A Comprehensive Overview of the SBI PO Syllabus for the Year 2024

The State Bank of India is expected to release the notification for SBI PO 2024 soon, making it the perfect time to kickstart your preparation. Before diving into your study plan, it’s essential to have a clear understanding of the detailed SBI PO Syllabus 2024. As with most banking exams, the Prelims phase focuses on three primary sections: Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning Ability, and English Language the foundational pillars of success in this phase. For the Mains phase, the challenge intensifies with the addition of General Awareness, particularly in Banking and Financial Awareness.
In this blog, we will provide a comprehensive breakdown of the SBI PO Syllabus 2024 to help you strategize effectively, strengthen your grasp on key topics, and prepare confidently to achieve success in this prestigious exam.

Comprehensive Overview of SBI PO 2024 Exam

The SBI PO 2024 exam, conducted by the State Bank of India, is one of the most sought-after competitive exams for recruiting Probationary Officers (PO) in one of the biggest state-owned financial institutions in India, SBI. The selection process is managed by IBPS (Institute of Banking Personnel Selection) and follows a comprehensive three-tier structure: Prelims, Mains, and a final phase consisting of a Group Discussion and Interview. The following table will provide you a brief overview of SBI PO 2024 exam:

An In-Depth Look at the SBI PO Exam Pattern for 2024

The SBI PO is a prestigious officer-level examination, and like other high-grade competitive exams, it follows a three-tier selection process: Prelims, Mains, and Interview. Each phase evaluates specific skills and knowledge to ensure only the most capable candidates advance to the next phase.
Below is a concise overview of the SBI PO 2024 exam pattern to help you understand its structure and prepare accordingly:

• Stage 1: Preliminary Examination (Objective Type) (100 Marks)

• Stage 2: Main Examination (Objective + Descriptive – 250 Marks) 

• Stage 3: Interview + Group Exercise (50 Marks)

The interview phase will assess your general awareness and banking and financial knowledge that you have gained throughout your preparation journey. This stage focuses on how effectively you can present your insights to the panel members while maintaining professionalism. The panel evaluates your ability to handle various situations confidently, your problem-solving approach, and your understanding of the banking sector's dynamics. Your confidence, communication skills, and decision-making ability will also play a crucial role in leaving a positive impression. 

SBI PO 2024 Exam Pattern

Detailed Breakdown of the SBI PO Syllabus for the Prelims Exam in 2024

The SBI PO Prelims is primarily a test of speed and accuracy, where your ability to solve questions quickly and correctly plays a pivotal role. The more accurate attempts you make within the given time, the higher your chances of clearing this round. To crack this phase, it’s crucial to master shortcuts, improve calculation speed, and develop strategies that help you solve questions in the minimum possible time.
Here's detailed Breakdown of the SBI PO Syllabus for Pre exam 2024, including key topics and preparation strategies:
English Language
Important topics for English section for SBI PO Syllabus for Pre include Reading Comprehension, Error Detection, Sentence Rearrangement, Cloze Test, and Fill in the Blanks.

• Reading Comprehension is a major scoring area; focus on improving reading speed and understanding context. Practice passages on diverse topics like economy, social issues, and technology.
• For Error Detection and Sentence Correction, strengthen your grammar basics, especially tenses, prepositions, and subject-verb agreement.
• Attempt sectional mock tests and topic tests to identify weak areas and improve time management.

Reasoning Ability
Key topics for the reasoning ability section for SBI PO Syllabus for Pre exam 2024 include Puzzles, Seating Arrangement, Inequality, Syllogism, and Blood Relations.

• Puzzles and Seating Arrangements often carry a significant weight; practice various patterns like linear, circular, parallel and floor-based setups.
• Master Inequality, Syllogism, coding decoding by learning the basic rules and solving questions as these are the most scoring and time saving topics.
• Develop a step-by-step approach to reasoning problems and avoid assumptions unless stated in the question.

Quantitative Aptitude
Essential topics for Quant section for SBI PO Syllabus for Pre include Simplification, Data Interpretation (DI), Profit and Loss, Time and Work, and Number Series.

• Start with Simplification and Number Series to build calculation speed and accuracy. Use shortcut techniques like approximation for quick results.
• For Data Interpretation, practice different type of DI question sets such as bar graphs, pie charts, and line graphs to improve analytical skills. You can visit Smartkeeda topic tests and attempt beginner to pro level questions for DI.
• Attempt quizzes for topics like Profit and Loss and Time and Work, and solve previous year questions in these topics to understand the type of questions you can expect.

Here is the detailed SBI PO 2024 syllabus for Prelims. You can click on the links provided to attempt topic-wise tests for each topic and enhance your understanding, progressing from beginner to pro level in these areas.

Key Components of the SBI PO Mains Syllabus for the Year 2024

The SBI PO Mains 2024 will challenge you with advanced-level English comprehension questions like paragraph central idea detection, sentence replacement etc., intricate data interpretation questions, and complex reasoning aptitude topics like data sufficiency and critical reasoning questions. Additionally, this phase includes banking and financial awareness section, requiring you to stay updated on the past three to six months' current affairs for a strong performance.
Here are the Key Components of the SBI PO Syllabus for Mains Exam 2024:

Best Data Interpretation Practice Book for Bank

Essential Topics Covered in the SBI PO Syllabus for the Main Exam in 2024

Apart from the basic topics covered in the SBI PO pre-exam, focusing on critical areas like Data Interpretation (DI), Critical Reasoning, and General & Financial Awareness will play a major role in securing a high score. These sections require dedicated practice and a solid understanding of concepts. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the key topics you need to focus on in the SBI PO Syllabus for Mains 2024:
Data Analysis & Interpretation (DI)

• Data Interpretation (DI) is a crucial section in SBI PO Syllabus for Mains, where you can score high marks if you focus on solving different types of DI questions. To improve, it's important to practice recognizing patterns and identifying solvable DI sets from different formats such as bar graphs, line graphs, tables, and caselet.
• Take sectional and topic-wise mock tests specifically for DI Section. This will allow you to understand different types of DI questions that can be framed in this exam. Attempt quizzes and review your mistakes carefully to avoid repeating them.
• Brush up on foundational arithmetic topics like percentage, profit & loss, time and work, time and distance, and basic algebra to ensure you can tackle any DI question that involves these concepts.

Reasoning & Computer Aptitude

• In the reasoning section, focus on puzzles of moderate difficulty since they often form a major part of the exam. Avoid wasting too much time on extremely difficult or time-consuming puzzles.
• Practice critical reasoning and logical reasoning regularly. Start with simple problems, and gradually progress to more complex ones. Attempt topic tests for each reasoning topic to practice this way.
• Utilize topic tests to familiarize yourself with a variety of question types, such as coding-decoding, input-output, and logical puzzles. Practice these regularly to increase your efficiency in solving them.

General/ Economy/ Banking Awareness
Smartkeeda provides a wide range of resources to help you ace the General Awareness and Financial Awareness sections for your SBI PO Syllabus for Mains such as Smart350 News, Monthly CA PDF, Smart Banking Awareness (BA) and Financial Awareness (FA) PDF, and Smart Topic-Wise PDF. To cover this section well, focus on the following points:

• Stay updated with the latest developments in banking, economy, and general knowledge. This is an essential part of the SBI PO Mains 2024 exam and can significantly impact your score.
• Smartkeeda's Current Affairs Mock Drill Quizzes offer an excellent way to prepare for this section. These quizzes cover key events from the past few months, ensuring you're up to date on relevant news and trends.
• Along with the quizzes, you will get access to Mock Drill PDFs, which provide concise summaries of important news. These summaries are designed to save you time while ensuring you retain key points related to banking and financial awareness.

Understanding the Structure and Requirements of the SBI PO Descriptive Test

The SBI PO Descriptive Test consists of two main components: Essay Writing and Letter Writing, and you will need to complete both within 30 minutes. The exam is conducted in an online mode, where you are required to type your answers directly on the screen. Both the letter and essay need to be written within the given word limit.
Key Requirements:

• Having a good typing speed is crucial for this section, as it will help you manage time effectively and ensure you complete both tasks within the given time frame. Additionally, relevance to the topic, proper format, and clear expression are key factors that can help you score well in this section.
• To score well, practice writing essays and letters on a variety of topics, focusing on maintaining the structure (introduction, body, and conclusion) and clarity in your thoughts. This will help you not only stay within the time limit but also present a well-organized and impactful response, ultimately earning you good marks in the SBI PO Descriptive Test.
• Incorporate numbers or statistics where relevant to make your essay more credible and impactful, but make sure they are accurate.
• End with a strong conclusion that leaves a lasting impression on the reader and invites further thought, tying together the main points of your essay or letter.