SBI Clerk Prelims - Frequently Asked Questions

The SBI Clerk Prelims is the first screening phase of the recruitment process for the post of Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales) by the State Bank of India (SBI).

The exam is conducted online in an objective-type format. It tests candidates on three main areas: English Language, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning Ability. Candidates who qualify the Prelims exam are eligible to appear for the Mains examination.

The SBI Clerk Prelims 2025 exam pattern consists of three sections:

1. English Language: 30 questions, 30 marks, 20 minutes
2. Numerical Ability: 35 questions, 35 marks, 20 minutes
3. Reasoning Ability: 35 questions, 35 marks, 20 minutes

Total: 100 questions, 100 marks, 60 minutes

Negative Marking: 0.25 marks deducted for each wrong answer

Each section has a separate time limit, and candidates cannot switch between sections during the exam.

No, the SBI Clerk Prelims exam is qualifying in nature only. The score obtained in the Prelims is not counted toward the final selection.

The final selection is based solely on the performance in the Mains examination. However, you must clear the Prelims cutoff to be eligible for the Mains exam.

Educational Qualification:

1. A degree in any discipline from a recognized university or college is required
2. Final year students can also apply, provided they complete their degree before joining

Age Limit:

1. Minimum: 20 years
2. Maximum: 28 years (as of the notification date)
3. Age relaxation is available for SC/ST/OBC/PWD and other reserved categories as per government rules

Number of Attempts: There is no limit on the number of attempts, provided you meet the eligibility criteria each time.

The SBI Clerk recruitment process consists of the following stages:

1. Stage 1: Prelims Examination - Online objective test (qualifying)
2. Stage 2: Mains Examination - Online objective test (final selection based on this)
3. Stage 3: Language Proficiency Test (LPT) - If required for specific posts/states

Important Note: There is no interview for SBI Clerk posts. Selection is based purely on the Mains exam performance.

For SBI Clerk Prelims 2025, the official notification states that there are no separate sectional cut-offs.

However, candidates must:

1. Score the minimum qualifying marks in the overall exam
2. Attempt a reasonable number of questions in each section
3. Note that the exam has sectional timing (20 minutes per section)

Note: The sectional cut-off policy may vary year to year, so always check the official notification for the specific year.

The SBI Clerk Prelims exam is typically rated as easy to moderate in difficulty level.

Section-wise difficulty:

1. English Language: Easy to Moderate - focuses on grammar, vocabulary, and reading comprehension
2. Reasoning Ability: Moderate - includes puzzles, seating arrangements, and logical reasoning
3. Numerical Ability: Moderate - covers simplification, number series, data interpretation, and arithmetic

With consistent practice and proper preparation, candidates can easily clear the Prelims cutoff.

For 2025:

1. Total Vacancies: Around 6,589 posts for Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales)
2. Prelims Exam Date: Usually conducted in September/October
3. Notification Release: Typically in July/August

The exact dates are announced through official notifications on the SBI website. Candidates should regularly check sbi.co.in/careers for updates.

Yes, final year graduation students can apply for the SBI Clerk exam.

Conditions:

1. The candidate must be in the final year of graduation at the time of application
2. The degree must be completed before the joining date
3. Proof of completion/passing certificate must be submitted at the time of document verification

This allows final year students to appear for both Prelims and Mains exams before their graduation results are declared.

The application process is completely online. Follow these steps:

1. Visit the official SBI website at sbi.co.in
2. Go to the "Careers" section and find "Recruitment of Junior Associates (Customer Support & Sales)"
3. Click on "Apply Online" and register with basic details
4. Fill in the complete application form with personal, educational, and other details
5. Upload scanned copies of photograph and signature (as per specifications)
6. Pay the application fee online (exemption for SC/ST/PWD candidates)
7. Submit the form and take a printout for future reference

Application Fee: ₹750 for General/OBC/EWS candidates (₹100 for SC/ST/PWD candidates)

The SBI Clerk salary structure includes:

In-Hand Salary: Approximately ₹38,000 to ₹43,000 per month (varies by location)

Gross Salary Breakdown:

1. Basic Pay: ₹26,730 (Starting, including 2 advance increments for graduates)
2. DA (Dearness Allowance): Around 35–40% of basic pay (revised quarterly as per CPI)
3. HRA (House Rent Allowance): Depends on posting location (7.5% to 9%)
4. Transport Allowance, Special Allowance, and other perquisites

Total Annual CTC: Approximately ₹5.5 to ₹6.5 lakhs per annum initially

Additional Benefits: Medical facilities, pension under NPS, leave travel concession, and other employee welfare benefits.

English Language:

1. Reading Comprehension
2. Cloze Test
3. Spotting Errors
4. Sentence Improvement
5. Vocabulary (Synonyms, Antonyms)
6. Fill in the Blanks
7. Para Jumbles

Numerical Ability:

1. Number Series
2. Simplification/Approximation
3. Data Interpretation (Tables, Bar Graphs, Pie Charts)
4. Arithmetic Problems (Percentage, Profit & Loss, Time & Work, Speed & Distance, Simple & Compound Interest, Mixture & Allegation, Ratio & Proportion)

Reasoning Ability:

1. Puzzles and Seating Arrangement
2. Syllogism
3. Inequality
4. Blood Relations
5. Coding-Decoding
6. Direction Sense
7. Order and Ranking
8. Alphanumeric Series

Month 1: Foundation Building

1. Complete the entire syllabus for all three sections
2. Focus on basic concepts and fundamentals
3. Practice chapter-wise questions

Month 2: Practice & Speed Building

1. Take sectional tests to improve speed and accuracy
2. Focus on weak areas
3. Practice previous year questions
4. Learn shortcuts and tricks

Month 3: Mock Tests & Revision

1. Take full-length mock tests regularly (at least 2-3 per week)
2. Analyze your performance and work on mistakes
3. Revise important formulas and concepts
4. Focus on time management

Daily Schedule: Dedicate 4-5 hours daily with breaks

English Language:

1. Objective English by SP Bakshi
2. Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis
3. High School English Grammar by Wren & Martin

Numerical Ability:

1. Quantitative Aptitude by RS Aggarwal
2. Fast Track Objective Arithmetic by Rajesh Verma
3. Magical Book on Quicker Maths by M. Tyra

Reasoning Ability:

1. A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning by RS Aggarwal
2. Analytical Reasoning by MK Pandey

Previous Year Papers:

1. Kiran's SBI Clerk Prelims Solved Papers
2. Adda247 Publications

Online Resources: Oliveboard, Adda247, BYJU'S, Testbook

The cutoff varies by state, category, and number of vacancies. Based on recent exam trends:

Expected Cutoff (Out of 100 Marks):

1. General Category: 65 – 75 (can go up to 80+ in highly competitive states)
2. OBC Category: 60 – 70
3. SC Category: 55 – 65
4. ST Category: 50 – 60

State-wise Examples (2024):

1. Andhra Pradesh – 68.75
2. Karnataka – 72.5
3. Maharashtra – 74.5
4. Bihar – 47.25
5. Gujarat – 66.5
6. Tamil Nadu – 67.75

Factors Affecting Cutoff:

1. Number of vacancies
2. Total candidates appearing
3. Difficulty level of exam
4. State-wise competition

Safe Score: Aim for 75+ marks to stay above most cutoffs.

Note: These are expected figures based on recent official data; actual cutoffs are declared by SBI after the exam.

Yes, there is negative marking in the SBI Clerk Prelims exam.

Marking Scheme:

1. Each correct answer: +1 mark
2. Each wrong answer: -0.25 marks (1/4th of the allotted marks)
3. Unattempted questions: 0 marks (no penalty)

Strategy:

1. Avoid random guessing
2. Attempt questions you are confident about
3. If you can eliminate 2-3 options, calculated guessing may work
4. Focus on accuracy over quantity

With negative marking, attempting 70-75 questions with 90%+ accuracy is better than attempting 90 questions with 70% accuracy.

No, you cannot switch between sections during the SBI Clerk Prelims exam.

Exam Structure:

1. The exam has sectional timing
2. Each section has a fixed time limit of 20 minutes
3. Once the time for a section is over, you automatically move to the next section
4. You cannot go back to the previous section

Strategy:

1. Manage time effectively within each section
2. Attempt easier questions first
3. Don't spend too much time on any single question
4. Use the last 2-3 minutes to review and mark answers

After clearing the Prelims exam, candidates need to follow these steps:

1. Result Declaration: Prelims results are usually declared within 2-3 weeks
2. Mains Exam Call Letter: Shortlisted candidates receive their Mains admit card
3. Mains Examination: Appear for the SBI Clerk Mains exam (usually 2-3 months after Prelims)
4. Final Result: Based on Mains performance, final merit list is prepared
5. Provisional Allotment: Selected candidates are allotted to circles based on preferences
6. Document Verification: Submit original documents for verification
7. Language Proficiency Test: If required for the specific post
8. Final Joining: Complete formalities and join as Junior Associate

The entire process from Prelims to joining typically takes 6-8 months.

There is no limit on the number of attempts for the SBI Clerk exam.

Conditions:

1. You must meet the age criteria (20-28 years) at the time of each notification
2. You must fulfill the educational qualification requirements
3. There is no restriction on how many times you can appear

Age Relaxation:

1. OBC: 3 years
2. SC/ST: 5 years
3. PWD: 10 years
4. Ex-servicemen: As per rules

This means candidates can attempt the exam multiple times within the age limit, giving them several opportunities to qualify.

No, there is no interview for the SBI Clerk (Junior Associate) post.

Selection Process:

1. Prelims Examination (Qualifying)
2. Mains Examination (Final Selection)
3. Language Proficiency Test (if required)

The final selection is based solely on the marks obtained in the Mains examination. This makes the selection process completely objective and transparent.

Note: This is different from SBI PO, which has an interview stage as part of the selection process.

As an SBI Clerk (Junior Associate - Customer Support & Sales), your responsibilities include:

Customer Service:

1. Opening new accounts (Savings, Current, Fixed Deposits)
2. Issuing cheque books, demand drafts, and pay orders
3. Processing cash deposits and withdrawals
4. Handling customer queries and complaints

Sales:

1. Cross-selling bank products (loans, credit cards, insurance)
2. Meeting monthly/quarterly sales targets
3. Customer relationship management

Back Office Work:

1. Data entry and documentation
2. Account maintenance
3. Processing various bank transactions
4. Record keeping and file management

Working Hours: Typically 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM (may vary by branch)

Career Growth: Promotion opportunities to Officer cadre through internal exams