Abhay Srivastava, a resident of Jhansi, successfully cleared the JAIIB exam in his first attempt. He currently works as a Junior Associate at the State Bank of India and has been working in the bank for about a year. Abhay completed his BSc in Mathematics and later joined SBI. Despite managing a full-time job and long daily travel for work, he managed to clear all four papers of the JAIIB exam with 50+ marks in each subject.
Abhay’s success story highlights how consistent preparation and a focused strategy can help working professionals clear professional banking exams. By making effective use of his travel time and maintaining short revision notes, he stayed consistent with his studies and cleared the exam in the very first attempt.
Below is Abhay’s preparation journey in his own words.
Q. Please introduce yourself and tell us about your banking journey.
My name is Abhay Srivastava. I belong to Jhansi. I joined SBI last year as a Junior Associate and it has been around one year since I started working in the bank. My experience in the banking sector has been good so far and I am enjoying my work.
Q. How were your scores in the exam?
I scored 50+ marks in all four papers and cleared the exam in my first attempt.
Q. What motivated you to appear for the JAIIB exam?
JAIIB and CAIIB have a lot of importance in the banking sector. If we clear these exams, it helps in promotions and also provides salary increments. That was the biggest motivation for me to prepare for JAIIB.
Q. When did you start preparing for the exam?
I started preparing about two months before the exam. Initially, I was trying to understand where to begin my preparation. My brother had already qualified for JAIIB and CAIIB, so he suggested that I prepare with Oliveboard.
Q. What was your preparation strategy while managing office work?
My strategy was quite simple. I started preparing with Oliveboard and followed the content available there regularly. I studied daily and completed the topics gradually. The revision sessions before the exam were also very helpful because they helped me revise all the important topics again.
Q. Which paper did you find the most challenging?
The most challenging paper for me was AFM. Since it involves accounting and numerical concepts, it required more focus and understanding compared to the other subjects.
Q. How did you prepare for AFM?
I prepared for AFM using Oliveboard. The concepts were explained in a simple and clear manner, which made it easier for me to understand and remember them. After studying the topics once, many concepts stayed in my mind.
Q. How did you manage study time with your work schedule?
My branch is quite far from my home. I travel around 73 kilometers every day for work, so a lot of my time goes into traveling. I used that time to study with Oliveboard. Later, when I reached home, I revised the topics and made short notes.
Q. Did you make your own notes during preparation?
Yes, I made short notes for revision. Especially for theoretical subjects, I wrote small points about important topics so that I could quickly revise them before the exam.
Q. How did you divide your preparation among the subjects?
I studied one subject at a time. I started with subjects that were comparatively easier or familiar. Some topics were already similar to what we study during banking preparation, so those were easier to complete. AFM required more time because my academic background was not related to accounts.
Q. Did you follow any additional study material?
I mainly followed Oliveboard for my preparation and revision. I did not refer to multiple sources because I wanted to stay focused on one platform.
Q. What was your exam attempt strategy?
During the exam, I first solved the questions that I was sure about. If I found a difficult question, I marked it and moved ahead. Later, I came back to those questions. Since there is no negative marking, this approach helped me manage time better.
Q. How did you approach case study questions in the exam?
Case study questions require more time because you need to read the situation carefully and understand it. I attempted the easier questions first and then came back to the case studies later.
Q. What advice would you give to aspirants preparing for JAIIB?
If someone starts preparing even now, it is possible to clear the exam. If you study consistently for one to two hours daily with Oliveboard, it is enough to qualify the exam.
Abhay Srivastava’s journey shows that clearing the JAIIB exam is achievable even with a busy work schedule if the preparation is consistent. Despite long travel hours and office responsibilities, he made effective use of his time and stayed disciplined with his preparation. By focusing on the right topics, revising regularly, and following Oliveboard for his preparation, he was able to score 50+ marks in all four papers in his first attempt.
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.
