Time management is the key to completing a competitive exam like IBPS RRB Clerk. When it comes to clearing an exam, how much you know is not the only factor. It’s also about how well you manage your time. You might have answers to all the questions in the exam, but if you don’t manage your time well, you won’t be able to answer. With sectional timing and a good number of questions to attempt in a limited span, effective time management becomes a game-changer. Many aspirants miss out by just a few marks, and often it’s not because they didn’t study enough. They missed out because they couldn’t utilize the exam time wisely. This article will discuss the importance of time management in the RRB Clerk Exam and a few tips and tricks to learn time management.
Time Management in RRB Clerk Exam
Time management is the basic and most important thing during a competitive exam. To master time management, you need to understand the structure of the exam first. The prelims have two sections, which are Reasoning Ability and Numerical Ability. Each section is allotted 20 minutes, and you have 45 questions to solve in total. In the Mains, you’ll have more sections, more time, and more questions, but the challenge remains the same, which is using every minute smartly.
How to Divide Time Section-Wise in Prelims
| Section | Total Questions | Suggested Time | Approach Tips |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 20 mins | Start with easy questions like inequalities, syllogism, and direction sense. Keep puzzles for later. |
| Numerical Ability | 35 | 20 mins | Begin with simplification and number series. DI and word problems can take more time. |
Effective Time Strategy for RRB Clerk Mains
| Section | Total Questions | Suggested Time | Key Focus Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning Ability | 40 | 35 mins | Prioritize puzzles based on difficulty, avoid overthinking. |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 40 | 35 mins | Use approximation in DI, skip lengthy calculations. |
| General Awareness | 40 | 15-20 mins | If you’ve prepared well, you can finish it quickly. |
| English Language | 40 | 25 mins | Attempt vocab and grammar first, then RCs. |
Time Management Tips During Practice
Several students lose their marks, not because of a lack of knowledge, but because they lack time management. There are a few things that you can practice so it won’t be difficult for you to manage time during the actual exam. Practice full-length mocks in actual exam time settings. Don’t just take mocks for the sake of taking them. Simulate an exam-like environment where you set a timer to spot time-wasting patterns. Use sectional timers in quizzes to build speed and accuracy. Set target attempts based on your strengths (e.g., 25+ in Reasoning with 90% accuracy). Having a practice like this will definitely help you during your exam.
Avoid These Common Time Traps
| Mistake | Time Impact | Better Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Spending too long on one puzzle | Wastes 5-7 mins | Skip and move, come back later |
| Solving DI without approximation | Slows you down | Use rounding off wherever possible |
| Reading every RC option deeply | Eats into English time | Scan and eliminate smartly |
Conclusion
Time management is not a skill that you can learn last minute. It’s a part of your preparation journey. You develop this skill during your preparation. The more you practice mock tests with time constraints, the more natural it will become in the real exam. Stay calm, stay focused, and always move on if something feels too tricky.
IBPS RRB Clerk Other Article
| IBPS RRB Clerk Exam Pattern | IBPS RRB Clerk Syllabus |
| IBPS RRB Clerk Salary | IBPS RRB Clerk Cut Off |
| IBPS RRB Clerk Previous Year Paper |
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FAQs
At least 15-20 full-length mocks, along with sectional tests, is ideal.
Absolutely. Skip tough ones and come back later, but don’t waste time.
3-4 hours daily with focused practice and mock analysis is effective.
Both are important, but without managing time, you might not even reach all the questions.
Breathe, focus on one question at a time, and don’t panic if one section feels tough.
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