Last Minute Tips for IBPS Clerk Mains Exam- What to Do and What Not to Do

The IBPS Clerk Mains exam is just around the corner, and this final phase will determine your place in the merit list. At this stage, the goal is not to study something new but to revise smartly, stay calm, and avoid last-minute mistakes. Here are the most effective last-minute Do’s and Don’ts to boost your performance on exam day. On exam day, attempt easy questions first, avoid getting stuck on lengthy puzzles or DI sets, and maintain accuracy to minimise negative marking.

Last Minute Tips for IBPS Clerk Mains

Last Minute Tips for IBPS Clerk Mains include focusing only on revision of high-weightage topics like puzzles, DI, reading comprehension, and current affairs while avoiding any new concepts at this stage. Revise your last few mock tests, note recurring mistakes, and sharpen accuracy over speed. Ensure you have your admit card, ID proof, and essentials ready a day before the exam, and get proper sleep to stay mentally fresh.

What to Do Before the IBPS Clerk Mains Exam

1. Revise Only Important Topics

Stick to high-weightage areas like:

• Puzzles & Seating Arrangements
• DI (Table, Bar Graph, Caselet)
• Parajumbles, RCs, Cloze Test
• Banking Awareness & Current Affairs (Last 6 months)
  Avoid diving into new chapters now.

2. Practice 1–2 Quality Mock Tests

Take mocks only for revision, not for scoring high.
Focus on:

• Time management
• Accuracy
• Identifying weak areas to avoid on exam day

3. Analyze Previous Mistakes

Go through your last few mocks and note:

• Wrong question types
• Time-consuming sections
• Silly calculation errors

Avoid repeating them in the actual exam.

4. Keep Your General Awareness Strong

Revise:

• Banking terms
• RBI updates
• Recent appointments
• Government schemes
• Budget & economic affairs

5. Organize Your Exam Kit

Keep these ready:

• Admit card
• Valid photo ID
• Photographs (if required)
• Pen, sanitiser, etc.
  Avoid last-minute panic by preparing everything a day before.

What NOT to Do Before the IBPS Clerk Mains Exam

Avoid starting new topics or overloading yourself with too many mock tests, as it can increase stress, reduce confidence, and disrupt your revision flow. Don’t panic, compare your scores, or compromise on sleep your mind needs to stay calm, sharp, and well-rested before the exam. Here are the mistakes you must avoid in detail:

1. Don’t Start New Topics

Starting unfamiliar chapters right before the exam will only create confusion and break your confidence. New topics take time to understand, practice, and apply—something you cannot afford at the last minute. Stick to what you have already prepared and revise those areas thoroughly. Remember, strong revision always gives better results than weak new learning.

2. Don’t Take Too Many Mocks

Attempting 4 – 5 mock tests in a single day may mentally exhaust you, reduce concentration, and increase unnecessary pressure. Instead, take only 1–2 light mocks, preferably sectional or previously attempted mocks, just to warm up your mind. Spend more time on analysis rather than taking new tests this helps avoid repeating past mistakes.

3. Don’t Compare Your Scores

Comparing your mock scores with others—or even with your older scores—can demotivate you and create unnecessary anxiety. Mock tests are only practice tools, not the final indicator of your actual performance. Your real exam score depends on accuracy, confidence, and calmness, not on a mock test leaderboard.

4. Don’t Compromise on Sleep

A tired mind cannot solve puzzles, DI, or RC efficiently. Lack of sleep directly affects your speed, accuracy, and decision-making—all of which are crucial in the IBPS Clerk Mains exam. Ensure you sleep for 6–7 hours the night before the exam so that your mind stays fresh and alert throughout.

5. Don’t Panic or Overthink

Stress before the exam can slow down your thinking ability and affect your decision-making. Even if you feel underprepared or stuck at a few topics, stay calm and stick to your strategy. Panic leads to silly mistakes, misreading questions, and wasting time. A calm mind performs far better under pressure.

Exam Day Strategy: Smart Approach

Start with the easiest questions to build confidence and save time, skipping any puzzle or DI set that seems lengthy. Maintain accuracy, avoid guesswork, and keep track of time to ensure balanced attempts across all sections. Here’s how you can execute a smart, score-boosting strategy on the exam day:

1. Attempt Easy Questions First

Begin your exam with the simplest and most direct questions to quickly secure marks and build momentum. Easy DI sets, simple puzzles, direct grammar or vocabulary questions, and straightforward calculations take less time and offer high accuracy. Skipping difficult or confusing questions early prevents panic and ensures you don’t waste precious minutes on low-return problems. Once you finish the easier ones, move towards moderate-level questions with better focus.

2. Maintain Accuracy

Since IBPS Clerk Mains includes negative marking, accuracy becomes more important than attempting a high number of questions. Avoid blind guesswork and answer only when fully sure. Even a few incorrect attempts can significantly pull down your overall score and impact your final merit. Follow the rule: If you can eliminate at least two options confidently, attempt; otherwise skip. Maintaining a high accuracy rate boosts your score even with fewer attempts.

3. Don’t Get Stuck

Some puzzles, seating arrangements, or DI sets are time traps. If a question is taking longer than expected, move forward without hesitation. Getting stuck not only wastes time but also affects your rhythm and confidence. Instead, come back to the tough ones only if time permits. A timer-based approach like limiting puzzles to 3–4 minutes helps you avoid unnecessary time drain.

4. Keep Moving with Time Checks

Time management is the backbone of a high score in Mains. Set self-checkpoints during the exam:

• Check progress every 10 minutes
• Monitor your attempts after completing major sections
• Adjust speed if you’re lagging

This prevents you from spending too much time on one part of the paper and ensures you attempt all scoring sections. Balanced time distribution helps you maximise your overall marks without panic at the end.