The banking sector is the most happening sector of the Indian economy due to its growth potential and competitiveness. There are diverse career opportunities in this sector. Solving SBI PO The important thing is that if you want to make a career in the banking sector, it is not necessary to be highly qualified in a particular domain. A graduation degree in any field is enough to start with. Among the entry-level positions in a bank, the designation of Probationary Officer (PO) is the most prestigious. This is because of the salary, perks and growth prospects associated with it. Besides, becoming a PO in the State Bank of India (SBI) adds glitter to one’s career. However, one must have a sound understanding of the SBI PO 2022 examination to crack it.
SBI PO Exam Pattern
The appointment to SBI PO positions is made through a competitive examination consisting of three stages– Prelims, Mains, and Group Discussion and Interview. The prelims stage is just a qualifying stage, and its marks are not included in the final selection process. Solving SBI PO Thus, candidates securing the cut-off marks in this stage become eligible to write the Mains. Candidates shortlisted in the Mains are called for Group Discussion and Interview. The final selection (in the order of merit) is based on the total marks obtained in the Mains and Group Discussion and Interview.
The examination pattern for the Prelims and the Mains is given in Table 1 and Table 2, respectively.
SBI PO Exam Pattern – Prelims Examination
| S.No. | Objective Type Test | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| 1 | English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| 2 | Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| 3 | Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 minutes | |
SBI PO Exam Pattern – Mains Examination
| S.No. | Objective Type Test | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| 1 | Computer Aptitude and Reasoning | 45 | 60 | 60 minutes |
| 2 | Data Analysis and Interpretation | 35 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| 3 | General Economic and Banking Awareness | 40 | 40 | 35 minutes |
| 4 | English Language | 35 | 40 | 40 minutes |
| Total | 155 | 200 | 180 minutes | |
| Descriptive Test (Letter and Essay writing) | 02 | 50 | 30 minutes | |
There is a penalty of 0.25 marks for every question wrongly answered, both in the Prelims and the Mains.
Benefits of Solving Previous Year Question Papers
As a serious aspirant, you may have studied several textbooks to gain mastery over the above-given sections. But it is not enough. You also need to master practical skills such as time management, strategic selection of questions, and emotional balance. These skills can be systematically gained by solving SBI PO previous year question paper within the given time. There are a host of other benefits of solving previous year question papers:
- You can know your level of preparation and the likely marks you may score in the examination.
- You can master the crucial time management factor that will ‘make or mar’ your prospects in this examination.
- You would come to know in which sections you are strong and where you need further preparation.
- Solving previous year question papers helps you to fine-tune your strategy. For example, you can determine which section to attack initially in the examination.
- Previous year papers will give you an idea regarding the standard of questions being asked in the examination. Such questions may not be found in the textbooks.
- You need to put your heart and soul into the Prelims and Mains. Otherwise, you will not be called for the third stage of the selection process. Thus, it will be best if you do a thorough practice using the previous year question papers.
- Moreover, the marks of the Mains are considered in the final selection process. Hence, even if you do not do that well in the interview, your Mains score may be handy in your selection. This is another reason to practice using the previous year question papers.
For the SBI PO previous year question papers and suggested answers, you can refer to BYJU’S Exam Prep.
SBI PO examination is a national-level examination. Here, thousands of candidates compete for a few positions. In addition, there is a cap on the number of attempts for candidates belonging to various categories. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare with a practical perspective to achieve success in the first attempt. In a nutshell, along with hard work, smart work in the form of solving previous year question papers can work wonders. Keep track of the official notification that will be released for SBI PO 2022, and solve as many previous year question papers as you can.
