For Mayank Gautam, clearing CAIIB wasn’t just another banking milestone. It was proof that learning from past mistakes can completely change your preparation journey.
Before cracking CAIIB in his very first attempt, Mayank had spent years struggling with JAIIB. It took him multiple attempts to clear that exam, and those experiences shaped every decision he made during his CAIIB preparation. Instead of repeating old habits, he built a focused strategy around consistency, revision, and exam-oriented learning.
Five Years in Banking Changed His Perspective
Mayank joined the banking sector in 2020. Initially, he wasn’t serious about JAIIB and CAIIB because he was waiting for results from other competitive exams. As time passed, he realized that progressing within banking required continuous learning and professional certifications.
His biggest realization came after repeatedly struggling with JAIIB.
“I didn’t want CAIIB to become another long journey. I decided I had to finish it in one attempt.”
That decision became the foundation of his preparation.
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How He Planned Three Months of Preparation
Instead of collecting endless study material, Mayank kept his preparation simple.
After speaking to a colleague, he started exploring Oliveboard’s YouTube lectures and continued with them because he found the explanations easy to understand and highly relevant to the exam.
From March onwards, he divided his preparation into focused phases.
His approach looked like this:
- 15 days for each major subject.
- Complete lectures before moving to the next subject.
- Make handwritten notes alongside every class.
- Keep revising previous subjects while studying new ones.
For BFM, he deliberately spent extra time because many people had warned him about its numerical questions.
That preparation paid off.
Watch his full interview only on Oliveboard:
Managing Shift Duty Without Losing Consistency
One of Mayank’s biggest challenges was time management.
Working in a Video KYC department meant rotating shifts, including weekends. Instead of waiting for perfect study hours, he used whichever slot his schedule allowed.
- Morning study before afternoon shifts.
- Evening study after morning shifts.
- Week-off marathons for revision.
- His wife also studied alongside him, helping both stay disciplined.
Rather than chasing long study hours, he focused on maintaining continuity.
Why He Preferred Handwritten Notes
Although Oliveboard provided useful learning resources, Mayank chose to write his own notes.
According to him, writing helped him remember concepts much better than simply highlighting PDFs.
He also saved important class screenshots and repeatedly revised those key concepts before the exam.
“Don’t collect too much content. Whatever you’re studying, revise it again and again.”
That became one of his strongest pieces of advice for working professionals.
Build smarter notes, not bigger piles.
The Oliveboard Resources That Helped Him Most
Throughout his preparation, Mayank consistently followed Oliveboard’s YouTube content instead of relying on multiple sources.
He particularly appreciated how different faculty members explained difficult concepts using practical examples, making topics easier to remember during the exam.
What stood out most for him was that the teaching remained exam-oriented instead of overwhelming learners with unnecessary information.
He also found revision marathons especially useful because they helped him revisit entire subjects before the exam.
His Final Advice for CAIIB Aspirants
Looking back, Mayank believes many banking professionals lose valuable years delaying JAIIB and CAIIB preparation.
His advice is straightforward:
- Don’t wait for the perfect time.
- Avoid collecting excessive study material.
- Trust one reliable source.
- Revise consistently.
- Use your available time, even if it’s limited.
For him, clearing CAIIB in his first attempt wasn’t about studying the most hours. It was about studying with clarity, consistency, and a strategy built from experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many attempts did Mayank take to clear CAIIB?
Mayank cleared all five CAIIB papers in his first attempt.
What was his biggest lesson after JAIIB?
He realized that collecting too much material without consistent revision slows preparation more than it helps.
Which Oliveboard resources did he use?
He primarily followed Oliveboard’s YouTube lectures, faculty explanations, revision marathons, and exam-oriented content throughout his preparation.
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