SBI PO Syllabus 2020: Complete Syllabus for Prelims & Mains

SBI PO Syllabus 2020: The SBI PO Notification is now out! Its time to gear up with your preparations. As SBI does not release a syllabus for the SBI PO Examination, we can conjecture by the questions asked in the previous years that the syllabus is really vast and tough. It is geared towards testing an aspirant’s versatility to solve complex questions in the most prolific manner. It incorporates all the important topics that one needs to prepare for the different sections of SBI PO Prelims as well as Main Examination.

Before you can begin your preparation in earnest, it is important that you have all the information. You will need several things before you are successful in cracking SBI PO 2020 examination. You will need to know Exam Pattern as well as the SBI PO Syllabus for SBI PO Prelims 2020. So let us take a look at the Detailed SBI PO Syllabus.

Exam Pattern for SBI PO 2020 Prelims Exam

SBI PO Detailed Exam Pattern

SBI PO Expected & Previous Year Cutoff

Exam Specifics of SBI PO 2020: SBI PO Syllabus

1. BILINGUAL TEST: Every section (except English Language) will be available in English as well as Hindi. So if you are more comfortable with Hindi, several types of questions might be easier to attempt in Hindi, than in English.
2. NEGATIVE MARKING: Each wrong answer takes a quarter of the marks assigned to that question from your total. The negative marking is small enough that if you are reasonably sure of an answer, you can take a chance and mark it. But be careful not to overdo it with guesses. Your accuracy could be the difference between selection and disqualification.
3. CUT-OFFS: There will be no sectional cut off. There will be sectional time limit in SBI PO Prelims 2018.

Detailed SBI PO Syllabus for SBI PO Prelims Exam 2020

Section-wise Index of SBI PO Syllabus & Guide for SBI PO Prelims 2020:

1. Quantitative Aptitude
2. Reasoning Ability
3. English Language

So without further ado, here is the SBI PO Syllabus for Prelims 2020 with Detailed Guide, Tips. Use this SBI PO Syllabus every time you study.

SBI PO Syllabus for Prelims 2020 – Quantitative Aptitude

PRIORITY SET 1 (Scoring, Easy to Solve, Less Time Consuming, High Accuracy Possible) – SBI PO Syllabus

1. Simplification: (5-10 Questions)
   Problems based on BODMAS Rule, Fractions, Percentages, Approximation, Decimals, Surds & Indices.
   Try these Tips: Simplification using BODMAS Rule

2. Number System: (0-1 Questions)
   Problems based on Divisibility & Remainder, Multiples & Factors, Integers, LCM & HCF.

3. Average: (1-2 Questions)
   Questions on Average Weight/Height/Age/Marks, Average Money expenditure, Average Temperature etc. You just need to use a single formula i.e. Average = (Sum of Quantities)/(Number of Quantities)

Try these Tips: Average Questions

4. Percentage: (1-2 Questions)
Calculation oriented basic percentage problems.

Try These Tips: Percentage Question

5. Ratio and Proportion: (1-2 Questions)
Problems based on Simple Ratios, Compound Ratios, Componendo & Dividendo, Proportions etc.

Try these Tips: Ratio and Proportion Questions

6. Interest: (1-2 Questions)
   Problems based on Simple Interest, Compound Interest as well as mixture of both SI & CI.
   Tips: Simple & Compound Interest Questions, Compound Interest Questions

7. Number Series: (5 Questions)
   Problems based on completing the Series, Finding the Missing Term, Finding the Wrong Term. The concepts behind this can be based on simple AP, GP, AGP or more complex patterns.
   Try These Tips: Number Series Question

PRIORITY SET 2 (Scoring, Easy if Concepts Clear & Steps Followed, Could be Tricky, Time Consuming) – SBI PO Syllabus

9. Profit and Loss: (1-2 Questions)
   Successive Selling, Partnerships, Discount & MP and Dishonest Dealings.
   Try These Tips: Quiz 1
10. Speed, Time and Distance: (1-2 Questions)
    Relative Speed, Average Speed, Problems based on Trains, Boat & Stream.
    Try this lesson: How to Solve Average Speed

10. Algebra: (0-6 Questions)
    Maybe 5 Problems based on Quadratic Equations in which two quadratic equations are given will be asked. You have to determine the relation between x and y. Apart from that Linear Equations questions based on ages may be asked, Sometimes Inequalities are also asked.

12. Mensuration: (1-2 Questions)
    Problems based on areas of Square, Rectangle, Circle, Semicircle and Parallelogram. Cone and Cylinder also asked.
    Try These Tips: Mensuration Two Dimensional Part I Questions, Mensuration Two Dimensional Part II Questions
13. Data Interpretation: (5-10 Questions)
    Problems come under this chapter are Line Graphs, Bar Graphs, Pie Charts, Tables and other miscellaneous infographics.  Triangular Graph & Radar Graph problems appear rarely. Missing data types questions are also asked in the exam.
    Tips: SBI PO Data Interpretation Preparation Tips

PRIORITY SET 3 (Tricky or Tough, More Time Consuming, Lesser Chance of Accuracy) – SBI PO Syllabus

13. Time and Work: (1-2 Questions)
    Problems based on Work Efficiency, Pipe & Cistern, Work and Wages.
    Tips: Time and Work Questions for Banking

14. Permutation and Combination: (0-1 Questions)
    Problems based on Basic Selection and Arrangement Problems.
    Tips: Complete guide to crack Permutation and Combination

PRIORITY SET 4 (Very Tricky/Tough, More Time Consuming, Less Likely to Appear in Paper) – SBI PO Syllabus

15. Mixture Problems: (1-2 Question)
    Problems based on making a mixture of two or more entities/mixtures.
    Tips: Mixture Problems Question

16. Probability: (0-1 Question)
    Very basic problems on probability.

17. Data Sufficiency: (0-5 Questions)
    Data sufficiency problems on almost all topics mentioned above.
    Try this Tips: Data Sufficiency Question

SBI PO Syllabus for Prelims 2020 – Reasoning Ability

PRIORITY SET 1 (Easy to Solve, Scoring, Less Time Consuming, High Accuracy Possible) – SBI PO Syllabus

1. Inequalities: (5 Questions)
   Mostly Direct Mathematical Inequalities. There may be 2-3 complex expressions like A > B ≥ C = D; E < B ≤ F. There may be 2-4 conclusions which are to be deduced from these statements. Coded inequalities problems may also be asked where relation between alphabets are coded such as A # B where # is actually code for > sign.
2. Ordering and Ranking: (0-5 Questions)
   Mostly Puzzle on ordering by age, floor, rank, boxes of different colours one above another, order in row etc.
3. Directions & Distances: (2-5 Questions)
   A bit difficult problems but can be solved by just plotting all the given information on paper.
4. Coding & Decoding: (0-5 Questions)
   Less Likely to Appear. Mostly questions on Coding and Decoding in Fictitious Language are asked where a few statements are given which are coded in some meaningless language and questions are based on this code. Possible questions could also include Coding and Decoding by Letter Shifting, Coding by Analogy and Coding Letters of a Word.

PRIORITY SET 2 (Scoring, Easy if Concepts Clear & Steps Followed, Could be Tricky, Not Very Time Consuming) – SBI PO Syllabus

5. Blood Relations: (2-3 Questions)
   Family Tree and Coded Blood Relation Problems.

6. Syllogisms: (0-5 Questions)
   Problems with 2-3 statements and 2-3 conclusions. Questions are asked whether the conclusions follow or not. Mostly Possibility based questions are asked. Negative statements and conclusion are also possible (i.e. which of the conclusions DO NOT follow from the given statements).

PRIORITY SET 3 (Tricky or Tough, More Time Consuming, Lesser Chance of Accurate Solving) – SBI PO Syllabus

7. Circular Seating Arrangement: (5-7 Questions)
   Includes Uni-Directional and Bi-Directional problems (i.e. facing inside, outside or in both directions). Sometimes, tough Square/Rectangular/Hexagonal Table problems also asked. These questions may be paired with Blood Relations or some other Double Line-Up information along with Circular Arrangement information which makes the problem more difficult and time-consuming.
   Tips: How to Approach Circular Arrangement Question

8. Linear Seating Arrangement: (5-11 Questions)
   Problems involving single row (usually, facing north/south) or 2 rows facing each other and floor-based questions. Can include Double Line-Up type problems with information sorting.
   Tips: How to Approach Linear Arrangement Question

9. Double Line Up: (0-6 Questions)
   May have negative information. Requires clean charting, proper technique and step-by-step solving.

10. Scheduling: (0-6 Questions)
    Very similar to Double Line-Up problems.

11. Grouping and Selection: (0-5 Questions)
    Less likely to appear. Problems on teams and committees asked.

SBI PO Syllabus for Prelims 2020 – English Language

PRIORITY SET 1 (Scoring, Easy to Solve, Less Time Consuming, High Accuracy Possible) – SBI PO Syllabus

1. Fill in the Blanks: (0-5 Questions)
   Double Blank type questions. Vocabulary based questions. Answers can be easily picked by eliminating options and understanding context of the sentence.
   Quizzes: Quiz 1, Quiz 2

PRIORITY SET 2 (Scoring, Moderately Time Consuming, High Accuracy Possible) – SBI PO Syllabus

2. Reading Comprehension: (7-10 Questions)
   Likely the RC will consist of one passage of 7-10 questions. The topics you should look out for are Banking & Economy, Business, Geo-politics, Governance, Education, Technology, Transport and Social Issues. If 10 questions are asked then there can be 3-4 questions on vocabulary too.
   Synonyms, Antonyms and meanings of Idioms/Phrases are asked in vocabulary based questions. Theme and main idea based questions are also asked. The fact based and inference based questions require a thorough reading of the passage and sometimes could be a bit tricky.
   Quizzes: Quiz 1, Quiz 2

3. Para Jumbles: (0-5 Questions)
   A set of 6 sentences are to be rearranged to form a meaningful paragraph. All questions will be based on this single test. Sometimes, the correct order is asked and the options will show whether you are on the right track. The passage can be on any general topic. Use of conjunctions/connectors will be helpful for attempting these questions.
   Tips: Parajumbles Concept & Questions,  Para Jumbles Question

4. Cloze Test: (5-10 Questions)
   A single passage with 5 or 10 blanks. Passage could be on any topic ranging from Banking & Economy to Social Issues. Words are usually easy to moderate and vocabulary based, but there is always one or two tough words. Understanding the context of the passage will help you solve it easily. Knowledge of Phrasal verbs will help you.
   Tips: Cloze Test Tips and Tricks to solve Cloze passage, Cloze Test Question

PRIORITY SET 3 (Moderately Scoring, Moderately Time Consuming, Moderate Accuracy Possible) – SBI PO Syllabus

5. Error Spotting: (5-10 Questions)
   Could most probably be grammar based (as vocabulary based error spotting was last asked in 2008). Long Sentences with error in one part are asked. Important topics covered are: Tenses, Subject-Verb Agreement, Article-Noun Agreement, Correct Part of Speech, Correct use of Prepositions, Parallelism, Phrasal Verbs, Easily Confusable Words, Contextual Usage, Sentence Construction, Degree of Comparison, Conjunctions, Finite and Non-finite verbs. Avoid guessing too much in these questions.
   Tip: Spotting Error Questions

PRIORITY SET 4 (Less Likely to Appear in Paper) – SBI PO Syllabus

6. Word Association Pair: (0-5 Questions)
Four words will be given and you need to determine which two words have either synonymous or antonyms relation between them. Your knowledge of vocabulary is tested.

7. Phrase Idiom Meaning: (0-3 Questions)
The phrases will be given and you need to select the correct meaning of the given phrase.
Quizzes: Quiz 1, Quiz 2

8. Spellings: (0-3 Questions)
You need to choose the word that is correctly spelt or wrongly spelt from the given options.

9. Sentence/ Paragraph Completion: (0-5 Questions)
A long sentence or a short paragraph will be given with one part of it missing. The missing parts will be mentioned in the options. You need to choose the correct option to complete the sentence or paragraph meaningfully.

10. Phrase Replacement/ Sentence Correction: (0-5 Questions)
Grammar/Vocabulary based. Avoid guessing too much in these questions. The questions sometimes test you on Standard Construction of Sentences, Order of Words, Phrasal Verbs, Homonyms, etc.

SBI PO Syllabus 2020 for Mains Exam

SBI PO Syllabus 2020: Important Links