SBI PO Mains Exam Pattern, Syllabus and Preparation Strategy

The State Bank of India is a prestigious bank in India. It is the oldest bank that has branches all across the country. It offers a position of bank probationary officer every year. The examination has three stages – prelims, mains, and the group discussion with an interview.

The mains is the second stage which has a higher level of competition due to shortlisted candidates. The job profile is quite attractive thus many individuals apply for it every year. The position, income, perks, atmosphere, etc are some of the attractions of this job.

People who clear the prelims can appear for the mains exam. The level of difficulty in terms of structure and question is more in the mains exam. That is why candidates must know everything about it.

The exam pattern, syllabus, exam analysis and more are some of the important elements of the exam. The candidates can strategize after looking at them. The article below will cover all of them in detail to make your preparation process smooth. Let us take a look at them –

SBI PO Mains Exam Pattern

• It is a single day exam.
• There is a negative marking of 0.25 marks in the objective paper.
• There is no deduction for a blank answer.
• 2 writing skills questions are there in essay or letter form.
• The descriptive paper is for 50 marks with 2 questions.

SBI PO Mains Syllabus

The banks don’t lay down a proper syllabus for the exam. The exam analysis of every year’s paper concludes the syllabus as –

Quantitative Aptitude

• Tabular Graph
• Line Graph
• Pie Chart
• Bar Graph
• Radar Graph Caselet
• Missing Case DI
• Let it Case DI
• Data Sufficiency
• Probability
• Permutation and Combination

Reasoning

• Verbal Reasoning
• Syllogism
• Circular Seating Arrangement
• Linear Seating Arrangement
• Double Lineup
• Scheduling
• Input-Output
• Blood Relations
• Directions and Distances
• Ordering and Ranking
• Data Sufficiency
• Coding and Decoding
• Code Inequalities
• Course of Action
• Critical Reasoning
• Analytical and Decision Making

Computer Aptitude

• Internet
• Memory
• Keyboard Shortcuts
• Computer Abbreviation
• Microsoft Office
• Computer Hardware
• Computer Software
• Networking
• Computer Fundamentals /Terminologies
• Number System
• Operating System
• Basic of Logic Gates

English Language

• Reading Comprehension
• Grammar
• Vocabulary
• Verbal Ability
• Word Association
• Sentence Improvement
• Para Jumbles
• Cloze Test
• Error Spotting
• Fill in the blanks

General Awareness

• Current Affairs
• General Knowledge
• Static Awareness
• Banking and Financial Awareness

Descriptive Paper

• Essay Writing
• Letter Writing

SBI PO Mains Admit Card

The candidates who qualify for the mains receive an admit card from the institution. They receive it only which they need to download. The registration number and DOB are the only information needed to download.

They need to carry the card for the mains examination at their center. They should also carry identity proof to enter the exam center.

SBI PO Mains Cut Off

The cutoff for the bank mains exam 2019 according to different categories is –

• General Category – 104.42 %
• Other Backward Class – 94.28 %
• Scheduled Caste – 82.50 %
• Scheduled Tribe – 77.63 %
• Economically Weaker Sections – 100.89 %
• Hearing Impaired – 75.36 %
• Visually Impaired – 101.75 %
• D & E – 75.14 %

SBI PO Mains Exam Analysis 2020

English Language – Moderate

• Reading Comprehension – 24 to 25 questions
• Phrase Replacement or Word Replacement – 5 questions
• Sentence Replacement – 5 questions
• Para Jumble – 2 to 3 questions
• Total – 35 questions

Quantitative Aptitude – Difficult

• Data Interpretation – 19 to 21 questions
• Series – 2 to 3 questions
• Data Sufficiency – 5 questions
• Arithmetic – 5 to 7 questions
• Total – 35 questions

Reasoning Ability – Moderate

• Puzzle – 15 questions
• Data Sufficiency – 5 questions
• Coding-Decoding/Inequalities – 5 questions
• Logical Reasoning – 10 to 12 questions
• Machine Input-Output – 5 questions
• Conditional Statements – 5 questions
• Total – 45 questions

General Awareness

• UNESCO world heritage site
• Hima Das
• Apurvi Chandela
• Company Management Act
• Railway in Indian Budget
• Mukhyamantri yuva swabhiman yojna
• Fiscal Deficit
• The resilient Kerala development program
• World happiness day
• Wings App

Descriptive Paper

The essay writing topics for the 2020 paper were –

• Online transaction
• E-commerce
• Digital Literacy

The letter writing topic for the 2020 exam was –

• Thanking note to a senior colleague
• Letter to bank manager for extra cash counter
• Letter to bank manager for lost checkbook

SBI PO Mains Result

The SBI PO Mains results get released on their official website. Only the eligible candidates who clear the mains cut off can appear for the interviews and the group discussion. The mains assesses all the sections of the paper and then releases a merit list.

The cut-off for different categories differs every year and thus the final results are always different. The result for the mains comes out 2-3 months after the examination. SBI is the only exam that has group discussion as a part of their final stage.

SBI PO Mains Preparation

• Refer to previous year papers to know the pattern and structure of the examination.
• Solve the mock tests to improve your solving skills and time management.
• Know your strengths and weaknesses and work hard on them to score better.
• Maintain a strategy to meet your syllabus goals on time.
• Keep revising and among notes for last moment references.

SBI PO Group Discussion and Interview

The SBI calls the qualified candidates from the mains exam for the interview and group discussion process. There are 50 marks for this stage and candidates must score well to make the final cut.

The questions are mainly around the application and general knowledge topics. Knowing the current bank situation in India is also important for this stage.

Final Selection

The institute generates a merit list at the end of the examination process. And in the end, a merit list comes out with the names of the qualified candidates. And the final candidates receive a joining letter from the State bank of India.

Conclusion

The SBI Mains exam usually takes place in mid-year for a day. Because there are only two papers, the exam lasts only for one day. The syllabus is also similar to the prelims except for the general awareness section. This is an opportunity for the candidates to prepare for both the exams together.

And the interview process and group discussion are plus points if you have good soft skills. They provide you with a chance to score well with just confidence and general awareness. Read the article before the exam to know about the entire examination process well.