SBI Preparation Tips 2024: Strategy for PO, Clerk & SO Exam

The minimum marks to crack SBI PO exam isn't disclosed yet by the governing committee. It depends on the level of competition and the number of vacancies they have. Based on these, after the examination is over, the committee decides the cut-off level and sends notifications to the qualifying candidates informing them of further procedures. There are no sectional cut off marks in SBI PO exam. Candidates need to secure the overall cut off marks as per their categories in the exam. The marks of candidate are calculated as per the marking scheme. The marking scheme is given below:

• There is SBI PO negative marking for wrong answers, one-fourth marks assigned to a particular question in the objective test are deducted as penalty to arrive at the corrected scores
• There is no SBI PO negative marking for the subjective part of the mains exam
• If a question is left blank, there will be no penalty for that question
• For correct answers, candidates score one mark

The descriptive paper comprises questions based on Essays and Letters. This paper test the and English Language and writing skills of candidates. The descriptive paper carries two questions. The total marks allotted to this paper are 50. The descriptive paper is conducted online for 50 marks. Candidates are not allowed to use the keyboard while answering the questions. They need to type the answers using the mouse. The topics from where questions are asked in the Descriptive Test are given below:

• Views on acquisitions and mergers of banks
• Privatization of Banks and its effects on the common public
• Handling of bad banks
• Disinvestment of Public Sector Units
• Promoting the use of UPI among the common people: Their advantages and disadvantages
• Challenges before Nationalized Banks
• Merger of banks
• Indian Banking System: Positive and negative elements
• The economic condition of India
• Public and Private sector banks
• FDI in India

The difficulty level of the prelims exam is usually easy. The English and Reasoning sections are easy, whereas, Maths section is easy to moderate. The Mains exam paper is usually moderate. The difficulty level of the English Language section is easy, Quant section is moderate, Reasoning & Computer Aptitude section is moderate and General/Financial Awareness section is moderate. The prelims exam of SBI Clerk carries questions from Reasoning, English Language and Quantitative Aptitude. The total marks allotted to the test are 100. The mains exam of SBI Clerk carries questions from General/ Financial Awareness, General English, Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude. The total marks allotted to the test are 200. Candidates qualifying the mains exam are called for Language Proficiency Test.

Candidates must follow the tips given below to clear the exam: Revise the important topics from each section Allot time judiciously to each question or section Attempt the maximum questions within the given time limit and with accuracy Read the complete question first Maximize your score by focusing on choosing the most accurate option as your answer Revise all the topics Attempt full-length and sectional mock test. The section-wise preparation tips for SBI PO exam are given below:

English Language

• Candidates must develop the habit of reading regularly. Candidates must read newspapers, novels, articles, journals
• Reading books help candidates in improving the vocabularly and comprehension
• Practice grammar regularly
• Candidates must brush up their grammar rules 

Reasoning Ability

This section can be tricky at times. However, with practice candidates can easily ace this section. Puzzles and Seating Arrangement are two important topics in the Reasoning section. Maximum questions in the exam are asked from these two topics. Candidates should practice questions from these two topics daily.

Quantitative Aptitude

Maximum questions in this section are asked from data interpretation. Questions of Data Interpretation are usually based on basic calculations like Ratios, Proportions, Averages, Profit/ Loss, Percentages, etc. So, understand the basics of these topics properly. The bar/ Line/ Pie/ Tabular chart may ask the questions. Questions in Artithmetic section are asked from topics such as Averages, Percentages, Problems on Ages, Profit & Loss, Partnership, Simple & Compound Interest, Mixture & Alligation, Time & Work, Boats & Streams, Pipes & Cisterns, Time Speed & Distance, Probability, Mensuration, etc. Candidates need to underatand the concepts and basic formulas.

General Awareness

To score good marks in the General Awareness section, candidates must read newspapers and watch news channels to know regarding the latest events taking place around the world.

SBI Clerk syllabus is divided into prelims and mains exams. SBI does not prescribe SBI Clerk syllabus. The syllabus is formulated based on the previous years question papers. SBI Clerk syllabus for prelims comprises topics from Quantitative Aptitude Reasoning Ability, and English Language. The syllabus for the Mains exam comprises topics from General/ Financial Awareness, General English Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude. Candidates should be thorough with the SBI Clerk syllabus as it helps them to know the topics from where questions are asked in the exam. Knowing the syllabus help candidates to formulate preparation strategy for the exam. Candidates should be thorough with the SBI Clerk syllabus. SBI Clerk syllabus is given below.

SBI Clerk Syllabus for Prelims Exam

SBI Clerk Syllabus for Mains Exam

This section of SBI PO exam includes questions from Tabular Graph, Data Sufficiency, Caselets, Permutation and Combination, etc. To solve Data Interpretation questions, candidates must practise by referring to the previous years' question papers. The tips and tricks for the Data Interpreparation questions are given below:

• Candidates need to first understand and interpret the given data before proceeding with the calculations
• Candidates need to first understand the difficulty level of questions to understand which one to attempt first and which one to attempt later
• Candidates need to master the technique of attempting these questions with speed. There are several shortcut tricks that save a lot of time in solving the graphs and charts
• Candidates must know the different types of questions and formats of Data Interpretation

SBI Clerk prelims exam comprises three sections- English Language, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning Ability. The test paper carries a total of 100 questions. The total marks allotted to the test are 100. The duration of the exam is one hour. The Mains exam of SBI Clerk comprises four sections: General/ Financial Awareness, General English Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude. The total marks for the test are 200. SBI Clerk exam pattern for prelims and mains exams is given below.

SBI Clerk Prelims Exam Pattern

SBI Clerk Mains Exam Pattern

The prelims exam comprises objective-type questions from English Language, Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning Ability. The total marks allotted to the test are 100. The Mains exam of SBI PO comprises both subjective and descriptive tests. The objective paper carries questions from Reasoning & Computer Aptitude, Data Analysis & Interpretation, General/ Economy/ Banking Awareness and English Language. The descriptive paper carries questions from English Language (Letter Writing & Essay). The total marks of the exam are 250. Candidates are given 3.5 hours to complete the paper. Candidates qualifying the mains exam are called for psychometric test, group exercises and interview. The psychometric test is qualifying in nature and no marks are allotted for this test. The Group Exercises and Interview carries 50 marks. 

Yes, you can prepare for SBI PO exam without taking any coaching. However, you need to be consistent and serious about your studies. Y ou need to attempt mock tests, refer to the good study materials and solve the previous years' question papers. Preparing for SBI PO exam requires utmost dedication, determination and zeal to crack the exam. SBI PO is one of the most competitive exams in the country and preparation for the exam requires a effective strategy. SBI PO preparation can be done at home without any format coaching with predefined goals and determination. SBI PO exam preparation requires indepth understanding of English, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability, Computer Ability, Data Analysis & Interpretation, & General/Economy/Banking Awareness and the English Language. SBI PO exam is conducted in several stages-prelims exam, mains exam, psychometric test, interview and group exercises. For each stage, candidates need to strategise their preparation in a effective manner if they do not opt for coaching.