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The State Bank of India conducts annual baking exams to hire officials for the different posts. One of the most prominent exams is the SBI PO examination that is to select the probationary officers for the bank. The job profile of this position is very attractive due to obvious reasons.
The exams see lakhs of applicants from all parts of the country. The competition is neck to neck due to a higher number. The bank doesn’t release a proper syllabus for the candidates to follow.
For many years, candidates prepare on the basis of the previous year’s exam analysis. The exam analysis helps to study the syllabus, exams structure, and the cut off of the exam.
Below you will come across the exam pattern for both the stages – prelims and the mains, their detailed syllabus, question division, and more. The idea is to make sure that all candidates appear for the exam with proper preparation.
And for that, knowing these elements are important from a preparation perspective. Let us take a look at them now –
SBI PO Prelims Exam Pattern
| Section | Number of Questions | Marks | Time |
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 min |
| Numerical Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 min |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 min |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 min |
SBI PO Prelims Syllabus
Reasoning
- Logical Reasoning
- Alphanumeric Series
- Ranking/Direction/Alphabet Test
- Data Sufficiency
- Coded Inequalities
- Seating Arrangement
- Puzzle
- Tabulation
- Syllogism
- Blood Relations
- Input-Output
- Coding-Decoding
Quantitative Aptitude
- Simplification
- Profit & Loss
- Mixtures & Alligations
- Simple Interest & Compound Interest
- Surds & Indices
- Work & Time
- Time & Distance
- Mensuration
- Data Interpretation
- Ratio & Proportion
- Percentage
- Number Systems
- Sequence & Series
- Permutation
- Combination
- Probability
- English Language
- Reading Comprehension
- Cloze Test
- Para jumbles
- Miscellaneous
- Fill in the blanks
- Multiple Meaning /Error Spotting
- Paragraph Completion
SBI PO Prelims Exam Analysis 2019
All the sections lie between easy to moderate level of exam. The section-wise division of the paper was –
Reasoning
- Puzzles and Seating Arrangement – 20 questions
- Coding-Decoding – 1 question
- Direction Sense Test – 3 questions
- Blood Relation – 4 questions
- Syllogism – 4 questions
- Alphabet based – 1 question
- Comparison Based – 2 questions
- Total – 35 questions
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Quantitative Section
- Data Interpretation – 15 questions
- Missing No. Series – 5 questions
- Quadratic Equation – 5 questions
- Miscellaneous Word Problems – 10 questions
- Total – 35 questions
English Language
- Reading Comprehension – 5 questions
- Error Detection – 6 questions
- Sentence Correction – 5 questions
- Single Filers – 7 questions
- Cloze Test – 5 questions
- Sentence Formation – 2 questions
- Total – 30 questions
SBI PO Mains Exam Pattern
| Paper | Section | Medium | Questions | Marks | Time |
| Objective Test | Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | English & Hindi | 45 | 60 | 60 min |
| English Language | English | 35 | 40 | 40 min | |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | English & Hindi | 35 | 60 | 45 min | |
| General Awareness, Economy & Banking Awareness | English & Hindi | 40 | 40 | 35 min | |
| Descriptive Test | Letter Writing & Essay | English | 2 | 50 | 30 min |
SBI PO Mains Syllabus
Quantitative Aptitude
- Tabular Graph
- Line Graph
- Pie Chart
- Bar Graph
- Radar Graph Caselet
- Missing Case DI
- Let it Case DI
- Data Sufficiency
- ProbabilityPermutation and Combination
Reasoning and Computer Aptitude
- 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
- Internet
- Memory
- Keyboard Shortcuts
- Computer Abbreviation
- Microsoft Office
- Computer Hardware
- Computer Software
- Computer Fundamentals /Terminologies
- Networking
- 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
- Letter Writing – Descriptive Paper
- Essay Writing – Descriptive Paper
- General Awareness
- Financial Awareness
- Current Affairs
General Knowledge
- Static Awareness
- Banking and Financial Awareness
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 Yojana
- 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 Interview
The SBI of India calls the qualified candidates for the mains exam for the interview process. There are 50 marks for the interview and candidates must score well to make the final cut. 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 bank. The questions are mostly around the application and general awareness. And the group discussion includes contemporary topics mostly.
Books for SBI PO Exam
English Language
- Objective General English by S P Bakshi
- Mirror of Common Error
- Wren and Martin
Quantitative Aptitude
- Fast track by Rajesh Verma
- Quantitative aptitude by RS Aggarwal
- Data Interpretation and Analysis – Sufficiency by Ananta Ashisha
Reasoning Ability and Computer Aptitude
- Verbal and Non –Verbal reasoning by R S Aggarwal
- Book by M K Pandey (BSC publications)
General Awareness
- India Year Book by Publications Division, Government of India
- Banking Awareness by B.K Raut and S.R Behera
- Pratiyogita Darpan
- National Newspapers and Magazines
Conclusion
The SBI PO exam remains one of the most important exams in the country. It is a civil servant job with a lot of competition. Candidates preparing for it must have a well-defined preparation strategy to make the final cut. The syllabus is the key to make a strategy.
It helps you to make your short term goals according to the topics and the subjects. Thus this article is very important for the aspiring bank PO candidates. Make sure that you read it thoroughly before beginning with your bank PO exam preparation.