SBI PO Exam Pattern 2025: Pre, Mains, GD and Interview

Understanding the SBI PO exam pattern is crucial for aspirants. With this, you can gain insights into the:

• Total number of papers 
• Number of subjects
• Marking scheme: Maximum marks, negative marking, etc.
• Number of questions
• Mode of the exam
• Language of the exam
• Overall and sectional timing

Thoroughly understanding the pattern of the SBI PO exam ensures you:

• Align your study materials perfectly with the current exam requirements.
• Prioritize high-weightage sections.
• Create a focused study plan.

Here’s a breakdown of the new SBI PO pattern and syllabus as per the latest official notification. 

SBI PO Pattern 2025

According to the official SBI PO notification, the selection procedure of the SBI PO 2025 exam is:

1. Phase 1 (Pre)
2. Phase 2 (Mains)
3. Phase 3 (Interview)

Let’s start with understanding the official SBI PO Phase 1 pattern.

SBI PO Pre Pattern 2025

We have broken the prelims pattern of SBI PO 2025 into subjects, questions, marks, and duration.

Number of Subjects in SBI PO Prelims 2025

The SBI PO prelims exam consists of 3 subjects:

1. Reasoning Ability
2. English Language
3. Quantitative Aptitude.

Number of Questions in SBI PO Prelims 2025

The number of questions varies by subject:

• Reasoning Ability: 30 questions 
• English Language: 40 questions 
• Quantitative Aptitude: 30 questions 

Maximum Marks in SBI PO Prelims 2025

Each question carries 1 mark, so the maximum marks for each subject are:

• Reasoning Ability: 30 marks
• English Language: 40 marks
• Quantitative Aptitude: 30 marks

Time Duration in SBI PO Prelims 2025

You’ll get a total of 1 hour to complete the SBI PO prelims exam, 20 minutes for each subject:

• Reasoning Ability: 20 minutes
• English Language: 20 minutes
• Quantitative Aptitude: 20 minutes

I have summarized the above information in the table below.

Important Note: PwBD candidates, with 40% or more disability, who have physical limitations to type/write including that of speed shall be allowed compensatory time of 20 minutes per hour of the examination whether availing the facility of a scribe or not.

Additional Details of SBI PO Prelims Exam Pattern 2025

Below, I have mentioned the additional details of the SBI PO prelims pattern:

Mode of Exam of SBI PO Prelims 2025

• The SBI PO Phase 1 exam is conducted in online mode.
• Candidates are required to tick the right answers on a computer screen.

Paper Structure of SBI PO Prelims 2025

• SBI PO Prelims exam consists of objective-type multiple-choice questions (MCQs).

Nature of SBI PO Prelims 2025

• SBI PO Phase 1 is qualifying in nature.

Paper Language of SBI PO Prelims 2025

• The exam is offered in Hindi and English languages, except for the English Language test which is solely in English.
• You can answer the questions in either English or Hindi based on their language preference. 

Total Number of Questions of SBI PO Prelims 2025

• There are a total of 100 questions.
• Each question is worth 1 mark, making it a total of 100 marks for 100 questions.

Total Marks of SBI PO Prelims 2025

• The total marks for the SBI PO Phase 1 exam are 100.

Cut-Off Marks of SBI PO Prelims 2025

• The overall cut-off marks are decided as per the calling ratio.
• Please note that there are no sectional cutoff marks in the SBI PO Phase 1 (preliminary) exam.

Negative Marking of SBI PO Prelims 2025

• There is a 1/4th negative marking, i.e., 0.25 marks are deducted for each incorrect answer.
• No marks are deducted if a candidate leaves a question unattempted.

The above details have been summarised below.

Candidates who achieve the minimum qualifying marks (overall as well as section-wise) set by SBI in the Prelims exam are eligible to appear for Phase 2 (Mains).

Find the right tips to customize your own SBI PO preparation strategy.

SBI PO Mains Pattern 2025

Mains is the second stage of the SBI PO exam pattern. It consists of 2 papers:

Objective Paper of SBI PO Mains

The objective paper consists of 4 subjects:

• Reasoning & Computer Aptitude 
• Data Analysis & Interpretation 
• General/ Economy/ Banking Awareness 
• English Language

Descriptive Paper of SBI PO Mains

The descriptive paper consists of an English language test. 

As per the official notification, here is the SBI PO mains pattern:

Important Note: PwBD candidates, with 40% or more disability, who have physical limitations to type/write including that of speed shall be allowed compensatory time of 20 minutes per hour of the examination whether availing the facility of a scribe or not.

Additional Details of SBI PO Mains Exam Pattern 2025

Here are some other essential details of the SBI PO 2025 mains pattern.

Mode of Exam of SBI PO Mains 2025

• The SBI PO Phase 2 exam is conducted online.
• You will answer objective questions by selecting answers on the screen
• You will respond to descriptive questions by typing your answers using the keyboard.

Paper Language of SBI PO Mains 2025

• The exam is offered in Hindi and English languages, except for the English Language test and descriptive paper, which are solely in English.

Total Marks of SBI PO Mains 2025

• The total marks for the SBI PO Phase 2 exam are 250.

Cut-Off Marks of SBI PO Mains 2025

• SBI PO cut off marks are decided as per the calling ratio.
• Please note that there are no sectional cutoff marks in the SBI PO Phase 2 (mains) exam.

Negative Marking of SBI PO Mains 2025

• There is a 1/4th negative marking for each incorrect objective answer.
• No marks are deducted if a candidate leaves a question unanswered.
• No negative marking for descriptive questions.

To make it easy for you, I have summarised this information below.

Candidates who qualify in SBI PO Phase 2 are then shortlisted for a psychometric test, group discussion, and interview. This stage evaluates the candidate’s knowledge, skills, and suitability for the SBI Probationary Officer role. 

Here you can find out the detailed SBI PO salary including in-hand salary, CTC, allowances, and perks.

SBI PO Interview Pattern 2025

• The SBI PO interview is the final stage of the selection process for candidates who have successfully cleared Phase 1 and 2 exams.
• Before understanding the SBI PO interview pattern, let’s take a look at the Psychometric test that candidates must undergo before appearing for the interview.

Psychometric Test for SBI PO 2025

SBI will conduct a Psychometric test for personality profiling, of those candidates who will be shortlisted for interview. The findings of the test may be placed before the interview panel to have a thorough perspective on the candidates. 

• Mode: The psychometric test is online. 
• Language: You can take the test in English only.
• Number of Questions: Expect 100-120 questions to assess your personality and behavioral traits.
• Marks: No marks are allotted for the psychometric test.
• Time: You’ll get 90 minutes to complete this test.  

Group Discussion for SBI PO 2025

Here is the group discussion pattern for the SBI PO 2025 exam:

• Mode: The interview is conducted in person at various exam centers.
• Language: You can take the interview in Hindi or English.
• Marks: The group discussion carries a weightage of 20 marks.
• Number of Persons in a Group: Usually there are 8 people in 1 group discussion. 
• Time The group discussion typically lasts between 10 and 30 minutes. 

Interview Pattern for SBI PO 2025

Here is the interview pattern for the SBI PO 2025 exam:

• Mode: The interview is conducted in person at various exam centers.
• Language: You can take the interview in Hindi or English.
• Number of Questions: The number of questions varies depending on the panel.
• Marks: The interview carries a weightage of 30 marks.
• Time: The interview typically lasts between 20 and 45 minutes. 

Final Selection as SBI PO

The final selection is based on the aggregate marks obtained in mains and interview (Group Discussion and Interview).

Here you can check the SBI PO result of prelims, mains, and final selection of a probationary officer.

SBI PO Pattern Change

The SBI PO mains exam pattern underwent some changes in the 2025 notification. 

SBI PO Prelims Changes

The SBI PO Prelims underwent some minor changes: 

Till 2023

Changes Introduced in 2025

• The number of questions in the Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude sections has decreased from 35 to 30 each.
• The number of questions in the English section has increased from 30 to 40. 
• Despite these changes, the total number of questions remains 100, with each question carrying 1 mark, making the total of 100 marks.
• Moreover, there has been no change in the overall and sectional durations. The total duration remains 60 minutes, with 20 minutes allocated to each section.

SBI PO Mains Changes

The SBI PO Mains also underwent some minor changes: 

Till 2023

Changes Introduced in 2025

Reasoning & Computer Aptitude

• Questions: 40 (same as previous)
• Marks: 60 (increased from 50)
• Time Allotted: 50 minutes (same as previous)

Data Analysis & Interpretation

• Questions: 30 (same as previous)
• Marks: 60 (increased from 50)
• Time Allotted: 45 minutes (same as previous)

General/Economy/Banking Awareness

• Questions: 60 (increased from 50)
• Marks: 60 (same as previous)
• Time Allotted: 45 minutes (same as previous)

English Language

• Questions: 40 (increased from 35)
• Marks: 20 (reduced from 40)
• Time Allotted: 40 minutes (same as previous)

Descriptive Paper

• This year, the descriptive section focuses on Communication Skills, including emails, reports, situation analysis, and précis writing, replacing the previous essay and letter writing format.
• The official notification does not mention the number of questions.
• Maximum marks remain the same, 50

These changes result in a more comprehensive test, with the overall number of questions rising from 155 to 170, but the total duration and maximum marks remaining consistent at 3 hours for the objective section and 30 minutes for the descriptive section.

SBI PO Syllabus 2025

Analyzing the SBI PO 2025 syllabus is crucial for aspirants. It helps you: 

• Understand the subjects and topics asked in the exam. 
• Identify recent changes, preventing you from missing out on newly added topics. 
• Ensure your study material is aligned with the current syllabus.

However, the official notification does not mention the detailed syllabus for the SBI PO exam. To save you time and effort, our team at EduTap has analyzed the SBI PO previous years questions (PYQs) and listed down the topic-wise syllabus of each subject of SBO PO pre and mains.

For a detailed syllabus, click on the link: SBI PO Syllabus. 

Conclusion

Understanding the SBI PO 2025 pattern and syllabus provides a roadmap for your preparation. This knowledge empowers you to start your preparation journey with confidence. By familiarizing yourself with the latest requirements, you can:

• Choose the right study materials 
• Prioritize high-weightage sections
• Develop a focused study plan