How to prepare for SBI PO Preliminary Exam

SBI PO is one of the most popular jobs among candidates who aspire to work in Banks.SBI PO recruitment exam if planned well is not difficult to crack. The Online registration for SBI PO has already started from 7th February and will close on 6th March 2017. The exam is going to be conducted in the last week of April and the first week of May. Let’s start on all the key aspects one by one.

Key things to remember:

• 1 hour time limit

• 100 Questions 1 mark each

• 3 Sections – Quantitative Aptitude (Maths), Reasoning, English

Quantitative Aptitude

This section contains 35 Questions from the following Topics.

• Numbers : Basics of Number Systems, HCF &LCM, Number Series, Simplification

• Geometry: Mensuration

• DI (Data Interpretation): Data Sufficiency and data interpretation

• Modern Mathematics: Permutation, Combination and Probability

• Arithmetic: Profit & Loss, Percentage, Ratio & Proportion, Averages & Allegations, Time & Distance, Time & Work, Age Problems, Simple & Compound interest, Speed

Reasoning

This section contains 35 Questions from the following Topics.

• Analytical Reasoning: Grouping, Selection, Matching, Seating Arrangements etc.

• Other Verbal Reasoning: Coding-decoding, Blood Relations, Critical Reasoning, Statement-Assumption, Strong and Weak Arguments, Courses of Action, Direction Sense, Venn Diagrams

English

This section contains 30 Questions from the following Topics.

• Grammar

• Fill in the Blanks

• Reading Comprehension

• Cloze Test

• Sentence Rearrangement

• Sentence Improvement

• Sentence Error finding

It is also compulsory to pass with the minimum cutoff against each subject and all over as set by SBI. Each wrong answer gives you penalty of .25 marks. Therefore it is advised to refrain yourself from careless mistakes.

SBI PO Study Plan

A comprehensive study plan on syllabus & importance of topics has been designed as follows.

It is highly recommended to spend 25% of the time in theory and 75% in practice. Start with the basic level first, followed by practice while going to higher level.

Week 1- Start your week-1 with Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning.

Give first two days to learn the concepts of Simplification, Number Series and Analytical Reasoning and rest five days in practicing these.

Week 2- Add English in your time table along with Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning.

QA-Practice Averages and allegations, Ratio and proportions, Age problems 

Reasoning-Syllogism

English – Reading comprehension + Vocabulary practice

Week 3- Continue with all the three Syllabus

QA-Percentage, Profit & Loss, Simple & Compound Interest, Speed, Time & Distance, Time & Work 

Reasoning-Blood Relations, Coding-decoding

English – Grammar, Sentence Correction

Week 4-

QA-Mensuration, Probability, Permutation and Combination

Reasoning- Logical Inequalities, Direction Sense

English- Jumbles

Week 5-

QA-DI

English- Cloze Test, Fill Ups

Week 6-

QA-Quadratic Equations

Reasoning & English – 6-8 Full length mock tests with 1hour per test and 1 hour for further analysis

 Some Useful tricks to clear Exam

a) This exam is all about speed. You need to attempt at least 60-70 questions in 60 minutes.

b) Next important thing is Accuracy, there won’t be any use of doing 60 questions in 60 minutes if half of them are wrong.

c) Shortcuts and time saving tricks are must in this section. 

d) Memorizing the formulae and frequently used results, square, square roots, cube, and cube roots.

e) Your focus should be on reading speed, level of comprehension and vocabulary in English.

f) It is best to avoid lengthy and complex questions in the Reasoning ability section to save time.

g) Give your complete focus on mock tests daily for last 15 days aiming to improve the scores in each attempt irrespective to the difficulty of the test.

If you are already a professional and cannot devote whole day for studies, here are few tips and tricks:

Start utilizing your office time well.

• Practice Grade up quizzes which were for a maximum of 10 minutes each whenever you get time in office.

• During lunch break, Go through articles online and look for the meaning of difficult words and try using them in your own sentences.

• You can try with number series and while making the calculations mentally during travelling.

• Make sure to devote 1-2 hours daily after office just to be in touch with studies and cover the gap on weekends.

• Last but not least, believe in yourself. Keep yourself focused on your goal. You may find t little difficult to adjust with the routine, but eventually it will become easy for you and it will help you only to manage your time.

Apply for SBI PO 2017 Exam Here

 Plan ahead and give it your best shot.

You can refer to olive board for further practice. Allot final weeks for practice only, also keep in mind that Preliminary qualification will lead to mains.

There are couple of popular books among students for the PO study material. You can opt for these too.

a) Comprehensive Guide to SBI Bank PO Preliminary & Main Exam- Click Here

b) Arihant Publications - Fast Track Objective Arithmetic 

c) Objective English by S P Bakshi - Objective General English