The SBI PO Exam 2025 is a highly anticipated recruitment drive conducted by the State Bank of India (SBI) to fill 600 Probationary Officer (PO) vacancies. With the prelims exam scheduled for March 8, 16, and 24, 2025, candidates are eager to understand the paper’s difficulty, key answers, expected cutoffs, and what lies ahead. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the SBI PO Prelims 2025, including sample questions, predicted cutoffs, next steps after selection, mains exam and interview timelines, and a detailed syllabus for preparation. Whether you’re an aspirant or a curious reader, this guide has everything you need to know about the SBI PO 2025 recruitment process.
SBI PO Prelims Exam 2025: Paper Analysis
The SBI PO Prelims 2025 kicked off today, March 8, 2025, marking the first of three scheduled dates (March 8, 16, and 24). Based on initial feedback from candidates and experts, here’s a detailed paper analysis of the prelims exam conducted on March 8, 2025, at 10:37 AM PST.
Exam Pattern Overview
The prelims exam is a 1-hour online test with 100 marks, divided into three sections:
- English Language: 30 questions, 30 marks, 20 minutes
- Quantitative Aptitude: 35 questions, 35 marks, 20 minutes
- Reasoning Ability: 35 questions, 35 marks, 20 minutes
There’s a negative marking of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer, and no sectional cutoff applies—only an overall cutoff determines qualification.
Section-Wise Analysis
1. English Language
- Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate
- Key Topics: Reading Comprehension (10 questions), Cloze Test (5-7 questions), Error Detection (5 questions), Sentence Rearrangement (5 questions), Fill in the Blanks (3-5 questions)
- Good Attempts: 22-25 questions
- Observations: The Reading Comprehension passage was based on a financial topic, making it relatable for banking aspirants. Error detection questions were straightforward, while sentence rearrangement required careful attention.
2. Quantitative Aptitude
- Difficulty Level: Moderate
- Key Topics: Data Interpretation (10 questions, including Pie Chart and Tabular DI), Simplification (5-7 questions), Number Series (5 questions), Quadratic Equations (5 questions), Miscellaneous (Arithmetic – 8-10 questions)
- Good Attempts: 20-23 questions
- Observations: DI sets were calculation-intensive but manageable. Simplification questions were a scoring opportunity, while arithmetic questions (profit-loss, time-speed) tested conceptual clarity.
3. Reasoning Ability
- Difficulty Level: Moderate to Difficult
- Key Topics: Puzzles and Seating Arrangement (15-20 questions, including Linear and Circular Arrangements), Syllogism (5 questions), Inequality (5 questions), Blood Relations (3 questions), Coding-Decoding (3-5 questions)
- Good Attempts: 18-22 questions
- Observations: Puzzles dominated the section, with one complex floor-based puzzle. Syllogism and inequality questions were direct, offering relief to time-pressed candidates.
Overall Difficulty and Good Attempts
- Overall Difficulty: Moderate
- Total Good Attempts: 60-70 questions
- Time Management: Candidates reported that 20 minutes per section was sufficient for English but tight for Reasoning and Quant due to lengthy puzzles and calculations.
For a detailed shift-wise analysis, visit Career Power’s SBI PO Exam Analysis.
Key Answers with Sample Questions
While the official SBI PO 2025 answer key will be released later on sbi.co.in, unofficial keys from coaching institutes provide early insights. Below are sample questions from the March 8 exam with probable answers based on expert feedback.
Sample Questions and Answers
English Language
- Question: Find the error in the sentence: “The company have launched a new product last week.”
- Answer: “have” should be “has” (subject-verb agreement).
- Question: Cloze Test: “The ___ of technology has transformed banking services.”
- Options: (a) advent, (b) decline, (c) delay, (d) rejection
- Answer: (a) advent
Quantitative Aptitude
- Question: What will come in place of the question mark in the series: 2, 5, 11, 23, ?
- Logic: Pattern is (x2 + 1): 2×2 + 1 = 5, 5×2 + 1 = 11, 11×2 + 1 = 23, 23×2 + 1 = 47
- Answer: 47
- Question: A boat travels 18 km upstream in 3 hours and 24 km downstream in 2 hours. Find the speed of the boat in still water.
- Answer: Upstream speed = 18/3 = 6 km/h; Downstream speed = 24/2 = 12 km/h; Boat speed = (6 + 12)/2 = 9 km/h
Reasoning Ability
- Question: In a row of 10 people, A is 4th from the left. What is A’s position from the right?
- Answer: Total = 10, Left position = 4, Right position = 10 – 4 + 1 = 7
- Question: Syllogism: All cats are dogs. Some dogs are rats. Conclusion: Some rats are cats.
- Answer: Not necessarily true (conclusion doesn’t follow).
For more practice, download SBI PO Previous Year Papers from Testbook.
Expected Cutoff for SBI PO Prelims 2025
The expected cutoff for SBI PO Prelims 2025 depends on factors like exam difficulty, number of candidates, and vacancies (600 this year). Since there’s no sectional cutoff, the overall score matters. Here’s a predicted range based on today’s exam and historical trends:
Expected Cutoff (Out of 100)
| Category | Expected Cutoff (Marks) |
|---|---|
| General | 58-63 |
| OBC | 54-58 |
| SC | 48-52 |
| ST | 42-46 |
| EWS | 56-60 |
- Note: These are tentative figures. The official cutoff will be released with the prelims result on sbi.co.in.
- Comparison: Last year’s cutoff for General was 59.25, suggesting a slight increase due to moderate difficulty and fewer vacancies.
Check previous year cutoffs at Bankers Adda.
If Selected: What’s the Next Step?
If you qualify for the SBI PO Prelims 2025, congratulations! Here’s what happens next:
- Result Declaration: Prelims results are expected in late March or early April 2025 on the official website.
- Mains Exam Call Letter: Qualified candidates can download their mains admit card from sbi.co.in about 10-15 days before the exam.
- Prepare for Mains: Shift focus to the mains syllabus, which is more extensive and includes a descriptive test.
When is the SBI PO Mains Exam 2025?
The SBI PO Mains Exam 2025 is tentatively scheduled for April or May 2025, as per the official notification released on December 26, 2024. The exact date will be confirmed closer to the prelims result. The mains exam consists of:
- Objective Test: 200 marks, 3 hours
- Descriptive Test: 50 marks, 30 minutes
Stay updated via Shiksha’s SBI PO Exam Dates.
Interview Dates for SBI PO 2025
The SBI PO Interview 2025, part of Phase III (Psychometric Test, Group Exercises, and Interview), is expected in May or June 2025. This phase includes:
- Psychometric Test: Qualifying in nature, assesses personality traits.
- Group Exercises: 20 marks
- Interview: 30 marks
The final merit list combines mains (75% weightage) and interview (25% weightage) scores. Monitor Jagran Josh for updates.
Syllabus for SBI PO Mains and Interview Preparation
SBI PO Mains Syllabus
The mains exam tests deeper knowledge across four sections plus a descriptive paper. Here’s the detailed syllabus:
1. Reasoning & Computer Aptitude
- Reasoning: Puzzles, Seating Arrangement, Data Sufficiency, Direction Sense, Logical Reasoning
- Computer Aptitude: Flowcharts, Binary Conversions, Basic Hardware/Software, Internet, MS Office
2. Data Analysis & Interpretation
- Bar Graphs, Line Graphs, Pie Charts, Tabular DI, Caselets, Probability, Permutation & Combination
3. General/Economy/Banking Awareness
- Current Affairs (last 6 months), Banking Terms, RBI Policies, Budget, Economic Survey, Financial Markets
4. English Language
- Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, Grammar, Para Jumbles, Essay Writing (Descriptive)
5. Descriptive Test
- Letter Writing (Formal/Informal)
- Essay Writing (Topics like Digital Banking, Financial Inclusion)
Download the full syllabus PDF from Adda247.
Interview Preparation Syllabus
- Personal Questions: Background, Education, Work Experience
- Banking Knowledge: SBI’s Role, Banking Products, NPAs, Digital Banking Trends
- Current Affairs: National/International Events, Government Schemes
- Personality Traits: Leadership, Teamwork, Problem-Solving
Practice with mock interviews at Guidely.
Conclusion
The SBI PO Exam 2025 prelims on March 8 showcased a balanced paper with moderate difficulty, setting the stage for a competitive cutoff. Aspirants should now gear up for the mains exam in April/May 2025 and the interview in May/June 2025 by mastering the syllabus and staying updated. For more resources, explore Testbook’s SBI PO Prep or Career Power. Best of luck in your journey to becoming an SBI Probationary Officer!
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