SBI PO Exam Pattern 2023 - Check SBI PO Exam Pattern For Prelims, Mains

SBI PO Exam Pattern 2023 - Check SBI PO Exam Pattern For Prelims, Mains

ByAina Parasher  |  Updated on: May 11, 2023
SBI PO Exam Pattern 2023 will be released with the official notification. Check the SBI PO exam pattern for Prelims and Mains, topic-wise weightage, marking scheme, and more.

SBI PO Exam Pattern 2023 will be released with the official notification PDF. The selection procedure of SBI PO includes a three-tiered process in which candidates must pass a prelims exam to be qualified for the Main exam, also known as SBI PO Mains. Candidates who pass the Mains exam will be shortlisted for Group Discussions and Personal Interviews. Check the detailed SBI PO exam pattern for Prelims and Mains to prepare well.

Being well-versed with the latest SBI PO exam pattern is necessary. The elucidated knowledge of the prelims and mains pattern will aid the candidates in strategizing their preparation and scheduling it to drive them toward success. We have provided information on the SBI PO paper pattern for Prelims and Mains, along with the marking scheme, topic-wise weightage, time duration, and other details. Check here to know more details about the revised SBI PO exam pattern 2023.

SBI PO Exam Pattern 2023

Understanding the latest SBI PO exam pattern 2023 is crucial to acing the online exam. SBI has significantly changed the SBI PO Mains exam pattern. The candidates should know the exam details, such as the number of questions, total marks, sectional timings, and topic-wise weightage. Check the detailed pattern for the SBI PO exam to ace the exam.

Before starting the preparation, candidates should go through the SBI PO paper pattern for Prelims, which consists of three sections: English, Reasoning & Quantitative Aptitude. The good part is that these sections also appear in the SBI PO Mains exam pattern, along with a few additional sections. Candidates can plan and prepare for both stages simultaneously. The SBI PO exam pattern consists of three phases:

  • SBI PO Prelims Exam Pattern
  • SBI PO Mains Exam Pattern
  • SBI PO Exam Pattern for Interview & Group Discussion

SBI PO Prelims Exam Pattern

The SBI PO exam pattern for prelims is designed to take out non-serious candidates. It is the first stage in the selection process of SBI PO and is qualifying in nature. The new SBI PO exam pattern consists of three sections: English Language, Reasoning Ability, and Quantitative Aptitude. There is a sectional timing of 20 mins for each section, and the allotted time is 60 minutes. Please note that there will be a negative marking of 1/4th of the allotted marks.

SBI PO Prelims Exam Pattern
Name of the TestNo. of QuestionsSectional Time
English Language3020 minutes
Reasoning Ability3520 minutes
Quantitative Aptitude3520 minutes
Total1001 hour

SBI PO Mains Exam Pattern

The bank has significantly changed the SBI PO Mains exam pattern this year. The SBI PO exam pattern consists of two sections: Objective and Descriptive. The applicants who will get qualified in the SBI PO Prelims will further advance toward the Mains exam. The result of the Mains exam contributes to the final result. So, it is essential for the aspirants to prepare well for this round. SBI PO exam pattern is specified in the tabular format herewith:

SBI PO Exam Pattern: Objective Test

The first part of the SBI PO Mains exam pattern is the objective test that contains four sections: Reasoning & Computer Aptitude, Data Analysis & Interpretation, English Language & General / Economy/Banking Awareness. All sections have varying sectional timings, and the total time is 3 hours. The SBI PO Mains time duration for most sections has also changed. The total number of questions is 200, with a penalty of 1/4th of the allotted marks.

The number of questions also has seen a change this time. Check out the detailed SBI PO exam pattern for Mains objective test from the table below:

Name of TestNumber of QuestionsMaximum MarksSectional TimeMedium of Exam
Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude405050 MinutesEnglish/Hindi
Data Analysis & Interpretation3050 45 MinutesEnglish/Hindi
General/ Economy/ Banking Awareness506045 MinutesEnglish /Hindi
English Language354040 MinutesEnglish
Total 1552003 hours

SBI PO Exam Pattern: Descriptive Test

The other part of the SBI PO Mains is the ‘Descriptive’ type test, an English Language test including 2 questions on letter & essay writing. The time will be 30 minutes, and the candidates will be required to complete the exam within this stipulated time, or they will be disqualified from the process.

Name of TestNumber of QuestionsMaximum MarksDuration
Letter Writing150 Marks30 Minutes
Essay Writing1

SBI PO Interview

The final stage of the SBI PO exam pattern is the Interview. The applicants who clear the SBI PO Mains exam will advance to the third phase of the screening process. SBI may also conduct a Psychometric test before the candidates appear for the interview & other group exercises. The SBI PO paper pattern for the Interview is that the total marks will be 50. The cumulative score of the Mains and the interview/ GD stage will contribute to the final results.

  • Candidates will have to score minimum qualifying marks in Phase 3 to be considered for final selection.
  • Candidates qualifying for the Interview/ GD under the 'OBC' category must submit an OBC certificate containing the 'Non-Creamy layer clause.
SBI PO EventsMarks
Group Exercise20
Interview30
Total50

SBI PO Final Selection Process

The SBI PO exam pattern consists of three main stages, the Interview being the last. Once all three phases have been duly completed, SBI shortlists the candidates and comes out with a final merit list based on the performance in Phases 2 and 3. All the candidates who clear the final cutoff are appointed as SBI PO.

SBI PO Exam Pattern - Marking Scheme

The new SBI PO exam pattern mentions important changes in the Mains exam, such as the sectional time limit, marks, and the number of questions in various sections. Even after some major changes, the basic marks distribution does not change. The SBI PO marking scheme is as follows.

  • 1 mark will be awarded for every correct answer.
  • There is a negative marking of 1/4th mark for every wrong attempt.
  • There are no sectional cutoffs and only an overall cutoff in the SBI PO Prelims exam.
  • The SBI PO Prelims exam is qualifying in nature. The marks obtained in this phase are not considered in the final merit list.
  • Category-wise merit list will be drawn based on aggregate marks scored in the SBI PO main examination.
  • There will be no sectional SBI PO cutoff in the main exam. Candidates numbering up to 3 times (approx.) of the category-wise vacancies will be shortlisted for GE & Interview.
  • Marks obtained in Objective and Descriptive tests will be added to the final Merit list along with Group Exercise and Interview marks.

FAQs on SBI PO Exam Pattern

  • The SBI PO exam pattern is a three-tiered process in which candidates must pass a Preliminary examination to be qualified for the Main Examination, also known as SBI PO Mains. Candidates who pass the Mains Examination will be shortlisted for Group Exercise and Personal Interviews.

  • Yes, ¼ marks will be deducted for the wrong answer according to the SBI PO exam pattern. 1 mark is given to each correct answer, and there will be no marks for unattempted questions.

  • Yes, a sectional time limit is specified in the SBI PO paper pattern for both Prelims and Mains. In SBI PO Prelims, you will be given 20 minutes for the 3 sections, which makes it 60 minutes. In SBI PO Mains, you will be given different sectional timings for all the sections.

  • The SBI PO exam pattern for Mains consists of two tests, Objective and Descriptive. The subjects of the Objective Test are Reasoning Ability and Computer Aptitude, Data Analytics and Interpretation, Economy/ Banking/ General Awareness, and English. The subjects of the Descriptive test are Letter Writing and Essay Writing.

  • SBI PO exam pattern for Prelims consists of three sections: English Language, Reasoning Ability, and Quantitative Aptitude. There is a sectional time limit of 20 minutes for each section, and the allotted time is 60 minutes.

  • The SBI PO Interview has been assigned 30 marks, and 20 marks have been allotted to the Group Exercise, which makes 50 marks for Phase 3 of the SBI PO selection process.

  • Yes, the SBI PO exam is tough to crack. Due to its intense competition and high applicant volume each year, the SBI PO exam is regarded as being challenging.

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