How to Prepare for SBI PO Exam 2024: The State Bank Of India (SBI) conducts the SBI PO exam each year, to recruit Probationary Officers. Graduates from across the country, aspiring for banking jobs appear for this exam, leading to a high competition. However, with a proper SBI PO preparation strategy and a subject-wise preparation plan, you can clear the exam with ease. In this article, we have listed the SBI Preparation Strategy for the Prelims and the Mains. 

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Syllabus of SBI PO Prelims & Mains 2024

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How to Prepare for SBI PO Exam 2024?

Before we get into subject-wise SBI PO preparation strategy and tips, you should go through the basic exam preparation strategies.

1. Understand the Exam Pattern

The first thing you should do is understand the SBI PO exam pattern. This will help you understand the marking scheme, type of questions, and subject-wise weightage for the exam.

2. Understand the Syllabus

To devise an effective SBI PO Preparation Strategy you must go through the exam syllabus to identify your strengths and weaknesses. Based on the same, curate a time table to cover the entire syllabus effectively. Allocate more time to the topics which you find difficult. Also, set aside slots for revision and practice.

3. Choosing the Right Study Material

Choosing the best books for SBI PO exam preparation is the most important part of your preparation strategy. Refer to the expert-recommended SBI PO study material and ace your exams. Choosing the right study material is going to avoid wastage of your preparation time.

4. Practice using SBI PO Previous Year Papers

It is important to spend a good amount of time practicing on a daily basis. There are a lot of ways in which you can practice your concepts. Solve the SBI PO Previous year papers, and solve various sample papers, so as to get acquainted with the paper pattern.

5. Attempt SBI PO Mock Tests

Imagine doing so much hard work, but freezing while actually writing your paper in the examination hall! Well, to avoid this, we suggest you attempt the free SBI PO mock test here and get a hang of solving the paper in an exam-like environment. More so, SBI PO mock tests help you to identify the weak areas so that you can work on them more.

6. Revision is a Must

Revision is a crucial key to cracking SBI PO on the first attempt. Consistent revision and practice will help you gain an edge over the concepts of the subjects. Revise all the important topics well.

Section-wise Preparation Strategy For SBI PO Prelims & Mains

There is a fixed time to attempt each section in the exam. In order to attempt the maximum number of questions to make it to the cut off list, you must have a clear strategy to attempt each section while appearing for the SBI PO exam.

1. SBI PO Preparation Strategy for Quantitative Aptitude

This section is common for both SBI PO Prelims & Mains 2024. Only the difficulty level of the questions in both levels varies as one can expect higher-order questions for mains. Check out the SBI PO Quant preparation strategy to ace this section.

• The Quantitative Aptitude section is a scoring section provided that you practice this section with a proper strategy.
• There is a myth among the aspirants that it is difficult to ace this section, hence they ignore the Quantitative Aptitude Section during exam preparation, which is a mistake.
• Let us break the myth by understanding the Important topics under the quantitative section.
• The most common topics under the SBI PO Quantitative Aptitude Section includes-
  • Percentages
  • Profit And Loss
  • Time And Distance
  • Quadratic Equation
  • Simplification and Approximation
  • Number Series
  • Data Interpretation
  • Time And Work
  • Mixture And Alligation
  • Simple Interest And Compound Interest
  • Mensuration
  • Probability
  • Data Interpretation
• The best way to prepare is to command over the basics as clearing the basics will set you apart from all other aspirants. After having a good grip on basics learn the shortcuts to solve the questions which will come in handy during the exam.
• To begin with, learn Vedic Maths since Vedic Maths consists of shortcuts for calculation which are important to solve questions in a faster way.
• After your calculation speed is increased try to cover the basic chapters like percentages, number system, and profit & loss which will act as basics for the rest of the miscellaneous chapters.
• Try to solve topics like mixture allegation, time & work multiple times as questions from this section are more frequently asked.
• The most important topic in Quants is Data Interpretation, the only way to master it is through continuous practice and application of Vedic maths concepts that you have learned earlier.

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Some Generalized Preparation strategy For SBI PO Quantitative Aptitude Section Is As follows -

• No tricks are present to master topics like Number Series and Missing Numbers. One needs to solve varieties of patterns to get accustomed to questions being asked in exams
• Get the squares and cubes of Numbers under your fingertips.
• Solve at least 40-50 questions every day and analyze the mistakes you commit during preparation and write them down separately in a notebook and glance through the mistakes on a regular basis.
• After you are done with the syllabus and preparation start giving the mocks and analyze each mock which will give you an idea of where do you stand.
• Remember practice is the key to success in this section and try to attempt at least 25 questions in the examination with 100% accuracy.

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2. SBI PO Preparation strategy for Reasoning Section

• The reasoning section is also common for both Prelims & Mains. Again a slight difficulty level can be observed during the times of Mains Exam. Here are some of the SBI PO Reasoning preparation strategy sections.
• The most tricky and most important sections of the banking exam are the reasoning section.
• Let us see the important topics under the SBI PO Reasoning section.
  • Syllogism
  • Puzzles
  • Seating arrangement
  • Coding and Decoding
  • Inequality
  • Input-output
  • Series-based questions (Alphanumeric and Numeric)
• Solving mock tests and SBI PO previous year questions can help you with your exam preparation to great extent.
• The rest of the reasoning topics are a bit easy, but it will still require a lot of practice.
• Under the underlying concepts of syllogism and alphanumeric/numeric series questions. Also learn the tricks associated with it.
• Inequality is one of the easiest sections in reasoning so during preparation make sure you finish topics like these as soon as possible.
• Input and Output Problems are new types of questions being framed recently which is a tricky section.

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Some Generalized Preparation Strategy for the SBI PO Reasoning Section include -

• Solve 40-50 questions on a regular basis.
• Solve all the previous year's questions and Mock Tests.
• Don't waste more than 3 minutes on puzzles and arrangements, move ahead if you find any difficulties.
• Always begin with easier topics like syllogism and inequalities so that you increase your confidence in the Examination.
• Always set a timer while practicing and note your speed every time.

3. SBI PO Preparation Strategy for General English

General English is again common for both SBI PO Prelims and Mains. Candidates need to prepare themselves for a higher level of English questions for mains exam than in the prelims exam.

• To ace this section the first and foremost thing you need to do is develop a reading habit.
• Note down all the important words you come across while reading any editorials for magazines
• In this way, your reading skills get sharpened every day and you will come across new words every day.
• Try to include the new words learned in day-to-day life so that you remember the words learned.
• Glance through grammar rules and also give lots of mocks which will provide you with an exam-like environment.
• Practice a lot of Reading Comprehension & Cloze Tests so that you increase your speed to solve those questions.

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Some Generalized Preparation Strategy for SBI PO English Includes-

• Do not try to guess in English, for example- if you are not sure of any of the words, do not attempt it.
• Don't spend much time on Reading comprehension in the examination, as it will consume your time and you will not get time to solve other sections.
• Topics requiring the application of grammar rules are easier and try to attempt them first.
• Practice Mocks and Previous Year Questions On a Regular Basis.
• You can go through the SBI PO Books to enhance your preparation further

4. SBI PO Preparation Strategy (Mains) for General Financial Awareness/Computer Aptitude

• The game-changer sections are the GA and Computer Awareness Sections.
• To ace this section you need to have consistency, i.e. you need to learn things from the beginning.
• Note down important current affairs on a regular basis in a separate notebook creating separate sections for sports, national & international news.
• Try to give mocks & Tests for Current Affairs so that you will be able to recapture most of the news for a longer duration.
• For computers, aptitude goes through the previous year's questions to understand the type of questions being asked in the examination.

How to Prepare for SBI PO Descriptive Paper?

SBI PO Mains Paper also consists of a descriptive paper that carries 50 marks. The time allocated for descriptive paper is 30 mins. It consists of questions on Essay writing and Letter writing. In order to get their descriptive paper evaluated the candidate must qualify for the objective paper of SBI PO Mains. The candidates can refer to the following tips to excel in their SBI PO Descriptive paper:

• Since the paper is conducted in an online format, candidates should try to improve their typing speed.
• Candidates should be thorough with the formats of formal letters.
• Inculcate reading habits, which will help you build a strong vocabulary and write better.
• Do extensive writing practice on topics asked previously and also on the currently trending issues.
• Also, try to improve your grammar and minimize spelling mistakes with extensive writing practice.

How to Prepare for SBI PO Interview?

On the basis of marks obtained in the SBI PO Mains Exam 2024, a merit list of selected candidates is prepared and only those candidates are called for the interview process. It is the last stage of the SBI PO Recruitment process. Final Merit is prepared on the basis of marks obtained in the Mains exam and Interview process. In order to ace the interview and confirm your selection follow the tips given below:

• Keep yourself updated with current affairs and topics related to banking awareness.
• You should be aware of your strengths and weaknesses.
• Practice answering questions with confidence and clarity.
• Try to predict questions based on your job profile and frame good answers beforehand.
• You should be thorough with the finance terms, the function of financial institutions and banking terminology.
• Work on improving your speaking skills by practicing with family members or by standing in front of a mirror.
• Try to learn new strong and formal words.

SBI Preparation Strategy - 5 Mantras

• Prepare Proper Notes so that you are able to understand the concepts.
• Revise those Notes Properly So that the concepts remain intact.
• Practice Questions On a Regular Basis.
• Analyze The Mistake Which You Have Committed
• Make a Note Of Your Progress On a Regular Basis.

Hopefully, this article on How to Prepare for SBI PO Exam was informative for all the SBI PO aspirants. For the preparation of such government job exams, candidates can download the Testbook App.