English is an important segment in many competitive exams. Most of the bank tests have a section on the English language in the Preliminary as well as the Main examinations. Therefore, it becomes crucial for aspirants to understand the subject well. They can excel in the English language section if they familiarise themselves with the fundamental areas and its key principles.
Along with English, aspirants need to focus on other sections such as reasoning, quantitative aptitude, computer awareness and current affairs. The nature of questions in these sections will vary with the pattern and requirements of the bank.
Aspirants should review the syllabus and exam format before starting their preparation for any competitive exam. For instance, if candidates are planning to write the test for the post of Accounts Officer or Enforcement Officer exam in the EPFO department, they should go through the EPFO syllabus, exam format and previous years’ question papers. This will help them streamline their preparation.
When it comes to the English language segment in bank exams, questions can be of objective or descriptive type depending on the phase of the examination. Candidates’ English language skills are tested by asking them questions on sentence construction, vocabulary, basics of grammar, letter and essay writing, etc.
English for Bank Exams: Important Topics
Different exams test candidates’ abilities in various ways. Some exams try to evaluate a candidate’s fundamental understanding of the subject, while others assess their expertise and capacity for critical thought. Aspirants should prepare for an exam based on its requirements. They should focus on important areas that are relevant to the exam.
A list of important topics for the English language segment, which will be useful for bank exams is, given in the table below. Aspirants should ensure that they are thorough with these topics.
Important Topics in English for Bank Exams | |
1 | Articles |
2 | Punctuation |
3 | Verbs |
4 | Subject-verb Agreement |
5 | Preposition |
6 | Adjectives |
7 | Countable and Uncountable Nouns |
8 | Reflexive Pronouns |
9 | Modal Verbs |
10 | Adverbs |
11 | Phrasal Verbs |
12 | Possessives |
13 | Adverbials |
14 | Tenses (Present perfect, past perfect, past continuous, past simple, future continuous, future perfect etc.) |
15 | Conjunction |
16 | Interjection |
17 | Modifiers |
18 | Subject and Predicate |
19 | Active and Passive Voice |
20 | Relative Clauses |
21 | Gerund |
22 | Synonyms and Antonyms |
23 | Idioms |
24 | Direct and Indirect Speech |
25 | Degree of Comparison |
26 | Homonyms and Homophones |
27 | Question Tags |
28 | Letter Writing |
29 | Precis Writing |
30 | Essay Writing |
31 | Reading Comprehension |
Aspirants should study and familiarise themselves with these important topics. Depending on how well they comprehend the subject, candidates can design a study schedule that includes at least an hour dedicated to studying difficult topics. After learning each topic, they should take practice tests. They should also revise frequently.
Additionally, candidates should also ensure that they learn grammar from reliable sources or good textbooks. Studying from books written by experts will simplify the process of learning the English language and remove any uncertainty. They will also cover all the areas in a comprehensive manner, which will help aspirants in thoroughly exploring each topic. After studying each topic, they should take practice tests given after every chapter.
The topics listed above should also be studied by candidates who are preparing for competitive exams conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), such as the EPFO exam or Civil Services examination, or the Public Service Commissions of various states.
Like mathematics, English is a subject that improves with practice. Along with practice tests, aspiring candidates should read books and make it a habit to communicate with others in English. This will help aspirants in improving their vocabulary, reading and communication skills.
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