We are reposting SBI PO study plan we have prepared for preliminary exam, since today is the last date to apply for it. Time is ticking away, start your preparations before its too late!
SBI recruitment has always been an awaited occasion for the aspiring candidates. Being the best public sector bank in India, SBI PO exams along with excitement and joy brings tension too 😛
Since the SBI PO exam pattern has changed last year, aspirants are still confused as to how to prepare for their exam.
We are sure that by now many of you would have already completed your online registrations for SBI PO exam. With Prelim exams in about two months, candidates have lot of questions regarding the new exam pattern, what to study and how to study for SBI PO exam? how much time to devote for which topic?
We are at your help with detailed study plan for SBI PO exam, to cover all topics within 8 weeks. But first we will look at what is the syllabus for the Prelims.
In case you are late to this post, we have got you covered — you can easily combine topics in the table below to cover more in one week!
SBI PO Preliminary Exam Syllabus
- Exam would be of 1 hour
- It will consist of 100 questions
- 3 Sections Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning and English
Note : General Awareness/Computers/Marketing are not part of Prelims
Quantitative Aptitude section will have 35 questions from below topics :
| Numbers | Number System, HCF & LCM, Simplification, Number Series |
| Arithmetic | Averages & Alligations, Ratio & Proportion, Age Problems, Percentage, Profit & Loss, Simple Interested, Compound Interest, Speed, Time & Distance, Time & Work |
| Geometry | Areas, Perimeters, Volumes |
| Modern Maths | Probability, Permutations and Combination |
| DI | Data Interpreatation, Data sufficiency |
All student should note that DI is very likely to be a part of Quantitative Aptitude for Prelims. Many PO exams refer to DI as a part of Quantitative Aptitude section including IBPS PO exam. So we expect DI to be included in Quantitative section.
Reasoning Section will have 35 questions from below topics :
| Analytical Reasoning | Seating Arrangements, Grouping, Matching, Selection, Syllogism |
| Verbal Reasoning | Blood Relations, Input-Output, Coding-Decoding, Critical Reasoning (Statement – Conclusion, Arguments, Assumptions, Courses of Action), Venn Diagrams, Direction Sense |
| Non Verbal Reasoning | Probability is less as this topic has not been asked in recent PO exams. |
English section will have 30 questions from below topics :
| Reading Comprehension |
| Grammar |
| Sentence Correction |
| Parajumbles |
| Cloze Test, Fill in the Blanks |
| Vocabulary |
Note : Candidates should get cut-off marks decided by bank in each section individually and on overall total.
Books for SBI PO Preliminary Exam Preparation
After the syllabus you will need books that will help you in preparations along with our posts. Some of the books with good feedback have been listed below as per the sections.
For Quantitative Aptitude
- Quantitative Aptitude by R.S. Agarwal – Buy on Flipkart or Buy on Amazon
- Arihant’s Fast Track Objective Arithmetic – Buy on Flipkart orBuy on Amazon
- Advance Maths for General Competitions by Paramount Reader Publications – Buy on Flipkart or Buy on Amazon
For Reasoning
- Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning by R S Aggarwal – Buy on Flipkart or Buy on Amazon
- Analytical Reasoning by M K Pandey – Buy on Flipkart or Buy on Amazon
- Logical and Analytical Reasoning (English) 1st Edition by A.K Gupta – Buy on Flipkart or Buy on Amazon
For English
- English Grammar by Wren and Martin – Buy on Flipkart or Buy on Amazon
- Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis – Buy on Flipkart orBuy on Amazon
- Objective General English by S P Bakshi – Buy on Flipkart or Buy on Amazon
- Quick learning Objective General English by RS Aggarwal & Vikas Aggarwal – Buy on Flipkart or Buy on Amazon
As per the new SBI PO exam pattern, it is compulsory to clear preliminary test to be shortlisted for Main Tests. Considering that we have given you study plan for the Prelims to concentrate on it and clear it with flying colors.
SBI PO Study Plan
8 week detailed SBI PO study plan is shown below as per syllabus and importance of topics. Study Plan tells the approximate time(in hours) to be spent per topic.
Note :
- Study Plan has number of hours per week (not per day) and assuming 25% of time for reading and preparation while 75% of time for practicing the topic.
- Text color code shows the expected number of questions according to importance of topic.
- Prelim practice will help you for Main exam too. So study accordingly.
| Color Code | Expected Number of questions (0-3) | Expected Number of questions (4-6) | Expected Number of questions (>6) |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Reasoning | English | |
| Week 1 | Number Systems, Simplification, Number Series (5-6 hours) | Analytical Reasoning, Logical Inequalities (7-8 hours) | |
| Week 2 | Averages & Alligations, Ratio & Proportion, Age Problems (5-6 hours) | Syllogism (2-3 hours) | Reading Comprehension + Vocabulary Practice (6-7 hours) |
| Week 3 | Percentage, Profit & Loss, Simple & Compound Interest (3-4 hours) | Blood Relations, Input-Output, Coding-Decoding (8-9 hours) | Grammar & Sentence Correction (3-4 hours) |
| Week 4 | Speed, Time & Distance, Time & Work (3-4 hours) | Statement – Conclusion, Arguments, Assumptions, Courses of Action (7-8 hours) | Parajumbles (2-3 hours) |
| Week 5 | Mensuration, Probability & Permutation and Combination (5-6 hours) | Venn Diagrams, Direction Sense, Non-Verbal Reasoning (2-3 hours) | Cloze Test, Fill in the Blanks (3-4 hours) |
| Week 6 | Data Interpratation and Sufficiency (9-10 hours) | 4-5 Full Length Mock Tests + Analysis (8-10 hours) | |
| Week 7 | 8-10 Full Length Mock Tests + Analysis (16-20 hours) | ||
| Week 8 | 8-10 Full Length Mock Tests + Analysis (16-20 hours) | ||
It is very important to practice Mock test to increase your speed and accuracy. Hence couple of days have been dedicated only for practicing full length tests.
So enjoy your preparations using this SBI PO Study Plan.
PS : We will post detailed Study Plan for SBI PO Mains once we are through with Prelims.
kalyani says
Hi,
thank you so much