SATHEE: From Zero to Hero: How I Cleared IBPS PO After 5 Failures

From Zero to Hero: How I Cleared IBPS PO After 5 Failures

The inspiring journey of Rajesh Kumar, who refused to give up despite 5 consecutive IBPS PO failures and finally succeeded in IBPS PO 2024

Meet Rajesh Kumar

Name: Rajesh Kumar Age: 28 years Educational Background: B.Com from a small town college in Bihar (58% marks) Home Town: Ara, Bihar Current Position: Probationary Officer, Punjab National Bank IBPS PO Journey:

First Attempt (2019): Failed in Prelims - 32/100
Second Attempt (2020): Failed in Prelims - 41/100
Third Attempt (2021): Cleared Prelims (62/100), Failed in Mains - 89/250
Fourth Attempt (2022): Failed in Prelims - 38/100 (lost confidence)
Fifth Attempt (2023): Cleared Prelims (71/100), Failed in Mains - 121/250
Sixth Attempt (2024): FINAL SUCCESS! ✓
- Prelims: 81/100
- Mains: 198/250
- Interview: 68/100
- Final Rank: 1247

Why This Story Matters

Rajesh’s story is different from typical “rank holder” success stories. This is a story of:

✅ Resilience: Never giving up despite 5 failures over 5 years
✅ Self-Analysis: Learning from each failure
✅ Adapting Strategy: Changing approach based on weaknesses
✅ Financial Struggles: Managing preparation with limited resources
✅ Family Pressure: Dealing with societal expectations and ridicule
✅ Mental Health: Overcoming depression and self-doubt
✅ Final Success: Proving that consistency beats everything

If you’ve failed once, twice, or even five times - this story is for YOU.

The Complete Interview

Q1. Rajesh, you attempted IBPS PO six times. What kept you going after 5 failures?

Rajesh: That’s the first question everyone asks me! (laughs)

Honestly, there were moments when I wanted to quit. After my 4th failure in 2022, I was completely broken. My friends were settling into jobs, getting married, buying bikes. Here I was, 26 years old, still preparing for an exam I had already failed 4 times.

But I kept going because:

I had no Plan B: I’m from a lower-middle-class family. My father is a small shopkeeper. I didn’t have connections for private jobs. Government job was my ONLY way out.
My mother’s faith: She never once asked me to give up. Even when relatives taunted her about her “unemployed son,” she stood by me. That faith was my fuel.
Analyzing failures properly: After each failure, I sat down and analyzed WHAT went wrong. It wasn’t “bad luck” - it was specific weaknesses I could fix.
Small improvements: 32 → 41 → 62 → 38 → 71 → 81. Despite the 4th attempt dip (due to depression), I could see the overall upward trend. That showed me I WAS improving.
Stories like mine: I read about Amitabh Bachchan’s 12 film failures before success, Abraham Lincoln’s 8 election losses. If they could persist, so could I.

The turning point: After my 5th failure in 2023, I told myself: “One more year. Give it EVERYTHING you have. If you fail after giving 100%, you can quit with no regrets.” That mindset freed me from pressure and I could finally focus.

Q2. What were the biggest mistakes you made in your first 5 attempts?

Rajesh: Oh, I made EVERY mistake possible! Here’s the painful list:

Attempts 1-2 (2019-2020): No Strategy

❌ Mistake 1: Studied randomly without a plan

Would study Quant one day, English next day, skip Reasoning for a week
No consistency or structure

❌ Mistake 2: Relied only on YouTube and free PDFs

Never invested in proper books or coaching
No quality study material

❌ Mistake 3: Ignored weak sections

I hated English, so I avoided it completely
Focused only on comfortable topics (Quant - my strength)

❌ Mistake 4: Zero mock tests

Gave maybe 2-3 mocks total before exam
Had no exam temperament

❌ Mistake 5: No time management practice

Could solve questions correctly when given unlimited time
But panicked and made silly errors under 20-minute pressure

Result: Failed Prelims with embarrassingly low scores (32 and 41)

Attempt 3 (2021): Half-hearted preparation

✓ Some improvement: Bought proper books (RS Aggarwal, Wren & Martin) ✓ Started giving mocks (gave about 15 Prelims mocks) ✓ Created a study schedule

But still made mistakes:

❌ Mistake 6: Didn’t revise properly

Kept learning new things, never consolidated old topics
Would forget formulas learned 2 months ago

❌ Mistake 7: No Mains preparation until after Prelims

Thought “I’ll prepare for Mains after clearing Prelims”
Cleared Prelims with decent score (62), but had only 1 month for Mains
Totally unprepared for Descriptive Paper and depth of Mains questions

❌ Mistake 8: Ignored General Awareness completely

GA seems “easy” but actually requires daily reading
I tried to cover 1 year of current affairs in 3 weeks before Mains

Result: Failed Mains badly (89/250) - it was a wake-up call

Attempt 4 (2022): Depression & Loss of Confidence

This was my worst year mentally.

❌ Mistake 9: Took failure personally

Started believing “I’m not smart enough”
Developed anxiety before exams

❌ Mistake 10: Isolated myself

Stopped talking to friends and family
Depression affected my preparation quality

❌ Mistake 11: Inconsistent study hours

Some days studied 12 hours, some days zero
No sustainable routine

Result: Failed Prelims again (38) - my lowest point

Attempt 5 (2023): Better preparation, but still gaps

After the disaster of 2022, I sought help. Talked to a counselor, joined a study group, rebuilt confidence.

✓ Better improvements: Regular 6-hour study routine, 40+ mocks, proper revision system ✓ Cleared Prelims with good score (71)

But still made a critical mistake:

❌ Mistake 12: Weak Descriptive Paper preparation

Essay writing: Poor structure, exceeded word limit
Letter writing: Didn’t practice formal tone
Scored only 18/50 in Descriptive (this killed my Mains score)

❌ Mistake 13: Didn’t solve previous year Mains papers properly

Solved them, but never timed myself
In actual exam, couldn’t complete the paper

Result: Failed Mains (121/250) - missed cutoff by just 8 marks! Heartbreaking but also motivating.

Q3. How did attempt 6 (2024) become different? What changed?

Rajesh: EVERYTHING changed in my 6th attempt. I treated it like a professional project, not just “exam preparation.”

Here’s what I did differently:

1. Hired a mentor (online)

Found a mentor who had cleared IBPS PO in 2nd attempt
Paid ₹5,000 for 6-month mentorship (weekly doubt sessions)
This was expensive for me, but BEST investment ever
He reviewed my mocks, identified weak areas, gave personalized tips

2. “Revision > New Topics” mindset

Instead of constantly learning new things, I focused on mastering what I already knew:

Created topic-wise formula sheets (1 page per topic)
Revised each topic at least 5 times in 6 months
Rule: “If I can’t solve this topic’s questions in exam right NOW, I won’t move to next topic”

3. Mock test strategy revolution

Earlier approach:

Give mock → Check score → Feel happy/sad → Forget

New approach (6th attempt):

Before mock: 10-min meditation to calm nerves
During mock: Strict exam simulation (timer, no breaks, no phone)
After mock: 2-hour deep analysis
- For every wrong answer: Why did I get it wrong? Silly mistake? Concept gap? Time pressure?
- Created “Mistake Diary” - categorized all errors
- Identified patterns (e.g., “I always make errors in Seating Arrangement when there are 2 floors”)
Next day: Reattempted all wrong questions without looking at solutions
Weekend: Reviewed entire week’s mock mistakes again

Result: My mock scores went from fluctuating (65-75) to consistently 80+

4. Descriptive Paper transformation

After losing Mains in 2023 due to poor descriptive paper, I made this my focus area:

Essay writing:

Wrote 2 essays every week for 6 months (total: 48+ essays)
Got them reviewed by my mentor and a friend who is a teacher
Studied essay structures from UPSC toppers
Created templates for different essay types (Social, Economic, Technology, etc.)
Word limit discipline: Set timer for exact 250 words, practiced cutting extra content

Letter writing:

Practiced 1 letter every 2 days
Memorized formal letter formats (Complaint, Request, Application, etc.)
Learned proper salutations, body structure, closing statements
Practiced both formal and informal tones

Result: Scored 38/50 in Descriptive Paper in 6th attempt (vs 18/50 in 5th attempt)

5. Section-wise time management mastery

Created ultra-specific time allocation strategies:

Prelims strategy:

Section	Time Allocated	Questions to Attempt	Strategy
Reasoning	20 min	28-30 questions	Puzzles last, skip if taking >5 min
Quantitative	20 min	25-28 questions	Approximation techniques, skip lengthy DI
English	20 min	25-27 questions	RC first (fresh mind), skip vocab if unsure

Mains strategy:

Section	Time Allocated	Questions to Attempt	Strategy
Reasoning	45 min	38-40/45	Focus on high-weightage (Puzzles, Input-Output)
English	40 min	30-32/35	RC: 15 min, Para Jumbles: 10 min, Errors: 15 min
Quantitative	45 min	30-32/35	DI: 25 min (20 Qs), Miscellaneous: 20 min (12 Qs)
General Awareness	25 min	35-38/40	Banking: 10 min, Current Affairs: 15 min
Descriptive	30 min	Both	Essay: 20 min (250 words), Letter: 10 min (150 words)

Total Mains time: 3 hours (with 5-min buffer)

Practiced this EXACT time allocation in every mock test for 3 months. It became muscle memory.

6. Daily Current Affairs ritual

Morning (30 minutes):

Read The Hindu newspaper (focused reading, not full paper)
Made notes in a diary: Date, Event, Key Points (max 3 lines)

Evening (15 minutes):

Revised that day’s current affairs
Solved 10 daily GK MCQs from Sathee website

Weekend:

Consolidated entire week’s current affairs into 1-page summary
Revised previous month’s current affairs

Last 10 days before exam:

Only revised consolidated current affairs notes (no new topics)

Result: Scored 32/40 in GA section in Mains (earlier attempts: 18-22/40)

7. Physical and mental fitness

This was NEW in my 6th attempt:

Morning walk: 30 minutes daily (6:00-6:30 AM)
- Cleared my head, improved focus
- Listened to motivational podcasts during walk
Yoga/Meditation: 15 minutes before sleep
- Helped with exam anxiety
- Better sleep quality
Fixed sleep schedule: 10:30 PM - 5:30 AM (7 hours)
- Earlier I used to study late night (2 AM), wake up at 10 AM
- New schedule matched exam timing (9 AM start)
Study group: Joined online group of 5 serious aspirants
- Weekly discussions on tough topics
- Kept me accountable
- Reduced isolation and loneliness

Result: Better mental health, consistent energy levels, no burnout

Rajesh: Sure! Here’s my detailed plan:

Month 1-2: Foundation Strengthening (January-February)

Goal: Master basics and identify weak areas

Daily Schedule (6-7 hours):

5:30 - 6:00 AM: Wake up, freshen up, morning walk
6:00 - 6:30 AM: Newspaper reading (The Hindu - selected pages only)
7:00 - 9:00 AM: Quantitative Aptitude (2 hours)
  - Week 1-2: Number System, Percentages, Ratio & Proportion
  - Week 3-4: Time & Work, Time & Distance
  - Week 5-6: Profit & Loss, Simple & Compound Interest
  - Week 7-8: Data Interpretation basics
9:00 - 9:30 AM: Breakfast + revision of formulas
10:00 - 12:00 PM: Reasoning Ability (2 hours)
  - Week 1-2: Syllogisms, Inequalities, Coding-Decoding
  - Week 3-4: Blood Relations, Direction Sense, Ranking
  - Week 5-6: Seating Arrangements (Single Row, Circular)
  - Week 7-8: Puzzles (basic level)
12:00 - 1:00 PM: Lunch + rest
2:00 - 4:00 PM: English Language (2 hours)
  - Week 1-2: Grammar (Tenses, Articles, Prepositions, Subject-Verb Agreement)
  - Week 3-4: Vocabulary building (20 new words daily) + One-word Substitution
  - Week 5-6: Reading Comprehension (2 passages daily)
  - Week 7-8: Para Jumbles, Sentence Correction, Fill in the Blanks
4:00 - 4:30 PM: Evening snack + light revision
5:00 - 6:00 PM: General Awareness (1 hour)
  - Banking Awareness (RBI functions, banking terms, products)
  - Static GK (Capitals, Currencies, Important Days)
6:00 - 7:00 PM: Current Affairs
  - Revision of daily CA notes
  - Solved 20 MCQs from Sathee/Adda247
7:00 - 8:00 PM: Dinner + family time
8:30 - 9:30 PM: Revision (1 hour)
  - Reviewed formulas learned that day
  - Solved 10 mixed questions from each section
10:00 - 10:30 PM: Meditation + sleep preparation
10:30 PM: Sleep

Weekly:

Sunday: Full day revision + 1 Prelims mock test (sectional wise)
Created formula sheets and notes

Result: Strong foundation in all topics, identified weak areas (Puzzles, RC, DI)

Month 3-4: Advanced Practice + Mocks (March-April)

Goal: Increase speed, accuracy, and start mock tests

Daily Schedule (7-8 hours):

5:30 - 6:30 AM: Morning routine + newspaper
7:00 - 9:30 AM: Topic-wise practice (2.5 hours)
  - Focused on weak areas identified in Month 1-2
  - Puzzles: 1 hour daily
  - Data Interpretation: 45 minutes daily
  - Reading Comprehension: 45 minutes daily
9:30 - 10:00 AM: Breakfast + revision
10:00 - 12:00 PM: Mock test / Previous year papers (2 hours)
  - Monday: Full Prelims mock (1 hour) + Analysis (1 hour)
  - Tuesday: Quant sectional mock + Analysis
  - Wednesday: Reasoning sectional mock + Analysis
  - Thursday: English sectional mock + Analysis
  - Friday: Previous year paper (Prelims) + Analysis
  - Saturday: Topic-wise tests on weak areas
  - Sunday: Full Prelims mock + Deep analysis
12:00 - 1:00 PM: Lunch + rest
2:00 - 4:00 PM: Mains preparation starts (2 hours)
  - Advanced Reasoning (Input-Output, Data Sufficiency)
  - Advanced Quant (Quadratic Equations, Approximation, missing DI)
  - Advanced English (Cloze Test, Para Completion, Inference-based RC)
4:00 - 5:00 PM: Descriptive Paper practice (1 hour)
  - Monday/Wednesday/Friday: Essay writing (1 essay)
  - Tuesday/Thursday: Letter writing (1 formal + 1 informal)
  - Saturday: Precis writing / Summarization
5:00 - 5:30 PM: Evening snack + revision
6:00 - 7:00 PM: General Awareness + Current Affairs (1 hour)
7:00 - 8:00 PM: Dinner + family time
8:30 - 10:00 PM: Mock test analysis + Mistake diary (1.5 hours)
  - Categorized all errors
  - Re-attempted wrong questions
  - Noted common mistake patterns
10:30 PM: Sleep

Mock test target:

Total mocks in 2 months: 40 Prelims mocks (sectional + full)
Analyzed EVERY mock in detail

Result: Mock scores improved from 65-70 to 75-80 range

Month 5: Intensive Mains Preparation (May)

Goal: Prepare for Mains depth while maintaining Prelims practice

Daily Schedule (8-9 hours):

5:30 - 6:30 AM: Morning routine + newspaper
7:00 - 9:30 AM: Mains-level Quantitative (2.5 hours)
  - Complex Data Interpretation
  - Quadratic Equations (20 questions daily)
  - Approximation + Missing Number DI
9:30 - 10:00 AM: Breakfast + revision
10:00 - 1:00 PM: Mains-level Reasoning (3 hours)
  - Advanced Puzzles (Floor-based, Month-based, Multiple variables)
  - Input-Output (new pattern practice)
  - Data Sufficiency (statement-based reasoning)
1:00 - 2:00 PM: Lunch + rest
2:00 - 4:00 PM: Mains-level English (2 hours)
  - RC passages (inference-based, tone-based questions)
  - Cloze Test (new pattern with multiple blanks)
  - Error Spotting + Sentence Rearrangement
4:00 - 5:00 PM: Descriptive Paper (1 hour)
  - Timed essay (250 words in 20 minutes)
  - Got feedback from mentor
5:00 - 5:30 PM: Evening snack
6:00 - 7:30 PM: General Awareness Deep Dive (1.5 hours)
  - Banking Awareness (all RBI policies, committees, recent mergers)
  - Current Affairs (last 6 months - consolidated revision)
  - Static GK (focus on Banking-related static facts)
7:30 - 8:30 PM: Dinner + family time
9:00 - 10:00 PM: Mains mock test / Prelims revision (1 hour)
  - Alternate days: Gave 1 Mains sectional mock OR revised 1 Prelims topic
10:30 PM: Sleep

Weekly:

Sunday: Full Mains mock (3 hours) + Analysis (2 hours)
Total Mains mocks in month: 8 full mocks + 20 sectional mocks

Result: Comfortable with Mains-level difficulty, Descriptive improved significantly

Goal: Consolidate everything, peak performance strategy

Daily Schedule (6-7 hours - reduced to avoid burnout):

5:30 - 6:30 AM: Morning routine + newspaper
7:00 - 9:00 AM: Revision only - NO new topics (2 hours)
  - Revised all formula sheets
  - Re-solved high-difficulty questions from previous mocks
  - Focused on commonly mistaken topics
9:00 - 10:00 AM: Breakfast + light practice
10:00 - 11:30 AM: Mock test (Prelims / Mains alternate days)
11:30 - 1:00 PM: Mock analysis + Mistake diary update
1:00 - 2:00 PM: Lunch + rest
2:00 - 4:00 PM: Descriptive + Essay practice (2 hours)
  - Wrote 1 essay + 1 letter daily
  - Focused on time management (strict word limits)
4:00 - 5:00 PM: Current Affairs revision (1 hour)
  - Last 3 months CA (most important for exam)
  - Banking Current Affairs (mergers, appointments, policies)
5:00 - 6:00 PM: Evening break + relaxation
6:00 - 7:00 PM: General Awareness quiz (1 hour)
  - Solved 50 MCQs daily
  - Focused on weak GA areas
7:00 - 8:00 PM: Dinner + family time
8:30 - 9:30 PM: Light revision + confidence building (1 hour)
  - Read success stories
  - Watched motivational videos
  - Positive affirmations
10:00 PM: Early sleep (to match exam day schedule)

Last 2 weeks before Prelims:

Gave 1 full Prelims mock daily
Only revision - NO new topics
Reduced study hours to 4-5 hours (rest and mental peace)

Between Prelims and Mains (1 month gap):

Continued Mains preparation as per Month 5 schedule
Gave 15 more Mains mocks
Daily descriptive writing

Last 1 week before Mains:

Only revision of notes
1 Mains mock every 2 days
Plenty of rest

Result: Entered exam with confidence, zero burnout, peak performance

Q5. How did you manage financially during 6 years of preparation?

Rajesh: This is a harsh reality nobody talks about.

Financial situation:

Father’s shop income: ₹15,000-20,000/month
Family of 4 (parents + me + younger sister)
Sister’s school fees: ₹3,000/month
House rent: ₹5,000/month
Remaining for household: ₹7,000-12,000/month

My expenses for preparation:

Books: ₹5,000-7,000/year
Mock test subscriptions: ₹3,000-4,000/year
Internet: ₹500/month
Mentor fee (6th attempt only): ₹5,000 one-time
Exam fees: ₹750/attempt

How I managed:

Part-time tuitions (Attempts 1-4):
- Taught Math to 10th/12th students
- Earned ₹3,000-5,000/month
- This covered my preparation costs
- But it reduced my study time by 2 hours daily
Stopped tuitions in 5th-6th attempts:
- Realized tuitions were affecting preparation quality
- Borrowed ₹25,000 from uncle for 6th attempt expenses
- Focused 100% on preparation
Used free resources smartly:
- YouTube lectures (Unacademy free videos, Adda247)
- Sathee website for daily practice
- Telegram groups for free PDFs and current affairs
- Free mock tests from Oliveboard, Gradeup
Budget management:
- Bought only essential books (avoided buying everything)
- Used library for reference books
- Shared mock test subscriptions with 2 friends (₹1,000 each instead of ₹3,000)

Pressure:

Relatives taunted: “Still studying at 28?”
Friends earning ₹30,000-40,000/month while I earned nothing
Guilt of burdening parents
Anxiety about returning uncle’s money

What kept me going:

Imagining the day I’d get my first PO salary (₹40,000+)
Calculating: “6 years struggle for 30+ years secure life = worth it”
My mother never complained about money

After success:

First salary: Repaid uncle’s ₹25,000
Second salary: Bought a smartphone for my mother
Third salary onwards: Started contributing ₹15,000/month to household

Money was tight, but I REFUSED to let it become an excuse for failure.

Q6. How did you handle family pressure and societal taunts?

Rajesh: This was the HARDEST part - even harder than the exam itself.

The taunts I faced:

From relatives:

“Still preparing? When will you get a job?”
“Your friends are settled, what are you doing?”
“Government job is a lottery, don’t waste your life”
“Get any private job, at least earn something”
“Your parents are getting old, who will take care of them?”

From neighbors:

“Sharma ji ka beta is already earning ₹50,000”
“Why don’t you try other exams? SSC? Railways?”
“6 attempts? Maybe this isn’t for you”

From well-wishers (the worst kind):

“I’m saying for your own good - give up and move on”
“There’s no shame in accepting defeat”
“Not everyone is meant for government jobs”

My parents’ situation:

Mother: Silently supported but I could see the worry in her eyes
Father: Frustrated after 3rd failure, said “Maybe try something else?”
After 4th failure: Father stopped talking to me for 2 weeks
After 5th failure: Had a big family meeting where everyone pressured me to quit

My breaking points:

After 3rd attempt failure (2021):
- Cousin’s wedding - everyone asking “Job mila?” (Got a job?)
- I lied and said “Final round chal raha hai” (In final round)
- Felt humiliated and ashamed
After 4th attempt failure (2022):
- Father said: “I can’t support you forever. Get ANY job.”
- I was heartbroken but understood his frustration
- He was 58 years old, running a small shop, supporting the whole family
After 5th attempt failure (2023):
- A relative said in front of everyone: “6 saal se tayaari, kuch nahi hua. Ab toh chhod do.” (6 years of preparation, nothing happened. Give up now.)
- I ran to my room and cried
- Felt like the biggest failure in the world

How I coped:

1. Stopped attending social gatherings:

Avoided weddings, family functions
Reduced contact with relatives
Focused on my goal without external noise

2. Had an honest conversation with my father:

Sat him down after 5th failure
Showed him my mock score improvements (32 → 41 → 62 → 38 → 71)
Explained: “Despite 1 bad attempt (4th), my trend is upward”
Promised: “Give me 1 more year. If I fail 6th time, I’ll join any job you say.”
Father agreed reluctantly

3. Found my support system:

Online study group - people who UNDERSTOOD my struggle
Mentor who had gone through similar failures
One school friend who never judged me

4. Stopped explaining myself to everyone:

Earlier, I used to explain and justify to every relative
In 6th attempt year, I adopted policy: “Smile and ignore”
Saved mental energy by not engaging with negative people

5. Visualization:

Every night before sleep, visualized my selection day
Imagined telling my father: “Papa, main PO ban gaya” (Dad, I became a PO)
Imagined relatives’ faces when they’d hear about my success
This visualization gave me strength during dark days

6. Therapy/Counseling:

After 4th attempt failure, I was severely depressed
Talked to a counselor (free service through NGO)
Learned techniques to handle anxiety, pressure, negative thoughts
This was a game-changer for my mental health

The sweetest moment (after selection):

When my result was declared and I saw my name in the selection list:

I first told my mother - she cried tears of joy
Called my father (he was at shop) - he couldn’t speak, just kept saying “Sach?” (Really?)
Went to meet the relative who had taunted me - he congratulated me but I could see the discomfort
That same evening, neighbors came to congratulate - the same ones who had doubted me
Father’s shop was flooded with people congratulating him
My sister made a congratulations poster and stuck it on our door

The lesson:

Society will ALWAYS have an opinion. Your relatives will ALWAYS doubt you.

But remember:

They won’t take your exam
They won’t live your life
They won’t face the consequences of your decisions

YOU are the only one responsible for your life.

If you believe in yourself, if you’re analyzing your mistakes, if you’re improving - KEEP GOING.

One day of success erases years of struggle in everyone’s memory. Trust me, it’s worth it.

Q7. What role did mock tests play in your success?

Rajesh: Mock tests were the REAL teachers. The books taught me concepts, but mocks taught me how to CRACK THE EXAM.

My mock test journey:

Attempts 1-2: 2-3 mocks total (didn’t understand their importance) Attempt 3: 15 Prelims mocks (no analysis, just checked score) Attempt 4: 20 Prelims mocks (still no proper analysis due to depression) Attempt 5: 40 Prelims + 10 Mains mocks (basic analysis started) Attempt 6: 60 Prelims + 25 Mains mocks (DEEP analysis, game-changer)

What changed in Attempt 6 - The Mock Analysis System:

Before the mock:

Simulated exam environment:
- Same time as actual exam (9 AM for Prelims, 9 AM for Mains)
- No distractions - phone switched off
- Dressed formally (to create exam feeling)
- Used physical OMR sheet (downloaded from IBPS website)
- Strict timer - stopped exactly when time ended
Mental preparation:
- 10-minute meditation before starting
- Positive affirmation: “I’m prepared. I’ll do my best.”
- Reviewed attempt strategy (which section first, time allocation)

During the mock:

Followed EXACT exam strategy:
- Prelims: Reasoning first → Quant → English
- Marked difficult questions with “*” to revisit if time remained
- Used educated guessing (eliminated 2 wrong options, then guessed)
Noted time-per-section:
- Checked clock after each section
- If overspent time in one section, adjusted in next
Managed panic:
- If stuck on a question for >2 min, moved on
- Used “parking lot” technique - parked difficult questions for later

After the mock (THIS WAS THE GAME-CHANGER):

Immediate analysis (30 minutes):

Checked answers and noted score
Marked questions into categories:
- ✅ Correct (known): Questions I knew and got right
- ✅ Correct (guessed): Luckily guessed right
- ❌ Wrong (silly mistake): Knew concept but made error
- ❌ Wrong (concept gap): Didn’t know how to solve
- ❌ Wrong (time pressure): Could solve but ran out of time
- ⏭️ Unattempted: Skipped questions

Deep analysis (1.5-2 hours - next day):

Created this detailed sheet for EVERY mock:

Mock Test Analysis Sheet

Mock Name: Prelims Mock #45
Date: June 10, 2024
Total Score: 82/100
Sectional Scores: Reasoning 29/35, Quant 27/35, English 26/30

Section-wise breakdown:

REASONING (29/35):
✅ Correct: 29 questions
  - Syllogisms: 5/5 (100%)
  - Inequalities: 5/5 (100%)
  - Coding-Decoding: 3/3 (100%)
  - Seating Arrangement: 4/5 (80%)
  - Puzzles: 8/10 (80%)
  - Blood Relations: 2/2 (100%)
  - Direction: 2/2 (100%)

❌ Wrong: 4 questions
  - Seating Arrangement: 1 (silly mistake - marked wrong person)
  - Puzzles: 3 (concept gaps - complex floor-based puzzle)

⏭️ Unattempted: 2 questions (ran out of time)

TIME SPENT: 21 minutes (saved 1 min)

ERRORS ANALYSIS:
Silly mistakes: 1 (rushed, didn't re-read question)
Concept gaps: 3 (need more practice on floor-based puzzles)
Time pressure: 0

ACTION ITEMS:
✓ Practice 5 floor-based puzzles this week
✓ Develop strategy to avoid silly mistakes in seating arrangement

---

QUANTITATIVE APTITUDE (27/35):
✅ Correct: 27 questions
  - Simplification: 5/5 (100%)
  - Number Series: 4/5 (80%)
  - Data Interpretation: 12/15 (80%)
  - Quadratic Equations: 3/5 (60%)
  - Miscellaneous: 3/5 (60%)

❌ Wrong: 5 questions
  - Number Series: 1 (silly calculation error)
  - Data Interpretation: 2 (misread graph values)
  - Quadratic Equations: 2 (factorization errors)

⏭️ Unattempted: 3 (tough DI sets)

TIME SPENT: 19 minutes (underspent by 1 min - could've attempted 1 more)

ERRORS ANALYSIS:
Silly mistakes: 3 (calculation errors, graph misreading)
Concept gaps: 2 (quadratic equation factorization)
Time pressure: 0

ACTION ITEMS:
✓ Practice reading graphs carefully (DI sets)
✓ Revise quadratic equation formulas and factorization
✓ Improve time management - use full 20 minutes

---

ENGLISH (26/30):
✅ Correct: 26 questions
  - Reading Comprehension: 8/10 (80%)
  - Cloze Test: 5/5 (100%)
  - Error Spotting: 5/5 (100%)
  - Fill in the Blanks: 5/5 (100%)
  - Para Jumbles: 3/5 (60%)

❌ Wrong: 4 questions
  - Reading Comprehension: 2 (inference-based questions)
  - Para Jumbles: 2 (confused order)

⏭️ Unattempted: 0

TIME SPENT: 20 minutes (perfect timing)

ERRORS ANALYSIS:
Silly mistakes: 0
Concept gaps: 4 (inference-based RC, para jumble logic)
Time pressure: 0

ACTION ITEMS:
✓ Practice 2 inference-based RC passages daily for 1 week
✓ Learn para jumble strategies (connector words, pronouns)

---

OVERALL MISTAKES SUMMARY:
Total wrong: 13 questions
- Silly mistakes: 4 questions (lost -4 marks)
- Concept gaps: 9 questions (need topic revision)
- Time pressure: 0 questions

MISTAKE PATTERNS IDENTIFIED:
1. Silly mistakes in seating arrangement (rushed)
2. Misreading DI graphs (need to slow down)
3. Weak on inference-based RC questions
4. Weak on floor-based puzzles
5. Quadratic equation factorization needs practice

STRATEGY CHANGES FOR NEXT MOCK:
1. Re-read seating arrangement questions before marking answer
2. Mark key values on DI graphs before solving
3. Spend 5 extra seconds on each DI question to avoid misreading
4. Practice 5 floor-based puzzles this week
5. Solve 2 inference-based RC passages daily

Reattempt session (next day):

Reattempted ALL wrong questions without looking at solutions
Timed myself: “Can I solve it correctly now with no time pressure?”
If still couldn’t solve: Watched solution video / asked mentor
Noted the concept/trick I missed

Weekend review:

Every Sunday, reviewed ALL mistakes from that week’s mocks
Identified PATTERNS:
- “I always make silly errors in seating arrangement when question is lengthy”
- “I panic when I see floor-based puzzles and skip them, but they’re actually easy”
- “I get confused in DI graphs if units are in lakhs/crores”

Mock test data tracking:

Created a Google Sheet tracking:

Mock #	Date	Score	R	Q	E	Silly	Concept	Time	Top Weakness
1	Jan 5	68	24	22	22	5	8	2	Puzzles
2	Jan 7	71	26	23	22	4	7	1	DI
…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…
60	Jun 20	85	31	28	26	1	2	0	None

This helped me see:

Score trend: Upward from 68 to consistent 80+
Error reduction: Silly mistakes reduced from 5 to 1
Section improvement: Reasoning improved from 24 to 31
Weak topic elimination: Initially struggled with Puzzles, DI, RC - all improved

Result:

By 6th attempt, I had solved 60 Prelims + 25 Mains mocks with DEEP analysis.

I had seen almost EVERY type of question pattern. I had made almost EVERY type of mistake in mocks (not in actual exam). I had developed strategies for every section.

Mock tests didn’t just test me - they TRAINED me for the war.

When I entered the actual exam hall, it felt like “just another mock test” - NO nervousness, FULL confidence.

Q8. How did you stay motivated during 5 failures and 6 years?

Rajesh: Honestly? Some days I wasn’t motivated at all. And that’s OKAY.

Motivation is overrated. What you need is DISCIPLINE and SYSTEMS.

But yes, here are things that kept me going:

1. The “Why” clarity

I wrote down my “WHY” on a paper and stuck it on my study table:

WHY I WANT IBPS PO:

✓ Secure government job - no tension of layoffs
✓ Respect in society - bank officer is respected
✓ Good salary - ₹40,000+ to start, ₹1 lakh+ after 10 years
✓ Help my family financially - repay all debts
✓ Prove doubters wrong - show relatives I CAN do it
✓ Settle in life - get married, buy a house
✓ Retire with pension - secure future for old age

WHAT IF I GIVE UP?

✗ Private job with ₹15,000-20,000 salary (BCom graduate, no skills)
✗ No job security - can be fired anytime
✗ No respect - relatives will always taunt
✗ Struggle forever - no pension, no financial security
✗ Regret for life - "What if I had tried one more time?"

Whenever I felt like quitting, I read this paper. The pain of regret is worse than the pain of effort.

2. Small wins celebration

Instead of focusing only on “selection” as success, I celebrated small wins:

Mock score improved from 68 to 71? Small win! Treated myself to samosa.
Solved a tough puzzle correctly? Small win! Shared in study group.
Completed 1 month of consistent study? Small win! Took a day off.
Finished reading newspaper for 30 days straight? Small win! Called a friend.

These small wins kept dopamine flowing and motivation alive.

3. Success stories addiction

I was ADDICTED to reading success stories:

Read 100+ IBPS success stories on websites, YouTube
Focused on stories of people who failed multiple times
Noted down their strategies, mistakes, tips
Felt: “If they can do it after 4 failures, I can do it after 5!”

My favorites:

“From tea-stall worker to Bank PO” (cleared in 7th attempt)
“Failed 6 times, cleared IBPS Clerk, then PO” (total 8 years)
“Age 32, last attempt, finally cleared” (8 attempts)

These stories gave me HOPE.

4. Comparison with past self, not others

Earlier, I used to compare with friends: “He cleared in 2nd attempt, I failed 5 times. I’m dumb.”

In 6th attempt, I changed this:

Compared MY Attempt 1 vs Attempt 6
MY mock scores: 32 → 41 → 62 → 38 (depression) → 71 → 81
MY knowledge level: Zero concepts to almost all concepts clear
MY exam temperament: Used to panic → Now calm and strategic

This comparison showed: I’M GROWING. I’m better than I was yesterday.

5. Revenge mindset (healthy revenge)

I’m not proud of this, but I’ll be honest:

The taunt “6 saal se tayaari, kuch nahi hua” (6 years of preparation, nothing happened) from that relative burned me.

I used that anger as FUEL.

Every time I felt lazy:

Remembered that taunt
Imagined his face when he’d hear about my selection
Told myself: “I’ll show him. I’ll prove him wrong.”

I used “revenge” as motivation. (Not recommended long-term, but it worked for me in tough times.)

6. Accountability partner

In my 6th attempt, I found an accountability partner in my online study group.

We both were on our 5th+ attempts
We video called every Sunday and discussed our week
Shared mock scores, weak areas, revision status
If one of us felt like quitting, other one motivated

Having someone who UNDERSTANDS your journey is priceless.

7. Physical activity

Earlier attempts: I studied 12 hours, ate junk food, slept 5 hours, had zero physical activity.

Result: Stressed, unhealthy, low energy, poor focus.

6th attempt: Added 30-min morning walk + 15-min yoga before sleep.

Result: Better sleep, better focus, better mood, less anxiety.

Physical fitness = Mental fitness.

8. “1% better every day” philosophy

I read the book “Atomic Habits” by James Clear during my 5th attempt.

One line changed my mindset:

“If you get 1% better each day for 1 year, you’ll be 37 times better by year-end.”

I stopped thinking “I need to crack IBPS in next 6 months.”

I started thinking “I need to improve 1% today compared to yesterday.”

Small improvements compound over time.

9. Visualization before sleep

Every night before sleeping:

Closed eyes
Visualized myself in bank officer uniform
Visualized my father’s proud face
Visualized my name in selection list
Visualized receiving first salary

This visualization created a powerful emotional connection to my goal. It made it REAL in my mind.

10. Acceptance of bad days

Some days I was 100% motivated. Some days I was 0% motivated.

I learned to accept: “Not every day will be perfect.”

On bad days:

I didn’t force myself to study 8 hours
Did light revision or watched video lectures
Took a break, talked to friends, watched a movie
Came back stronger next day

Rest is productive. Burnout is not.

The truth:

Motivation is like bathing - it doesn’t last forever. You need to renew it every day.

Some days you’ll be fired up. Some days you’ll want to quit.

That’s normal. That’s human.

What matters is: You keep showing up despite the bad days.

You don’t need to be motivated 24/7. You need to be CONSISTENT 24/7.

Consistency beats motivation. Systems beat willpower.

Q9. What were your scores in the actual IBPS PO 2024 exam?

Rajesh: Here are my detailed scores:

IBPS PO Prelims 2024:

Section	Questions Attempted	Correct	Wrong	Score	Cutoff
Reasoning Ability	32/35	29	3	28.25	10.50
Quantitative Aptitude	30/35	27	3	26.25	9.00
English Language	28/30	26	2	25.50	8.75
TOTAL	90/100	82	8	80.00/100	28.25

Sectional cutoff status: Cleared all 3 sections ✓ Overall cutoff status: Cleared (cutoff was 58.75) ✓ All India Rank (Prelims): 2847

Exam experience:

Felt like a regular mock test - NO nervousness
Completed each section 1-2 minutes before time
Skipped 2 tough puzzles, 5 tough DI questions, 2 vocab questions
Used educated guessing on 8 questions (got 6 right, 2 wrong)
Left exam hall with confidence: “I’ve cleared this!”

IBPS PO Mains 2024:

Section	Questions Attempted	Correct	Wrong	Score	Cutoff
Reasoning & Computer	40/45	36	4	54.00/60	18.50
English Language	32/35	28	4	42.00/50	15.25
Data Analysis & Interpretation	32/35	28	4	42.00/60	16.00
General/Economy/Banking Awareness	37/40	34	3	42.50/50	14.00
Descriptive Paper (Essay + Letter)	-	-	-	38.00/50	20.00
TOTAL	-	-	-	218.50/270	83.75

Sectional cutoff status: Cleared all 5 sections ✓ Overall cutoff status: Cleared (cutoff was 150.25) ✓ All India Rank (Mains): 1689

Section-wise breakdown:

Reasoning & Computer (60 marks, 45 questions):

Puzzles: 15 questions attempted, 14 correct (focused area in 6th attempt!)
Input-Output: 5 questions attempted, 5 correct (practiced heavily)
Data Sufficiency: 8 questions attempted, 7 correct
Computer Knowledge: 10 questions attempted, 8 correct
Miscellaneous: 2 questions attempted, 2 correct

English Language (40 marks, 35 questions):

Reading Comprehension: 10 questions attempted, 9 correct (inference practice helped!)
Cloze Test: 5 questions attempted, 5 correct
Error Spotting: 5 questions attempted, 5 correct
Para Jumbles: 5 questions attempted, 3 correct
Fill in the Blanks: 5 questions attempted, 4 correct
Sentence Rearrangement: 2 questions attempted, 2 correct

Data Analysis & Interpretation (60 marks, 35 questions):

Table DI: 5 questions attempted, 5 correct
Bar Graph DI: 5 questions attempted, 4 correct
Pie Chart DI: 5 questions attempted, 5 correct
Line Graph DI: 5 questions attempted, 4 correct
Missing DI: 5 questions attempted, 4 correct
Quadratic Equations: 5 questions attempted, 4 correct
Approximation: 2 questions attempted, 2 correct

General Awareness (50 marks, 40 questions):

Banking Awareness: 15 questions attempted, 14 correct (Sathee website daily practice helped!)
Current Affairs (last 6 months): 15 questions attempted, 13 correct
Static GK: 7 questions attempted, 7 correct

Descriptive Paper (50 marks, 30 minutes):

Essay (25 marks): Topic was “Digital Banking: Boon or Bane?”
- Wrote 245 words (within 250 limit)
- Structured: Introduction → Advantages → Disadvantages → Way Forward → Conclusion
- Scored: 20/25 (my mentor’s training paid off!)
Letter (25 marks): Topic was “Letter to Bank Manager requesting change of address”
- Wrote formal letter with proper format
- 145 words (within 150 limit)
- Scored: 18/25

Exam experience:

Reasoning section felt tough initially (new pattern puzzles) but stayed calm
English section was moderate - RC passages were manageable
DI section was time-consuming but manageable with approximation techniques
GA section was my strength - daily current affairs practice helped
Descriptive paper: Finished essay in 18 minutes, letter in 9 minutes, 3 minutes for proofreading
Overall: Confident about clearing, but unsure about rank

IBPS PO Interview 2024:

Interview Date: February 15, 2025 Interview Duration: 15 minutes Panel: 5 members (3 male, 2 female) Score: 68/100

Interview questions asked:

Personal questions:

Tell us about yourself (answered confidently - mentioned 6 attempts journey briefly but positively)
Why so many attempts? What were you doing for 6 years? (explained preparation strategy evolution, showed growth mindset)
What will you do if you fail this time? (said “I’ve come prepared, I’m confident I’ll succeed”)

Academic questions: 4. You did B.Com. Explain difference between Gross Profit and Net Profit. (answered correctly with example) 5. What is depreciation? Types of depreciation? (answered well - used my accounting knowledge)

Banking questions: 6. What is Repo Rate? Current Repo Rate? (answered 6.50% correctly - daily CA reading helped!) 7. What is NPA? How is it categorized? (explained Gross NPA vs Net NPA, Standard/Substandard/Doubtful/Loss) 8. Recent RBI policy changes? (mentioned latest MPC meet decisions, CBDC pilot, UPI-PayNow linkage) 9. What is MCLR? How is it calculated? (explained Marginal Cost of Funds based Lending Rate calculation)

Current affairs questions: 10. Who is current RBI Governor? (answered Shaktikanta Das correctly) 11. Recent India-Bangladesh agreement? (discussed trade and water sharing agreements)

Situational questions: 12. A customer is angry because his loan application was rejected. How will you handle? (gave customer-centric answer - listen, empathize, explain reasons politely, suggest alternatives) 13. Your colleague is taking bribes from customers. What will you do? (said “Report to senior management immediately - zero tolerance for corruption”)

Stress question: 14. You failed 5 times. How can we trust you’ll be a good PO? Won’t you fail at this job too? (Stayed calm, said “Failures taught me resilience, problem-solving, and persistence - these are essential for a PO. My 6th attempt success proves I learn from mistakes and improve.”)

Hobbies question: 15. You mentioned reading in hobbies. Last book you read? (answered “Atomic Habits by James Clear” - discussed 1% improvement philosophy, related to continuous learning needed in banking)

Closing question: 16. Any questions for us? (asked “What qualities do you value most in a Probationary Officer?” - showed interest in role)

Interview experience:

Was nervous initially but panel was polite
The “stress question” (#14) was tough but I had prepared for it
Banking awareness preparation (thanks to Sathee website!) helped immensely
Overall: Felt I did decently, expected 60-70 marks

Scored: 68/100 (close to my expectation!)

Final Selection:

Total Score Calculation:

Component	Marks Obtained	Maximum Marks	Weightage
Mains Exam	218.50	270	80%
Interview	68	100	20%

Final Marks: (218.50 × 0.80) + (68 × 0.20) = 174.80 + 13.60 = 188.40 marks

All India Rank: 1247 (Out of 4,000+ selected candidates)

Allotted Bank: Punjab National Bank (PNB) Posting State: Bihar (my home state - lucky!) Joining Date: March 2025

Result day experience:

Result was declared at 8 PM
My hands were shaking while entering roll number
Saw “QUALIFIED” status - couldn’t believe it
Checked thrice to make sure
Ran to my mother, showed her the result
She cried, hugged me, said “I always knew you would make it”
Called my father - he said “Proud of you, beta”
Called my mentor, friends from study group - everyone celebrated
That night, entire neighborhood knew about my selection
Relatives who had taunted me came to congratulate (ironic but satisfying!)
Best day of my life after 6 years of struggle

Q10. What advice would you give to someone who has failed multiple times?

Rajesh: If you’re reading this and you’ve failed once, twice, or even five times like me - this advice is specially for you:

1. Your failures don’t define you. Your response to them does.

I failed 5 times. Does that make me a failure? NO.

It made me someone who tried 6 times. It made me resilient. It made me persistent.

Edison failed 10,000 times before inventing the bulb. Nobody remembers his failures. They remember his success.

After you succeed, nobody will ask “How many attempts?” They’ll only see the result.

2. Analyze EVERY failure scientifically

Don’t just say “Bad luck” or “Question paper was tough.”

Ask:

Which section did I fail in?
Which topics within that section?
Was it conceptual gap or time management?
Was it silly mistakes or lack of practice?
Was it exam anxiety or health issue?

Write down the specific reasons. Then create a plan to fix each one.

I failed 5 times, but each failure taught me something:

Attempt 1-2: No proper strategy → Created study plan in Attempt 3
Attempt 3: No Mains preparation → Started Mains prep alongside Prelims in Attempt 4-6
Attempt 4: Mental health issues → Got counseling, built support system in Attempt 5-6
Attempt 5: Weak descriptive paper → Made it my focus area in Attempt 6

Each failure is data. Analyze it. Fix it. Try again.

3. Don’t compare your chapter 5 with someone’s chapter 20

Your friend cleared IBPS in 1st attempt. You’re on 4th attempt.

Don’t compare.

You don’t know:

Maybe he had coaching support (₹50,000 fees)
Maybe he had no financial pressure
Maybe he’s naturally good at exams
Maybe he has different circumstances

Your journey is YOUR journey.

The only comparison that matters: Are you better than your past self?

If Attempt 4 You > Attempt 1 You → You’re winning.

4. Financial struggles are real, but don’t let them become excuses

I know the pain:

Seeing friends earning while you’re struggling with exam fees
Parents getting old while you’re still preparing
Relatives taunting about “still studying at this age”

It’s HARD. I’ve been there.

But here’s the truth: If you use poverty as an excuse to give up, poverty becomes permanent.

Use free resources:

YouTube (Unacademy free, Adda247 free videos)
Sathee website (free daily practice)
Telegram groups (free PDFs, current affairs)
Free mocks (Oliveboard, Gradeup give 2-3 free mocks)
Library (for costly books)

I prepared 70% of my 6th attempt using FREE resources.

Lack of money is NOT lack of opportunity. It’s lack of resourcefulness.

5. Build a support system - don’t isolate yourself

After my 4th failure, I isolated myself. Result? Depression and even worse performance.

After my 5th failure, I joined online study group. Result? Mental support and better preparation.

You NEED people who understand your struggle:

Find online study groups (Telegram, WhatsApp)
Make 1-2 accountability partners
Talk to a counselor if feeling depressed (free counseling services available)
Don’t suffer alone

Isolation kills dreams. Community builds them.

6. Master the art of “strategic quitting”

Quit things that don’t help:

Toxic relatives’ opinions → QUIT listening to them
Comparing with others → QUIT social media stalking
Studying 15 hours/day → QUIT (it’s unsustainable, leads to burnout)
Perfectionism → QUIT (80% perfection is enough, move forward)

But NEVER quit:

Your goal (unless you have a better alternative)
Daily small efforts
Learning from mistakes
Self-improvement

Strategic quitting = Quit distractions, not dreams.

7. Celebrate small wins, not just final success

If you wait for “IBPS selection” to celebrate, you’ll be miserable for years.

Celebrate:

Completed 1 month of consistent study? Celebrate!
Mock score improved by 5 marks? Celebrate!
Finally understood that tough puzzle concept? Celebrate!
Gave 10 mocks continuously? Celebrate!

Small celebrations = Small dopamine hits = Motivation to continue

Life is not just about the destination. Enjoy the journey.

8. Health > Preparation quality > Preparation quantity

Earlier, I studied 12 hours, ate junk, slept 5 hours. Quality? Poor.

In 6th attempt: Studied 6-7 hours, ate healthy, slept 7 hours, exercised 30 min. Quality? Excellent.

Less quantity + High quality > High quantity + Poor quality

Your brain is a muscle. If you don’t rest it, it won’t perform.

Sleep well. Eat well. Exercise. Then study.

9. The last attempt before success is just another attempt

Here’s the truth bomb: You don’t know which attempt will be your last.

My 6th attempt didn’t feel “special” or “different” while preparing. It felt like any other attempt.

I didn’t know “This is THE one!” until the result came.

So stop thinking:

“If I fail this time, I’ll give up”
“This is my last attempt”
“I can’t handle another failure”

Instead think:

“I’ll give my best in THIS attempt”
“I’ll improve compared to LAST attempt”
“I’ll analyze mistakes and try AGAIN if needed”

The attempt before your success looks exactly like the attempt before your failure. You won’t know the difference until the result comes.

So keep showing up.

10. Your story will inspire thousands

When I was struggling after 5 failures, I read success stories of people who cleared in 6th, 7th, 8th attempts.

Those stories gave me HOPE.

Now, my story is giving hope to others.

Your struggle is not just for YOU. It’s for everyone who will read your success story after you make it.

Imagine:

A student in his 3rd attempt reads your “6th attempt success story”
Gets motivated
Gives one more try
Succeeds

Your persistence creates a ripple effect of inspiration.

Don’t rob the world of your success story by giving up.

Final Message from Rajesh

If you’ve read this far, you’re serious about your goal. That’s the first sign of a winner.

I’m not special. I’m not extraordinarily talented. I’m not from a privileged background.

I’m just a regular guy from a small town who REFUSED to give up despite 5 failures.

If I can do it, YOU can do it.

Remember:

✓ Every topper was once a beginner ✓ Every expert was once clueless ✓ Every success story had multiple failure chapters

Your 1st attempt failure doesn’t mean you’re not capable. It means you’re learning.

Your 5th attempt failure doesn’t mean you should quit. It means you’re 1 step closer to success.

The only real failure is giving up.

Top 10 Tips from Rajesh for Multiple-Attempt Aspirants

Treat each attempt as a fresh start - Don’t carry baggage of past failures
Mock tests are more important than books - Practice > Theory
Analyze failures scientifically - Data-driven preparation, not emotion-driven
Invest in a mentor if possible - Best ₹5,000 I ever spent
Build a study routine you can sustain - 6 hours daily is better than 12 hours for 1 month then burnout
Prioritize weak sections over strong sections - My English improved from 18 to 26 (Mains) by focusing on my weakness
Master one topic fully before moving to next - Depth > Breadth
Don’t isolate yourself - Join study groups, find accountability partners
Physical fitness = Mental fitness - 30-min exercise daily changed my focus
Your past doesn’t determine your future - 5 failures don’t mean 6th will also fail

Resources Used by Rajesh in 6th Attempt

Books:

Quantitative Aptitude: R.S. Aggarwal, Arun Sharma
Reasoning: R.S. Aggarwal
English: Wren & Martin (Grammar), Arun Sharma (Verbal)
Banking Awareness: Arihant publication

Websites:

Sathee IBPS Module - Daily practice questions, current affairs
Adda247 - Current affairs and free mocks
AffairsCloud - Monthly current affairs PDF

YouTube Channels:

Adda247 (Reasoning and Quant tricks)
Study IQ (Banking and Current Affairs)

Mobile Apps:

Gradeup (Free mocks)
Oliveboard (Mock test analysis)
The Hindu newspaper app (Daily CA)

Mentor:

Online mentor (₹5,000 for 6 months) - Weekly doubt sessions

Total Cost for 6th Attempt: ~₹10,000 (Books ₹3,000 + Mock subscriptions ₹2,000 + Mentor ₹5,000)

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Keep Going. Your Success Story is Waiting to Be Written! 💪