The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) conducts recruitment exams for various positions, including Assistant Manager (Grade A). Understanding the PFRDA previous year cut off marks is essential for aspirants as it helps in setting realistic targets and formulating an effective preparation strategy.
Importance of Knowing PFRDA Cut Off
Knowing the PFRDA previous year cut off is a crucial step in exam preparation, as it provides candidates with a clear idea of what to expect in the examination. Here’s why understanding the PFRDA cut off trends is beneficial:
- Analyzing Competition Levels: The PFRDA Grade A exam is highly competitive, with thousands of candidates applying for a limited number of vacancies. Understanding past cut offs helps aspirants gauge the level of competition and set realistic expectations.
- Setting Realistic Score Targets: Candidates can define their preparation goals by aligning them with previous years’ cut off marks, ensuring that they aim for a safe score to qualify.
- Prioritizing Important Topics: By analyzing past trends, aspirants can identify the subjects and sections that require more focus and effort.
- Understanding Sectional Cut Offs: Many exams, including the PFRDA Assistant Manager exam, have sectional cut offs. Knowing the past sectional trends helps candidates allocate their time effectively.
- Better Exam Strategy & Time Management: Candidates can plan their attempts wisely, focusing on high-scoring sections to maximize their overall performance.
- Insights into Exam Difficulty Levels: If the cut off fluctuates significantly in certain years, it often indicates a change in the difficulty level of the exam. This helps in adapting preparation strategies accordingly.
PFRDA Previous Year Cut Offs
Here is a detailed table of PFRDA previous year cut off marks to help aspirants understand the trends and competition:
2022 PFRDA Officer Grade ‘A’ Cut-off
Phase 1
| Stream | Category | Paper 1 | Paper 2 | Aggregate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | UR/Gen | 22.00 | 16.50 | 39.62 |
| SC/ST/OBC | 13.50 | 7.75 | 21.75 (SC), 24.26 (ST), 22.56 (OBC) | |
| EWS | 22.00 | 16.50 | 40.95 | |
| PwBD-B&LV | 13.50 | 7.75 | 30.38 | |
| Legal | UR/Gen | 22.00 | 41.50 | 64.19 |
| Finance & Accounts | UR/Gen | 22.00 | 40.75 | 64.68 |
| Information Technology | UR/Gen | 22.00 | 28.75 | 52.20 |
| Official Language (Rajbhasha) | UR/Gen | 22.00 | 31.75 | 57.50 |
Phase 2
| Stream | Category | Paper 1 | Paper 2 | Aggregate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | UR/Gen | 51.00 | 33.75 | 63.67 |
| SC/ST/OBC | 47.50 | 26.00 | 53.67 (SC), 50.33 (ST), 59.67 (OBC) | |
| EWS | 51.00 | 33.75 | 55.67 | |
| PwBD-B&LV | 47.50 | 26.00 | 45.00 | |
| Legal | UR/Gen | 51.00 | 33.25 | 61.00 |
| Finance & Accounts | UR/Gen | 51.00 | 48.00 | 61.33 |
| Information Technology | UR/Gen | 51.00 | 40.75 | 56.67 |
| Official Language (Rajbhasha) | UR/Gen | 51.00 | 55.25 | 60.33 |
Final Selection
| Stream | Category | Weighted Score |
|---|---|---|
| General | UR/Gen | 71.22 |
| SC | 66.26 | |
| ST | 61.66 | |
| OBC | 68.70 | |
| EWS | 68.67 | |
| PwBD-B&LV | 62.00 | |
| Legal | UR/Gen | 70.23 |
| Finance & Accounts | UR/Gen | 70.50 |
| Information Technology | UR/Gen | 64.52 |
| Official Language (Rajbhasha) | UR/Gen | 74.23 |
| Research (Economics) | UR/Gen | 75.58 |
2021 PFRDA Officer Grade ‘A’ Cut-off
Phase 1
| Stream | Category | Paper 1 | Paper 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | UR/Gen | 23.25 | 17.25 |
| SC/ST/OBC | 15.00 | 9.50 | |
| EWS | 23.25 | 17.25 | |
| Actuarial | UR/Gen | 6.25 | 9.25 |
| Finance & Accounts | UR/Gen | 20.75 | 34.75 |
| OBC | 15.00 | 28.75 | |
| Information Technology | UR/Gen | 26.25 | 22.50 |
| OBC | 19.25 | 14.25 | |
| Official Language (Rajbhasha) | UR/Gen | 13.50 | 22.25 |
| Research (Economics) | UR/Gen | 23.50 | 29.75 |
Phase 2
| Stream | Category | Paper 1 | Paper 2 | Weighted Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | UR/Gen | 43.50 | 29.25 | 60.33 |
| SC/ST | 40.25 | 21.75 | 44.67 (SC), 45.67 (ST) | |
| OBC | 40.25 | 21.75 | 56.33 | |
| EWS | 43.50 | 29.25 | 40.33 | |
| Actuarial | UR/Gen | 23.00 | 8.25 | 13.67 |
| Finance & Accounts | UR/Gen | 43.50 | 58.50 | 67.00 |
| OBC | 40.25 | 52.75 | 55.50 | |
| Information Technology | UR/Gen | 43.50 | 34.50 | 54.33 |
| OBC | 40.25 | 28.00 | 41.67 | |
| Official Language (Rajbhasha) | UR/Gen | 43.50 | 34.50 | 47.33 |
| Research (Economics) | UR/Gen | 43.50 | 39.50 | 54.17 |
| Research (Statistics) | UR/Gen | 43.50 | 40.50 | 48.50 |
Final Selection
| Stream | Category | Weighted Score |
|---|---|---|
| General | UR/Gen | 66.90 |
| SC | 56.77 | |
| ST | 58.35 | |
| OBC | 64.05 | |
| EWS | 61.63 | |
| Actuarial | UR/Gen | 58.05 |
| Finance & Accounts | UR/Gen | 77.26 |
| OBC | 69.01 | |
| Information Technology | UR/Gen | 59.45 |
| OBC | 59.32 | |
| Official Language (Rajbhasha) | UR/Gen | 61.95 |
| Research (Economics) | UR/Gen | 65.72 |
| Research (Statistics) | UR/Gen | 71.54 |
Trends and Observations
A close analysis of the PFRDA previous year cut off trends reveals several key insights:
- Fluctuating Cut Offs: The cut offs for the PFRDA Assistant Manager (Grade A) exam have shown some fluctuations over the years, reflecting variations in exam difficulty and the number of candidates appearing for the test.
- Increase in Competition: With each passing year, the number of applicants for the PFRDA Grade A exam has been increasing, leading to higher cut offs, especially for the General and EWS categories.
- Sectional Cut Off Variations: In some years, candidates have found the Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning Ability sections to be tougher, affecting the overall cut off. Similarly, General Awareness and English Language sections have played a crucial role in determining final scores.
- Category-Wise Cut Off Differences: While the General category cut off has remained the highest, OBC and EWS categories have shown trends close to it. The SC and ST category cut offs tend to be lower but have also risen steadily over the years.
- Impact of Exam Difficulty: If the paper is relatively tough in a particular year, cut offs tend to decrease, while an easier paper leads to higher cut offs. This trend can be observed in the 2020-2022 cycle.
- Effect of Vacancy Numbers: The total number of vacancies released for the PFRDA exam directly influences the cut off. Years with fewer vacancies tend to have higher cut offs due to increased competition.
- Role of Normalization: The normalization process plays a key role in adjusting raw scores, particularly in exams conducted in multiple shifts, ensuring fairness in the selection process.
Preparation Strategy for PFRDA Exam
Given the competitive nature of the PFRDA Grade A exam, it is essential to have a well-structured preparation plan. Here’s a step-by-step guide to ace the exam:
1. Understand the Exam Pattern & Syllabus
- The PFRDA Grade A exam consists of multiple phases, including Prelims, Mains, and an Interview.
- Key subjects include Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning Ability, English Language, General Awareness, and Professional Knowledge related to finance, economics, and regulatory bodies.
- Reviewing the official notification and syllabus will help you focus on the right topics.
2. Develop a Study Plan
- Allocate time for each subject based on your strengths and weaknesses.
- Dedicate daily slots for Current Affairs and General Awareness, as this section is crucial for scoring high.
- Focus on financial markets, pension funds, and PFRDA-related news to stay ahead.
3. Master the Fundamentals
- Strengthen your basics in Quantitative Aptitude by practicing arithmetic, data interpretation, and number series questions.
- Improve Reasoning Ability by solving puzzles, seating arrangements, and logical reasoning sets regularly.
- Enhance English Language skills by reading newspapers, practicing comprehension passages, and improving vocabulary.
4. Practice Previous Year Papers & Mock Tests
- Solve PFRDA previous year papers to understand the difficulty level and question patterns.
- Take full-length PFRDA mock tests regularly to improve speed, accuracy, and time management.
- Analyze mock test results to identify weak areas and work on them effectively.
5. Stay Updated with Current Affairs & Financial Awareness
- Follow RBI, SEBI, PFRDA, and other regulatory body updates to strengthen your professional knowledge section.
- Read business newspapers and magazines such as The Economic Times, Business Standard, and RBI Bulletins to stay informed about financial and economic developments.
- Maintain a current affairs notebook and revise important events weekly.
6. Revise & Improve Time Management
- Allocate the last 30 days before the exam for revision of key concepts, formulas, and short notes.
- Focus on weak areas while ensuring that strong sections remain sharp.
- Implement time management strategies such as skipping difficult questions initially and attempting easier ones first.
7. Maintain a Positive Mindset & Health
- Stay consistent with your study plan, but also ensure proper sleep, exercise, and relaxation to avoid burnout.
- Practice meditation and stress management techniques to stay focused during the exam.
Conclusion
Understanding PFRDA previous year cut offs is crucial for effective exam preparation. By analyzing trends and setting realistic goals, aspirants can increase their chances of clearing the PFRDA Assistant Manager (Grade A) exam. A strategic approach that includes concept clarity, regular mock tests, current affairs updates, and time management will help candidates perform their best. Stay dedicated, practice consistently, and success will follow!
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