How to get selected in first attempt of IBPS | Best Coaching, Teachers, Books Guide and Test Series
A coach’s guide to choosing what to study from, and where to practice
Every bank aspirant asks the same question: “Which coaching and which test series is the best?”
The honest answer from a coach: no single platform is best for everyone. Toppers have cleared IBPS PO and Clerk with expensive classroom coaching, with a ₹500 test series and YouTube, and with self-study from books alone. What decides your result is how well you match the resource to your own level, budget, language and discipline.
This post gives you a clear way to choose, plus a shortlist of well-known options in each category.
A note on research: Many “best coaching” pages online are written by the institutes themselves, so every one of them ranks itself No. 1. Treat rankings with caution. Prices, batch dates and faculty change every year, so always verify on the official website and try a free demo before paying.
1. How to Choose: The 5-Point Check
Before paying for anything, ask:
- Do I need teaching, or only practice? Beginners need concept classes. Students with a basic foundation often need only mocks and analysis.
- Is it in my language? Many platforms offer Hindi, English or Hinglish batches.
- Does it cover Prelims and Mains? Clerk and PO Mains need current affairs, banking awareness, DI and computer aptitude, not just the Prelims syllabus.
- Is there a free trial or demo? Never buy blind. Watch 2-3 classes and attempt 1-2 free mocks first.
- Does it fit my budget? Plan for classes, test series and a current-affairs source together.
2. Online Coaching Platforms (Classes + Study Material)
| Platform | Known for | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Adda247 / BankersAdda | Live classes, large mock library (1000+ tests across banking exams), free daily content | Students wanting classes, mocks and community in one place |
| Oliveboard | Mock tests with detailed analytics; Selection Batches with live sessions in English and Hinglish; interview courses | Students who want strong performance analysis |
| Testbook | Subscription pass with a large test bank across exams | Budget-conscious students practicing for multiple exams |
| Mahendras | Classroom and online courses, speed-focused test series, long history in banking prep | Students who prefer a structured, traditional style |
| PW (Banking Wallah) / Unacademy | Affordable live classes and educator-led batches | Beginners wanting low-cost live teaching |
Offline coaching: If you live in a city with reputed local coaching, it helps with discipline and doubt-solving. If not, online batches now match offline quality for most students. Choose offline only if you genuinely need a fixed routine and a peer group.
3. About “Best Teachers”
Students often ask for the name of the single best teacher. Here is the coach’s view:
- Teachers move between platforms often, so a name that is correct today may be wrong in six months.
- A teacher who is brilliant for one student can be too fast or too slow for another.
So judge the teacher, not the name. In a demo class, look for:
- Quant: Do they explain the concept first, then the shortcut? Do they show 2 methods per question?
- Reasoning: Do they teach a system for puzzles (how to draw, how to eliminate) instead of only solving examples?
- English: Do they teach why an answer is right, with grammar rules and RC strategy?
- GA/Banking: Do they give structured notes and revision schedules, not just news reading?
- Pace and language: Can you follow without pausing every 30 seconds?
Free way to find your teacher: Watch the same topic (e.g., Syllogism or Percentage) from 3 different teachers on YouTube or platform demos. Stick to the one whose method clicks first.
4. Best Test Series (Mock Tests)
Test series are where results are made. The most commonly used options:
| Test Series | Strengths | Things to Check |
|---|---|---|
| Oliveboard | Detailed analytics, all-India rank, Prelims and Mains mocks for IBPS Clerk (separate packs) | Smaller free library |
| Adda247 / BankersAdda | Huge mock volume, free test series for IBPS PO and Clerk, frequent new mocks | Analytics quality varies by series |
| Testbook | Large library, pass covers many exams | Check difficulty level against the real paper |
| Mahendras Speed Test Pro | Speed and sectional-timing focus | Compare features and price with others |
| PracticeMock, Guidely | Affordable alternatives | Check the number of mocks and quality of explanations |
The smart approach: Two series, not ten
- Main series: One paid test series for the full Prelims-Mains cycle.
- Secondary series: One more for variety, especially the free mocks from another platform.
- Previous-year papers: Solve the last 5-6 years of IBPS papers on top of both.
Buying five test series and finishing none is the most common mistake. Complete what you buy, and analyse every mock.
What a good test series must have
- Same sectional timing as the real exam
- Separate Prelims and Mains mocks (Mains includes GA and Computer sections)
- Detailed solutions with shortcut methods
- All-India ranking and percentile
- Topic-wise performance analysis
- Questions at the real exam’s level of difficulty
5. Best Books (Subject-wise)
| Subject | Recommended Books |
|---|---|
| Quantitative Aptitude | Quantitative Aptitude by R.S. Aggarwal (basics); Arun Sharma (higher level); a speed-maths book for tricks |
| Data Interpretation | DI books by Arun Sharma or Disha; practice from mocks |
| Reasoning | A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning (R.S. Aggarwal); a puzzles-specific practice book |
| English | Word Power Made Easy (Norman Lewis); Wren & Martin (grammar); daily newspaper editorials |
| General / Banking Awareness | Banking awareness guides from reputed publishers; monthly current-affairs magazines or PDFs |
| Computer Aptitude | A short computer-awareness book plus Adda247-type notes |
Rule: One book per subject. Finish it, revise it, then move on. Books are for building concepts; mocks are for building speed.
6. Free Resources That Work
- IBPS official website (ibps.in): notifications, syllabus, pattern, previous papers
- RBI website: monetary policy, banking terms, press releases
- The Hindu / Indian Express editorials: English and current affairs
- YouTube channels from major platforms: free concept videos and daily current affairs
- Free mock tests: Adda247, Oliveboard and Testbook all offer free mocks, which are good for trials
7. Sample Study Stacks by Student Type
Beginner, needs full guidance (6 months)
- One online live batch (Prelims + Mains)
- One full test series
- One book per subject
- Daily current-affairs source
Intermediate, knows the basics (3 months)
- Recorded or crash-course videos for weak subjects only
- Two test series (one paid, one free)
- Previous-year papers
Working professional (limited time)
- Recorded video courses (watch at your own pace)
- One test series, with 3 mocks per week
- Weekend revision of the Error Notebook
Tight budget
- Free YouTube concept videos
- Free mock tests plus one low-cost pass
- Library books and newspaper editorials
8. Common Mistakes When Choosing Coaching and Test Series
- Choosing by advertisement or topper photos. Pick by demo quality, not marketing.
- Joining too many batches. One batch, followed fully, beats three left half-watched.
- Collecting resources instead of using them. Download less; finish more.
- Skipping analysis. A mock without analysis is wasted.
- Changing platforms every month. Give a resource at least 3-4 weeks before judging it.
- Ignoring Mains-level content in a Prelims-only pack.
9. Final Checklist Before You Pay
- Watched at least 2 demo classes
- Attempted a free mock and read the solutions
- Confirmed Prelims and Mains are both covered
- Checked language (Hindi / English / Hinglish)
- Read the refund and validity policy
- Compared the price with at least one other platform
- Verified details on the official website, not only on review pages
Conclusion
The best coaching is the one you will actually follow, and the best test series is the one you will actually analyse. Pick one teaching source, one main mock series, one book per subject and a daily current-affairs habit, then be consistent for the full preparation cycle.
Resources open the door. Practice, analysis and discipline get you through it.
Always confirm current fees, batch dates and exam notifications on each platform’s official site and on ibps.in before you buy or register.