SBI PO Mock Test

Complete Guide to State Bank of India Probationary Officer Examination

Welcome, future banking leaders! Cracking the State Bank of India Probationary Officer (SBI PO) examination is one of the most prestigious achievements for graduates in India. Serving as a Probationary Officer in the largest public sector bank offers a highly respected career path, lucrative salary structure, and fast track promotions up to the Top Management Grade. With millions of applicants competing for a few thousand vacancies, the competition is fierce. Whether you are taking the exam for the first time or polishing your preparation, this comprehensive guide extracts the most vital information from the official notification so you can focus entirely on clearing the exam using our high quality mock tests.

Eligibility Criteria for SBI PO

Before you begin your rigorous preparation journey, it is critical to ensure you meet the official eligibility parameters set by the Central Recruitment and Promotion Department. The SBI strictly verifies all criteria during the interview phase.

Age Limit:

• Candidates must not be below 21 years of age and not above 30 years of age as on April 1st, 2025.
• You must have been born not earlier than April 2nd, 1995, and not later than April 1st, 2004, with both days inclusive.
• Age relaxations are officially applicable for reserved categories. Other Backward Classes (Non Creamy Layer) receive an upper age relaxation of 3 years, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes receive 5 years, and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) receive between 10 to 15 years of relaxation. Ex Servicemen and Commissioned Officers are eligible for a 5 year relaxation.

Educational Qualifications:

• You must possess a Graduation degree in any discipline from a recognized University or any equivalent qualification recognized by the Central Government of India.
• Candidates possessing qualifications such as Medical, Engineering, Chartered Accountant, or Cost Accountant are also fully eligible.
• If you are in the final year or final semester of your graduation, you can confidently apply provisionally. However, if called for an interview, you must produce official proof of having passed your graduation examination on or before September 30th, 2025.

Number of Attempts Allowed:

• The State Bank of India restricts the maximum number of times a candidate can appear for the SBI PO exam.
• General and EWS candidates: Maximum 4 attempts.
• General (PwBD) and EWS (PwBD) candidates: Maximum 7 attempts.
• OBC and OBC (PwBD) candidates: Maximum 7 attempts.
• SC and ST candidates (including PwBD): No restriction on the number of attempts.
• Note: Appearing in the Preliminary Examination does not count as an attempt. An attempt is only counted if you appear in the Main Examination.

Detailed Exam Pattern

The selection process for the SBI PO role consists of a 3 phase rigorous testing cycle: Preliminary Examination (Phase I), Main Examination (Phase II), and Psychometric Test, Group Exercise, and Interview (Phase III). Here is the complete breakdown of the subjects, questions, marks, and time allotted.

Phase I: Preliminary Examination Pattern: The preliminary test is an objective type online exam for 100 marks, with a total duration of 1 hour. Marks secured in Phase I will not be added to the final selection list.

Phase II: Main Examination Pattern (Objective): The main objective test is a highly advanced online examination spanning 3 hours for a total of 200 marks. Marks obtained in this phase are critical for the final merit list.

Phase II: Main Examination Pattern (Descriptive): Immediately after the objective test, candidates must type a descriptive paper on the computer. This section evaluates Communication Skills involving Emails, Reports, Situation Analysis, and Precis Writing. It consists of 3 questions for 50 marks, to be completed in 30 minutes.

Phase III: Group Exercise and Interview: Candidates who clear the Phase II cutoff will be called for Phase III. This phase consists of a Psychometric test (to profile the candidate's personality), followed by a Group Exercise carrying 20 marks, and a Personal Interview carrying 30 marks. The final merit list is arrived at after aggregating (out of 100) the converted marks of Phase II and Phase III.

Negative Marking Rules: For both the Preliminary and Main objective examinations, exactly 1/4 of the mark assigned to a specific question will be deducted as a penalty for each incorrect answer. There is no penalty for unattempted questions.

SBI PO Previous Year Cut-off Trends

Understanding past cut-off trends helps candidates set realistic target scores for their mock tests. Below is an approximate overview of the General category cut-off trends for the Preliminary exam in recent years:

• SBI PO Prelims 2023: 59.25 / 100
• SBI PO Prelims 2022: 59.50 / 100
• SBI PO Prelims 2021: 63.00 / 100
• SBI PO Prelims 2020: 58.50 / 100

Please note that cut-offs fluctuate yearly based on the difficulty level of the exam and the number of vacancies available.

Comprehensive Exam Syllabus

Mastering the SBI PO exam requires focusing on high weightage chapters. Based on thorough analysis of previous year papers, here are the crucial micro topics you must study:

Data Analysis & Interpretation (Quantitative):

• Data Interpretation (Pie Charts, Bar Graphs, Line Graphs, Missing DI, Radar/Web).
• Caselet DI and complex Tabular Data handling.
• Number Series (Missing and Wrong Number) and Quadratic Equations.
• Data Sufficiency questions combining multiple mathematical concepts.
• Arithmetic Word Problems covering Time & Work, Profit & Loss, Speed & Distance, Simple and Compound Interest, Mixtures and Alligations, and Probability.

Reasoning & Computer Aptitude:

• Puzzles and Seating Arrangement (Circular, Linear, Square, Floor based, Box based, Month/Date based).
• Syllogism (including "Only a few" concepts), Logical Deduction, and Statement Assumptions.
• Blood Relations, Direction Sense, and Inequality (Direct and Coded).
• Coding and Decoding (Chinese coding and New Pattern), and Machine Input Output.
• Basic Computer Hardware, Networking concepts, and Internet protocols (rarely asked but part of the official syllabus).

English Language:

• Reading Comprehension (Usually based on Financial, Economic, Social topics, or Editorials).
• Cloze Test, Fill in the Blanks (Single and Double fillers).
• Error Spotting and Phrase Replacement.
• Sentence Correction, Para Jumbles, and Sentence Rearrangement.
• Vocabulary usage and Word Swap questions.

General / Economy / Banking Awareness:

• Current Affairs of the last 6 to 8 months (Focus on National and International news).
• Banking and Financial Terminology, RBI Guidelines, and Monetary Policies.
• Economic Policies, Union Budget, and Economic Survey details.
• Static General Knowledge (National Parks, Dams, Headquarters of Organizations, Capital and Currencies).

Preparation Strategy to Crack SBI PO

Clearing the SBI PO exam requires a blend of speed, accuracy, and strong conceptual knowledge. Here are the best practices adopted by toppers:

• Clear the Basics First: Before jumping into full length tests, ensure your fundamental concepts in Quant and Reasoning are rock solid. Learn short tricks for calculations and squares/cubes up to 30.
• Focus on Reading: The English section and General Awareness section require strong reading skills. Read a reputed financial newspaper daily to improve your vocabulary, reading speed, and current affairs knowledge simultaneously.
• Attempt Daily Mock Tests: Speed is the ultimate decider in the Prelims exam. Attempting our strictly patterned mock tests will help you manage the 20-minute sectional timing effectively.
• Analyze Your Mocks: Attempting a test is only half the work. Spend at least an hour analyzing your mistakes in the Review Mode. Understand why a particular option is correct and where your logic failed.
• Practice Puzzles and DI Daily: These two topics form the core of the Reasoning and Quant sections. Solving 4 to 5 high-level puzzles and DI sets daily will keep your analytical skills sharp.

Salary and Pay Scale

The SBI PO position is highly sought after due to its impressive compensation, benefits, and unparalleled job security.

• Starting Basic Pay: Rs. 48,480 (This amount includes 4 advance increments).
• Official Pay Scale: 48480 to 85920 applicable to Junior Management Grade Scale I.
• Allowances and Perks: Eligible candidates receive Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA) or Lease Rental Facility, City Compensatory Allowance (CCA), Medical Facilities (100% for self and 75% for dependents), Leave Fare Concession (LFC), and Contributory Pension Fund (NPS).
• Total CTC: At the initial scale of pay at the Mumbai Centre, the approximate Cost to Company (CTC) is a highly attractive Rs. 20.43 Lacs per year.

Frequently Asked Questions