SBI Clerk Syllabus – Prelims & Mains, Subject-wise

Tests logical thinking under time pressure. Puzzles and seating arrangements carry the most weight, especially in the Mains.

1. Puzzles
   • Floor and box puzzles
   • Month, day and year based puzzles
   • Comparison puzzles
2. Seating Arrangement
   • Linear (single and double row)
   • Circular and square
   • Facing inside / outside
3. Syllogism
   • Possibility cases
   • Only a few / Only type statements
4. Inequality
   • Direct and coded inequalities
5. Coding-Decoding
   • Letter and number coding
   • New pattern (word-based) coding
6. Blood Relations
   • Family trees
   • Coded relations
7. Direction & Distance
   • Final direction after turns
   • Shortest distance between points
8. Order & Ranking
   • Position from left/right or top/bottom
   • Comparison of heights, ages or marks
9. Alphanumeric Series
   • Position of letters, numbers and symbols
10. Data Sufficiency
    • Deciding which statements are enough to answer
11. Input-Output
    • Mostly asked in the Mains
12. Logical Reasoning
    • Statement and assumption / conclusion
    • Course of action
    • Cause and effect

Preparation tip: Solve at least two puzzle or seating sets every day and time yourself; speed comes from recognising set types quickly.

Reasoning Ability BITS (50) → Reasoning Ability Exam → Reasoning study material →

The Clerk-level Prelims name for the quantitative section: the same arithmetic, series and DI topics at a slightly easier level.

1. Simplification & Approximation
   • BODMAS
   • Squares, cubes and approximation
2. Number Series
   • Missing number
   • Wrong number
3. Quadratic Equations
   • Comparing roots of two equations
4. Data Interpretation
   • Tables, bar graphs and pie charts
5. Percentage, Ratio & Average
6. Profit & Loss
   • Marked price and discount
7. Simple & Compound Interest
8. Time & Work
   • Pipes and cisterns
9. Time, Speed & Distance
   • Trains
   • Boats and streams
10. Mixture & Alligation
11. Problems on Ages & Partnership
12. Mensuration
    • Area and perimeter
    • Volume and surface area

Preparation tip: Simplification, number series and quadratic equations are quick marks; finish them first and then attempt arithmetic word problems.

Numerical Ability BITS (11) → Numerical Ability Exam → Quantitative Aptitude formulas & study material →

Arithmetic, number series, quadratic equations and data interpretation. Calculation speed decides most of the score.

1. Simplification & Approximation
   • BODMAS
   • Fractions, decimals, squares and roots
2. Number Series
   • Missing number
   • Wrong number
3. Quadratic Equations
   • Comparing roots of two equations
4. Data Interpretation
   • Tables
   • Bar and line graphs
   • Pie charts
   • Caselets
5. Percentage
   • Percentage change
   • Successive percentage
6. Ratio & Proportion
   • Dividing in a ratio
   • Mixing ratios
7. Average
   • Simple and weighted average
   • Replacement problems
8. Profit & Loss
   • Marked price and discount
9. Simple & Compound Interest
   • Interest over periods
   • Difference between CI and SI
10. Time & Work
    • Pipes and cisterns
11. Time, Speed & Distance
    • Trains
    • Boats and streams
12. Mixture & Alligation
    • Mixing two or more quantities
    • Replacement in a mixture
13. Partnership
    • Sharing profit by capital and time
14. Problems on Ages
15. Mensuration
    • Area and perimeter
    • Volume and surface area
16. Permutation, Combination & Probability
    • Arrangements and selections
    • Basic probability
17. Data Sufficiency
    • Arithmetic data sufficiency

Preparation tip: Memorise squares, cubes and fraction-percentage equivalents, then practise simplification and DI sets daily.

Quantitative Aptitude BITS (103) → Quantitative Aptitude Exam → Quantitative Aptitude formulas & study material →

Reading comprehension, grammar and vocabulary. Reading comprehension usually carries the largest share of the section.

1. Reading Comprehension
   • Main idea and inference
   • Vocabulary in context
2. Cloze Test
3. Error Detection
   • Subject-verb agreement, tenses, articles and prepositions
4. Sentence Improvement
5. Para Jumbles
   • Ordering sentences into a paragraph
6. Fillers
   • Single and double fillers
7. Vocabulary
   • Synonyms and antonyms
   • Word usage
8. Phrase Replacement & Connectors

Preparation tip: Read an editorial every day for comprehension and vocabulary, and revise grammar rules through error-spotting practice.

English Language BITS (23) → English Language Exam → English grammar & vocabulary →

A Mains-only section on banking, the economy and current affairs. It needs no calculation, so good preparation saves time for other sections.

1. Banking Awareness
   • RBI and its functions
   • Monetary policy tools
   • Types of banks
   • Banking terms
2. Financial Awareness
   • Financial regulators (SEBI, IRDAI, PFRDA)
   • Financial inclusion schemes
   • Payment systems (UPI, NEFT, RTGS, IMPS)
3. Economy
   • Budget and fiscal policy
   • Inflation and GDP basics
   • Government economic schemes
4. Current Affairs
   • National and international news
   • Banking and economy news
   • Appointments, awards and sports
5. Static GK
   • Indian banks and headquarters
   • Important days
   • Countries, capitals and currencies

Preparation tip: Revise the last 4–6 months of current affairs together with banking basics (RBI, policy rates, payment systems).

General / Financial / Banking Awareness BITS (100) → General Awareness Mock 1 → Banking Awareness study material →

Study by topic: RBI & monetary policyBanking termsDigital payments (NEFT, RTGS, IMPS, UPI)NABARD, SEBI, NPCI & other institutionsBanking abbreviationsIndian BanksCurrent AffairsCurrent Affairs Quiz

Asked together with Reasoning in the Mains. Questions test basic computer awareness rather than programming.

1. Computer Fundamentals
   • Generations and types of computers
   • Hardware and software
2. Input, Output & Memory Devices
   • Primary and secondary memory
   • Units of storage
3. Operating Systems
   • Functions of an operating system
4. MS Office
   • Word, Excel and PowerPoint basics
5. Internet & Networking
   • Types of networks
   • Protocols and email
6. Database Basics
   • DBMS terms: table, record, field, key
7. Computer Security
   • Viruses and malware
   • Firewalls and safe practices
8. Shortcuts & Abbreviations
   • Keyboard shortcuts
   • Common computer abbreviations

Preparation tip: Learn the fundamentals, MS Office features, keyboard shortcuts and common abbreviations; these repeat often.

Computer Aptitude BITS (100) → Computer Knowledge Exam →