SBI PO Important Dates, Selection Process, Eligibility, Application Form, Admit Card, Exam Pattern, Marking Scheme, Syllabus, Tips and Tricks, Previous Year Papers



State Bank of India (SBI) conducts the recruitment process for the post of PO (Probationary Officers). SBI PO is a computer-based test held in two tiers: Prelims and Mains. The bank fills up almost 2000 vacancies through the post. Shortlisted candidates after the Prelim Exam will be eligible for the Mains. After clearing Mains the candidates will be called up for the Group discussion (GD). The graduate youngsters who are interested in the Banking sector shall apply for the Exam. The final merit list for the Exam will be based upon the MAINS, GD and INTERVIEW. 



Eligibility  Syllabus  Exam Pattern  Tips and Tricks  |  Take Free Mock Test      


Key Highlight
of SBI PO Prelim Exam
Exam Duration:
1 Hour
Exam Pattern:
English Language: 30 questions Numerical Ability: 35 questions Reasoning Ability: 35 questions
Qualification Eligibility:
Graduation
Marking Scheme:
For Each Correct Answer : 1 Mark For Each Wrong Answer : -1/4 Mark
Exam Mode:
Online (Computer Based Test)
Selection Period:
Prelims Mains Interview

Table of Contents

1. SBI PO Important Dates

2. SBI PO Selection Process

3. SBI PO Eligibility

4. SBI PO Application Form

5. SBI PO Admit card

6. SBI PO Exam Pattern

7. SBI PO Marking Scheme

8. SBI PO Syllabus

9. SBI PO Tips and Tricks

1. SBI PO Important Dates

  • SBI conducted the exam for probationary officer every year

​SBI PO Registration Period

  • Application form filling (Registration) was started from 14 November 2020

  • Application form (Registration) was closed from 04 December 2020

  • Application Fee Submission Period: 14 November to 04 December 2020

  • Admit card for prelims will be released on the third week of December 2020

  • Prelims exam will be conducted on 31 December 2020, 02, 04, 05 January 2021

  • Prelims result will be declared in January 2021

  • Admit card for mains will be released in the third week of January 2021

  • The mains exam will be conducted on 29 January 2021

  • The result will be declared for the mains exam in February 2021

  • The final Result will be declared in March 2021

2. SBI PO Selection Process

  • Prelims Exam
  • Mains Exam
  • Interview

3. SBI PO Eligibility

Nationality

  • The applicant should be an Indian citizen OR

  • The subject of Nepal/Bhutan/Tibetan Refugee settled in India before 1962 OR

  • The persons of Indian origin who have migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African Countries, Zaire, Vietnam

  • The NRI candidates are not eligible

SBI PO Age Limit

  • The minimum age limit is 21 years

  • The maximum age limit is 30 years

  • Age Relaxation

    • GENERAL: 0 Years

    • ​OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): 03 Years

    • SC/ST/Persons domiciled in J&K from January 1980 to December 1989, Persons affected by 1984 riots: 05 Years

SBI PO Educational Qualification

  • Graduation Degree necessary to be eligible

  • The maximum attempts for the candidates:

    • ​GEN/EWS: 04

    • OBC: 07

    • SC/ST: No Limit

 

  • The SBI releases the information of the mandatory eligibility criteria on the official site in the notification

  • The aspirants should read the eligibility criteria carefully before applying for the exam to avoid circumstances

  • The main factor of change in eligibility is the age limit because the period in which DOB should lie remains the same but the dates contain this period changes

4. SBI PO Application Form

  • The candidates can apply on the official site only

  • The SBI invites application form to the candidates for filling the vacancies of probationary officers

  • The SBI releases notification on the official site to fill the application form

  • This notification contains the information of registration period, required documents, vacancies, exam date, relevant eligibility conditions, etc

  • The application form filling will be started once the application form filling notification releases

  • The candidates are advised to read the eligibility criteria carefully before applying for the exam because the candidature of ineligible candidates will not be acknowledged

SBI PO Application Fee

  • Gen/OBC: INR 750/-

  • SC/ST/Other: NIL

  •  The application fee (exam fee or registration fee) can be paid via net banking, mobile wallets, IMPS, Cash card, debit card, credit card, etc

Application Form Filling Process (Registration Process)

  • The candidates are advised to fill the application form carefully and they should recheck the details filled by them before final submission

  • The application fee once submitted will not be refunded under any circumstances

  • The application form will be filled in the below simple steps

    • (a). Registration

    • (b). Upload Documents (Photo, Signature)

    • (c). Details (Personel Information)

    • (d). Preview

    • (e). Payment

  • The personal information of the candidates is required like educational qualification, experience, category, etc

  • The post, exam center preference, etc also asked on filling the application form

  • The candidate's photo and a signature will be required during the application form filling

    • Photo Size: 200×230 Pixels and 20-50 kb file size

    • Signature Size: 140×60 Pixels and 10-20 kb file size

  • The face and eyes should be visible on the photograph

  • The signature should be also clear. It will be matched in the future use

  • The candidates should read instructions carefully before application form filling

  • The candidates should note down the registration number and password for future use

  • They should print out the application form copy in a white blank paper to keep all the information with them for further use

5. SBI PO Prelims Admit Card

  • Candidates can download the admit card from the official site only

  • The admit cards will be released in three phases - for prelims, mains, interview

  • Admit card for prelims will be available to download before 7 days of the exam

  • The candidates should print the admit card on a white blank paper

  • The text and information printed on the admit card should be clearly visible

  • The candidates are advised to save a copy of the admit card for future use

  • The candidates should have clear information about the exam pattern and marking process before attempting the real exam. They are advised to make a wise strategy to acquire more marks than the cutoff

  • The admit card will be available to download till the exam

  • Adress and photograph of identity proof should be matched to the uploaded records

  • They should also carry two passport size photograph matches to the uploaded one

Steps to download SBI PO Admit card

  • The SBI provides a link on its official site to download the admit cards

  • Fill the credentials like registration number, roll number, password, date of birth, etc

  • Mostly these credentials are available on the printed copy of the application form

  • After filling the credentials, they will reach on the admit card

  • Now they can print or download the admit card

  • In case of forgetting the password, they can use the forget password option. The login information will be sent on the registered mobile number or mail

Information in the SBI PO Admit card

  • Roll Number/ User id and password

  • Name and address of the candidate

  • Registration number of the candidate

  • The venue of the examination center

  • Date and time of the examination

  • Date of Birth

  • Candidate's photograph and a blank space to affix the candidate's photograph matching to the uploaded one

  • Boxes containing space for signature and thumb impression of the candidate

  • A box for the signature of the invigilator

SBI PO Exam Day Instructions

  • The candidates are advised to follow all the instructions printed on the admit card

  • The instructions printed on the admit card should be clearly readable. Instructions make the candidate aware of attending the exam

  • Original copy and photocopy of a valid identity proof containing photograph and address is required in the examination hall

  • The candidates will be disqualified for misconduct in the examination

  • The candidate must have the same information and signature in each document

  • The exam conducting body will not acknowledge any change in time, date, center of the examination, etc

  • digital devices, earphones, unnecessary objects are not permitted to bring into the exam hall

  • The SBI will handle the situation and co-operate with the candidates in case of administrative or technical issue

The discrepancy in SBI PO Admit card

  • The candidates should cross-check the information in the admit card

  • They should make sure that there is no mismatch in the details of the admit card and identity proof

  • If there is any discrepancy, they should bring it in front of the SBI

6. SBI PO Exam Pattern

  • The correct understanding of exam pattern and marking process to answer the questions with a planned strategy directs towards the bright score

  • The SBI is responsible  to set up exam pattern and the marking process

  • The exam conducting body mention exam pattern and marking scheme on the notification of application form filling

  • The written exam is conducted in 2 stages

    • ​Preliminary Exam

    • Mains Exam

  • The exams will be conducted in online mode

  • Exam type will be objective but Letter/ Essay writing will be descriptive

  • Exam level will be national-level

  • It is a computer-based exam

  • Exam duration will be:

    • ​60 minutes for prelims

    • 240 minutes (3.5 Hours) for mains

  • Paper will be available in both Hindi and English Language

  • Total questions will be:

    • ​100 in prelims

    • 157 in mains

  • Number of sections (Prelims)

    • 1. English Language: 30 questions in 20 minutes (1 Mark for each)

    • 2. Quantitative Aptitude: 35 questions in 20 minutes (1 Mark for each)

    • 3. Reasoning Ability: 35 questions in 20 minutes (1 Mark for each)

  • Number of Sections (Mains)

    • 1. Reasoning Ability and Computer Aptitude: 45 questions in 60 minutes (60 marks total)

    • 2. Data Analysis and Interpretation: 35 questions in 45 minutes (60 marks total)

    • 3. General/ Economy/ Banking Awareness: 40 questions in 35 minutes (40 marks total)

    • 4. English Language: 35 questions in 40 minutes (40 marks total)

    • English Language (Letter/ Essay Writing): 02 questions in 30 minutes (50 marks)

7. SBI PO Marking Scheme

  • The marking process varies in prelims and mains

  • 1 mark will be awarded for each correct answer in the prelims exam and in the mains exam it will be calculated according to the above SBI PO Mains Exam Pattern

  • 1/4 of the allotted mark of a question will be deducted for each wrong answer

  • There is no negative mark or inclusive mark for unattempted questions

  • The exam will be conducted online, so marking two answers of a question is not possible in CBT

  • Negative marking not only prevents to gain mark but also shorten score by penalty

  • The candidates are suggested to mark the answers with accuracy to lessen the impact of negative marking

  • The four wrong answers mark deduction value is equal to the one right answer mark gaining value

  • To excel in the exam, candidates should focus on accuracy in solving the questions

  • The marking process is the same within each section

  • The implementation of knowledge works more than the only having information that answers the query "How negative marking affect the score that drives the candidates score below the cutoff?"

  • The SBI implements the marking scheme in the exam

  • The candidates have to clear sectional cutoff as well as overall cutoff

  • We should never mark guess based answer

  • Reduce time consumption to answer the questions during the exam

8. SBI PO Syllabus

The section wise Bank PO syllabus is as follows:


Reasoning:
Sitting Arrangement.
Puzzle Test.
Syllogism.
Data Sufficiency Problems.
Blood Relationship Problems.
Series Problems.
Input- Output/ Sequential Output Tracing.
Direction Sense Problems.
Statement Assumption/Conclusion/Arguement/Course of Action.
Ordering and Ranking.


Quantitative Aptitude:
Percentage.
Average.
Simple Interest/ Compound Interest.
Profit and Loss.
Ratio & Proportions.
Time and Work.
Time Speed and Distance.
Data interpretation.
Data Sufficiency.
Sequence and Series.
Simplifications.
Mensuration.
Quadratic Equation.


General English:

  • Reading Comprehension.

  • Fill in the blank (Vocabulary based problems).

  • Sentence Correction / Spotting error (Tenses, Part of Speech, Active and Passive Voice, Subject Verb Agreement).

  • Para jumbles.

  • Antonyms/Synonyms based problems.


General/ Economic/ Banking Awareness:
The problems with this section is
 the range of questions is exceptionally. There is static GK. Then there are banking terms. the RBI. the budget and so on. It is really tough for the candidate to answer them.You need to have a regular study.

9. SBI PO Tips and Tricks

  • Increase Speed: Manage your time properly; give appropriate amount of time to each section. Try to improve your time by practicing as many online tests as possible. Youth4work provides online mock tests will time limit attached to each question; this way one can learn to finish the entire exam within the time limit.

  • Improve Accuracy: Whatever new concepts you learn; make it a habit of practicing them regularly so you do not forget key topics. Because you will not have enough time to prepare all the syllabus topics proficiently, so you must master those you are comfortable with.

  • Use Time Intelligently: Studying in a stretch for hours can be tedious and hard and also not so good. Therefore, try to study at several times in regular sessions during a day. This will make learning easy and fun, also you will have enough time to brush up the already studied topics in between intervals.  

  •  Previous Years’ Papers: Try to get your hands on as many previous years’ question papers as you can. There is certain type of question pattern you will find useful for your preparation and also get familiar with past exam paper trends.

Youth4work Prep Tests

Online practice tests for competitive exams – are very unique and popular among aspirants. Aspirants can take self-designed mock-tests as well as practice for sections and topics separately. Youth4work’s unique and proprietary technology is helping lakhs of aspirants to reveal personal details on what are the strength areas of aspirants for any exam and also suggest how they can improve the performance.
Here are the insights from nearly 3.2 lakh question attempts on SBI PO Prelims exam practice tests on Youth4work. Every aspirant is rated on a Rating Scale. The ratings of the aspirants change with every question attempt.
Take SBI PO Prelim Exam Mock Test
Take Mock Test
67446 Attempts
Practice Mock Test
in the Prep Guru application