For almost two years, Riparna was stuck in the same loop. She would clear prelims, fall short in mains, and start all over again. It is a phase many aspirants go through, but very few are able to break out of it.
Riparna did. She cracked IBPS CSA 2025 and secured her place in Central Bank of India, not by studying more hours, but by changing how she prepared.
“I realized my mistake very late. I was only preparing for prelims,” she says.
That one realization changed everything.
The Problem Most Aspirants Don’t Realize
A large number of IBPS CSA aspirants focus only on prelims in the beginning. It feels manageable and structured, but it creates a gap when it comes to mains.
“After a few attempts, I understood that prelims and mains cannot be separated,” Riparna explains.
Once she started preparing for both stages together, her performance improved steadily. Instead of guessing what to study, she began following a structured approach through Oliveboard classes, where concepts and exam-level questions were covered together.
What Her Daily Preparation Actually Looked Like
Riparna’s preparation was not complicated, but it was consistent and well planned. She divided her day based on exam stages so that both prelims and mains got equal attention.
Her mornings were focused on prelims through mock tests, sectional tests, and practice questions. In the evenings, she shifted to mains preparation, covering advanced concepts and practicing higher-level questions. She also followed Oliveboard video classes regularly to understand new question patterns.
“Classes and mock tests helped me the most, especially because mains has new types of questions,” she says.
The Section That Scared Her the Most
Quantitative aptitude, especially arithmetic, was her weakest area in the beginning. Like many aspirants, she found it difficult and avoided it initially.
“I was not confident in arithmetic at all,” she admits.
Instead of continuing that pattern, she decided to fix it through proper concept clarity. She followed structured classes and practiced extensively using Oliveboard sectional tests and previous year questions.
“I realized that all the information is already given in the question. We just need to understand it correctly.”
This shift helped her improve significantly. She scored 34 marks in mains and performed consistently in prelims.
The Habit That Improved Her English
For English, Riparna relied on a simple but powerful habit, daily reading.
“I started reading newspaper editorials every day,” she says.
She noted down unfamiliar words and revised them weekly. Along with this, she practiced comprehension and grammar questions through Oliveboard mock tests and topic-wise practice sets, which helped her adapt to exam-level difficulty.
Over time, her accuracy and confidence improved without relying on shortcuts.
The Most Underrated Game Changer: Mock Tests
Mock tests played a crucial role in Riparna’s success. She treated them as an essential part of her preparation, not just something to attempt occasionally.
“I gave 3 to 4 prelims mocks every week and sectional tests for mains,” she shares.
As the exam approached, she increased her frequency. She attempted daily mocks and focused deeply on analysis after each test.
“The actual exam felt familiar. Many questions were similar to what I had already practiced.”
This familiarity reduced pressure and improved her accuracy in the real exam.
Why Random Preparation Does Not Work
One clear takeaway from Riparna’s journey is that random preparation does not lead to selection. Direction matters more than effort.
She consistently followed Oliveboard classes for concept clarity, practiced previous year questions, and used mock tests to track her improvement.
“During the exam, I felt like I had already solved many of those questions before,” she recalls.
That is the advantage of preparing with exam-relevant content instead of scattered resources.
What She Would Tell You If You Are Preparing Right Now
Riparna’s advice is practical and based on real experience.
- Do not separate prelims and mains preparation
- Practice mock tests regularly and analyze them properly
- Focus on understanding concepts instead of memorizing tricks
- Revise consistently, especially current affairs
“Even if results don’t come immediately, keep improving your strategy,” she says.
If You Don’t Want to Repeat the Same Mistakes
Riparna’s journey is not about motivation. It is about clarity and execution.
She did not suddenly start studying more. She started studying the right way, with structured classes, regular mock tests, and consistent practice of previous year questions.
If you are serious about IBPS CSA, the right resources can make a huge difference in your preparation.
I started my journey with storytelling and journalism, and somewhere along the way, I discovered how much I truly love writing. Words have always been my way of connecting with people.
With 4+ years of experience in content creation, social media, and video storytelling, I focus on building meaningful conversations, not just posts. I enjoy understanding audiences, planning engaging content, and turning followers into active, connected communities.
At Oliveboard, I work on creating value-driven content that informs, engages, and brings people together.