He Missed BFM by Just 1 Mark in His First Attempt! How Akshay Raj Cleared CAIIB in His Second Attempt

Missing an examination’s passing mark by just one point can be frustrating, especially when you have already cleared the other papers. But one setback does not have to end your journey.

Akshay Raj, an Assistant Manager at Uttar Pradesh Gramin Bank (UPGB), experienced exactly this during his CAIIB preparation. In his first attempt, he cleared ABM, ABFM, BRBL and his HRM elective. However, he scored 44 in BFM, missing the passing mark by just one mark.

Instead of giving up, Akshay went back to his preparation, identified what needed improvement and started preparing earlier for his next attempt. He eventually cleared the remaining BFM paper and completed his CAIIB qualification.

In a conversation with Oliveboard CAIIB mentor Anshul, Akshay shared how he managed his preparation alongside a demanding banking job, approached each subject and used Oliveboard’s learning resources.

His journey offers valuable lessons for working bankers who are preparing for CAIIB while balancing professional responsibilities.

Watch the full interview only on Oliveboard:

How Did Akshay Raj Start His CAIIB Preparation?

Akshay joined the banking sector in 2021 and cleared JAIIB in his first attempt. After completing JAIIB, CAIIB became his next professional goal.

He knew that CAIIB would require considerably more effort and a deeper understanding of banking concepts. One of his motivations was the two increments associated with clearing CAIIB.

However, balancing preparation with a full-time banking job was not easy. Working in a rural bank meant handling customer interactions, banking responsibilities and quarterly targets.

He came across Oliveboard and initially spoke with Rajeev Sir about how to approach BFM while managing his work schedule. This conversation helped him understand how to structure his preparation.

How Did He Manage CAIIB Preparation Alongside His Banking Job?

Akshay understood that he could not depend on long, uninterrupted study sessions. Instead, he built a routine around his working hours.

His regular study schedule included:

• Morning: Around 1.5 hours before going to work.
• Night: Around 1.5 hours after returning home.
• Closer to the examination: He increased his study time to around 3–4 hours or more.

He also made an important change after his first CAIIB attempt.

For his first attempt, he had started preparing in May for the June examination. He realised that this left him with very little time to understand difficult concepts and revise the syllabus properly.

For his next attempt, he began preparing in September for the examination scheduled around December. Starting earlier gave him more time to work on his weak areas.

He followed a practical rule: if work responsibilities prevented him from studying on a particular day, he made up for the missed study time the next day.

His experience highlights an important lesson for working bankers: a realistic and consistent study routine is more useful than an ambitious schedule that is difficult to maintain.

What Was Akshay Raj’s Subject-Wise CAIIB Preparation Strategy?

Akshay followed different preparation methods for different CAIIB papers. His experience with each subject also helped him understand where he needed to focus more.

1. BFM Preparation Strategy: Learning from a One-Mark Setback

BFM was the biggest challenge in Akshay’s CAIIB journey.

In his first attempt, he scored 44 marks in BFM, missing the passing mark by just one. Although he had cleared ABM, ABFM, BRBL and HRM, this one paper kept him from completing his CAIIB qualification.

He realised that BFM required more than simply completing the syllabus. It demanded conceptual clarity, regular practice and sufficient revision.

For his next attempt, he started preparing much earlier and enrolled in Oliveboard’s BFM Master Batch.

He focused on understanding the concepts instead of rushing through the topics. He also emphasised that BFM requires candidates to make calculated guesses when they encounter unfamiliar or application-based questions.

His advice: Do not leave BFM preparation until the final month. Start early, understand the concepts and revise consistently.

2. ABFM Preparation Strategy: Using Multiple Learning Resources

For ABFM, Akshay used Oliveboard’s CAIIB Super Elite course.

He found the availability of different learning resources useful, particularly the Master Batches and capsule batches. These helped him learn new concepts and revisit topics during revision.

His suggestion to aspirants was to choose a comprehensive preparation resource that offers structured classes and revision support.

3. BRBL Preparation Strategy: Focus on Sections and Case Studies

BRBL involves extensive theoretical concepts, legal provisions and case-based questions.

Akshay completed the Master Batch and studied the syllabus chapter by chapter.

To remember important legal sections, he maintained a separate sheet where he wrote down the sections alongside their corresponding provisions. He revised this sheet every morning.

For case studies, he attended Oliveboard’s dedicated case study batch twice.

He explained that BRBL questions can be lengthy, and candidates often spend considerable time reading and understanding the passages. Regular case study practice helped him become more comfortable with lengthy questions and manage his time better.

His advice: Do not restrict BRBL preparation to theory. Practise case studies and revise important sections regularly.

4. ABM Preparation Strategy: Complete the Syllabus and Revise Multiple Times

Akshay described ABM as a tricky paper because some questions may initially appear unfamiliar, even when candidates have covered the underlying concepts.

His recommendation was to complete the entire course and revise the syllabus at least two to three times.

He explained that sometimes candidates recognise a topic only after reading the question carefully. This makes conceptual understanding and repeated revision particularly important.

5. How Did He Choose HRM as His CAIIB Elective?

Akshay selected Human Resource Management (HRM) as his elective and scored 69 marks.

His decision was based on his academic background. He had completed his postgraduate studies in HRM and was already familiar with many of the concepts.

Interestingly, despite working in a rural bank, he did not select Rural Banking as his elective.

His suggestion was to choose an elective based on your academic background, previous exposure and comfort with the subject, rather than simply choosing the subject related to your current job.

His advice: Choose an elective strategically. Your existing knowledge and interest in a subject can make preparation easier.

How Important Were Mock Tests in His CAIIB Preparation?

Akshay admitted that he attempted only three to four mock tests during his preparation. However, he strongly recommended mock tests to future aspirants.

For him, mock tests were useful because they helped identify weak areas and understand the level of preparation required.

During the final week before an examination, he followed a structured revision routine:

1. Complete the basic course at least a week before the examination.
2. Revise notes and important concepts.
3. Attempt mock tests.
4. Analyse the score and identify mistakes.
5. Revisit topics that need improvement.
6. Practise again to assess progress.

He believed that simply attempting tests was not enough. Analysing mistakes and working on weak areas was equally important.

What Was His CAIIB Exam Hall Strategy?

Akshay followed one important rule during the examination: attempt the questions you know first.

Instead of getting stuck on difficult questions, he focused on securing marks from questions he was confident about.

His strategy was to scan the paper, attempt familiar questions and return to lengthy or challenging questions later.

This helped him avoid wasting too much time on a single question and maintain confidence throughout the examination.

Live Classes vs Recorded Lectures: What Worked for Akshay?

Since Akshay often returned home from work around 7:30–8 PM, attending every live class was not possible.

He found recorded lectures particularly useful for regular concept classes that he could not attend because of his banking schedule.

However, he preferred attending live sessions for revision batches, MCQ practice, case studies and capsule batches.

He explained that solving questions within a fixed time during live sessions helped him become more comfortable with the examination format.

His suggestion was to use recorded lectures for flexibility but attend live practice sessions whenever possible.

Akshay credited Oliveboard and its faculty for supporting him throughout his preparation.

He particularly acknowledged Rajeev Sir’s guidance when he was trying to understand how to approach BFM alongside his banking responsibilities.

He also appreciated the CAIIB Super Elite course for providing access to Master Batches, capsule batches and additional learning resources.

One thing he consistently followed was studying from a single platform rather than switching between multiple teachers and preparation sources.

He and his friend, who also cleared the examination, followed Oliveboard’s resources throughout their preparation.

What Can CAIIB Aspirants Learn from Akshay Raj’s Journey?

Akshay’s experience offers an important lesson: clearing most of the papers does not guarantee that the remaining paper will be easy. His one-mark setback in BFM showed him the importance of starting early, understanding concepts and giving every subject sufficient attention.

His final advice to CAIIB aspirants was simple: choose one mentor, follow one platform and revise consistently.

He also highlighted that CAIIB requires considerably more preparation than JAIIB. Based on his experience, he estimated the preparation effort to be almost three times as much.

For working bankers, his journey is a reminder that preparation does not have to stop because of a demanding job. A consistent routine, the right learning resources and a willingness to improve can help you move closer to your goal.

Key Takeaways from Akshay Raj’s CAIIB Preparation Journey

• Start preparing early instead of rushing through the syllabus in the final month.
• Follow a realistic daily study routine around your banking hours.
• Give special attention to BFM and other concept-heavy subjects.
• Revise important sections and concepts regularly.
• Practise case studies for BRBL.
• Attempt mock tests and analyse your mistakes.
• Choose your elective based on your academic background and subject knowledge.
• Stick to one reliable preparation platform and avoid unnecessary resource switching.
• Do not let a small setback discourage you from completing your CAIIB qualification.

Frequently Asked Questions About CAIIB Preparation

1. Did Akshay Raj clear CAIIB in his first attempt?

No. In his first attempt, Akshay cleared ABM, ABFM, BRBL and his HRM elective. However, he scored 44 in BFM, missing the passing mark by one. He subsequently reattempted BFM and cleared it, completing his CAIIB qualification.

2. Which CAIIB paper did Akshay find the most difficult?

Akshay found BFM the most challenging. He scored 44 marks in his first attempt and had to reattempt the paper. He improved his preparation by starting earlier and focusing on conceptual clarity and revision.

3. How should working bankers prepare for CAIIB?

Working bankers can create a realistic study routine around their professional responsibilities. Akshay studied for around three hours daily, dividing his time between morning and night sessions. He also increased his study hours closer to the examination.

4. How should I prepare for CAIIB BFM?

Start early, complete the syllabus systematically, focus on conceptual understanding and revise regularly. Practising questions and analysing mock test performance can also help identify weak areas.

5. How many times should I revise the CAIIB syllabus?

Akshay recommended revising the ABM syllabus two to three times. He also followed repeated revision for other subjects and revised his notes before the examinations.

6. Are mock tests necessary for CAIIB?

Yes. Mock tests help candidates assess their preparation, identify weak topics, improve time management and become familiar with the examination format. Analysing mistakes after every test is important.

7. How should I select an elective subject for CAIIB?

Choose an elective based on your educational background, previous experience and comfort with the subject. Akshay selected HRM because he had completed his postgraduate studies in the same field.

8. Is CAIIB more difficult than JAIIB?

CAIIB generally requires deeper conceptual understanding and more extensive preparation than JAIIB. Akshay estimated that the preparation effort required for CAIIB was around three times that of JAIIB.

Preparing for CAIIB while managing a full-time banking job?

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