Pre- exam analysis of SBI PO 2014: Examination Structure & Pattern, Cut-off Marks (SBI PO-2013).

SBI-PO is one of the toughest examinations to crack  in entry level bank examinations organized by SBI Group. Team CATAspirants has analyzed this very examination in all possible dimensions and transform the achieved results in form of this blog On demand of many readers and aspirants. We hope that This blog will add certain values in your knowledge bank and try to satisfy all your doubts and queries regarding this very examination.

Examination Structure and Question Pattern:

As per the official notification released by SBI for recruitment of Probationary Officers, the recruitment will take place with the help of online examination and Group Exercise & Personal Interview. 

1. Online Preliminary Examination (Objective Test).

2. Online Mains Examination (Objective Test).

3. Phase III: Personal Interview Round

The marks obtained in the Preliminary Examination (Phase-I) are not added for the selection and only the marks obtained in Main Examination (Phase-II) and Interview (Phase-III) are added for the preparation of the final merit list. Final selection will be made on the basis of candidate's performance in the main examination and the Phase-III.

Phase-I: Preliminary Examination consisting of Objective Test for 100 marks will be conducted online. The test will have of 3 Sections (with separate timings , 20 minutes for each section) as follows:

Subject	Marks
English Language	30
Quantitative aptitude	35
Reasoning ability	35

Selection criteria for Main Examination: 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.

Phase-II: Main Examination will consist of Objective Tests for 200 marks and Descriptive Test for 50 marks. Both the Objective and Descriptive Tests will be online. Candidates will have to answer Descriptive test by typing on the computer. Descriptive Test will be administered immediately after completion of the Objective Test.

(i) Objective Test: The objective test of 3 hours duration consists of 4 Sections for total 200 marks. The objective test will have separate timing for every section.

Subject	Marks
Reasoning & Computer Aptitude	45
Data Analysis & Interpretation	35
General/ Economy/ Banking Awareness	40

English Language

35

(ii) Descriptive Test: The Descriptive Test of 30 minutes duration with two questions for 50 marks will be a Test of English Language (Letter Writing & Essay).

Penalty for Wrong Answers (Applicable to both – Preliminary and Main examination):

There will be penalty for wrong answers marked in the Objective Tests. For each question for which a wrong answer has been given by the candidate one fourth of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted as penalty to arrive at corrected score. If a question is left blank, i.e. if no answer is marked by the candidate, there will be no penalty for that question. Selection criteria for Group Exercise and Interview: Category wise merit list will be drawn on the basis of the aggregate marks scored in the Main Examination. Candidates numbering up to 3 times (approximately) of the category wise vacancies will be shortlisted for the Group Exercise & Interview from the top of the merit list subject to a candidate scoring minimum qualifying score in aggregate.

Phase – III: Group Exercises (20 marks) & Interview (30 marks) Candidates qualifying for GE & Interview under 'OBC' category would be required to submit OBC certificate containing the 'Non Creamy layer' clause. Candidates not submitting the OBC certificate containing the 'Non Creamy layer' clause and requesting to be interviewed under General category will not be entertained.

Final Selection:  The marks obtained in the Preliminary Examination (Phase-I) will not be added for preparing the final merit list for selection. Only the marks obtained in Main Examination (Phase-II), both in Objective Test and Descriptive Test, will be added to the marks obtained in GE & Interview (Phase-III) for preparing the final merit list. The candidates will have to qualify both in Phase-II and Phase-III separately. Marks secured by the candidates in the Main Examination (out of 250 marks) are converted to out of 75 and marks secured in Group Exercises & Interview (out of 50 marks) are converted to out of 25. The final merit list is arrived at after aggregating converted marks of Main Examination and Group Exercises & Interview out of 100. The selection will be made from the top merit ranked candidates in each category. Results of the candidates who qualify for Main Examination and Group Exercise & Interview as well as the final select list will be made available on the Bank's website. 

Cut-off Marks: SBI PO-2013

A.  Marks of last candidate in Objective papers for evaluation of Descriptive paper:

Category	GEN	OBC	SC	ST	OH	VH
Marks	108	93	82	70	73	70

B. Marks of Last Candidate in respective category called for GD-PI Round:

Category	GEN	OBC	SC	ST	OH	VH
Marks	151	137	128	116	118	132

Important Observations/ Findings:

1. Sectional Cut-off marks: No sectional cut-off marks, cut-off will be decided on aggregate marks only. 

2. Objective Cut-off marks for evaluation of descriptive paper have been decided by Bank.

3. Much emphasis on English language: One sectional paper and one descriptive paper are included exclusively for testing English language aptitude of candidates. Control over the English language will be decisive factor in this examination. Essay writing, Precis and letter writing will be component of descriptive paper.

4. High Cut-off marks:  One has to be accurate & precise and has good speed to solve problems. 

We all know that speed with accuracy only comes with regular practice :)

Best Regards.

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