SBI PO Exam Pattern 2018: Changes in Exam Pattern |

SBI PO New Exam Pattern 2018:

SBI has already released the official notification for the recruitment process of Probationary Officers and the preliminary examinations are scheduled to be held in the first week of July. Well, the notification came as a bliss to some while others jumped out of their skin having seen the changes introduced in the pattern of SBI PO Prelims Examination to be conducted this year.

You all must be aware of the striking modifications made by SBI in the Pattern of Examination by now. As these changes were already introduced in the pattern of SBI Clerk Examination, it was expected that a more or less same pattern will be introduced in the SBI PO and other IBPS Examinations. The changes introduced are for the Prelims Examination pattern whereas the pattern of Mains Examination, to your aid, still remains the same. This year’s SBI PO Pre Examination has two major pattern changes in it, i.e., sectional timings (20 minutes for each section) for the three different sections (English, Reasoning, and Quants) and to your relief, elimination of sectional cut off as SBI Notification clearly says, “Category wise merit list will be drawn on the basis of the aggregate marks scored in the Preliminary Examination. Candidates numbering approximately 10 times the numbers of vacancies in each category will be short listed for the Main Examination from the top of the merit list.” So, this is just an overview of what SBI has newly introduced to the pattern of PO Mains Examination that we will be discussing about in this article as we proceed further.

This is how the new pattern of SBI PO 2018 Examination looks like:

SBI PO Preliminary Examination Pattern 2018:

Sr.No.	Name of Tests	No. of Qs	Maximum Marks	Duration
1	English Language	30	30	20 minutes
2	Quantitative Aptitude	35	35	20 minutes
3	Reasoning Ability	35	35	20 minutes
	Total	100	100	1 hour (60 minutes)

SBI PO Main Examination Pattern 2018:

Serial Number	Section	No. of Question	Max. Marks	Duration
1.	English Language	35	Total Max. Marks 200	40 minutes
2.	Data Analysis and Interpretation	35		45 minutes
3.	Reasoning Ability and Computer Aptitude	45		60 minutes
4.	General/Financial Awareness	40		35 minutes
	Total	155		3 hours

Now, in prelims examination, students have to finish each of the three sections within a time limit of only 20 minutes. Earlier, students used to spend 25-27 minutes (on an average) on this section, but unfortunately, that is not going to be the case this time. As SBI has already restricted the time to do this particular section to just 20 minutes, one really needs to break her/ his back in order to attain good or satisfactory marks in Quantitative Aptitude Section. Whereas one gets enough of the time to solve the questions efficiently, i.e., 20 minutes for 30 questions. Earlier, students used to have a mindset of doing with the English section within 10-15 minutes and thereby solving the questions of the Quantitative Aptitude or the Reasoning Ability Section that are comparatively complex and time-consuming. But to your dismay, all these strategies won’t be working anymore.

So, all that you need to do is to have a better pre planned strategy so that you are not a bundle of nerves while dealing with the SBI PO Prelims Exam. One really needs to plan her/ his preparations in a way that she/ he is able to handle the examination pressure with poise. One should also be happy that there is no sectional cut-off for this year’s SBI PO Examination, so, you need not worry about qualifying the sectional cut-off. Even if you are weak in a particular subject, you can score fairly well in the section that you are good at without having to worry about the sectional cut off of the section you are not so good at.

One should always keep in mind that the pattern of IBPS Examinations is always a simulacrum of SBI Examinations. Observing the pattern of IBPS 2016 as well as 2017 Examinations, we can conjecture that IBPS followed the pattern of questions asked in SBI only. So, students, it is very probable this year that the pattern of questions, too, will be similar to that of the questions asked in SBI. And students, now you have to start to work even harder for the new pattern of SBI PO Exam, not only for SBI, but for IBPS Exams as well.

So students, practice as much as you can and success will be wrapped around your little finger. At the end of the day, you are solely responsible for your success and your failure. And the sooner you realize that, accept that, and integrate that into your work ethic, you will start being successful.

Best of luck!!