SBI PO Exam Pattern
SBI PO Selection Process Overview
The SBI PO selection has three phases: Prelims (online, objective) → Mains (online, objective + descriptive) → Group Discussion & Interview. Prelims is purely a qualifying stage; final merit is based on 75% Mains + 25% GD/Interview marks.
Prelims Exam Structure
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 min |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 35 | 20 min |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 min |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 min |
Mains Exam Structure (Objective)
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | 45 | 60 | 60 min |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | 35 | 60 | 45 min |
| General / Economy / Banking Awareness | 40 | 40 | 35 min |
| English Language | 35 | 40 | 40 min |
| Total (Objective) | 155 | 200 | 180 min (3 hrs) |
Mains Descriptive Paper
| Component | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay Writing | 1 | ~15 | — |
| Letter Writing | 1 | ~10 | — |
| Total | 2 | 25 | 30 min |
Negative Marking Rules
Wrong answer penalty
−¼ mark per question
Unanswered questions
No penalty
Applies to
Both Prelims & Mains objective
Descriptive paper
No negative marking
Final Stage: GD + Interview
| Component | Marks |
|---|---|
| Group Discussion | 20 |
| Personal Interview | 30 |
| Total | 50 |
Final Merit Calculation
Mains weight
75% of total
GD + Interview weight
25% of total
Prelims marks
Not counted in final merit
Sectional cutoffs
Required in both Prelims & Mains
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions are in SBI PO Prelims?
SBI PO Prelims has 100 questions across three sections: English (30), Quantitative Aptitude (35), and Reasoning (35). Total time is 60 minutes with sectional time limits of 20 minutes each.
What is the negative marking in SBI PO?
Each wrong answer attracts a penalty of 1/4th of the marks assigned to that question. Unanswered questions carry no penalty. This applies to both Prelims and Mains objective papers.
Is SBI PO Prelims score counted in final merit?
No. Prelims is purely a qualifying exam. Only Mains marks (75%) and GD+Interview marks (25%) are used for the final merit list.
How long is the SBI PO Mains exam?
The Mains objective paper is 3 hours (180 minutes) with sectional time limits. The descriptive paper (essay + letter) is an additional 30 minutes.