Clearing the SBI PO exam requires more than routine preparation – it demands a targeted, section-wise strategy that aligns with the evolving difficulty of both Prelims and Mains. With lakhs of aspirants competing each year, only those who strike a balance between speed, accuracy, and concept clarity make it to the final merit list. To score 85+, you must understand the exact requirements of each section and prepare with the right study material, consistent practice, and mock-test-driven improvement.
In this journey, GK Publications (GKP) offers some of the most trusted resources for SBI PO aspirants. From comprehensive SBI PO guides to topic-wise practice books, reasoning and quant workbooks, DI & DS practice sets, and full-length mock tests, GKP’s material is designed to match the latest exam pattern and question difficulty levels. Their books help aspirants strengthen fundamentals, practice exam-level questions, and analyse performance effectively – making preparation structured and result-oriented.
This blog gives you a complete section-wise strategy for SBI PO Prelims + Mains, along with the areas you must master, the mistakes to avoid, and how to combine smart preparation with reliable resources like those from GK Publications to maximise your score.
Understanding the SBI PO Exam Structure
Prelims Exam Pattern
The SBI PO Prelims is a qualifying stage. It includes three sections:
- Quantitative Aptitude – 35 questions
- Reasoning Ability – 35 questions
- English Language – 30 questions
Total: 60 minutes, sectional timing applies.
Cut-offs are not fixed, but to stay ahead of the competition, aim for 65–70 marks in Prelims.
Mains Exam Pattern
The Mains exam is more analytical and carries high weightage.
- Reasoning & Computer Aptitude – 45 questions (60 marks)
- Data Analysis & Interpretation – 35 questions (60 marks)
- General/Economy/Banking Awareness – 40 questions (40 marks)
- English Language – 35 questions (40 marks)
Duration: 3 hours, plus 30 minutes for the English Descriptive Paper.
Your target score should be 85 or higher, combined (Objective + Descriptive), to stay safe before interview shortlisting.
SECTION-WISE STRATEGY FOR PRELIMS
1. English Language (Prelims)
Although English is often considered the easiest section in Prelims, scoring high requires clarity and speed.
What to Focus On?
- Reading Comprehension (Story/Banking/Economy-based)
- Error Detection
- Cloze Test
- Para Jumbles
- Phrase Replacement
- Fill in the blanks
How to Ace It?
- Make reading a daily habit—editorials, blogs, business news.
- Practice solving RCs with inference-based questions since these now appear more frequently.
- Learn 20–30 grammar rules relevant to the exam (subject-verb agreement, modifiers, tenses).
- Attempt mini quizzes to boost accuracy.
Prelims Target: 22+ marks
2. Quantitative Aptitude (Prelims)
Speed and accuracy decide your score here. The challenge is clearing easy questions quickly so you have time for tougher ones.
Important Topics
- Simplification & Approximation
- Number Series
- Quadratic Equations
- Arithmetic (Age, Time & Work, CI-SI, Profit & Loss, Partnership, Mensuration)
- DI (Pie Chart, Bar Graph, Table)
Smart Strategies
- Memorize common fractions, squares, cubes, and tricks for fast calculations.
- Solve at least 2 DI sets daily.
- Build a strong foundation in arithmetic—most Mains questions are DI + arithmetic combined.
- Use timer-based practice to simulate exam speed.
Prelims Target: 25+ marks
3. Reasoning Ability (Prelims)
This is the highest-scoring section if you have clarity over puzzles and short reasoning tricks.
Key Topics
- Puzzles and Seating Arrangements (Linear, Circular, Box, Floor-based)
- Syllogism
- Inequality
- Blood Relations
- Direction Sense
- Coding-Decoding
- Alphanumeric Series
How to Master?
- Begin your section with inequality, syllogism, direction sense, and coding-decoding for quick marks.
- Practice 5–6 puzzles daily (mixed difficulty).
- Learn the Venn diagram approach for accurate syllogism solving.
- Revise shortcut methods for sequences and alphanumeric patterns.
Prelims Target: 25–27 marks
SECTION-WISE STRATEGY FOR MAINS
The Mains exam demands depth, analytical thinking, and strong reading ability. The level of questions is significantly higher than Prelims, so your preparation needs to be concept-based rather than trick-based.
1. Reasoning & Computer Aptitude (Mains)
This section tests your ability to approach complex logical structures efficiently.
High-Weightage Topics
- Advanced Puzzles (Variable + Multiple Constraints)
- Input-Output
- Machine Input
- Coding-Decoding (New Pattern)
- Statement & Conclusion
- Data Sufficiency
- Critical Reasoning
- Computer Basics (Input-output devices, OS, memory, networking basics)
How to Score High?
- Focus on the quality of practice rather than quantity.
- Solve high-level puzzles from books and online mock tests.
- Focus on Critical Reasoning—assumptions, cause-and-effect, weaken/strengthen arguments.
- Improve reading speed because lengthy puzzle statements are common.
Mains Target: 20–28 marks
2. Data Analysis & Interpretation (Mains)
This is often the most challenging section, but also the most rewarding for those who practice regularly.
Important Question Types
- Caselet DI
- Radar/Spider Chart
- Missing & Mixed DI
- Arithmetic DI
- Data Sufficiency
- Probability
- Permutation & Combination
- Quadratic reasoning DI
How to Prepare?
- Solve 10–12 DI sets per week (medium + hard).
- Strengthen the arithmetic chapter-by-chapter (profit & loss, time & work, boat-stream, mixtures, etc.).
- Learn to interpret graphs quickly and extract data with minimal reading.
- Keep practicing sets involving percentages, averages, and ratio calculations.
Mains Target: 18–25 marks
3. General/Economy/Banking Awareness
This is the most scoring section in Mains because it does not require calculations—just accurate memory.
What to Study?
- Current Affairs of the last 6 months
- Banking terms (NPA, CRR, SLR, Repo Rate, Basel norms)
- Government Schemes
- Committees
- Economic Surveys
- Union Budget Highlights
- RBI circulars and reports
- International organizations and headquarters
Smart Preparation Strategy
- Revise current affairs daily and compile monthly PDFs.
- Make one notebook for quick last-day revision.
- Focus on banking awareness heavily—they ask at least 5–10 direct banking questions.
- For economy, read summary notes instead of long articles.
Mains Target: 25–30 marks
4. English Language (Mains)
The Mains English section tests comprehension, reasoning, tone, vocabulary, and contextual understanding.
Key Topics
- Reading Comprehension (Long passages)
- Para Summary
- Para Completion
- Sentence Connectors
- Cloze Test (New pattern)
- Word Usage
- Inference & Vocabulary
How to Score?
- Read business newspapers daily—this directly improves Mains performance.
- Practice long-form RCs with economy, finance, and abstract themes.
- Maintain a vocabulary journal for idioms, phrases, tones, and author opinions.
- Solve previous year questions to understand the level.
Mains Target: 22–26 marks
5. Descriptive English (Letter + Essay)
This is often ignored, but it can boost your overall Mains score.
How to Prepare?
- Learn the formats of formal letters (complaint, inquiry, feedback, suggestion).
- Practice essays on trending topics such as:
- Digital banking
- Financial literacy
- Cyber security
- Social media impact
- Sustainable growth
- Work on structuring paragraphs well (intro → body → conclusion).
- Practice typing quickly and accurately.
Descriptive Target: 18–22 marks
FINAL 30-DAY PLAN TO SCORE 85+
1. Daily Routine
- 2 hrs Reasoning (Mains-level puzzles)
- 2 hrs DI + Arithmetic practice
- 1 hr English RC + Vocabulary
- 1 hr Banking + Current Affairs
- 1 Mock Test daily (Prelims or Mains, depending on phase)
2. Weekly Routine
- Analyse mock tests thoroughly.
- Revise difficult question sets.
- Update GK notes.
- Attempt full-length Mains mocks on weekends.
3. Mock Test Strategy
- Take at least 20 Prelims mocks + 15 Mains mocks.
- Focus more on analysis than test-taking.
CONCLUDING WORDS
Scoring 85+ in SBI PO is absolutely achievable when you follow a structured, section-wise preparation approach. The key is consistency, smart strategy, and the right practice material. Focus on concept clarity, time management, and regular mock test analysis. With disciplined preparation and a balanced plan for both Prelims and Mains, you can easily stay ahead of the competition and move closer to your dream of becoming an SBI Probationary Officer.
