How Many Months of Current Affairs Are Sufficient to Crack SBI Exam? Which Sources Are Good for Preparing General Awareness?

December 28, 2024

257

If you plan to break the SBI exam, then surely, the most prominent section that you must focus upon is General Awareness. Here, General Awareness tests a candidate’s knowledge about the current event, banking and finance awareness, and static GK. Preparing that section well is a must to gain a decent score. We will discuss this blog how many months’ current affair would suffice to clear the SBI exam and the ideal source from which it can be prepared for the General Awareness.

General Awareness is a must during the preparation for the SBI exam. Current affairs for the last 6 months would suffice, but some important topics of the previous year will definitely make a difference. You will be able to score well in the SBI exam’s General Awareness section if you are updated with Indian Bank policies, banking trends, and national and international developments.

General Awareness Section of the SBI Exam

The SBI exam is highly competitive and includes various posts like SBI Clerk, SBI PO, and SBI SO. One of the most important sections in all these exams is General Awareness that tests your knowledge about the current affairs, banking policies, and national as well as international events. When one prepares for the SBI exam, focusing on the last 6 months of current affairs is often sufficient. Be updated about the key Indian Bank policies and developments to do better at the examination.

Current Affairs: Current Affairs pertains to the recent happening and events taking place in India and other parts of the world.
Banking Awareness: Questions regarding the banking system, financial terms, and policies.
Static General Knowledge: Information related to the country, its capital, currency, history, geography, and many more.

Cracking the General Awareness section can be very challenging, but it is entirely possible if you follow a structured and strategic approach. Let’s break down the process to help you understand how many months of current affairs you need and where to prepare from.

How Many Months of Current Affairs Are Sufficient to Crack the SBI Exam?

This is one of the most frequently asked questions by aspirants. The ideal time to prepare current affairs depends on your level of preparation and how much time you can dedicate to it daily. However, generally speaking, it is advisable to cover at least 6 months of current affairs before the exam.

Why 6 Months?

SBI Exam Pattern: The General Awareness section in the SBI exam questions are asked based on the events occurred within the last 6-12 months. Six-month coverage ensures relevance to recent happenings. .
Last-Minute Revision: In your last weeks before the actual exam, make sure to revise all the knowledge you have for the last 6 months so you will be able to recall all of them.
Time Management: Concentrating on 6 months will only be able to balance your time required for other subjects preparation along with not wasting any moment on irrelevant or outdated news.

Limit it to 6 months. Ideally, you should start preparing as early as possible and cover current affairs from 12 months before the examination date, as some questions can be asked from events that occurred a year ago.

A Sample Timeline for Current Affairs Preparation:

Month	Focus Area	Remarks
Month 1	Current Affairs for the last 6 months	Focus on major events and news.
Month 2	Continue covering last 6 months	Start noting down important financial news.
Month 3-4	Review and revise last 6 months	Create flashcards or notes for revision.
Month 5-6	Focus on recent 3 months of current affairs	Keep yourself updated about banking and finance news.
Last Month	Quick Revision and Mock Tests	Intensive revision and mock tests must be done.

Top Resources to Prepare General Awareness for the SBI Exam

The best source for General Awareness preparation is authentic and reliable. And the ideal sources to follow are a few resources to get the best preparation.

Some of the best sources for General Awareness preparation in SBI exams are as follows:

1. ixamBee

One of the best sources for preparing General Awareness is ixamBee. This platform offers a vast array of online courses, mock tests, and study materials specifically designed for SBI exams. Their current affairs section is updated regularly, so you are always in tune with the latest news and events. Additionally, ixamBee offers:

Daily and weekly current affairs quizzes
Monthly current affairs PDFs
Special banking and finance awareness sections
Strategy-specific focused exam preparation for SBI exams
Mock tests and practice papers

For better preparations of SBI exams you can subscribe to ixamBee SBI exam preparation courses through which you will be getting structured and well-organized material, thereby making preparation easier and more efficient.

2. Newspapers (The Hindu, The Economic Times, etc.)

Newspapers happen to be one of the most trusted sources for current affair preparation. For banking awareness and general news, The Hindu, The Economic Times, and Financial Express should be read.

These newspapers provide coverage of national and international issues and updates on finance-related developments that would be helpful during the SBI exam preparation.

The Hindu: Focus on national and international news with policies and important global event.
The Economic Times: This newspaper has been suggested for banking awareness and the latest financial news.
Financial Express: Any change or new updates happening in the world of finance and banking are well covered by this paper.

3. Magazines and Monthly Compilations

Magazines like Pratiyogita Darpan, Banking Services Chronicle, and CSR (Competition Success Review) are also great resources for current affairs preparation. These magazines present the major events of the month and provide detailed analyses of national and international affairs, economic changes, etc.

You may also refer to the monthly current affairs compilations brought out by different coaching institutes like ixamBee, etc.

4. News Websites and Apps

In addition to the print media, several news websites and applications will keep you posted with the latest events. Some popular among them are:

NDTV
Times of India
Indian Express
News on Air (AIR)

Most of them have a banking and finance section, which can work just for cracking up this exam from SBI.

5. YouTube Channels

There are a number of YouTube channels that specialize in banking exam preparation. These channels explain important news, updates, and events. Some of the popular channels are:

ixamBee’s YouTube Channel: Daily current affairs, quiz sessions, and discussions for exams.

6. Books for Static GK

Current affairs contains the latest events, yet one must not ignore static GK. Books like Lucent’s General Knowledge and Manorama Yearbook suit best to study static topics like geography, history, and polity, which are typical in the SBI exam.

How to Prepare Well for the General Awareness Section of the SBI Exam?

1. Current Affairs- Stay Updated

First, update yourself with day-to-day news. Take out time to read daily newspapers and magazines and remain updated on current affairs daily.

2. Make Notes

While reading current affairs, note down important points, especially related to banking, economy, and government schemes. This will be helpful for quick revision just before the exam.

3. Prioritize Topics

Focus more on the topics which are frequently asked in the SBI exam, such as:

Recent national and international events
Government schemes and policies
Banking and financial updates
Economic developments
Important appointments and awards

4. Practice Mock Tests

Practice regularly using mock tests and quizzes. This will not only help you revise what you’ve learned but also give you an idea of the exam pattern and time management.

5. Online Courses

Do all online courses and mock tests, especially those designed particularly for SBI exam preparations. ixamBee contains highly descriptive courses for General Awareness, helping a learner make appropriate preparation updated and effective with time.

Preparation for General Awareness with Strategy

Preparation for the General Awareness section of the SBI exam is overwhelming since the subject is vast. However, the right strategy can make it more manageable and increase the chances of success.

1. Create a Daily Routine

Begin with a daily dedicated time for General Awareness preparation. Consistency is the key. Try to spend at least 30-45 minutes every day reading current affairs, reviewing banking awareness, and revising static GK.

2. Use Multiple Sources

Although ixamBee is a great tool, supplement your preparation by studying newspapers, apps, and magazines. A multi-source approach ensures that you read a wide range of material and helps you grasp even more.

3. Stay Updated with Daily Quizzes and Mock Tests

The more mock tests and quizzes you practice, the better would be your preparation. ixamBee provides you with practice quizzes that are especially designed to help you revise and evaluate your preparation. These tests follow the exam pattern and are an effective way of keeping a track of one’s progress.

4. Prepare Short Notes

As you prepare, write down concise points on the key points, especially in current affairs and important policies. These notes can be used to quickly revise before the exam, which is particularly helpful during the final week of preparation.

Importance of Banking Awareness for SBI Exam

Banking awareness is a very major part of the General Awareness section in the SBI exam. A candidate cannot crack the exam without proper knowledge of the banking sector, its policies, and economic developments. Here’s why banking awareness is important:

Indian Bank’s Role: You must know about the roles of Indian Bank and other public sector banks in the Indian economy. Frequently, topics related to bank mergers, banking reforms, and monetary policies of the Reserve Bank of India are tested.
Financial Terms: You must be very familiar with terms like CRR (Cash Reserve Ratio), SLR (Statutory Liquidity Ratio), Monetary Policy, and Repo Rate.
Government Schemes: Keep track of the government schemes related to the banking sector, such as the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Deposit Scheme, Mudra Yojana, and the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.

Quick Tips to Top the General Awareness Section in the SBI Exam

Focus on Recent News:The focus will be on the current events of the last 6 months. Keep track of all the important national and international happenings.
Revision Regular: General Awareness depends mainly on Revision. Flip through your notes and whatever material you have covered at least once in a week so that information doesn’t leave your brain.
Utilize ixamBee’s Current Affairs PDFs: ixamBee gives current affairs monthly pdf, which sums up all the important events that occurred during that period. The summarizations are very useful in the last-minute revision process.
Watch news and podcasts related to current affairs and read and watch daily news summaries. This is of great help in remembering what you study.
Be consistent with this and the right strategy; the General Awareness scores will certainly be on the rise.

Conclusion

General Awareness is something which definitely needs to crack the exam. The best way to do it, though, is to try to revise the last 6-12 months of current affairs; otherwise, you really have nothing to rely upon but what the newspapers and trusted sources, online courses such as of ixamBee along with YouTube channels publish.

Start early, be consistent, and use the best sources that can be accessed by you. With the right strategy, and regular revision, the SBI exam preparation can be well taken care of, and one will do well in the General Awareness section with confidence.

Prepare well and all the very best!

If you’re aiming to crack the SBI SO exam, ixamBee offers comprehensive resources to help you succeed. With SBI Clerk PYP, SBI SO AMS mock tests, and SBI SO Assistant Manager System online courses, ixamBee provides targeted preparation to boost your confidence and knowledge. Enhance your understanding of banking concepts and exam patterns with ixamBee’s Target Banking online course and practice tests for optimal results.

At ixamBee, we specialize in providing comprehensive online courses for government exams and online courses for government jobs. Our expertly designed courses for government jobs cater to a wide range of upcoming government exams. Whether you’re preparing for specific courses for government exams or seeking general guidance, ixamBee offers the resources like Beepedia previous year papers, SSC CGL, SSC CHSL, SSC MTS and other mock tests to succeed in exams like RBI Grade B, SEBI Grade A, NABARD Grade A, RRB NTPC, SSC MTS, NIACL Assistant, and more.