SBI Clerk Exam Pattern 2025: Prelims & Mains Detailed Guide

The SBI Clerk 2025 notification has been officially released to recruit Junior Associates (Customer Support & Sales). The State Bank of India is offering approximately 14,191 vacancies for the position of Junior Associates, making it one of the most anticipated exams in the realm of government banking. The selection process comprises two main stages: the Prelims and the Mains, followed by a Language Proficiency Test, which is conducted after qualifying both rounds. Understanding the exam pattern of SBI Clerk is crucial for aspirants aiming to crack the exam. SmartKeeda provides an in-depth analysis of the latest SBI Clerk exam pattern, helping the aspirants elevate their preparation for both Prelims and Mains.

SBI Clerk Prelims Exam Pattern 2025 (Phase I)

Let’s understand the SBI Clerk exam pattern. SBI Clerk Recruitment starts with Phase 1, which is the Preliminary Exam. It is basically the screening round to shortlist applicants for the next round, which is the Mains Exam. Both SBI Clerk Prelims and SBI Clerk Mains examinations follow a similar pattern, but they differ in difficulty level. The difficulty level of the Mains exam is higher than that of the Prelims exam.

There are a total of 100 questions in the Prelims Exam. The Prelims exam is divided into 3 sections: English Language, Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude. Each section has a designated time limit within which it must be completed. With these time constraints, it becomes crucial to practice with the help of Mock Tests. SmartKeeda’s platform offers a wide range of them, including Bank Mock Tests for Prelims, Sectional Tests, and Live Mocks. You name it, we have it!

SBI Clerk Notification 2025

Highlights of SBI Clerk Prelims Exam Pattern 2025 

Below are the key highlights of the SBI Clerk exam pattern for the Prelims.

•    The total number of questions is 100.
•    The Prelims exam is of 100 marks.
•    As mentioned earlier, there is a sectional time limit of 20 minutes.
•    For every wrong answer, there is a penalty of 1/4th of the assigned marks, which means 0.25 marks are deducted for every incorrect answer.
•    There are no minimum qualifying marks for individual subjects or the overall score.
•    As per the exam pattern of SBI Clerk, candidates are shortlisted based on their combined scores in descending order. A certain number of candidates from each category, roughly ten times the number of openings, subject to availability, will be shortlisted for the Main Examination.

SBI Clerk Mains Exam Pattern 2025 (Phase II)

Below are the key highlights of the SBI Clerk exam pattern for the Prelims.

After qualifying in the Preliminary Exam, the candidate has to appear for the Mains Exam, which is the second stage of the recruitment process. As specified earlier, both exams follow the same syllabus and pattern. The Mains Exam is considered to be more difficult than the Prelims.

Understanding the SBI Clerk exam pattern is crucial for aspirants, as the Mains stage introduces additional subjects. The Mains exam also includes a General/Financial Awareness section, and Reasoning & Computer Aptitude is combined into one section. There are a total of 190 questions in the Mains Exam. Using SmartKeeda’s Mains-specific mock test can help aspirants tackle the SBI Clerk exam pattern effectively.

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Important Points to Remember for SBI Clerk Mains Exam Pattern 2025

• The total number of questions is 190.
• The total marks for the Mains exam are 200.
• Like Prelims, Mains also has a sectional timing for each section. 
•  For every wrong answer, there is a penalty of 1/4th of the assigned marks, which means 0.25 marks are deducted for every incorrect answer, like Prelims. 
• The candidates must attain the minimum aggregate percentage, with a relaxation of 5% for SC/ST/OBC/PWD/XS candidates.
• There are no minimum qualifying marks in each section.
• The lowest aggregate qualifying marks shall be decided by the bank.
• The merit list shall be prepared category-wise and state-wise.
• The shortlisted candidates in the main examination will be arranged in descending order of their aggregate marks in the concerned state and categories.

Section-Wise Breakdown: Prelims & Mains Exam ​​​​​​​

Here is a complete breakdown of the SBI Clerk Prelims Exam Pattern 2025:

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Here is a complete breakdown of the SBI Clerk Mains Exam Pattern 2025:

Negative Marking & Time Allocation for SBI Clerk 2025

• Both Prelims and Mains exams have a penalty of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer.
• There are no marks deducted for unattempted questions.
• The Prelims exam has a time limit of 60 minutes which is divided equally among the sections, giving you 20 minutes for every section
• The Mains exam also has a time limit, which is 2 hours and 40 minutes.

SBI Clerk 2025 Exam: Changes & Updates from Previous Years

• No Sectional Cut-off Marks for SBI Clerk Prelims 2025: This change was introduced by SBI this year. The official notification states that "No minimum qualifying marks for individual subjects are prescribed. Although this is a piece of good news for the aspirants, it is solely in the hands of the organization to change it further.
• Introduction of Sectional Timing in Prelims: Before 2019, there was no sectional timing for the SBI Prelims exam and the candidates could allocate their time freely across the sections. Since the introduction of sectional timing in Prelims, managing time effectively in each section has become more challenging for candidates.
• Fluctuation in Cut-Off Marks Trends: Cut-off marks, every year, vary significantly from the previous year. For example, the 2023 cut-off for Gujarat was 51.50, whereas in 2022, it was 72.25. This variation depends on factors like difficulty level, competition and number of vacancies announced that year.
• Emphasis on Computer Aptitude: The Reasoning section now includes Computer Aptitude since digital literacy is one of the most important skills when it comes to banking.
• Language Proficiency Test (LPT): SBI has introduced the LPT requirement to ensure that the candidates are proficient in the local language of their posting location.

These modifications reflect the evolving SBI Clerk exam pattern, making it essential for aspirants to stay updated with the latest trends. Changes such as introduction of sectional timing and fluctuating cut-off marks considerably impact the exam pattern of SBI Clerk.

To be fully prepared for any new change that SBI introduces, it is important for the aspirants to practice sectional and full-length mock tests with the help of Smartkeeda Mock Tests to hone their time management skills.

Attempt Free Mock test SBI Clerk Mains​​​​​​​

Preparation Tips Based on SBI Clerk Exam Pattern 2025

The key to cracking SBI Clerk exam in 2025 is having a well-structured study plan. By being consistent, practicing regularly and concentrating on their areas of weakness, aspirants can have a better shot at getting selected as the Junior Associate in SBI.

1. Study Schedule. ​​​​​​​ 

• Make a complete study schedule that includes every topic from all the sections.
• Initially, focus on Prelims preparation, as its syllabus forms the foundation for Mains.
• Since the syllabus for both Prelims and Mains is almost the same, prioritize core subjects before allocating time to the additional subjects in Mains.
• Once you are well-versed in the core topics, you may start making time for the additional subjects that are in Mains, that is General and Financial Awareness and Computer Aptitude.​​​​​​​Recognize the syllabus and rank the topics.

2. Recognize the syllabus and rank the topics.

• To increase efficiency, familiarize yourself with the entire syllabus.
• Concentrate more on high-scoring and commonly questioned topics.

3. Practicing with Previous Year’s Papers.

• The SBI Clerk Exam pattern keeps evolving, as we have already discussed. To be prepared for any new changes, getting comfortable with the exam structure and identifying repeated & high frequency questions is important.​​​​​​​
• It is advised to go through at least previous 5 years papers to truly understand the difficulty level and the types of questions that are asked.

4. Attempt Mock tests

• SBI Clerk 2025 is one of the most competitive banking exams, and practicing with mock tests is the best way to enhance your preparation.
• Once you are thorough with the entire syllabus, start practicing with the help of Mock Tests regularly to increase your speed, reduce your reaction time, and maintain accuracy throughout the exam.
• Smartkeeda provides various full-length Mock Tests, Live Mock Tests and Sectional Mock Tests which will help you build confidence in your preparation.

5. Focus on Your Weak Areas

• As you start practicing with the help of Mock tests, you will start recognizing which subjects and topics are challenging.
• Regularly track progress in those areas by practicing targeted questions.
• With Smartkeeda’s Mock Tests, you get a detailed analysis of your performance where you can easily find the areas where you need to focus.

6. Current events and banking awareness

• To stay up to date with new developments in the banking sector, make it a practice to read newspapers every day and keep up with financial news.
• Current Awareness is a game changer in the Mains Exam, so it is advised to give it importance right from the start of your preparation.
• Make sure to cover current affairs from at least the last six months before the exam, as they are crucial for the General Awareness section.
• Smartkeeda’s Current Affairs Mock Drill 2025 can be a valuable resource to elevate your preparation.

​​​​​​7. Analyze & Avoid Silly Mistakes

• Keep a note of the mistakes made during mock tests, especially careless errors, so you become more aware of them and can consciously avoid repeating them in future mocks and the actual exam.

8. Taking Regular Breaks

• Various studies have pointed out that study sessions are more productive when there are brief breaks in between.
• This enhances focus and helps avoid mental exhaustion caused by rigorous studying.

9. Create and Edit Brief Notes

• For quick revision before Mock Tests and the actual exam, having small notes on important formulas or vocabulary comes in handy.​​​​​​