SBI PO Prelims Syllabus: The SBI PO Prelims (State Bank of India Probationary Officer) is one of the most competitive entry-level examinations for recruitment in the Indian banking sector. Since the competition is intense, it becomes important to understand the syllabus thoroughly in order to prepare well.
Overview of SBI PO Prelims Syllabus 2024
The main and interview rounds are preceded by the SBI PO Prelims, the first qualifying stage of the recruitment process. This competitive test attempts to evaluate the candidate’s reasoning ability, quantitative reasoning, and proficiency in the English language, all within a limited amount of time. Clearing the prelims is a prerequisite for progressing to the next stage.
| SBI PO Prelims Syllabus Overview | |
| Feature | Details |
| Exam Name | SBI PO Prelims |
| Conducting Body | State Bank of India |
| Exam Mode | Online |
| Total Sections | 3 (English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning Ability) |
| Exam Duration | 60 minutes |
| Total Marks | 100 |
| Negative Marking | Yes, 0.25 marks per wrong answer |
| Language | English and Hindi |
| Official website | onlinesbi.sbi |
SBI PO Prelims Syllabus Exam Pattern
Prior to reviewing the syllabus, it is advisable to review the structure of the various sections in the SBI PO Prelims exam. The exam pattern basically informs about the distribution of time and the weight that each section has.
| SBI PO Prelims Syllabus Exam Pattern | |||
| Section | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks | Time Duration |
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 minutes |
Each segment has its own time limit, meaning a test taker’s time must be well organized during the Alice Springs Manual Scoring test. Apart from time management accuracy also becomes important due to a deduction of 0.25 marks for each incorrect answer.
SBI PO Prelims Syllabus 2024
The syllabus of SBI PO Prelims covers an English Language, a Quantitative Aptitude, and a Reasoning Ability segment. I would find it appropriate to discuss each of the sections separately.
1. English Language
Candidates should remember that the English section in SBI PO Prelims assesses a candidate’s written skills in advanced grammar, vocabulary, and comprehension. If you know the English basics well, then this section can be scored for you.
| SBI PO Prelims Syllabus English Language | |
| Topic | Number of Questions |
| identify Errors | 3-5 |
| Reading Comprehension | 8-10 |
| Cloze Test | 5-7 |
| Fill in the Blanks | 5 |
| Para Jumbles | 5 |
| Vocabulary | 2-3 |
| Sentence fixing | 3-5 |
Tip: Practice reading comprehension passages daily. This will increase your reading speed and accuracy.
2. Quantitative Aptitude
Quantitative Aptitude testing assesses a candidate’s numerical ability and problem-solving skills. Performance in this section demands speed and accuracy.
| SBI PO Prelims Syllabus Quantitative Aptitude | |
| Topic | Expected Number of Questions |
| Data Interpretation | 10-15 |
| Number Series | 5 |
| Simplification/Approximation | 5-7 |
| Arithmetic Problems | 10-15 |
| Quadratic Equations | 4-5 |
Tip: Get strong in the basics of calculations to solve word problems easily and try to practice interpretation data sets since they encompass a considerable chunk of this section.
3. Reasoning Ability
| SBI PO Prelims Syllabus Reasoning Ability | |
| Topic | Expected Number of Questions |
| Syllogism | 3-5 |
| Order and Ranking | 2-3 |
| Puzzles and Seating Arrangement | 10-15 |
| Coding-Decoding | 3-5 |
| Blood Relation | 3 |
| Inequality | 3-5 |
| Direction Sense | 2-3 |
Also read: SBI PO Eligibility Criteria 2024
Preparation Strategy for SBI PO Prelims
Know Everything About the Syllabus and Exam Pattern: Know the SBI PO Prelims Syllabus and the marking scheme for every exam section.
Routine Practice and Revisions: Every topic has to be practiced daily; spend proportionately more time in practice through Mock Tests and Previous Years’ Papers on your weaker topics which deserve more time.
Manage Your Time and Work at Speed: Give these Mock Tests under time constraints so that you can practice how to work at speed and devise a practical time allocation method for each section.
Concentration on Topics with Good Weightage: Remember that examiners love topics like Data Interpretation, Puzzles, and Reading Comprehension. Put more muscle on them as they tend to be highly weighted over other topics.
Accuracy is more important than Speed: Due to negative marking, aim for list accuracy while guessing in order to reduce the amount of guessing and incorrect answers. It is better to answer a couple of questions correctly than to miss a slew of questions with mistakes.
Take Mock Tests and Evaluate Yourself: Do not forget about taking Mock Tests regularly. You can check yourself and try to find the sections or questions where you made the most errors.
Important Tips for the SBI PO Prelims Exam
Read Instructions Carefully: Before starting any subsection, go through the instructions carefully. Wrong interpretation of questions may give rise to avoidable errors.
Manage Time Wisely: Stick to a limit of about 1-1.5 minutes on each question. If you find a question complicated, don’t dwell on it. Push forward and make an effort to revisit that question when time allows.
Avoid Guesswork: There is a negative marking for a wrong answer; therefore do not make wild guesses for losing your marks in the exam.
Stay Calm and Focused: To concentrate properly, keep yourself composed. Getting too anxious can result in errors. Try to inhale and exhale deeply. It’s a good practice to quell anxiety before an exam.
SBI PO Prelims Syllabus FAQs
Q1 What is the duration of the SBI PO Prelims exam?
Ans The SBI Exam has a time limit of 60 minutes, with 20 minutes allocated for each section.
Q2 Which topics are included in the SBI PO Prelims Syllabus?
Ans The SBI PO Prelims Syllabus includes topics like English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability.
Q3 Is the SBI PO Prelims Syllabus the same every year?
Ans yes but some slight change makes candidates can visit the official website to know.
