SBI Examinations (PO, Clerk, SO) — Eligibility, Syllabus & Exam Pattern
The State Bank of India (SBI) conducts its own recruitment examinations for various posts, independent of IBPS. These exams are highly sought after due to the prestigious nature of working with India's largest public sector bank. The main exams conducted are for Probationary Officer (PO), Clerk (Junior Associate), and Specialist Officer (SO). The selection process typically involves a Preliminary Exam and a Main Exam, with an added Interview/Group Exercise stage for officer-level posts.
📌 Eligibility Criteria
Nationality
A candidate must be a citizen of India.
Age Limit & Educational Qualification
The requirements vary for each post. Age relaxation is available for reserved categories (OBC, SC/ST, PwBD) as per government rules.
SBI PO (Probationary Officer)
Age Limit: 21 to 30 years.
Education: A Bachelor's degree in any discipline. Final-year students can also apply.SBI Clerk (Junior Associate)
Age Limit: 20 to 28 years.
Education: A Bachelor's degree in any discipline.SBI SO (Specialist Officer)
Age Limit: Varies significantly based on the post and experience (e.g., 25-35 years, 28-40 years).
Education: A specialized degree and relevant work experience are required (e.g., B.E./B.Tech for IT roles, MBA for marketing roles).
✍️ Exam Syllabus & Pattern
1. SBI PO (Probationary Officer)
Phase-I: Preliminary Exam (100 Marks)
| Subject | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 mins |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 35 | 20 mins |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 mins |
Phase-II: Main Exam (250 Marks)
Consists of an objective test (200 marks) and a descriptive test (50 marks).
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | 40 | 50 |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | 30 | 50 |
| General/ Economy/ Banking Awareness | 50 | 60 |
| English Language | 35 | 40 |
Phase-III: Psychometric Test, Group Exercise & Interview (50 Marks)
This is the final stage for candidates who clear the Main exam.
2. SBI Clerk (Junior Associate)
Preliminary Exam (100 Marks)
The pattern is the same as SBI PO Prelims.
Main Exam (200 Marks)
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude | 50 | 60 |
| General/ Financial Awareness | 50 | 50 |
| General English | 40 | 40 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 50 | 50 |
3. SBI SO (Specialist Officer)
The selection process for SO is highly variable and depends on the specific role.
- For most roles: The process involves shortlisting candidates based on their qualifications and experience, followed directly by an Interview.
- For some roles: There may be an online written test followed by an interview. The written test typically includes Professional Knowledge, Reasoning, English, and Quantitative Aptitude.
Candidates must check the official notification for the specific selection process for the SO post they are interested in.
General Syllabus for Common Subjects
- Reasoning Ability: Puzzles, Seating Arrangements, Syllogism, Blood Relations, Coding-Decoding, Inequality, Input-Output.
- Quantitative Aptitude/Data Analysis & Interpretation: Data Interpretation, Simplification/Approximation, Number Series, and Arithmetic problems.
- English Language: Reading Comprehension, Cloze Test, Error Spotting, Para Jumbles, Sentence Improvement.
- General/Financial Awareness: Banking & Financial Awareness, Current Affairs (last 6 months), and Static GK.
- Computer Aptitude/Knowledge: History of Computers, Hardware, Software, Internet, MS Office, Networking.
👉 Note
- For full official syllabus & eligibility, refer to SBI official website.
☞ Tip for Aspirants: Always refer to the latest official notification for syllabus and eligibility details as they may change year to year.