SBI PO exam pattern has changed

SBI has brought some major changes in the PO examination this year. Though the notification for the recruitment is not yet announced, the changes in the PO Mains Examination is announced on their website. 

There will be 3 phase process as earlier. Preliminary Examination will be a screening test and there are no changes in the test. But the mains exam has got a significant modification with sectional cut-off timings.

Phase-I: Preliminary Examination:

Sr.No.	Name of test	No. of Questions	Marks	Duration
1	English Language	30	30	Composite Time of 1 hour
2	Quantitative Aptitude	35	35
3	Reasoning Ability	35	35
	Total	100	100

Phase - II: Main Examination

Main Examination will consist of Objective Tests for 200 marks and Descriptive Test for 25 marks. Both the Objective and Descriptive Tests will be online. Candidates will have to answer Descriptive test by typing on the computer, that means you need to know typing an essay and a letter, not writing them using pen and paper. (So I don't need to face the questions on blue ink pen or black  ink pen) Immediately after completion of Objective Test, Descriptive Test to be answered.

The objective test of 3 hours duration consists of 4 Sections with 155 questions for total 200 marks. The objective test will have separate timing for every section (Note this change). The candidates are required to qualify in each of the Tests by securing passing marks, as decided by the Bank.

Sl. No	Name of the test	No. of Qs	Max. Marks	Duration
1	Reasoning and Computer Aptitude	45	60	60 minutes
2	Data Analysis and Interpretation	35	60	45 minutes
3	General Awareness about Economy/ Banking	40	40	35 minutes
4	English Language	35	40	40 minutes

These sectional timings are reasonable and most of the candidates will be attempting with same timing even if there were no such sectional timings. Hence, this should not bother a prepared candidate.

Descriptive Test: The Descriptive Test of 30 minutes duration with 25 marks will be a Test of English Language (Letter Writing and Essay). You need to type them. If you are dependent on others to apply for the examinations due to your poor typing skills, please join a typing class before joining PO coaching class.

Phase - III: Group Discussion and Interview:  Pradhan Mantri no interview yojana is applicable only to clerical recruitments. Hence, get ready for a group discussion (20 Marks) and interview (30 marks) with combined marks of 50. Final selections will be based on your score in Phase II and Phase III.

Number of Attempts: General candidates will have 4 chances, PBC, PWD and will have 7 chances and for SC/ST there will be no cap on maximum attempts. The number of chances will be counted from the examination held on 18.04.2010. If you had appeared before 2010, no need to count those attempts. Appearing in Preliminary Examination will not be counted as a chance.

Prepare well. All the best.