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Tricks to Improve Speed in Numerical Ability: RRB Clerk 2021

The IBPS RRB Clerk or Office Assistant Prelims Exam 2021 will very soon be knocking on the Examination hall’s doors on 14th & 21st August 2021. With only a few days left, you may be working hard to increase your speed in the Numerical Ability Sections, as the questions can be tricky and time-consuming sometimes. You might also be looking for ways you think you might have perhaps ignored to increase the speed further.

Read & know about the 3-Day Revision Plan for RRB Clerk Prelims 2021

In this article, we will briefly discuss all those proven tiny tricks that can accomplish a big score by injecting speed into your calculations.

Before that, let’s take a look at the topics you need to improve your speed in!

You might also like to read: 4 Tips to Crack RRB Clerk 2021 in Your First Attempt

Important Topics with Expected No. of Questions

You can increase your speed more in solving questions from the topics that are expected in this Exam. following topics are given below:

Topics	Weightage
Number Series	Questions based on: -Missing Number Series or Wrong Number Series -Expected No. of Questions: 4-5
Quadratic Equations	Questions based on: -Root comparison of quadratic equations -Expected No. of Questions: 5
Simplification/Approximation	-Expected No. of Questions: 6-10
Data Interpretation	Questions based on: -Line Chart -Pie chart -Tabulation -Radar Graph -Caselet -Bar Graph -Missing DI etc. -Expected No. of Questions: 9-15
Arithmetic	Questions based on topics like: -Age-based problems -Profit, Loss, and Discount -Speed, Time, and Distance -Pipes and Cisterns -Probability -Partnerships -Ratio and Averages -Simple and Compound Interest -Time, Work, and Wages -Mixture and Allegation -Expected No. of Questions: 7-10

Note: The Expected No. of Questions given in the box above show the importance of the topics you must not miss out on while practicing.

Read & know: 4 Tips to Increase Speed and Accuracy for Reasoning, CA and QA?-Beat any Bank Exam!

Tricks to Improve Speed in Numerical Ability Section-IBPS RRB Clerk 2021

As you know, the level of difficulty in the RRB Clerk Exam is easy when compared to RRB PO Exam. With good preparation and revision strategy, you can easily attempt 25–30 questions in a given time. You just need to practice and increase your speed in solving questions on topics like Ratio & Proportion, Averages, Time & Work, Percentage, Number System, etc. Do a quick calculation of how much time you need to answer per question in the actual RRB Clerk 2021 Exam.

You may have to solve 10 to 15 simplification questions in the exam, so if your calculation speed is

good, you can solve all the questions in a quick time. Time is everything, so whatever you are practicing, accompany it with a timer. Attempt Mock Tests daily. By giving RRB Clerk Mocks, you can increase your speed to a great extent.

Also, check: 4 Ways to beat RRB Clerk 2021 via Mock Tests

Here are some useful tricks for improving the calculation speed:

1. Approximation & Estimation techniques

Approximation techniques are used to solve lengthy problems. Approximations are guesses to save time.

For instance, take this: 88×89 is 7,832.

Both are closer to 90.

Therefore, 90×90=8,100.

The answer must be below 8,100.

This way, you one guess through approximations and improve your calculation speed. There are a number of videos available on YouTube to teach you the Approximation techniques. Just watch the videos to know how they can help you increase your problem-solving speed. If you are already acquainted with them, you should practice questions applying them and check how much time you take to solve a problem with them via Mock Test.

By adding these techniques to your skills, you can solve the sums faster, increase your accuracy by many times, and can score better to crack the RRB Clerk Exam 2021.

2. Learn squares, cube and tables

You must have learned the tables at least up to 25 along with the calculations of squares and cubes? If not, go learn them. It can tremendously help in getting the answers quickly. This way, you’ll save a lot of your time by doing short calculations quickly. Practice mastering the tables. Learn squares up to 50, cubes up to 20, and Percentage to Ratio Conversion.

3. Learn Fractions and Decimals

Learn all the fractions and their equivalent percentages till 15. Fractions can be applied to all the topics of Quantitative Aptitude like DI, Profit and Loss, Percentages, Averages, Etc. Learn to quickly convert decimals into percentages, move the period twice to the right, like 0.28 → 28%, 0.05 → 5%, 2.36% → 236%. You should know the percentage table so that you can quickly convert the percentages into fractions for solving the questions quickly. Here is an example of the same:

Fraction	Decimal	Percent
1/2	0.5	50%
1/3	0.333…	33.333…%
2/3	0.666…	66.666…%

4. Practice the formulas

Practice the application of formulas. They help in solving the arithmetical problem quickly and accurately. It is better to learn and master the formulas before even practicing the questions. Remembering formulas can sometimes be a tedious task. The only way to make them a part of your memory is by writing them in your notebook daily. You can just copy them into your notebook. You can also read it aloud while you are writing.

This way your brain will retain all the formulas within 15 to 20 days.

5. Reverse Solving Process

The reverse Solving Process is nothing but reviewing the options to see which one fits the question best. You can use this trick whenever you get confused or get stuck in solving a problem while attempting a mathematical problem. It can help you in getting the solution quickly.

Watch authentic YouTube videos to know more about it and how it works.

Also read: IBPS RRB Clerk 2021:30 Days Study and Revision Plan-Just do it!

6. Practice and practice more

Even if you don’t know tricks or shortcuts, you can still succeed in acquiring speed just by practicing questions. By regular and dedicated practice, you can gain speed by polishing your skills. The best mantra to improve calculation speed is Practice. You can also improve your speed exponentially by solving questions on simplification.

You need to solve around 20 to 30 simplification problems on regular basis.

7. Attempt Mock Tests

A Mock Test is a tool that tests your practice with all the rules of the actual RRB Clerk Exam 2021. This can tremendously help you a lot while you’ll be appearing for the actual RRB Clerk Exam 2021. Mocks Tests will help you remember the formulas, concepts, and all the above-mentioned tricks, and save you from forgetting topics that you have already learned and mastered. It will instill both speed and accuracy in your old and newly-found skills. You still have enough time left with you to plan and try implementing different simple mathematical strategies in each of your Mock Tests and choose the best one during the actual RRB Clerk Exam 2021. Giving Mock Tests every day will give you an idea of how to be faster in solving numerical questions. You might also easily realize that you need more time for a particular topic or session and less for another.

This will help you in planning on how much time to spend on each topic in such a way that you can complete the paper and even have ample time to go back to a certain question.

Also, check: 4 Ways to beat RRB Clerk 2021 via Mock Tests

Conclusion

Last but not least, your success in gaining speed with regularity will heavily depend on your hard work and practice. And this is what experts recommend and previous years toppers had cultivated to fetch almost all the marks in the Numerical Ability Section. Yes, solving hard problems might take more time and effort. But both time and effort will keep on decreasing with time and regular practice. And soon your mind will start reacting to questions you find hard or easy to answer quickly and identify and implement the probable tricks and ways to solve them. To make it happen, you need to solve multiple questions within a certain time limit. The sooner you’ll develop this habit, the later you’ll start improving your speed and accuracy with your mathematical skills needed for the coming RRB Clerk Exam 2021.

Best of luck with the Exam!

Asad Yar Khan

I write and oversee the creation of informative educational blogs centering around study strategies, exam techniques, and more, to guide aspirants in clearing SSC, banking, engineering, and other competitive exams. I ensure a range of subjects are covered with precision and clarity. With over 7 years of diverse writing experience, I share a wealth of wisdom and expertise with thousands of students, through PracticeMock every day, helping them achieve their goals.