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IBPS RRB PO (Scale 1) - 2020 – Last Minute Tips and Strategy for the Reasoning Section
The Common Recruitment Process for RRBs (CRP RRBs IX) announced over 5300 vacancies (Group “B”-Office Assistant (Multipurpose) in July 2020. The Prelim exam is tentatively scheduled to be held in September 2020 while theMain in October 2020. The skill to get through lies in having an idea about the pattern of previously held exams, analysing old exam papers, practising time management and training oneself on how to strategise during the actual test.
We present this article, which has a few handy inputs on how to prepare for, and succeed in, the Reasoning section of the upcoming IBPS RRB Assistant 2020 Prelim and Main examinations, with a hope that you would certainly benefit from it.
IBPS RRB Officer Scale 1 –Prelim Examination :
The Reasoning section of this exam comprises 40 Qs that carry one mark each. While there is no section wise time limit as such, there is a composite time of 45 minutes for both the test areas of Reasoning Ability and Quantitative Aptitude. One may allot a maximum of 20 mins for the reasoning section to maximise one’s overall score here. There is a negative marking scheme, where 1/4th of the marks assigned for a question are deducted for each wrongly marked response. In order to qualify, candidates must qualify in both the tests (Reasoning and Numerical Ability) by securing the minimum cut-off marks.
This being a relatively easier-to-handle part of the test offers ample scope for score maximisation. In the Prelims, the difficulty level of questions in this area ranges between very easy to easy (as per feedback given by T.I.M.E. students who appeared for such exams in the past).
The following data presents the topic wise break-up and analysis of the IBPS RRB PO ( Scale 1) Prelim exam across the years [collated from feedback as given by T.I.M.E. students who appeared for such exams in the past].
Prelim 2019:
| S.No. | Topic | No. of questions given | Level of Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Linear arrangement (some facing north and others facing south) | 5 | Easy-moderate |
| 2 | Box arrangement (11 boxes) | 5 | Easy-moderate |
| 3 | Days related (7persons and 7 days) | 4 | Easy |
| 4 | 4 floors and 2 flats arrangement | 5 | Easy -moderate |
| 5 | Comparisons | 3 | Easy |
| 6 | Coding and decoding | 5 | Easy |
| 7 | Direction Sense | 5 | Very easy |
| 8 | Deductions / Syllogisms (only a few) | 5 | 3-Easy ,2-Moderate |
| 9 | Miscellaneous | 3 | Very easy |
Puzzles asked in other slots:Questions on puzzles were based on – Linear Arrangement (unknown no. of persons, 9 persons facing north, 8 persons etc.), Circular Arrangement (8 persons; all facing inside; some facing inside & some facing outside etc.), Month & Date based, Age based, Square Arrangement, Distributions, Comparisons (Heights, Weights etc.)
Overall, the paper can be rated slightly more difficult vis-à-vis the same exam that was conducted in 2018.
Prelim 2018:
| S.No. | Topic | No. of questions given | Level of Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 row arrangement (6 persons each) | 5 | Easy |
| 2 | Box arrangement | 4 | Easy |
| 3 | Circular arrangement-10 persons (all facing the centre) | 5 | Easy |
| 4 | Floor arrangement | 4 | Easy |
| 5 | Unknown number of persons in linear arrangement | 5 | Easy-moderate |
| 6 | Coding and decoding | 4 | Easy |
| 7 | Direction Sense (2 persons) | 3 | Easy |
| 8 | Deductions / Syllogisms (only a few) | 4 | 2-Easy ,2- Moderate |
| 9 | Miscellaneous | 2 | Very easy |
| 10 | Inequalities | 4 | easy |
The following areas are considered important for the Prelim exam:
- Symbols and notations(Inequalities)
- Blood relations
- Direction sense
- Coding-decoding
- Syllogisms
- Puzzles - Linear arrangements /Box arrangements /Floor arrangements / Circular arrangements /Distribution (days and months based) / Comparisons/ Quant-based Reasoning
- Miscellaneous(Word arrangements, Number arrangements, meaning full word, letter series etc.)
- Data Sufficiency
Though past patterns indicate that questions on DataSufficiency are usually posed in the Main exam, candidates are advised to be on their guard and not take this for granted, asis evident from their out-of-place inclusion in the 2018 Prelim (in the third slot on 11/08/2018, as reported by our students).
IBPS RRB Officer Scale 1 – Main Examination :
The Reasoning section of the exam consists of 40 Qs with a total of 50 marks.Here too, while there is no fixed sectional time limit, there is a composite time of 120 minutes that needs to be distributed across all test areas. One may allot a maximum of 40 mins for the Reasoning section to maximise one’s overall score. The negative marking scheme put in place for this exam mandates that for every incorrect response, 1/4th of the marks assigned for that question be deducted.
The likelihood of a variable marking scheme being applied to the Reasoning section of this exam remains strong.
The following data presents the topic wise break-up and analysis of the Main exam [as collated from feedback received from T.I.M.E. students who appeared for such exam in the past]
Mains 2019:
| S.No. | Topic | No. of questions given | Level of Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Unknown number of persons in linear and distribution(all facing north) | 5 | Moderate |
| 2 | Linear +QBR(some facing north and some facing south)) | 5 | Moderate-difficult |
| 3 | Box arrangement + QBR | 5 | Moderate |
| 4 | Distribution (7persons +ages(years given)+colours) | 5 | Moderate-difficult |
| 5 | Direction Sense(2 buses) | 3 | Moderate |
| 6 | Inequalities (Definitely true / Definitely false) | 3 | Moderate |
| 7 | Syllogisms (only a few) - 4statements and 3 conclusions |
3 | Moderate |
| 8 | Input output(words and numbers) | 4 | Moderate |
| 9 | Miscellaneous | 2 | Easy |
| 10 | Critical Reasoning | 5 | Difficult |
Mains 2018:
| S.No. | Topic | No. of questions given | Level of Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Distribution(3 cities+9 persons+ 9flowers) | 5 | Moderate |
| 2 | Linear +Blood relations(all facing north) | 5 | Moderate-difficult |
| 3 | 2 Two row arrangement +Distribution(5 persons each +only 5 colours) | 5 | Moderate |
| 4 | Distribution(7persons +ages(years given)+ fruits) | 5 | Moderate-difficult |
| 5 | Direction Sense | 4 | Moderate |
| 6 | Data Sufficiency | 3 | Moderate |
| 7 | Input-output(words and numbers) | 5 | Moderate |
| 8 | Miscellaneous | 2 | Easy |
| 9 | Critical Reasoning | 6 | Difficult |
The following areas are considered important for the Main exam:
- Symbols and notations
- Blood relations
- Direction sense
- Coding-decoding
- Syllogisms
- Puzzles - Linear arrangements / Box arrangements / Floor arrangements / Circular arrangements /Distribution (day and month-based),Designations based / Comparisons / Quant based Reasoning
- Data sufficiency
- Input and output
- Miscellaneous (Word arrangements, Number arrangements, meaning full word, letter series etc.)
- Critical Reasoning
Strategy:
Though everything in an exam is important, it is essential to prioritise the order in which you handle questions. In order to maximise your score, we recommend the below mentioned plan for attempting questions.
It is advisable that you attempt questions on sequence, set of numbers / words, deductions, blood relations, directions, symbols and notations, word and number arrangements and input and output first and only then deal with the others.
Solving puzzles must come next in this process. Among puzzles too, questions on Comparisons are less time-consuming than the ones on Seating arrangements and Distributions; these must be worked out towards the end.
It is only very rarely that we come across clues given in a jumbled manner. Usually, from what we hear from our students, clues meant for solving puzzles are presented such that they help solve the given puzzle in the order in which the clues are given, thus obviating the need to move back and forth multiple times.
For the sake of time management, questions on Data Sufficiency and Critical Reasoning should be worked out last.
Some useful Tips :
- Going through the Analyses of previous years papers will help you understand what topics were asked in the exams, weightage of questions from each topic, pattern of questions etc.
- Whether sectional time limit is specified or not, time management, speed and accuracy play an important role in helping you clear your exams. Work on your speed and accuracy.
- Practice questions daily. This will definitely give you an edge over others, who are appearing for thee exams.
- Tracking your performance on a regular basis helps you identify the areas / topics in which you are weak and need to boost up your preparation.
- Answering the questions in a particular sequence, so as to maximise your attempts and your score, is very important. See the order given above.
- Take ample online tests, topic wise as well as Mock Tests – these will help you understand your preparation levels and also assist you in time management, so that when you go for the actual exam, you give it a shot with confidence.
All the Best !!