State Bank of India (SBI) Probationary Officer (PO) exam is a highly sought-after competitive
exam in India. It's a great opportunity for those who want a stable and rewarding career in the
banking sector.
Let's break down the full syllabus for the SBI PO exam, covering both the Prelims and Mains
stages. The syllabus is the same for both Hindi and English.
SBI PO Prelims Syllabus
The Prelims exam is the first stage and is qualifying in nature. It consists of three sections. You
have to clear the sectional cut-offs as well as the overall cut-off.
English Language
● Reading Comprehension (Passages based on banking, economy, social issues)
● Cloze Test
● Para Jumbles
● Error Detection
● Fill in the Blanks (Single and double)
● Sentence Correction/Improvement
● Word Swap/Usage
Quantitative Aptitude
● Data Interpretation (DI) - Bar Graph, Pie Chart, Line Graph, Tabular DI, Caselet DI
● Number Series - Missing and Wrong Number Series
● Simplification/Approximation
● Quadratic Equations
● Arithmetic Topics:
○ Ratio and Proportion
○ Percentage
○ Profit and Loss
○ Simple and Compound Interest
○ Time and Work
○ Time, Speed, and Distance
○ Boats and Streams
○ Mixtures and Alligations
○ Partnership
○ Ages
○ Probability
○ Permutation and Combination
○ Mensuration (2D and 3D)
Reasoning Ability
● Puzzles and Seating Arrangements (Circular, Linear, Square, Floor-based, Box-based,
etc.)
● Syllogism
● Inequality (Coded and Direct)
● Blood Relations
● Direction Sense
● Coding-Decoding
● Alphanumeric Series
● Order and Ranking
● Data Sufficiency
● Input-Output (Mainly in Mains, but some basic questions can appear in Prelims)
SBI PO Mains Syllabus
The Mains exam is more comprehensive and includes four objective sections and a descriptive
test.
Reasoning & Computer Aptitude
This section is a combination of Reasoning and Computer Aptitude. However, the focus is
majorly on Reasoning with a few basic computer questions.
● Reasoning: All topics from Prelims, but with a much higher difficulty level. Expect
complex Puzzles and Seating Arrangements, Logical Reasoning (Statement &
Assumption, Cause & Effect, etc.), Coded Inequalities, Syllogism, and Data Sufficiency
with more variables.
● Computer Aptitude: Basic knowledge of Computer Hardware, Software, Networking, MS
Office, and Internet.
Data Analysis & Interpretation
This section is an advanced version of the Quantitative Aptitude from Prelims.
● Data Interpretation (DI): Advanced level DI, including graphs with multiple variables,
Caselet DI, and DI based on new patterns.
● Arithmetic: Questions based on Arithmetic topics from the Prelims syllabus, but with a
higher level of difficulty. Expect mixed-topic questions.
● Data Sufficiency: Questions where you need to determine if the given statements are
sufficient to answer the question.
● Quantity 1 and Quantity 2 based questions.
General/Economy/Banking Awareness
This is a crucial section for scoring.
● Current Affairs: National and International news of the last 6 months (especially from the
last 3 months before the exam). Focus on awards, appointments, sports, defense, and
government schemes.
● Static GK: Important days, capitals and currencies, dance forms, national parks, etc.
● Banking & Financial Awareness: This is the most important part of this section.
○ History of Indian Banking
○ Functions of RBI, SEBI, IRDAI, etc.
○ Monetary Policy
○ Types of accounts, loans, and banking terms
○ Recent banking reforms
○ Budget and Economic Survey
○ Financial Institutions in India
English Language
This section is more advanced than the Prelims.
● Reading Comprehension: Passages are longer and more complex. Questions can be
based on vocabulary, tone, and main idea.
● Cloze Test & Para Jumbles: More complex and longer than in Prelims.
● Error Detection: Questions based on parts of speech and sentence structure.
● Sentence Connectors and Sentence Starters.
Descriptive Test
This is a separate section that is conducted online immediately after the objective test.
● Essay Writing: Topics can be on social issues, economic topics, banking, or current
affairs.
● Letter Writing: Formal and Informal letters (e.g., a letter to the branch manager, or an
application letter).
The syllabus is the same for both English and Hindi. You can choose your preferred language
(either English or Hindi) for the sections in Prelims and Mains, except for the English Language
section.
A key to success is not just knowing the syllabus but also regular practice, time management,
and mock tests. All the best with your preparation!
