update: August-07-2013: this is an old article written for 2012’s exam. New article for 2013’s Exam has been published separately on following link:
Please click ME. Again repeating: article given below is outdated (then why don’t I delete it?) Because ACIO-2012 toppers/buddies use this page’s commenting system as their hangout-place. If I delete this article the comments will also be deleted. That’s why I’m not deleting this outdated article.
- Readymade guidebooks for ACIO exam
- How to approach the Objective paper of ACIO exam?
- Difference between GK and GS
- The books
- Topicwise Preparation for ACIO Exam
- General Knowledge
- Aptitude and English
- English Grammar and Vocabulary
- Aptitude
- Essay
- Structure of the Exam
Many a times, sincere candidates fail in Government job exams because
- Relying on readymade guidebooks by “jholachhap publication”.
- They underestimate the level of competition and hence their preparation is not upto the mark. [although personally they may be believing that they’ve studied hard.]
Know that whether it is IAS exam or Bank clerk’s exam, competition is always tough and life is always cruel [thanks to our population]. Hence, The only way to make life easier, is studying harder and harder.
Readymade guidebooks for ACIO exam
As I keep saying: DONOT USE any readymade book such as “ACIO/APFC/CPF guidebook by XYZ bogus publisher. ”
Reasons:
- They merely copy paste few chapters from here and there, donot provide you comprehensive information / theory on any topic.
- Secondly, many candidates simultaneously prepare for SSC, LIC, CPF, IBPS and similar exams, so they’re really good both in GK as well as aptitude. You prepare from some ‘jholaachhap” book then you loose in the competition.
How to approach the Objective paper of ACIO exam?
I’m grateful to the good friend CSL180 for providing the inputs on previous papers of ACIO exam.
From the previous trend, it seems ACIO is more about GK than GS.
Difference between GK and GS
General Knowledge | General Studies |
Kaun banega crorepati kinda things. Mere knowledge of facts. “Who, Where and When” type of questions. | encompassing much more than GK, deals with important things of life- science, Constitution, History – why this and why that – so you need not only the knowledge of facts but understanding of events. |
Who invented Telescope? | How does Telescope work? |
- In, CPF (assistant commandant) or UPSC (IAS/IPS etc.)- the questions are less related to GK and more related to GS.
- Usually the Class I and II officers’ recruitment exams have more GS than GK but for god knows why, ACIO paper almost entirely made up of GK questions only.
- For example “NABARD was setup under which five year plan?”,
- “OPEC was established in which year?”
- May be because ACIO exam isn’t conducted by UPSC and the Old professors who setup the ACIO papers, haven’t grown out of the 90s era yet.
- Anyhow, the moral of the story is, you shouldn’t prepare for ACIO exam, the same way you prepare for UPSC, CPF or APFC. This one requires similar books but different approach.
The books
I DONOT recommend Manorama Yearbook for GK, because
Therefore instead of Manorama, I recommend another book |
Topicwise Preparation for ACIO Exam
The NCERT can be freely (and legally) downloaded using this link Click ME.
The NCERTs contain GK information scattered throughout their chapters, Besides they’ve colorful photos and text, so they’re interesting to read.
General Knowledge
What is asked in previous papers? | Recommended Book | |
History | Xyz temple was built by which king? Xyz war was fought by which two sides? |
|
Geography | Nothing from Physical Geography (Theory, atmosphere etc) Only “xyz place is famous for what?” “xyz thing is located at where?” That type of GK questions from Geography- both India and World. |
|
Science | Who invented this and that? |
|
Polity | Only GK For example “which article of Constitution contains provision for Constitutional amendments? |
|
Culture | Location of Temples and fairs. |
|
Stupid Current Affairs |
(ya, UPSC stopped asking such stupid things in Civil service exam but ACIO paper setter uncle-ji hasn’t learned the lesson yet, may the almighty give them some wisdom.) |
|
Economy | Trivial questions like when was RBI established and when was NABARD established etc. I would expect similar GK from Current affairs based Economy. |
Current affairs material already suggested above. + Manohar Pandey |
Aptitude and English
The trivial GK is limitless, but brain’s memory has limits, so how do you improve your score?
Obviously, you’ve to score huge in English Grammar and Aptitude.
There are aspirants in this “competition business” for 2-3 years, trying for Bank, LIC, CPF, SSC and similar jobs, and they’ve impeccable command over English grammar/Reading comprehension and aptitude.
So if you make any excuse ki “meraa English thik nahi hai” or “meraa maths kamjor hai”, then you’re digging your own grave. Toppers donot fall from sky, they’re among you, but they’re just studying harder and not wasting time in giving such excuses or doing cut off speculation. So, If your maths/english is not good, then study hard and improve it. Know that every master was once an amateur.
English Grammar and Vocabulary
Sentence correction, Sentence arrangement, Reading comprehension, synonym, antonym, fill in the blanks etc.etc.etc.
Study approach and booklist is same, as given in earlier APFC exam article: Click ME.
Aptitude
Since you’ve applied for ACIO exam, I assume that your end goal is Government job of some kind.
So even if you fail in ACIO, you’d continue pursuing similar competitive exams such as IBPS, SSC, LIC, CPF etc.Therefore, I would suggest the aptitude books that can be used for all such exams.
For ACIO exam, prepare upto level 1 exercises only from each each chapter. Ideally you should do all the sums from all the chapters, Including the Non-Verbal portion i.e. figure based questions.
And most importantly, no one can master aptitude by reading the solved sums alone. You’ve calculate them by your hand. |
Sidenote:
- If you’re running out of time, you may use IBPS Manual by Disha Publication
instead of the book #1 and Book #2 given above. But that’s like firefighting and such shortcuts are luck dependent, hence should not be used in normal case.
Essay
The ACIO 2012’s notification specifically mentions that
ACIO-II/Exe contains two papers namely
Paper I (Objective type) and
Paper II (Descriptive type on English language only).
The total duration for both the Papers is 1 hour and 40 minutes.
- It means you’ll have to write Essay in English (Paper II).
So how to approach this essay?
First read this article on how to write an essay: Click ME - Second, go through this book “A book of Essays by Spectrum Publication
This book has around 100 essays on various themes and topics, so you get enough fodder material for writing essays on conventional topics.
Apart from that daily newspaper reading: Either The Hindu or Indian Express.
How to read newspapers? Already explained in earlier article: Click ME.
And Finally ………….I got my joining letter today.
Thanks to everyone and particularly Mr. Mrunal Patel.
This page had become lifeline for some of us.
With best regards.
Congo… I also gt mine ystrdy..v vl b in same batch.
All those joining in 5th batch , reporting on 3rd feb…. Contact me on akshay.sindbad.1@facebook.com , I m frm mumbai…will be glad to have company for journey till shivpuri…
Anyone from mumbai / maharashtra region joining on 3rd feb ?? Contact me on imekronos@gmail.com… I have to join on 3rd as well….
hyderabad wale plz share ur xprience?
Dear friend suyash, here is a reality check. Hindi is NOT the national language of India. go look it up. Constitution has not bestowed the status of ”national language” on any of our languages. and to say that u need to know hindi to apply for a all India post is laughable. this reality too would sink into you when u get posting in south where Hindi is barely spoken. u will be in hell unless u learn the local languages. So please, quit being judgemental about those who dont know hindi. Because if Hindi was THE important criteria for this post then IB wud have asked u to give ur exams in Hindi. did that happen?.
hello friends
i want to join ib sector which kind of preparation i have to do let me suggest pls…
have you any idea for assistance.
next batch of acio-2 2012 will start from 3rd feb…u will get ur letter very soon or u will be called to collect ur letter from the IB office.
Is anyone still waiting for joining letter after 24th jan 2014 for ACIO 2012?
Yes I am still waiting.
Enquiry started from the last 6 months.
With almighty’s blessings Still expecting to get the joining letter .
Any idea when can I expect the joining letter or what is next procedure of enquiry?
Ezhil, i too waiting for joining letter since sept 2013 for acio 2012. keep in touch here, hope we will get joining letter soon :)
Hi Aaarzooo,
With Almighty’s blessings i had got the joining letter on 21st april 2014. Hope you had received it too.(acio 2012 batch)
If anyone joining on the same date , Please post. Thank you.
Hi!! I m also going to join same batch..
main bhi join kar raha hun….. 21st April
Yes.. arzoo m waiting. They call my sister for verification. Getting it done today 24 jan.
Argento, thank you 4 information, I got verified in sept but yet not got on 27th jan 2014. What do you think, when joining letter may come? after feb 2014 its possible to get joining letter for acio 2012.
I havn’t seen any of them posting their experiences in this forum
I had my interview on 13 jan 2014.
venue: HYDERABAD
Details of the interview below:
Asked permission to enter room and waited for their permission to sit. they offered me seat.
Total 3 members in the panel (all male- M1, M2, M3)
M1 (Senior most) – tell me how do you increase rural employment (my topic in essay) ?
me: answered
Asked m2 to ask the question
M2 (in his 30s) – what is condition of naxalism in india and in ap ?
answered (other two guys are busy in their work not looking at me)
why do you think they indulge in naxalism
answered (one of them looked at me for a while)
did you hear about recent chinese incursions ? why are they doing it ?
answered ( couldn’t make out if they are satisfied or not .. no change in face expression)
what are other methods they are adopting to do the same ?
me : told economic reasons and all ..
what about northeast region ?
me : told somethg about chinese trying to make their presence in arunachal pradesh (not sure about if
i am right)
what is cross border incursion and terrorism ?
me : told incursion
ok that is incursion .. what is specific name for cross border terrorism ?
me : dono wat he was refering to . i said i dont know
tell me about situation in northeastern region .. are there any clashes in northeast region ?
me: told about nagaland & manipur and their ethnic clashes and demands for seperate state (he asked me
seperate state or country). i said seperate country.
did you hear about rohingya ?
me: yes sir. but ihave little idea about it. it is clashes between buddhist and muslim in bangladesh
(it should me myanmar)
while m2 was asking questions sometimes my hands were raised and m3 was observing it. i quickly
restored it to original place.
m2 asked m3(in 40s) to take forward
m3: what is happening in assembly in last 15 days ?
me: sir is it ap state assembly ? he said yes.
me: explained few things and he asked some subsidiary questions .. answered some of them and finally i
said i dont know for the last question
Finally they all looked at each other and said u can leave.
conclusion —>
No background questions, no experience related quest, no family quests, nothing .. only “violence in India” related questions ..
I think they dont want to waste time in all those because they will anyways be doing background check and all.
As far as questions are concerned i’ve done reasonably well but I could not judge them if they were satisfied with my answers as they did not change their face expressions and they did not disagree with my answers (except for once) and no counter questions. So it is difficult to predict how was my interview. I am not sure what are they expecting from a candidate.
PS: Readers can provide with their comments and respective interview experiences.
thank you Sonu for sharing your detailed interview.
welcome sir
When will we know if we have been selected? I gave me interview on 13th Jan, 2014.
Yes.. 3rd feb. I went to office yesterday to inquire again. They told me to wait till april…. m in delhi wer are you guys from? 5th feb.
Is anyone got selected as ACIO II WT, I got my police verification and another verification by a home ministry’s employee. Now waiting to get the appointment letter.
If anyone also selected as ACIO II WT, please contact me at dce937@gmail.com
Hi ajay i m also selected as ACIO II WT .
Have you got your joining letter? I am eagerly waiting for mine.
hii i am also selected for acio wt … i want to know about posting location.. where will we get posting..?? near border areas any idea…???
are arun yaha koi response nahi mailega
mai tumara delhi wala dost bol raha hu
Argento, Hsinam, Ezhil… Any Information about sixth batch????? 1st March 2014
m still waiting for joining letter acio wt did u know about any thing
Is any one have got their ACIO WT joining letter?
can any body tell me the job profile of acio WT ..? what to choose between bank po and acio wt …?
Any idea about IB acio WT/tech joining date
hi
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Hi argento,Can u tell me contact no of concern person regarding joining letter…and address
any one who waiting for acio 2 training letter kindly inform me iam also waiting for ………. i got verified on 6 Feb 2014…….
hi guys… selected for acio 2 /tech …. march 2013 exam …interview was in June 2013 …..final result declared dec 2013… all varification done…. and waiting for joining…
and as per above comments i guess they call us in seventh batch….
here i m sharing my interview experience…
last interview of the day….
they were interviewing about 15 to 20 minute average for each…
but mine was for 1.30 hr….
i entered in room…good evening…
first introduction.
second question was that YOU ARE FROM A *** COLLAGE WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE….
i was prepared for that one and answered.
WHY YOU WANT TO JOIN IB.
answered (answers may differ from person to person …so make your own)
then they started asking question from the written paper(same paper i qualified in written)
i answered each one..
then they starting REASONING type questions…
and then finally came on TECHNICAL PART..
started from basic technical questions
diode, transistors , amplifiers..etc etc..
then they showed me some hardware and asked me what they were…
(at that time i was so depressed and shocked because except 2 or 3 i never had seen that type of hardware…)
i take take a deep breath and said no to each.
then asked me one subjective question….. WORKING OF FET…
and done..
have any body idea about waiting list of acio 2012 ? In first list my roll number was not there but in the month of feb a cid officer enquired about me and my family and verification was completed in March. Can i hope for sixth batch training ? anyone else is verified from waiting list ? please update….. 31 March
Hey i also got my joining letter today…
Hv to report on 21st april at shivpuri
Can anyone tell me that white trouser n shirts r compulsory or not..
As result of acio 2 2013 has been declared today , how much time will it take to get joining letter from ib . Today is 3 April
Is anyone acio wt hav got joining letter….or any idea about acio wt joining letter
ACIO GRADE-II final results declared. I have cleared it. Lot of thanx to Mrunal bhai. If there is anyone who has cleared from Bangalore please do contact me on 9900585925 or mail me at ashoka_gowda32@yahoo.com. Congrats for all others those who have cleared.
i have cleared acio-2 2013 ,can anybody tell expected time to get joining ?acio – 2 2012 ppl are getting joining now ?
yes bro… acio – 2 2012 batch joining now
hi bro I got selected in acio 2013.can u tell me when will be the verification will be done..after the final result
what is running in mha mind?????? don’t know, 6th batch form 21st april… then they take almost 60-70 days.. then ACIO Tech/WT… and there is no surety of joining for technical batches.. many candidates clear other exams like po, and other jobs… Those who are working they have to resign. What should they do???? Just leave every thing and focus on the joining letter, or do something else. This is the 16th month, but recruitment still under process….. IB told there are some protocols that must be follow, which type of protocol now candidates follow.. If they refuse the joining of po and MHA creates some panic then…… I know Ib don’t give any info but why they told on helpline result will be declared in this month, in next month and false commnt on joining… If they don’t want to give the info, then tell straight we have no info… technical locha h …