circumference of semicircle = πr
Perimeter of semicircle = πr + d
Area of semicircle = (πr2)/2
Length of arc = (2πrθ)/360 where θ is central angle in degrees
Area of a sector = (½) x (length of arc) x r = (πr2θ)/360
Tips for Profit & Loss
Profit & Loss Definitions:
MRP (Maximum Retail Price): The price which is printed on an object. Discounts are generally calculated on MRP.
Discount: Discount is deduction from the cost of something. It is usually denoted in percentage and is calculated on MRP.
Selling Price: Selling price is the final price at which seller and buyer agree. It is generally calculated after deducting discount from MRP. S.P. = MRP – Discount
Cost Price: It is the price at which the seller bought the product.
Profit/ Loss: Profit/ loss is calculated on the difference between selling price and cost price. The profit/ loss percentage is always calculated on cost price.
Profit & Loss Tricks:
To calculate the Selling Price at 10% profit you need to multiple the Cost Price by 1.1. 1.1 is nothing but (100 + 10)/100.
To calculate the Selling Price at 10% loss you need to multiple the Cost Price by 0.9. 0.9 is nothing but (100 – 10)/100.
To calculate the Cost Price at 10% profit you need to divide the Selling Price by 1.1. 1.1 is nothing but 100/(100+10).
To calculate the Cost Price at 10% loss you need to divide the Selling Price by 0.9. 0.9 is nothing but 100/(100-10).
We hope that these tips will be helpful in your preparation. We will keep updating this article on a regular basis. Use the comments section below, if you have any feedback for us. Wishing you good luck with your preparation!