Thursday, July 5, 2012

Comprehensive Exam - Experience

It was June, it was hot, loadshedding was on its peak and IBP is taking a comprehensive exam for Chartered Banker Certification !

Exam started at sharp 9. There were about 60 candidates which comprised of different age groups. Air Conditioning of SBP building was giving a true example that these are premises of Government ! A total failure it was ! Pedistal Fans and water at room temperature was the last hope to survive those six hours of exam !

"...... Ok ! Stop your boring stories and tell us how was the exam !!!!"

Exam was comprehensive ! First three hours it was objective portion which had 115 questions. Questions were covering almost all subjects of the syllabus and difficulty level was mixed! Over all paper was well designed and questions were good ! The only issue was hot weather !

After a two hours break it was a subjective portion containing about 15 questions ! This was mostly narrative with a few numerical questions of accounting ! Questions were checking both your theoretical and practical knowledge !

Most of the candidates were saying that they came without any preparation. But as it is said never underestimate your enemy, so this time, it is hard to pass if you have not covered the syllabus. 

Anyways good luck ! and try to take such exams in winter ! or IBP should conduct such exams with better arrangements.



Saturday, May 19, 2012

Comprehensive Exam


Yesterday I received call from IBP office in which they asked me about
the preferred location for Comprehensive Test ! There are three test
centres at Lahore, Islamabad & Karachi. Most probably the test centres
would be in the premises of SBP. Comprehensive test would held on June
16, 2012.

When I further inquired they told that books for comprehensive would
the same for JAIBP. There is also an outline available on IBP website
which would help in getting idea about the questions in comprehensive
exam.









I also learned that those who are taking comprehensive exam can also
take AIBP exams which are in May 2012.

A friend was telling that IBP didn't get any significant response for
comprehensive exam that's why there are few test locations. Might be
banker didn't realized the actual worth of the charter banker
accreditation. Or might be the idea of comprehensive exam is not
conveyed properly.

Anyways ! Good luck to all the examinees ! I would be taking
comprehensive test in Lahore inshallah !

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Lets prepare for IBP exams !

Things you should have before beginning !

Make sure you have got your self registered for the exams !

Get IBP books and reference books (as many as you can get)
To get the books, first checkout the syllabus here >>> http://www.ibp.org.pk/isqsyllabus1.aspx
Once you know which books you need, check the prices from here >>> http://www.ibp.org.pk/isq_books.aspx
For practice check out the past papers of IBP here >>> http://www.ibp.org.pk/previuos_exams.aspx

For a thorough study, first read the books and then solve the papers,
and for those who like selective study, first go through the past papers of IBP (Institue of Bankers Pakistan) and find their answers from the reference books.



If you have queries, you can discuss it on our facebook page http://www.facebook.com/ibp.ex with other IBP  (Institue of Bankers Pakistan) examinees.
There are various relevant books available in soft form on this blog. Get benefit from them.
You would also find solved papers and past papers of IBP on this blog.

Good Luck !

Monday, April 2, 2012

All these Giants ! Collared by IT guys !

All these big corporations are now heavily dependent on their IT
departments ! And offcourse their IT people have made them sure that
they are the best, but the management can only realize untill there is
a security breach by some hacker!

I am surprised that how vulnerable we are in the era of IT where there
are no checks by the regulators that how organizations are managing
their IT security and there are very few standards available in our
country!

We are now introducing branch-less banking through internet banking and mobile banking and all these avenues are no doubt very useful, but alongwith their huge business potential they bring in some risks which should be dealt pro-actively.

I hope SBP would have prepared some rules for that, but  we have to think about it before the hackers get them ! Whole organizations now depends upon these IT departments and especially in case of banks which are now going towards centralization through implementation of new Banking Softwares. This centralization increases the operational risk in case there is some security breach !

Just a point to ponder !

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Banking Practices in Pakistan - Vernacular Form & Urdu Signatures

There are various practices and rules in banks which do have some reason behind, but still they seems so confusing. Today while a client was requesting to open his account in bank the account opening officer told him to use 'English' signatures as the one in Urdu are considered risky and requires a vernacular form. Similar thing happens when an illiterate person requests to open an account. The interesting thing is that Urdu is our National Language and about 70% of population uses and prefer Urdu language. When they try to do sign in their national language, banks ask them to do signatures in English ! And another more interesting thing is that if they do use their Urdu signatures they are not only discouraged but they have to sign an undertaking in shape of vernacular form which is in English and in most of the cases the person signing it doesn't know what's written on it. Although bank officials have to translate it for them and read all terms and conditions for them in their native language, but most of the times this doesn't happen because if they do so, the person would not dare to open account with conditions where bank is exempted from all the responsibilities; in case there is a misuse of signatures.In my view this practice should be reviewed in order to facilitate and protect the client! We should not discourage use of their native language as they would be more comfortable in that.


Saturday, March 10, 2012

Use Internet Explorer to Open Uploaded Files on Blog

I have uploaded various documents including solved papers. Some readers are facing difficulty in opening them, I have checked and it is recommended that open those links in internet explorer as they are working there fine !


Friday, March 9, 2012

Can I get a Job in the Bank After Passing JAIBP ?

A lot of readers ask me that : Would I get job in a bank after passing JAIBP (Junior Associate of Institute of Bankers Pakistan) ?

To be realistic, this is not necessary that you would get a job after passing this certification, but this doesn't mean that JAIBP is useless and have no benefit. It has its own worth. Its the only banking certification in Pakistan which is known and recognized by all the banks and financial institutions. It cannot assure you a job, but it would definitely assure you an interview call. People having this certification are more likely to be interviewed, rather than a simple graduate. Not only in bank, but also in the companies who are extensively dealing with banks. And it depends upon your interview performance that whether you would get the job or not !

With the increase in Financial Literacy among the business community, they would prefer to hire a person who knows the practices of Banking industry that would help their business in utilizing the bank services efficiently beside regular banking transactions.

So ! its YOU who can assure yourself a job !


Prepare well ! Invest your time in it ! Good Luck !

Eligibility Criteria for the JAIBP Program

After their affiliation with Chartered Banker Institute UK, IBP has revised the eligibility Criteria for JAIBP. They have given the following details on their website,


Quote:

The entry criterion for the JAIBP program has been revised for candidates enrolling from July 2011 onwards. JAIBP is open for the following:

1.Graduates in any discipline with a minimum 2nd Division

AND

2. Students who are pursuing their degree in a 4-year undergraduate program (post Intermediate/A levels or equivalent) are eligible to enroll for the ISQ program during their  3rd or 4th year of study. Students who are pursuing their degree in a 2-year undergraduate program (post Intermediate/A levels or equivalent) are eligible to enroll for the ISQ program during their final year of study.

Documentation required for students registering in the ISQ program will be attested mark sheet for Intermediate or A levels with a pass grade of 45% and a letter from their academic institution confirming their enrollment in the specified undergraduate program. The award of the completed JAIBP qualification would be subject to the candidate having a graduate degree.


Note: More details about the program can be found in the ISQ Handbook or on the IBP website: www.ibp.org.pk

Unquote

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Comprehensive Exam for Associate Chartered Banker

IBP has offered this new Comprehensive exam after getting JAIBP accredited  from the Chartered Banker Institute UK. I passed my JAIBP in Winter 2009 and yesterday I got this email from Project Co-ordinator - Organization development who told me about this oppurtunity to get certified from this International Institute.

Well ! I have filled the form and applied for the comprehensive exam which would cost about PKR 7500/- as examination fee and later I have to submit some fee in GBP to get the title of Associate Chartered Banker. Last date for registration is March 31, 2012.

It seems catchy ! Like other professionals bankers would get some title to show off! Another side is that we are almost out of touch from books since three years and through this we have to do a thorough study of all the subject and all the topics ! Seems tough ! And they have also hinted somewhere in the instructions that prepare well as they would go deep in things. There would be a three hour Objective MCQs based test and then there would be a subjective test for another three hours. Locations are only the big cities i.e. Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad/Rawalpindi.

Now, I would gradually dig out all the preparation material and would post my experiences to share with you guys ! If anyone out there wana share their experience, Most welcome ! and it would be more pleasing if you share some study & preparation material with us ! Solved Papers are real treat ! Real Hot Cakes ! So do share ! Do share if you have soft copies of books!

Spring 2012 - Get Registered

Today is the last date of registration for JAIBP . Get yourself registered !

Examinations for Summer 2012 are expected to commence from May 21st, 2012. Detailed, confirmed schedule will be available in the coming months.


Also those who have done JAIBP there is comprehensive exam for you against which you would get
Chartered Banker Certification.

Here are some details about comprehensive exam I found on IBP website,


Comprehensive bridge exam is for those candidates who have successfully completed their JAIBP program and would like to get Chartered Banker certification and become eligible for use of Associate Chartered Banker title.

Eligibility:

All those who are registered in the ISQ program and have completed their Junior Associateship with IBP are eligible.
Those candidates who are either currently enrolled for the AIBP program or have completed the AIBP program are also eligible.
Exam Structure:

The comprehensive exam will have an objective and subjective section which will cover all the areas of the compulsory subjects of the current JAIBP curriculum. Each section will be tested separately and will span over 3 hours.  The structure is expected to be as under:


Registration and Exam Schedule:

Registration for the Comprehensive exam is from January 2012 and will remain open till March, 2012. Last date of registration for comprehensive exam is 31st March, 2012.

Comprehensive exam is expected to be held on the 3rdSunday of June 2012. 

Registration and Exam Fee:

The fee for the Comprehensive Exam will be: PKR 7,500 payable to the Institute of Bankers, Pakistan in the form of a pay order or demand draft.

On passing the exam, membership fee with Chartered Banker Institute as an Associate Chartered Banker will be GBP 30, payable to the Chartered Banker Institute.

Syllabus Coverage:

The exam will cover the topics from the JAIBP compulsory courses.  For a summary outline on each course please visit www.ibp.org.pk

For detailed course information, please refer to the course Syllabus Guide available on IBP website

Candidates are advised to study at higher cognitive levels.  The exam is expected to test deeper understanding and application levels for the syllabus identified.