SBI Clerk Exam Pattern
The State Bank of India conducts the SBI Clerk or Junior Associate exam every year. The exam is conducted in two phases, that is, the preliminary and the main examination. There is no interview or personality test for the post of Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales).
Candidates who wish to apply for the SBI Clerk exam can visit the official website of the State Bank of India. Aspirants can also prepare for other government and bank examinations, such as the SBI PO exam, RBI Grade B exam, RRB NTPC exam, etc. Although these exams are extremely competitive, they are worthwhile and highly rewarding.
Applicants who want to prepare for the SBI Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales) should go through the format of the exam, syllabus and past papers. The scheme of the SBI Clerk exam is given below.
SBI Junior Associate Exam Pattern
The SBI Clerk exam is held in two stages, that is, the preliminary exam and the main exam. After the completion of the main exam, shortlisted candidates have to take the language proficiency test. Candidates who can provide a mark sheet or certificate from their 10th or 12th grade that shows they have studied the designated local language need not appear for the test.
The Preliminary exam is divided into three sections, namely, Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning Ability and English Language. Candidates have to clear the overall cut-off marks in order to pass the prelims examination. There is a negative marking for this exam, and 0.25 marks will be deducted for every wrong answer. The prelims phase is a screening test, and marks scored in this exam are not included in the final merit list.
The main exam consists of four sections, i.e., General English, Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning Ability and Computer Aptitude and General /Financial Awareness. There is separate timing for each section. Candidates will be penalised for every wrong answer. For every incorrect response, 0.25 of the marks allotted to the question will be deducted. The main examination is an important stage of the SBI Clerk selection process. Marks scored in the main exam determine the rank of the candidate in the final merit list.
The SBI Clerk prelims and main examination pattern are given below. Candidates should be well aware of the duration of each sectional test. Every section has been allotted a fixed time. Therefore, candidates should develop a strategy through which they can attempt the maximum number of questions with accuracy.
| SBI Clerk Exam Pattern | ||||
| Phases | Subjects | Number of Questions | Marks | Duration |
| Preliminary Exam | English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes | |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes | |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 1 hour | |
| Main
Examination |
General English | 40 | 40 | 35 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 50 | 50 | 45 minutes | |
| Reasoning Ability and Computer Aptitude | 50 | 60 | 45 minutes | |
| General/Financial Awareness | 50 | 50 | 35 minutes | |
| Total | 190 | 200 | 2 hours 40 minutes | |
After the prelims and main exams, the results are published on the website of the State Bank of India. The official websites of organisations/bodies that conduct competitive exams are the best resource to refer to for the exam schedule, syllabus, results, etc. For instance, if candidates are preparing for the RRB NTPC exam, they can easily visit the official website to download the RRB NTPC result, admit card, exam schedule, etc. The official websites of banks and government bodies are reliable and provide accurate information.
Every aspirant who wishes to sit for competitive exams and ace them should understand that knowledge of the exam pattern, syllabus, and nature of questions asked in the exam is imperative. It helps candidates prepare meticulously for competitive examinations.
