This is a story of a girl named Shruti who, just like many of us, had a busy job at a bank but still managed to clear the big RBI Grade B exam. It wasn’t easy, but she found a simple and smart way.
If you are also working and feel tired, or if you think you don’t have enough time to study, Shruti’s journey will feel like a warm hug. It will show you that you can do it too. Let’s see how she did it, step-by-step.
Now, let’s start from the very beginning, where all her dreams and confusion started.
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From a Maths Student to a Confused Job Seeker
Shruti was a good student. She did her graduation in Mathematics. Like many bright students, she thought about doing an MBA and even prepared for the CAT exam. She was so good that she scored a 98 percentile! That’s a very big achievement, right?
She got calls from good colleges like IIM Ranchi. But then, she started thinking deeply. She realised that a big salary package (CTC) shown by colleges isn’t the same as the money you get in your hand.
She wanted a job that was secure and paid well from the start. That’s when she decided to try for Bank PO exams instead. It was a big decision to leave the MBA dream behind and choose a different path.
But choosing a new path doesn’t mean the road becomes easy. Let’s see what happened next.
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When Things Didn’t Go as Planned
Even though she was smart, she faced moments of doubt. Some of her dream IIMs didn’t select her, and it felt bad. But instead of getting stuck, she asked herself a very important question.
She asked, “Do I truly want this?”
This one question changed everything for her. She realised her main goal was a good and stable career, and a bank job could give her that. So, she left her sadness behind and started preparing for the IBPS PO exam. She cleared it in her first attempt and joined the Bank of India!
Later, she also cleared the SBI PO exam and joined SBI. She was working and earning, but a bigger dream was waiting for her—the RBI Grade B exam.
This is where her real journey of smart preparation began, while managing a full-time job.
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How Shruti Found Time to Study With a Busy Job
Shruti had a 10 am to 7 pm job at SBI. It was a busy job! Many of us would say, “Where is the time to study?” But Shruti found time in small places. For example, she had to travel for one hour to get to her office in Delhi.
She used this travel time to study. Instead of just sitting, she would watch YouTube videos on her phone to learn the basics. She turned her daily commute into her classroom.
She knew her weekends were precious. So, she studied on Saturdays and Sundays instead of just having fun. She found a balance between rest and her dream.
Now that we know how she found time, let’s see what she actually studied and how.
“If you want to achieve something, the motivation comes from yourself. No one else can motivate you.”
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Her Simple Study Plan for RBI Grade B
Let’s break down her strategy into simple steps for Phase 1 and Phase 2.
First, Clearing the Big Hurdle: Phase 1
Shruti knew Phase 1 had four parts. Here is how she handled each one:
- Quant & Reasoning: Her CAT preparation had made her strong in these subjects. So, she didn’t spend too much extra time here. She knew her strengths and focused on her weaknesses.
- English: For English, she believed in practice. She gave many mock tests, which helped her improve her speed and accuracy.
- General Awareness (GA): Shruti was scared of GA. But she faced it. A few months before the exam, she started watching weekly current affairs videos. And in the last 15 days, she read EduTap’s monthly magazine twice. That was her secret weapon for GA!
She also gave many mock tests from EduTap.
“Mock tests were the most valuable tool for developing time management skills.”
They helped her understand which questions to attempt and which to leave.
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Next, The Main Challenge: Phase 2
Phase 2 was the most important part for Shruti. She printed the syllabus and read it word-by-word, almost memorising it. This helped her know exactly what to study.
- For ESI (Economic & Social Issues)
- She was not from a UPSC background, so she started from zero.
- She read the NCERT Class 11 textbook to build her basics.
- For government schemes, she followed Kritika Ma’am from EduTap’s YouTube channel, who suggested focusing on just six important ministries.
- She used EduTap’s 30-page PDF to revise all the schemes quickly.
- For FM (Finance & Management)
- She trusted EduTap’s summary sheets completely. She read them multiple times.
- Later, she converted the PDFs to audio and just listened to them!
- For Descriptive English
- She used her real-life experience from her bank job to write her essays.
- For example, when writing about women empowerment, she wrote about the Self-Help Groups she saw at her bank. This made her answers feel real and honest.
Her smart and simple approach shows that you don’t need to read hundreds of books. You just need the right material and a clear plan. But exams are not just about studying. They are also about facing your fears, especially in an interview.
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Facing the Interview With a Brave Heart
Shruti was very scared of interviews. She had been rejected by some top IIMs before, and that memory was still with her.
Does fear of the interview worry you too? It’s a very common feeling.
But this time, she changed her thinking.
“If they want me, they’ll take me. If not, then not. But I’ll give my best shot.”
This simple thought removed all the pressure from her mind. She went to the interview with a calm and clear head.
To prepare, she read the Mint newspaper every day for three months. She also took mock interviews at EduTap, which were a huge help. The teachers there pointed out her weak areas, like her knowledge of RBI Acts. This feedback helped her improve just before the real interview.
In the end, she scored a wonderful 68 marks in her interview! Her courage and smart preparation paid off.
So, what are the final lessons we can learn from Shruti’s beautiful journey?
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Your Simple Action Plan from Shruti’s Story
Shruti’s story is not about being a superhero. It’s about being a simple, hardworking person who used her brain to make a smart plan. She shows us that you don’t need to leave your job or study 16 hours a day to clear a big exam.
Here is what you can start doing right now:
- Find Your “Travel Time”: Look for small bits of time in your day—in the bus, during lunch—and use them to learn one small thing.
- Be Smart with Resources: You don’t need to read everything. Trust good sources like EduTap’s materials or NCERT books. Quality is better than quantity.
- Use Your Life Experience: If you are working, use your job examples in your descriptive answers. It makes you stand out.
- Face Your Fears: It’s okay to be scared. Acknowledge your fear, but don’t let it stop you. Take small steps every day.
Remember, your journey is your own. Like Shruti, you too have the strength to turn your dreams into reality, one small, smart step at a time. Believe in yourself, and just keep going. We at EduTap are always here to walk with you on this path.
