State Bank of India, one of the reputed banks of India with over 17,000 branches, including 190 foreign offices, making it the largest banking and financial services company in India by assets. Since the competition for the post of Probationary Officer’s cadre is at an high ratio and merely around 18 Lakhs applicants have applied for the SBI PO Online 2014 exam.
Therefor it is necessary for a complete preparation Strategy and Understanding of Syllabus to crack the exam. As the aspirant’s preparation is full on, the candidates has to take a look at the most commonly asked Topics and their sectional cut-off’s. One can easily crack this SBI PO Exam only with a right strategy putting together with the practise sections. Here are some of the commonly used topics and sectional mark allotment for each topic and their equivalent marks.
The following article will elaborate the various topics with their respective weight-age of questions and their cut off’s. Before one starting his/her preparation, they should have complete awareness about aptitude and reasoning topics and one that should be aware of saving the precious time during preparation. The following article is an analysis from the previous year SBI PO Exam question paper. So keep on checking for SBI PO updates in this blog and study happily.
Previous Solved Paper
Fully Solved Previous Paper of SBI PO Exam – Find Details
The SBI PO 2014 recruitment exam consists of the following 4 sections.
SECTION I = High Level Reasoning.
SECTION II = Data Analysis & Interpretation (This topic fully based on Quantitative Aptitude basics).
SECTION III = English (Comprehension, Vocabulary & Grammar)
SECTION IV = General Awareness, Computer, Marketing.
- Each section consists of 50 Multiple Choice Questions with each question carrying 50 marks.
- Since the exam is going to be Online, which section comes first is not been predicted because every year the section orientation has been different.
- There is a 1/4 negative mark for each question. So one should not go for guessing of answers.
- The applicants are not allowed to use calculators. Hence one has go with the mind calculation or pen on paper calculations.
- And also the candidates are not allowed to carry any sort of Electronic items into the exam hall.
Syllabus
Reasoning (High Level)
Arrangements – This topic carries 10-15 questions (as per analysis) of 1 mark each —–> 10 – 15 marks
- Simple Circular Arrangement.
- Complex Circular Arrangement.
- Simple Linear Arrangement.
- Complex Linear Arrangement.
Machine Input / Output – This topic carries 5 questions (as per analysis) of 1 mark each —–> 5 marks
Coded Inequalities – This topic carries 5 questions (as per analysis) of 1 mark each —–> 5 marks
- Less than
- Less than or equal to
- Greater than
- Greater than or equal to
Coding & Decoding – This topic carries 5 questions (as per analysis) of 1 mark each —–> 5 marks
This section concentrates on the verbal reasoning of the student.
Blood Relations – This topic carries 5 questions (as per analysis) of 1 mark each —–> 5 marks
This topic consists of questions related to relationship between the overall joint family members, the student has to be thorough with the relationships of his / her family member. The student should have a practical knowledge of how to identify his /her relatives.
Syllogism – This topic carries 5 questions (as per analysis) of 1 mark each —–> 5 marks
This section of two or three statements following with their respective conclusions. The student has to prepare at least 500 syllogism questions to solve the questions coming under this topic.
Critical Reasoning – This topic carries 15 questions (as per analysis) of 1 mark each —–> 15 marks
- Arguments
- Assumptions
- Inferences
- Course of Action
- Cause and Effect
This section involves the mental ability of the students and fully based upon assumptions and no method or short-cut can be applied here.
Also practise some non verbal reasoning topics if you have time.
Data Analysis & Data Interpretation – This section consists of 50 questions each questions carrying 50 marks. It vitally requires strong foundation on Percentage , Average , Ratios and Proportions.
Data Interpretation – This section carries 45 marks for sure.
- Tables
- Line Graphs
- Bar Graphs
- Pie Chart
- Mixed Chart
Data Sufficiency
Set Theory and Case lets
Permutation & Combinations & Probability
- Committee formation questions.
- Selection of Balls.
Other Quantitative Aptitude Questions are follows – This section would comprise the remaining 3 marks.
- Time and Work
- Problem on Ages.
- Simple Interest & Compound Interest
- Area, Time and Distances
- Fractions
- Number Systems
English Language
Reading Comprehension – This section consists of a passage following with MCQ of 5 options. This topic carries 6 – 12 questions (as per analysis) of 1 mark each —–> 6 – 12 marks.
Synonyms / Antonyms – This topic carries 5 – 8 questions (as per analysis) of 1 mark each —–> 5 – 8 marks.
This section will involve meanings and opposites of a particular word taken from the passage of reading comprehension followed by 5 options. The aspirant is required to study at-least 40 new words from news paper or from web daily to score high marks in this section.
Idioms & Phrases – This section mainly focuses on fill in the blanks type of questions . The student has to choose the appropriate answer related to the given question. The student should have a sound knowledge of English grammar in this section. This topic carries 5 questions (as per analysis) of 1 mark each —–> 5 marks
Grammar – Spotting the Errors, this topic carries 5 – 10 questions (as per analysis) each carrying 1 mark —–> 5 – 10 marks.
Cloze Test – This section has a passage which has numbers in between and following questions with the multiple choice answers. This topic carries 10 questions (as per analysis) of 1 mark each —–> 10 marks.
General Awareness
Current Affairs (Will be updated weekly on https://prepgoal.in/)
- RBI / Banking / Business News.
- Nation News.
- Indian Economy.
- Globle – Trot.
- Appointments / Resignations.
- Awards / Honours / World Titles / New Discoveries.
- Sports News Updates.
- Eulogies.
- Miscellaneous News.
- Daily News Updates.
Computer Basics
Marketing Aptitude
Banking Related Questions
This section consists of 50 questions of 1 mark ——>50 marks
Please Note
- This is the overall Syllabus coverage for the upcoming SBI PO online exam 2014.
- The marks weight-age is just an Analysis of previous years papers and not an exact weight-age . The Mark weight-age may vary up-to some extent.
- One has to practise merely 5000 questions before taking up the Online Exam
- He / She must take regular MOCK TESTS on some web portal to increase the speed, since the examination time is just 2 hours.
- One must go for short-cuts and mental calculation rather than pen on paper calculations to minimize time and increase speed.
- One must start with the weaker section first during preparation and then the stronger section.
- More problems has to be solved in Quantitative Aptitude section, as it is a high scoring section.
- Time Management during the exam is the key strategy to crack the PO exam.
- Since the sectional cut-off’s are important to clear the exam, students should not concentrate on scoring in one particular section.
If you feel that you need to join coaching classes, go ahead but please join a good coaching center which also provides you to take mock test along with coaching. Get the right books and practise well, SBI PO will be a difficult exam to clear, and the only way to make it easy is by preparing well and studying right.
The 3 best ways to prepare for the exam are – PRACTISE, PRACTISE & PRACTISE!!!
All the Best!!!! Happy Reading.