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State Bank of India recruits Probationary Officers through its own exam, separate from IBPS. Selection has three phases: a Preliminary exam, a Main exam (objective and descriptive) and a final phase of psychometric test, group exercise and interview.
| Subject | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 40 | — | 20 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | — | 20 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 30 | — | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 1 hour |
| Subject | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | 40 | 60 | 50 minutes |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | 30 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| General Awareness / Economy / Banking Knowledge | 60 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| English Language | 40 | 20 | 40 minutes |
| Total | 170 | 200 | 3 hours |
| Descriptive Test – Communication Skills (emails, situation analysis, report or précis) | 3 | 30 | 30 minutes |
Note: The Preliminary exam carries 100 marks in all; the notification does not split them by section. The Main exam totals 230 marks in 3 hours 30 minutes. Each section is separately timed. For each wrong answer in the objective tests, one quarter (0.25) of the marks assigned to that question is deducted.
Exam pattern and selection process may vary by recruitment notification. Candidates should check the latest official notification. This pattern is from the SBI advertisement CRPD/PO/2026-27/09 (June 2026). Sections, question counts and timings are revised from time to time, so confirm the current pattern on SBI Careers before you apply or prepare.
Tap a subject to see its chapters, which stage tests it, a preparation tip and links to practice. The chapter lists are a study breakdown based on the sections named in the notification and on recent papers, not official chapter headings.
Tests logical thinking under time pressure. Puzzles and seating arrangements carry the most weight, especially in the Mains.
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 →
Arithmetic, number series, quadratic equations and data interpretation. Calculation speed decides most of the score.
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 →
The PO Mains quantitative section. Most questions come as data sets, so accuracy in reading the data matters as much as calculation.
Preparation tip: Practise mixed and caselet DI under time limits. Arithmetic practice (Quantitative Aptitude bits) builds the base for DI.
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.
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.
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.
Preparation tip: Learn the fundamentals, MS Office features, keyboard shortcuts and common abbreviations; these repeat often.
A typed descriptive test of communication skills taken immediately after the SBI PO Mains objective test.
Preparation tip: Practise short, well-structured emails and situation answers, and one report or précis a week, within 30 minutes in all.
Under advertisement CRPD/PO/2026-27/09, Phase I (Prelims) has 100 questions for 100 marks in 1 hour: English Language 40, Quantitative Aptitude 30 and Reasoning Ability 30 questions, 20 minutes each. Phase II (Mains) has an objective test of 170 questions for 200 marks in 3 hours and a 30-mark descriptive Communication Skills test, followed by Phase III. Check the latest SBI notification for the current pattern.
A 30-minute, 30-mark Communication Skills test with three questions: an email, a situation analysis, and either a report or a précis, each chosen from two options.
No. State Bank of India conducts its own PO recruitment and publishes notifications on its careers website.
Yes. For each wrong answer in the objective tests, one quarter (0.25) of the marks assigned to that question is deducted.
Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation, English Language, General / Economy / Banking Awareness and Computer Aptitude. CompeteBits has free banking bits and subject mock tests for each of these.