Table of Contents
Knowing the SBI PO Syllabus and Exam Pattern is a topmost priority for SBI PO Aspirants. If you are planning to appear for this year’s recruitment examination, then thoroughly go through the syllabus for the Prelims and Mains exams, which decide your selection for the Personal Interview. Both Prelims and Mains and computer-based tests that include objective-type questions (also a descriptive paper in the Mains exam). So, a wholesome preparation is required to successfully clear the exam. In this article, candidates can check:
- Subject-wise Latest Syllabus
- Exam Pattern
- Marking Scheme
- Negative Marking
- Details of Descriptive type paper and more.
SBI PO Syllabus 2025
The SBI PO 2025 syllabus is formulated as per the SBI PO Exam Pattern that includes subjects such as Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, English Language, Current Affairs, and General Awareness. The exam pattern is designed in a way to check the aptitude of the candidates. SBI PO Prelims exam is 100 marks consisting of objective-type questions, whereas the mains examination includes both objective and subjective type papers of a total of 250 marks. Each subject includes subtopics that require conceptual clarity and demand great practice.
SBI PO Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2025 – Highlights
With the details of the SBI PO Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2025, the candidates will be able to understand the examination structure, sections, marks, and duration of the examination. Here, we have shared few highlights of the syllabus for the candidates.
Exam Conducting Body | State Bank of India (SBI) |
Post | Probationary Officer (PO) |
Selection Process |
|
Stage-wise Total Marks |
|
Duration of Exam |
|
Marking scheme | 1 mark each for every correct answer in the Online Test |
Negative marking | 1/4th of the marks assigned to the question in MCQ |
Mode of Examination | Online For Paper I and Paper II |
Language of examination | Bilingual (English OR Hindi) English Language paper has to be attempted in English. |
Sectional Cut off |
|
SBI PO Selection Process 2025
The SBI PO Exam includes 3 stages: Prelims, Mains, and Interview (including Group Discussion and Psychometric Test). The final merit list is prepared based on marks obtained in the Mains and Interview; marks of prelims are not added as it is a qualifying stage.
SBI PO Exam Pattern 2025
This year, the recruitment authority has introduced several changes in the Exam Pattern for SBI PO. The marks distribution of the prelims and mains marks has been changed significantly. The prelims exam will remain qualifying in nature, and while releasing the merit list, marks received in the Mains and Interview rounds will be considered.
SBI PO Prelims Exam Pattern 2025
The following points are the highlights of the Prelims Exam Pattern:
- There will be three sections.
- A Category-wise merit list will be drawn based on the aggregate marks scored in the Preliminary Exam.
- There will be no sectional cut-off. However, there will be an overall cut-off.
- There will be a negative marking of 0.25 marks for every wrong answer.
Section | Questions/Marks | Time Duration |
English Language | 40/40 | 20 minutes |
Quantitative Aptitude | 30/30 | 20 minutes |
Reasoning Ability | 30/30 | 20 minutes |
Total | 100/100 | 60 Minutes |
SBI PO Mains Exam Pattern 2025
This main paper will have four sections for a total of 200 marks, and the duration of the Mains Exam will be 3 hours. The Descriptive Test has a duration of 30 minutes with a score of 50 marks. There will be sectional cut-off. Candidates will get a penalty of 0.25 marks for every incorrect answer. This test is conducted to test the writing skills of candidates via Letter Writing and essay Writing.
Test | Name of the Test | No. of Questions | Max. Marks | Duration |
I | Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | 40 | 60 | 50 minutes |
II | Data Analysis & Interpretation | 30 | 60 | 45 minutes |
III | General Awareness / Economy / Banking Knowledge | 60 | 60 | 45 minutes |
IV | English Language | 40 | 20 | 40 minutes |
Total (A) | 170 | 200 | 3 hours | |
Descriptive Paper | ||||
English Language (Descriptive) | Email Writing | 1 out of 2 | 15 | 30 minutes |
Situation Analysis Writing | 1 out of 2 | 15 | ||
Report Writing/Precis Writing | 1 out of 2 | 20 | ||
Total (B) | 3 | 50 | ||
Total (A + B) | 250 |
3 Hours 30 Minutes
|
Note: The descriptive paper of a candidate will be checked only if they qualify in the Objective test as per the qualifying marks decided by the Bank
SBI PO Descriptive Test
The SBI PO Descriptive Paper, which lasts for 30 minutes and is worth 50 marks, tests the candidate’s English skills through letter writing and essay writing. After passing the preliminary and main exams, candidates move on to the interview phase of the SBI PO exam. The final merit list is determined by the marks obtained in both the main exam and the interview.
SBI PO Prelims Syllabus 2025
The Prelims Syllabus is not very vast, and candidates can cover it easily within a month or two with proper preparation and practice. The subjects included are Reasoning, English, and Quantitative Aptitude. The chapter-wise syllabus for each section has been mentioned below.
Reasoning | Quantitative Aptitude | English Language |
Logical Reasoning | Simplification | Reading Comprehension |
Alphanumeric Series | Profit & Loss | Cloze Test |
Ranking/Direction/Alphabet Test | Mixtures & Allegations | Para jumbles |
Data Sufficiency | Simple Interest & Compound Interest & Surds & Indices | Miscellaneous |
Coded Inequalities | Work & Time | Fill in the blanks |
Seating Arrangement | Time & Distance | Multiple Meaning/Error Spotting |
Puzzle | Mensuration – Cylinder, Cone, Sphere | Paragraph Completion |
Tabulation | Data Interpretation | Vocabulary |
Syllogism | Ratio & Proportion, Percentage | Sentence Improvement |
Blood Relations | Number Systems | Word Association |
Input-Output | Sequence & Series | Error Spotting |
Coding-Decoding | Permutation, Combination &Probability | Verbal Ability |
SBI PO Mains Syllabus 2025
The SBI PO Mains Syllabus 2025 comprises four sections:
- Data Analysis & Interpretation
- Reasoning & Computer Aptitude
- General/Economy/Banking Awareness
- English Language
- The SBI PO Mains Syllabus 2025 comprises a descriptive test as well. The descriptive test consists of two questions, one letter writing, and one essay, each of 25 marks, making a total of 50 marks.
- Candidates need to score passing marks in the descriptive test as well to qualify for the SBI PO mains exam.
The complete syllabus is discussed below:
Data Interpretation and Analysis
The following topics are covered under the Data Analysis section:
- Tabular Graph,
- Line Graph,
- Pie Chart,
- Bar Graph,
- Radar Graph Case-let,
- Missing Case DI,
- Let it Case DI,
- Data Sufficiency,
- Probability,
- Permutation and Combination
Reasoning Syllabus
The following topics are covered under the Reasoning section:
- Verbal Reasoning,
- Syllogism,
- Circular Seating Arrangement,
- Linear Seating Arrangement,
- Double Lineup,
- Scheduling,
- Input-Output,
- Blood Relations,
- Directions and Distances,
- Ordering and Ranking,
- Data Sufficiency,
- Coding and Decoding,
- Coded Inequalities,
- The course of Action,
- Critical Reasoning,
- Analytical and Decision Making
English Syllabus
The following topics are covered under the English Language section:
- Reading Comprehension,
- Grammar,
- Vocabulary,
- Verbal Ability,
- Word Association,
- Sentence Improvement,
- Para Jumbles,
- Cloze Test,
- Error Spotting,
- Fill in the blanks
General Awareness/ Economy/ Banking Awareness
The following topics are covered under the Economy section:
- Financial Awareness
- Current Affairs
- General Knowledge
- Static Awareness
- Banking and Financial Awareness
Computer Aptitude Syllabus
The following topics are covered under the Computer Aptitude section:
- Internet,
- Memory,
- Keyboard Shortcuts,
- Computer Abbreviation,
- Microsoft Office,
- Computer Hardware,
- Computer Software,
- Operating System,
- Networking,
- Computer Fundamentals/ Terminologies
SBI PO Syllabus Official PDF
The candidates who are going to appear in the examination must download the SBI PO Syllabus 2025 PDF to understand the complete structure of the examination and the subject-wise topics they need to prepare. The direct link to download the syllabus PDF has been mentioned below for the ease of the candidates.
SBI PO Interview 2025
Psychometric Test- The Bank may conduct a Psychometric test for personality profiling of those candidates who will be shortlisted for Phase III. The findings of the test may be presented before the Interview panel to have a thorough perspective on the candidates.
This is the final stage of selection for successful candidates who qualify for the first two phases of the SBI PO exam. The Group Discussion accounts for 20 marks, while the Interview is for 30 marks.
- The aggregate marks of all the candidates clearing both the Objective Tests and Descriptive tests will be arranged in descending order in each category.
- The decided number of candidates in each category, as governed by the Bank, will be called for Group Exercises and interviews.
- The qualifying marks in the Group Discussion & Interview will be decided by the Bank.
SBI PO Final Selection
The final score for the SBI PO Exam is calculated keeping the following points in mind:
- Marks secured in the Preliminary Exam (Phase-1) will not be considered for selection
- Candidates must qualify for Phase 2 and Phase-3 separately to be eligible
- Marks secured by the candidates in the SBI PO Mains Exam (out of 250 marks) are converted to out of 75, and marks secured in Group Exercises & Interview (out of 50 marks) are converted to out of 25. This makes the new total score (Mains + GD/PI) to be 100
- The aggregate score out of 100 is used for the final merit list for each category. Candidates with top merit rank in each category are finally selected.
SBI PO Marking Scheme 2025
The details of the SBI PO Marking Scheme 2025 have been mentioned in the table given below for the candidates.
SBI PO Marking Scheme 2025 | |
Section |
Marking Scheme
|
Objective Test |
|
Descriptive Test |
|
Links Related to SBI PO | |
SBI Cut Off | SBI PO Salary |
SBI PO Score Card | SBI PO Selection Process |
SBI PO Mock Test 2025 |