NABARD Grade A Preparation Strategy 2024 – For Phase 1 & Phase 2

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NABARD Grade A Preparation Strategy

It is said, “Start early, stay ahead”. The same can be said for exam preparation for the NABARD Grade A exam. Considering the extensive syllabus for phase 1 & phase 2 papers, coupled with fierce competition, it is imperative to dedicate a reasonably good amount of time to your preparation. In addition, taking mock tests and revising becomes increasingly important as the exam date approaches. In order to pass an exam of this stature, one would need a carefully planned and strategized preparation program. One would also need clearly listed preparation resources and key topics. In this NABARD Grade A preparation strategy blog, we have done exactly that for your ease of preparation.

NABARD Grade A Preparation Strategy 2024

Before we discuss the NABARD Grade A Preparation Strategy for both Phase 1 & Phase 2 papers, let us have a thorough look at the exam pattern for each of the Phases of the exam. 

1. Phase-1 – Preliminary Examination (Online Exam) – 200 Marks
2. Phase-2 – Main Examination will be online and will be a mix of MCQ and descriptive patterns. – 200 Marks
3. Phase-3 – Interview – 50 Marks

1. NABARD Grade A Exam Pattern

It is an online objective paper comprising eight sections The total marks allotted to this Phase is 200.

NABARD Grade A Prelims Exam Pattern 2024

Take a look at the phase 1 exam pattern here. Also, do check the significance of the qualifying and merit sections given below:

Test NameNo of QuestionsMaximum Marks
Test of Reasoning   20   20   
English Language  30   30   
Computer Knowledge   20   20   
Quantitative Aptitude   20   20   
Decision Making   10   10   
General Awareness   20   20   
Economic & Social Issues (with focus on Rural India)40   40   
Agriculture & Rural Development (with emphasis on Rural India)40   40   
Total200   200   
Time: Composite time of 120 Minutes for all the tests together

Some Important Pointers:

  1. Qualifying Section – Test of Reasoning, English Language, Computer Knowledge, Quantitative Aptitude, Decision Making.
  2. Merit Section – General Awareness, Eco & Soc. Issues (with focus on Rural India), Agriculture & Rural Development with Emphasis on Rural India.
  3. Shortlisting of the candidates for the Main exam will be based on marks scored in the merit sections only.
Related LinksRelated LinksRelated Links
NABARD Grade A Apply OnlineNABARD Grade A EligibilityNABARD Grade A Salary
NABARD Grade A Previous Year Cut OffNABARD Grade A Syllabus & Exam PatternNABARD Grade A Exam Date
NABARD Grade A Admit CardNABARD Grade A ResultNABARD Grade A Selection Process

NABARD Grade A Phase 2 Exam Pattern 2024

NABARD Grade A Phase 2 examination is held online and will be a mix of objective multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and descriptive questions.

NABARD Grade A Mains Exam Pattern 2024 (For RDBS/Generalist)

We have attached an image below, where you can find the mains exam pattern.

Negative Marking

For every wrong answer marked, 1/4th of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted as a penalty in both Phase 1 and Phase 2. Cut-offs in Phase 1 and Phase 2 may be applied in two stages: (i) On scores in individual tests, (ii) On Total Score

NABARD Grade A Exam – Myths Busted

Most of the regulatory bodies’ exam aspirants appear for SEBI Grade A and RBI Grade B Exams but are hesitant about taking up the NABARD Grade A Exam. We would like to clarify that there is not much of a difference when we talk about the position, status, perks, and salary, everything is almost the same. If we talk about the syllabus, we have a very good overlap. When you hear about NABARD, you would associate it with agriculture but this does not mean that you should have professional knowledge of agriculture as a subject. Learning the basics and revising multiple times would work in your favor. We would recommend that you do not restrict yourself from appearing for the NABARD exams.

Check out the latest video on Myths about NABARD Grade A.

2. NABARD Grade A Preparation Strategy 2024 – Phase 1 & Phase 2

Check out the detailed strategy below:

NABARD Grade A Preparation Strategy 2024 – Phase 1

Section-wise Preparation Strategy & Important Topics

Important Pointers to Note:

  • Preparation of ESI and ARD sections is common for both Phase 1 & Phase 2.
  • 100/200 Marks in Phase 1 are considered for Merit List (For clearing Ph 1).
  • The type of Questions – Phase 1 (ESI & ARD) & Phase 2 (Objective Type of Questions) would be the same.

Preparation for Qualifying Sections

  • Quants, Reasoning & English – The questions asked here are of medium difficulty level. Do not give away too much of your precious time in preparing for these subjects. Revise the basics, practice a few questions of each type, and then gradually move on to taking sectional & topic tests and then finally take up full mock tests.
  • Mock tests would help you cover questions of varying difficulty levels from the syllabus of these subjects. Solve as many questions as possible. Analyze the questions and the solutions and assess where you lack and what else needs to be done to get most of these questions right in the stipulated time.
SectionTopics
Quantitative AptitudeData Interpretation, Quantity Based, Data Sufficiency, Simplification, Approximation, Quadratic Inequalities, Number Series both missing and wrong number series
Important arithmetic topics: Partnership, Average, Ages, Profit & Loss, Time & Work, Speed Time Distance, Boat & Stream, Trains, Simple Interest and Compound Interest, Percentage, Ratio & Proportion
EnglishCloze test, Fillers, Spotting the errors, Para Jumbles, New pattern questions, Idioms and phrases, Word Rearrangement, Column Based questions, Sentence improvement, Paragraph Completion, Grammar, Reading Comprehension
ReasoningAlphanumeric Series, Order and Ranking, Direction Sense, Alphabet Test, Data Sufficiency, Inequalities, Seating Arrangement, Puzzle, Syllogism, Blood Relations, Input-Output, Coding-Decoding, Logical Reasoning
Computer Knowledge1. Computer Fundamentals and Terminologies
2. Computer Hardware and Software
3. History – Generations of Computer
4. Operating System
5. Internet and Networking
6. DBMS
7. MS Office – MS Word, MS Excel, MS Powerpoint, etc.
8. Keyboard Shortcuts
9. Basic Security Concepts
10. Computer Abbreviations

2. Preparation of Merit Sections

  • General Awareness – Cover the last 6 months of Current Affairs prior to the date of the examination. Always move backward from the date of examination for CA months.
  • ESI & ARD – ESI & ARD preparation would be common for both Phase-1 & Phase-2 exams. You will have to do a simultaneous prep for Phase-1 & Phase-2. In Phase 1, 80 out of 200 marks are from ESI & ARD, when you study for ARD & ESI, you study for both Phases.

NABARD Grade A Preparation Strategy 2024 – Phase 2

For Phase 2 you need to individually clear the cut-off for the papers of Descriptive English and ESI & ARD.

NABARD Grade A Preparation Strategy – Phase 2 (English Descriptive)

The following question types can be asked:

  • Essay writing
  • Reading comprehension
  • Precis’ writing
  • Report writing
  • Letter writing
  • Paragraph writing

Here you need to focus on two aspects: One is the format and the other is the content. Each of the question types given above has a unique writing format and you need to be thorough with the same. Coming to the content part, as you prepare for ESI, ARD, and GA, you would have enough fodder material for writing about any topic that is asked in the exam. Check out the complete descriptive writing strategy here.

NABARD Grade A Preparation Strategy – Phase 2 (ESI & ARD)

We have created a separate blog for the ESI & ARD Preparation Strategy. You can check out the same by clicking on the link given below.

How to Prepare for NABARD Grade A Exam?

If you are a candidate who has never prepared for the NABARD Grade A Exam before and is scared of the Agriculture section that is asked in the exam, then you must check out the following success stories:

Success Story of Anantha Giri Padmanabhan
Success Story of Himanshu Baliyan

Special Note: Any Graduate candidate from any discipline can apply for this exam. With a systematic way of preparation, aspirants can smoothly get good marks in the Agriculture section.


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NABARD ESI Preparation TipsBasics of Agriculture NABARD NotesAgricultural Markets NABARD Notes
Agriculture Finance ARD NotesLife of NABARD Grade A OfficerNABARD Grade A Books

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