SBI conducted Mains Examination for the recruitment of probationary officers on 4th June successfully. SBI exam since 2013 has gone with noticeable changes not only in overall pattern but also in question types. This year the exam made many candidates uneasy.
Here the banking team of jagran josh is providing a detailed exam analysis of SBI PO Mains exam 2017.
Pattern of Examination: The examination has 4 sections - Reasoning and Computer Aptitude, Data Analysis and Interpretation, General/ Economy/ Banking Awareness, English Language. In the examination there was be objective type of tests. The candidates shall be required to qualify in each section as per cut-off marks determined on the basis of performance in each section and also on total weighted score. Negative marking is applicable for the Objective Test.
| SL. |
Name of Test |
No. of Questions |
Marks |
Duration (in minutes) |
| 1 |
Reasoning and Computer Aptitude |
45 |
60 |
60 |
| 2 |
Data Analysis and Interpretation |
35 |
60 |
45 |
| 3 |
General/ Economy/ Banking Awareness |
40 |
40 |
35 |
| 4 |
English Language |
35 |
40 |
40 |
|
|
Total |
155 |
200 |
3 hours |
Analysis of Examination: The overall difficulty level of the examination was Difficult.
| Section |
Level of Difficulty |
| Reasoning and Computer Aptitude |
Difficult |
| Data Analysis and Interpretation |
Moderate to Difficult |
| General/ Economy/ Banking Awareness |
Easy to Moderate |
| English Language |
Difficult |
The section wise details are as follows:
Reasoning: This section was difficult this time. Syllogism was missing in the section. No questions on Computer aptitude were asked in the section.
| Topics |
Number of question |
Level of difficulty |
| New Pattern symbol based question |
4 |
Moderate |
| Data Sufficiency |
2 |
Difficult |
| Seating arrangement and Puzzle (Circular Puzzle+ Linear Puzzle+ New Type Calculation based-shelf & photo frames Puzzle) |
23 |
Difficult |
| Alphabet (Puzzle based) |
3 |
Difficult |
| Analytical Reasoning |
8 |
Difficult |
| Input- Output(new type) |
5 |
Moderate to difficult |
| Total no. of question |
45 |
|
Data Analysis and Interpretation: The level of difficulty for this section was Moderate to Difficult. DI questions were calculative and time-consuming.
| Topic |
Number of question |
Level of difficulty |
| Data Interpretation (Pie Chart + Missing DI + Line Graph) |
15 |
Difficult |
| Probability |
5 |
Difficult |
| Inequality (New pattern) |
5 |
Difficult |
| Data Sufficiency |
4 |
Difficult |
| Miscellaneous (Mixture and Allegation, partnership, Mensuration) |
6 |
Moderate to Difficult |
| Total no. of question |
35 |
|
English Language
The section was Difficult. There was two reading comprehension the examination. New type of spotting error questions introduced in the examination. There was more than one error in the sentence. Candidates have to find out all the parts with error.
| Topic |
Number of question |
Level of difficulty |
| Reading Comprehension (based on Economy and Banking) |
5 |
Difficult |
| Reading Comprehension (based on noise in corporate world) |
5 |
Difficult |
| Spotting Error |
10 |
Moderate to Difficult |
| Jumbled Paragraph |
2 |
Difficult |
| Phrasal Replacement |
5 |
Difficult |
| Double fillers |
4 |
Difficult |
| Correct Paragraph |
4 |
Difficult |
| Total no. question |
35 |
|
General Knowledge: The difficulty level of the questions was Easy to Moderate. Major numbers of question were asked from last six months current affairs. Question based on banking awareness and static GK were also asked in the examination.
SBI PO Mains Exam 2016: Descriptive Test Topics
Essay Writing Topics:
- Write an essay on the positive and negative impact of technology.
- Write an essay on effect of social media and its consequences on our population.
- Travelling better than watching movies
Letter Writing Topics:
- Write a letter to your sibling giving them advice related to stress and anxiety.
- Write to an author thanking for authoring a book on ‘fighting depression’.
- Write a letter to your branch manager as you’ve deposited some amount but it is still not credited into your account
- Write a letter to editor expressing your concern over impact of irrelevant news through social media
Expected Cutoff marks for SBI PO Mains Exam 2017: - As per our analysis and difficulty level of the examination, the following Cutoff marks are expected for different category.
| Category |
Overall cut-off |
| General |
68-73 |
| OBC |
60-65 |
| SC |
54-59 |
| ST |
48-53 |
Note: The candidates should note that the above cut offs may vary as it depends upon various factors hence, it is not possible to predict the exact cut off marks until SBI declared it on its website. The SBI will announce cut-off marks, when the process of selection is over.
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