SBI PO / Clerk / SO
Your Comprehensive Guide to SBI PO, SO, and Clerk Recruitments.
About SBI Examination
The SBI PO (Probationary Officer), SBI SO (Specialist Officer), and SBI Clerk (Junior Associate) exams are competitive recruitment exams conducted by the State Bank of India (SBI) to hire officers and clerical staff across branches in India.
Exam Eligibility & Pattern Overview
| Exam | Educational Qualification | Age Limit (General) | Exam Pattern (Stages) |
|---|---|---|---|
| SBI PO | Graduate degree in any discipline; final-year students can apply. | 21-30 yrs (Relaxations for SC/ST/OBC apply) | Prelims (Obj), Mains (Obj + Desc), Interview/Group Exercise. |
| SBI SO | Graduation; specific roles prefer post-grad/prof. qualifications & experience. | Varies by post (e.g., VP: ~26-42 yrs; Manager: ~23-35 yrs). | Shortlisting/Written Test (Aptitude + Prof. Knowledge), Interview. |
| SBI Clerk | Graduate degree in any discipline; final-year students may apply. | 20-28 yrs (Relaxations for SC/ST/OBC apply) | Prelims (Obj), Mains (Obj - Financial Awareness, Quant, Reasoning). |
SBI PO Selection Procedure
The selection for Probationary Officers is a comprehensive three-phase process designed to evaluate candidates across academic, analytical, and professional personality benchmarks.
Phase-I: Preliminary Examination
Objective Test of 100 marks conducted online. Note: There is no sectional cut-off in Prelims.
| Section | No. of Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. English Language | 40 | 30 | 20 mins |
| 2. Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | 35 | 20 mins |
| 3. Reasoning Ability | 30 | 35 | 20 mins |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 1 Hour |
Selection Criteria: Candidates numbering ~10 times the vacancies are shortlisted for Mains.
Phase-II: Main Examination
Combined Objective (200 marks) and Descriptive (50 marks) tests.
Part (i): Objective Test (3 Hours)
| Test | Questions | Max Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| I. Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | 40 | 60 | 50 mins |
| II. Data Analysis & Interpretation | 30 | 60 | 45 mins |
| III. General/Economy/Banking Awareness | 50 | 60 | 45 mins |
| IV. English Language | 40 | 40 | 40 mins |
| Total | 170 | 200 | 3 Hours |
Part (ii): Descriptive Paper (30 Mins)
Communication Skills: 50 Marks
- • Emails: Compulsory (1 out of 2 options)
- • Reports: Compulsory (1 out of 2 options)
- • Situation Analysis OR Precis Writing (Choose one)
Phase-III: Assessment
Psychometric Test
Personality profiling for Interview panel perspective.
Important Guidelines
- !Negative Marking: 1/4th of assigned marks deducted for wrong answers in Objective Tests.
- !Sectional Cut-offs: Candidates must score minimum qualifying marks in each section of the Main Exam.
- !Descriptive Admin: Administered immediately after Objective test; typed on computer.
Final Selection Normalization
The final merit list is calculated by converting the 300 marks from Phase-II & III into a normalized 100-mark scale.
Main Examination
Max Raw Marks: 250
Normalized Marks
Interview & GE
Max Raw Marks: 50
Normalized Marks
Final Merit Base
Combined Score
Total Normalized Marks
Critical Note: Prelims (Phase-I) marks are used only for screening and are never added to the final merit list.