SBI PO Exam pattern is divided into three phases, Phase I, Phase II, and Phase III.
The exam pattern is different for different stages of selection. SBI sets the exam pattern for SBI PO.
Phase I: Prelims exam, which consists of 100 multiple-choice questions. It’s only a qualifying test.
| S. No. | Name of Tests | Maximum Marks | No. of Questions | Time Duration |
| 1 | Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 35 | 20 min. |
| 2 | Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 min. |
| 3 | English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 min. |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 min. |
Phase II: Candidates numbering ten times (approx.) the numbers of vacancies in each category will be shortlisted for the Main Examination from the top of the above merit list. Candidates who qualify prelims exam and get shortlisted will need to appear in the mains exam. In the mains exam candidate needs to attempt 200 multiple choice questions and an English language descriptive test.
| S. No. | Name of Tests | Maximum Marks | No. of Questions | Time Duration |
| 1 | Data Analysis & Interpretation | 60 | 35 | 45 min. |
| 2 | General/ Economy/ Banking Awareness | 40 | 40 | 35 min. |
| 3 | English Language | 40 | 35 | 40 min. |
| 4 | Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | 60 | 45 | 60 min. |
| Total | 200 | 155 | 3 Hours |
The duration of Descriptive Test is 30 minutes. It will be a Test of English Language (Letter Writing & Essay) with two questions for total 50 marks.
Phase III: Candidates numbering up to 3 times (approx.) of the category-wise vacancies will be called for group discussion and interview. 100% weightage will be given to the main exam, group discussion, and interview. On the basis of this merit, candidates will be allotted the banks.
Note:
Penalty for Wrong Answers (Applicable to both – Online Preliminary and Online Main examination)
In the Objective Tests, there will be a penalty for incorrect responses. One-fourth of the marks allotted to that question will be subtracted as a penalty for each question for which the candidate provided an incorrect answer. There will be no penalty if a question is left blank, that if the candidate does not mark an answer.
Each candidate must get a minimum score on each test of the Online Single examination in order to be selected for an interview. A sufficient number of candidates in each category, not exceeding three times the declared vacancies, will be contacted for an interview, subject to availability, depending on the number of vacancies available. The results of the Online Main Examination will not be communicated with the individuals shortlisted for the interview until the interview procedure is completed.
Know More – SBI PO Admit Card And Interview call letter
State Bank of India conducts two online tests, and both consist of multiple-choice questions. The topics and syllabus for the prelim and mains exam are almost similar.
Test:
| Reasoning | Quantitative Aptitude | English Language |
| Puzzle | Simplification & Approximation | Reading Comprehension |
| Alphabets/ Alphanumeric Series/ Numeric Series | Number Series | Cloze Test |
| Direction sense | Inequality (Quadratic & Quantity based) | Para jumbles |
| Data Sufficiency | Ratio & Proportion, Partnership | Vocabulary Based |
| Inequalities | Percentage | Fill in the blanks |
| Seating Arrangement | Mixtures & Alligations | Multiple Meaning/Error Spotting |
| Input-Output | Average & ages | Paragraph Completion |
| Syllogism | Profit & Loss | Spelling Errors |
| Blood Relation | Time and work & Pipe and cistern | Word Replacement |
| Order and Ranking | Simple Interest & Compound Interest | Column based Fillers and Sentence Connectors |
| coding-decoding | Time & Distance, Boat & stream | Word Usage |
| Permutation, Combination &Probability | Idioms and Phrases | |
| Mensuration (2D&3D) | Sentence Completion | |
| Data Interpretation ( Bar, line, pie, mixed, missing, arithmetic, caselet), | ||
| Data sufficiency |
It contains the five segments of the PO Syllabus. The main sections are English Language, Reasoning & Numerical Ability, General and Financial awareness & Computer Aptitude.
| Sections | SBI PO Syllabus |
| General English | Cloze Test, Sentence Improvement, Formation and Reconstruction, Reading Comprehension Substituting one word Regarding Jumbles, Pairings, Vocabulary, fill-in-the-blanks, etc. |
| General/ Financial Awareness | Budget, GDP, Repo rate, Interest rate, tax rate, Current affairs, static gk, etc.
Basic information about financial institutions such as the RBI, SEBI, IRDA, World Bank, and IMF, including their headquarters, heads/chiefs/chairpersons, etc. Government Schemes and Policies, Financial and Banking Abbreviations, Acronyms, Terminology. |
| Computer Aptitude | Database, Hacking, Security Tools and Viruses, Networking, MS-Office Basics: MS-word, MS-Excel, MS-PowerPoint, Database, Hacking, Security Tools, and Viruses, The Computer’s History, etc.
The fundamentals of computer hardware and software, as well as the Windows operating system, Internet, etc. |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Proportion and Ratio Averages, Simple and compound interest are two types of interest. Time, Work, and Equations Time, Distance, and Speed Volume and Surface Area, Clocks, Clocks, Clocks, Clocks, Clocks, Combinations, and permutations, Possibility, etc.
Data Interpretation, Charts, Mixture and Allegations, Trigonometry and Mensuration Percentages, Partnership, Profit, Loss, and Discount, etc. |
| Reasoning Ability | Assertion and Argumentation, Sequence and Ranking, Blood Relations, Alphabet/ Numeric Series, Direction Sense, Figure Series, Coding-Decoding Analogy, Input-Output, Sitting Arrangement, etc.
Arguments & Decision Making, Syllogism, Passage and Conclusions, Statement and Conclusions, etc. |
Apart from above topics candidates have to write letter and essay as a part of descript test for English language.
Note: Only those candidates will be called for the interview round, who successfully clears the prelims and mains exam. The preliminary exam is a qualifying test in nature. The final merit list will be prepared by considering the score of the mains exam, group discussion, and personal interview. 75% Weightage will be given to the mains exam score and 25% to the group discussion and personal interview rounds.
Know More – SBI PO Result & Cut Off Marks
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Q.1. What is the exam pattern for the SBI PO Prelims exam?
A. SBI PO Prelims exam is a qualifying exam. It includes multiple-choice questions on subjects-Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning, and the English language.
Q.2 Is there any negative marking in SBI PO 2020 exam?
A. Yes, there will be negative marking of one-fourth marks for each incorrect answer in prelims and main exam.
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