SBI PO Exam Structure for 2025: Explore Preliminary and Main Exam Layout, Score Distribution, and Time Allocation
The State Bank of India (SBI) has released the exam pattern and marking scheme for the Probationary Officer (PO) selection process in 2025. Here's a breakdown of the three-stage process:
Stage 1: Prelims Exam
The Prelims Exam is an online screening test, consisting of 100 objective multiple-choice questions. The exam is divided into three sections: English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability. Each section has a duration of 20 minutes, and the total duration of the exam is 1 hour.
- English Language: 40 questions, 20 minutes, 100 marks
- Quantitative Aptitude: 30 questions, 20 minutes, 20 marks
- Reasoning Ability: 30 questions, 20 minutes, 20 marks
There is negative marking of 1/4th mark for each wrong answer. No sectional cut-off is applied, and approximately 10 times the number of vacancies are shortlisted for the Mains examination.
Stage 2: Mains Exam
The Mains Exam comprises two parts: Objective Test and Descriptive Test.
Objective Test
The Objective Test consists of 170 objective questions, with a maximum of 200 marks. The test is split into four sections, each with its own duration and maximum marks:
- Reasoning & Computer Aptitude: 40 questions, 60 marks, 50 minutes
- Data Analysis & Interpretation: 30 questions, 60 marks, 45 minutes
- General/Economy/Banking Awareness: 60 questions, 60 marks, 45 minutes
- English Language: 40 questions, 20 marks, 40 minutes
Sectional cut-off applies, and there is negative marking of 1/4th mark for each wrong answer.
Descriptive Test
The Descriptive Test is worth 50 marks and lasts for 30 minutes. It includes writing tasks such as Email, Report, and either Precis or Sentence Arrangement. Sectional cut-off applies.
The marks secured in the Main Examination (Phase-II) will be added to the marks secured in Phase-III for the final merit list preparation. Aspirants numbering up to 3 times (approx.) of the category-wise vacancies will be called for the next stage after the SBI PO Mains exam.
Stage 3: Interview and Group Exercise
The Interview and Group Exercise stage carries a maximum of 50 marks. The Group Exercise carries 20 marks, and the Personal Interview carries 30 marks.
The Interview and Group Exercise stage includes a Psychometric Test for personality profiling of main qualified candidates. The final merit calculation is 75 normalized marks from Mains and 25 marks from the Interview stage, normalized to 100.
The SBI PO selection process consists of three stages: Prelims, Mains, and Interview. The State Bank of India is conducting the Prelims exam for Probationary Officers on August 2, 4, and 5, 2025, to fill 541 vacancies.
Candidates preparing for the SBI PO selection process in 2025 should allocate time not only for education and self-development, focusing on areas like Reasoning Ability, Quantitative Aptitude, English Language, and General/Economy/Banking Awareness, but also for sports to improve their reasoning skills and ace the Reasoning & Computer Aptitude section. Additionally, it's essential to develop excellent writing skills to excel in the Descriptive Test, which includes tasks such as writing emails and reports.
