SBI Clerk Prelims exam analysis (30 June 2018, all slots) is available here. Candidates who took the exam today told us that the difficulty level of the questions was from easy to moderate. Many candidates attempted 70+ questions. Now there is a high probability that cut-off of SBI Clerk Prelims might go above 65 marks.
SBI Clerk Prelims 2018 is qualifying in nature and is a screening test. The candidates who qualify and rank sufficiently high as decided by the bank shall be called for appearing in the SBI Clerk Main Exam 2018.
Table of Contents
In every shift, examination centers opened few minutes before the reporting time. After entry, verification process started thereafter. After verification process (which took almost 30 to 45 minutes) the students were asked to log in and the computer-based online exam began.
SBI Clerk Prelims Exam Analysis and Review (30th June 2018): 1st Slot
Today was the third day of the SBI Clerk Preliminary Exam 2018. Spanning a period of one week (ending June 30, 2018), the exam is being conducted in four time slots: 2 each in morning and evening.
A total of 100 questions had to be answered in 60 minutes. All the sections, except English Language, were available in both English and Hindi. Every correct answer will fetch 1 mark, while every incorrect answer will reduce the score by 0.25.
SBI Clerk Recruitment 2018: High cut-off expected
The detailed break-up of SBI Clerk Preliminary Exam 2018 is as follows:
Section |
Total Questions |
Level of Difficulty |
Good Attempts |
Good Score |
Time Taken (In Minutes) |
English Language |
30 |
Easy-Moderate |
21–24 |
18–20 |
20 |
Numerical Ability |
35 |
Easy-Moderate |
20–22 |
18–20 |
20 |
Reasoning Ability |
35 |
Easy-Moderate |
21–24 |
18–20 |
20 |
Total |
100 |
Easy-Moderate |
70–75 |
60–65 |
60 |
Note: Overall cut-offs are not uniform for all states.
English Language
Topic |
Number of Questions |
Level of Difficulty |
Reading Comprehension (Guilt felt by children based) |
5 |
Easy-Moderate |
Para-jumbles |
5 |
Easy-Moderate |
Spot the Error (Conventional pattern) |
5 |
Easy-Moderate |
Spot the Error (word based: 4 highlighted words given. Candidate has to find out the incorrect word) |
5 |
Easy-Moderate |
Phrase Replacement |
5 |
Easy-Moderate |
Rearrangement of marked words in a sentence |
5 |
Easy-Moderate |
The English Language section was more or less along the same lines as the old pattern. Questions on Spot the Error was word based: 4 highlighted words given. The candidate has to find out the incorrect word. Questions from the RC passage were mainly factual. Two questions were from Vocabulary (1 Synonym and 1 Antonym). Overall, the level of difficulty of this section was easy-to-moderate.
Numerical Ability
Topic |
Number of Questions |
Level of Difficulty |
Number Series (Wrong Number) |
5 |
Moderate |
Approximation |
5 |
Easy-Moderate |
Simplification |
10 |
Easy |
Data Interpretation (Bar Graph based) |
5 |
Easy-Moderate |
Simple Interest & Compound Interest |
1 |
Easy |
Time, Speed and Distance - Trains |
1 |
Easy-Moderate |
Time, Speed and Distance – Boat and Stream |
1 |
Moderate |
Time and Work |
1 |
Easy-Moderate |
Mixtures & Allegations |
1 |
Moderate |
Ratio and Proportion |
1 |
Easy |
Partnership |
1 |
Easy-Moderate |
Profit, Loss and Discount |
1 |
Easy-Moderate |
Average |
1 |
Easy-Moderate |
Miscellaneous (Quant based) |
1 |
Easy |
There was 1 set of five questions from Data Interpretation (Bar Graph based). The questions on Number Series were moderate. The Arithmetic-based questions were primarily from Time and Work, Ratio, SI & CI, Profit, Loss & Discount, Time, Speed and Distance (Trains and Boat & Stream) etc. The overall difficulty level of this section was easy to moderate.
Reasoning Ability
Topic |
Number of Questions |
Level of Difficulty |
AR (Data Arrangement- Person/Month based) |
5 |
Moderate |
AR (Data Arrangement – 7 persons/Money Comparison based) |
5 |
Moderate |
AR (Circular Seating Arrangement – 8 persons with 1 more information) |
5 |
Moderate |
Coding-Decoding |
5 |
Easy-Moderate |
Blood Relation – Set based |
2 |
Easy-Moderate |
Directions – Set based |
2 |
Easy-Moderate |
Alphabet based |
1 |
Easy |
Alphanumeric Series |
5 |
Easy |
Input-Output |
5 |
Easy |
There were three sets of five questions each from circular seating arrangement, data arrangement (Person/Month based) and data arrangement (7 persons/Money Comparison based). No syllogism questions were asked this year. The overall difficulty level of this section was easy to moderate.
SBI Clerk Prelims Exam Analysis and Review (30th June 2018): 2nd Slot
The detailed break-up of SBI Clerk Preliminary Exam 2018 is as follows:
Section |
Total Questions |
Level of Difficulty |
Good Attempts |
Good Score |
Time Taken (In Minutes) |
English Language |
30 |
Easy-Moderate |
21–24 |
18–20 |
20 |
Numerical Ability |
35 |
Moderate |
20–22 |
18–20 |
20 |
Reasoning Ability |
35 |
Easy-Moderate |
21–24 |
18–20 |
20 |
Total |
100 |
Easy-Moderate |
70–75 |
60–65 |
60 |
Note: Overall cut-offs are not uniform for all states.
English Language
Topic |
Number of Questions |
Level of Difficulty |
Reading Comprehension (Based on anxiety and negative thoughts) |
10 |
Easy-Moderate |
Para-jumbles |
5 |
Easy-Moderate |
Spot the Error |
5 |
Easy-Moderate |
Fill in the Blanks |
5 |
Easy-Moderate |
Phrase Replacement |
5 |
Easy-Moderate |
The English Language section was more or less along the same lines as the old pattern. Questions from the RC passage were mainly factual. Four questions were from Vocabulary (2 Synonym and 2 Antonym). Overall, the level of difficulty of this section was easy-to-moderate.
Numerical Ability
Topic |
Number of Questions |
Level of Difficulty |
Number Series (Wrong Number Series) |
5 |
Easy-Moderate |
Approximation |
5 |
Easy |
Simplification |
10 |
Easy |
Data Interpretation (Caselet based) |
5 |
Moderate |
Comparison of two quantities |
5 |
Easy-Moderate |
Miscellaneous (Quant based) |
5 |
Easy-Moderate |
There was 1 set of five questions from Data Interpretation (Caselet based). The questions on Wrong Number Series were easy to moderate. The Arithmetic-based questions were primarily from Time and Work, Ratio, SI & CI, Profit, Loss & Discount, Time, Speed and Distance etc. The overall difficulty level of this section was moderate.
Reasoning Ability
Topic |
Number of Questions |
Level of Difficulty |
AR (Data Arrangement- Month based) |
5 |
Moderate |
AR (Data Arrangement - Box based) |
5 |
Moderate |
Analytical Reasoning – Set |
5 |
Moderate |
Coding-Decoding |
5 |
Easy-Moderate |
Blood Relation – Set based |
2 |
Easy-Moderate |
Directions – Set based |
2 |
Easy-Moderate |
Alphabet based |
1 |
Easy |
Numerical Series |
5 |
Easy |
Mathematical Inequalities |
5 |
Easy-Moderate |
There were three sets of five questions each from analytical reasoning. No syllogism questions were asked this year. The overall difficulty level of this section was easy to moderate.
SBI Clerk Prelims Exam Analysis and Review (30th June 2018): 3rd Slot
The detailed break-up of SBI Clerk Preliminary Exam 2018 is as follows:
Section |
Total Questions |
Level of Difficulty |
Good Attempts |
Good Score |
Time Taken (In Minutes) |
English Language |
30 |
Easy-Moderate |
21–24 |
18–20 |
20 |
Numerical Ability |
35 |
Moderate |
20–22 |
18–20 |
20 |
Reasoning Ability |
35 |
Easy-Moderate |
21–24 |
18–20 |
20 |
Total |
100 |
Easy-Moderate |
70–75 |
60–65 |
60 |
Note: Overall cut-offs are not uniform for all states.
English Language
Topic |
Number of Questions |
Level of Difficulty |
Reading Comprehension (Globalisation) |
6 |
Easy-Moderate |
Para-jumbles |
5 |
Easy-Moderate |
Spot the Error (Conventional pattern) |
8 |
Easy-Moderate |
Spot the Error - Inappropriate word (4 highlighted words given in a sentence. Candidate has to find out the incorrect word) |
6 |
Easy-Moderate |
Phrase Replacement |
5 |
Easy-Moderate |
The English Language section was more or less along the same lines as the old pattern. Questions on inappropriate words, 4 highlighted words given, were there in which the candidate has to find out the incorrect word. Questions from the RC passage were mainly factual. Two questions in RC were from Vocabulary (1 Synonym and 1 Antonym). Overall, the level of difficulty of this section was easy-to-moderate.
Numerical Ability
Topic |
Number of Questions |
Level of Difficulty |
Number Series (wrong number) |
5 |
Moderate |
Approximation |
5 |
Easy-Moderate |
Comparison of Variables (Quadratic inequalities) |
5 |
Easy-Moderate |
Data Interpretation (Bar Graph based) |
5 |
Easy-Moderate |
Simple Interest & Compound Interest |
2 |
Moderate |
Time, Speed and Distance |
2 |
Easy |
Boats and Stream |
1 |
Easy |
Time and Work |
2 |
Easy-Moderate |
Mixtures & Allegations |
1 |
Easy |
Ratio and Proportion |
1 |
Easy-Moderate |
Partnership |
1 |
Easy-Moderate |
Profit, Loss and Discount |
1 |
Easy |
Average |
1 |
Easy-Moderate |
Percentage |
1 |
Easy |
Geometry(square) |
1 |
Easy |
Number system |
1 |
Easy |
There was 1 set of five questions from Data Interpretation (Bar Graph based). The questions on Number Series were moderate. The Arithmetic-based questions were primarily from Time and Work, Ratio, SI & CI, Profit, Loss & Discount, Time, Speed and Distance etc. The overall difficulty level of this section was moderate.
Reasoning Ability
Topic |
Number of Questions |
Level of Difficulty |
AR (Data Arrangement- Person/Birth Month) |
5 |
Moderate |
AR(Data Arrangement– 3 variables) |
5 |
Moderate |
Blood Relation – Set based |
4 |
Easy-Moderate |
Directions – Set based |
3 |
Easy |
AR (Box Arrangement) |
5 |
Moderate |
Alphabet based series - set based |
5 |
Easy-Moderate |
Mathematical Inequalities |
5 |
Easy |
Ranking |
1 |
Easy |
Alphabet based |
1 |
Easy |
Numbers based |
1 |
Easy |
There were three sets of five questions each from data arrangement. There was a set of five questions on alphabetical series based. Questions on blood relation and directions were also there. No syllogism questions were asked this year. The overall difficulty level of this section was easy to moderate.
SBI Clerk Prelims Exam Analysis and Review (30th June 2018): 4th Slot
The detailed break-up of SBI Clerk Preliminary Exam 2018 is as follows:
Section |
Total Questions |
Level of Difficulty |
Good Attempts |
Good Score |
Time Taken (In Minutes) |
English Language |
30 |
Easy-Moderate |
21–24 |
18–20 |
20 |
Numerical Ability |
35 |
Easy-Moderate |
20–22 |
18–20 |
20 |
Reasoning Ability |
35 |
Moderate |
21–24 |
18–20 |
20 |
Total |
100 |
Easy-Moderate |
70–75 |
60–65 |
60 |
Note: Section wise and overall cut-offs are not uniform for all states.
English Language
Topic |
Number of Questions |
Level of Difficulty |
Reading Comprehension (Deterioration of Indian economy) |
5 |
Easy-Moderate |
Para-jumbles |
5 |
Easy |
Spot the Error (Conventional pattern) |
5 |
Easy-Moderate |
Spot the Error (word based: 4 highlighted words given. Candidate has to find out the incorrect word) |
5 |
Easy-Moderate |
Phrase Replacement |
5 |
Easy-Moderate |
Sentence Improvement |
5 |
Easy-Moderate |
The English Language section was more or less along the same lines as the old pattern. Questions on Spot the Error was word based: 4 highlighted words given. The candidate has to find out the incorrect word. Questions from the RC passage were mainly factual. Two questions were from Vocabulary (1 Synonym and 1 Antonym). 5 questions came from Sentence improvement which tested the candidate’s fundamental concept of grammar. Overall, the level of difficulty of this section was easy-to-moderate.
Numerical Ability
Topic |
Number of Questions |
Level of Difficulty |
Number Series (Completion of Series) |
5 |
Moderate |
Approximation |
5 |
Easy |
Simplification |
5 |
Easy |
Data Interpretation (Bar Graph based) |
5 |
Easy-Moderate |
Comparison of variables (Quadratic equations) |
5 |
Easy-Moderate |
Time, Speed and Distance |
2 |
Easy-Moderate |
Time and Work |
1 |
Easy-Moderate |
Mixtures & Allegations |
1 |
Moderate |
Ratio and Proportion |
1 |
Easy |
Numbers |
1 |
Easy-Moderate |
Profit, Loss and Discount |
1 |
Easy-Moderate |
Miscellaneous (Quant based) |
3 |
Easy-Moderate |
There was 1 set of five questions from Data Interpretation (Bar Graph based). The questions on Number Series were moderate. The Arithmetic-based questions were primarily from Time and Work, Ratio, Profit, Loss & Discount, Time, Speed and Distance, etc. The overall difficulty level of this section was easy to moderate.
Reasoning Ability
Topic |
Number of Questions |
Level of Difficulty |
AR (Data Arrangement- Person/Age based) |
5 |
Moderate |
AR (Data Arrangement) |
5 |
Easy-Moderate |
AR (Circular Seating Arrangement) |
5 |
Moderate |
Coding-Decoding |
5 |
Easy-Moderate |
Blood Relation – Set based |
2 |
Easy-Moderate |
Directions – Set based |
2 |
Easy-Moderate |
Alphabet based |
1 |
Easy |
Mathematical Inequalities |
5 |
Easy-Moderate |
Input-Output |
5 |
Easy |
There were three sets of five questions each from circular seating arrangement, data arrangement (Person/Age based) and data arrangement. No syllogism questions were asked this year. The overall difficulty level of this section was moderate.
The above analysis is provided by Mr. Mayank Garg, Mentor, Career Launcher.
Disclaimer: All information on cut-offs, analysis, answer key, and scores are based on independent analysis and evaluation made by Career Launcher. We do not take responsibility for any decision that might be taken, based on this information.
SBI Clerk Prelims Exam 2018: Analysis and Review - Easy to moderate questions; high cut-off expected (23 June)
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