The recruitment committee of the State Bank of India (SBI) holds the responsibility of releasing the SBI Clerk Syllabus 2023. Candidates who are looking to prepare for the SBI clerical recruitment exam should know and understand the syllabus thoroughly.
The syllabus of SBI Clerk is designed to assess the knowledge and skills of applicants in a range of topics. It is important for applicants to be aware of the topics included in the syllabus and to prepare adequately for the examination. It is also important to note that the exam pattern and some portions of the syllabus are different for preliminary and main exams. Go through this post to know all aspects of the SBI Clerk Syllabus.
SBI Clerk Exam Pattern and Syllabus 2023
The selection process for the SBI clerk exam consists of the following two stages.
- Preliminary Exam
- Main Exam
Most of the topics in the syllabus for both exams are similar. However, the main exam has an extra section for General Awareness.
Both exams will take place in online mode and only objective-type multiple-choice questions will be asked. Check out the complete SBI Exam Pattern 2023 in the following table.
| Preliminary Exam – 60 Minutes | ||
| Subjects | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks |
| English Language | 30 | 30 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 35 |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 |
| Total | 100 Questions | 100 Marks |
| Main Exam – 160 Minutes | ||
| Subjects | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks |
| English Language | 40 | 40 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 50 | 50 |
| Reasoning Ability and Computer Aptitude | 50 | 60 |
| General Awareness | 50 | 50 |
| Total | 190 Questions | 200 Marks |
SBI Clerk Preliminary Exam Syllabus 2023
The syllabus of the preliminary exam consists of only three sections – English, Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning Ability. Let’s check the topics included in each of the sections.
Syllabus for English Language – 30 Questions
The English Language section includes topics such as grammar, vocabulary, comprehension, and sentence completion. Here is the number of questions expected from each topic.
| Topics | Expected Number of Questions |
| Reading Comprehension | 5 to 10 Questions |
| Spotting Errors | 5 to 10 Questions |
| Cloze Test | 5 to 10 Questions |
| Sentence Improvement | 5 to 7 Questions |
| Fill in the Blanks | 5 to 7 Questions |
| Para Jumbles | 4 to 5 Questions |
| Vocabulary | 5 to 10 Questions |
Syllabus for Quantitative Aptitude – 35 Questions
The Quantitative Aptitude section includes topics such as number series, data interpretation, simplification, and algebra. Check out the details below.
| Topics | Expected Number of Questions |
| Number Series | 5 Questions |
| Data Interpretation | 5 to 10 Questions |
| Quadratic Equations | 4 to 5 Questions |
| Simplification/ Approximation | 5 to 10 Questions |
| Miscellaneous Arithmetic Question | 10 to 15 Questions |
Check: SBI PO syllabus
Reasoning Ability Syllabus – 35 Questions
Here is the expected distribution of questions among various topics of Reasoning Ability.
| Topics | Expected Number of Questions |
| Puzzles and Seating Arrangement | 10 to 15 Questions |
| Syllogism | 4 to 5 Questions |
| Inequality | 4 to 5 Questions |
| Alphanumeric & Numeric Series | 5 to 10 Questions |
| Coding & Decoding | 4 to 5 Questions |
SBI Clerk Main Exam Syllabus
The syllabus of the Main Exam for SBI Clerk is similar to that of the Preliminary Exam. However, there are some extra topics that you need to study. Plus, the level of the questions will be a bit tougher in the main exam.
The subject-wise topics in the SBI Clerk Main Exam are given in the following table.
| Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus | Simplification, Data Sufficiency, Number Series, Quadratic Equation, Data Interpretation, Mixture and Allegations, Ratio & Proportion, Averages, Percentages, Simple and Compound Interest, Profit & Loss, Partnership, Time & Distance, and Work. |
| General English Syllabus | Reading comprehension with Synonyms and Antonyms, Cloze Test, Fillers, Spelling Checks, Sentence Correction/ Error Finding, Sentence rearrangement or Para jumbles. |
| General/ Financial Awareness Syllabus | Static GK – Country capital, Country-currency, Dance forms, Constituencies of ministers, Headquarters of financial organisations (of insurance companies), Nuclear and thermal power stations, etc. General Awareness – Current Affairs, Awards and honours, News on the banking industry, Latest appointments, Books and authors, New schemes of central and state governments, Obituaries, Sports, etc. Static AwarenessBanking/ Financial TermsBanking and Financial Awareness |
| Reasoning Ability Syllabus | Statement and Assumptions, Ranking, Coding-Decoding, Puzzles, Inequalities, Direction Sense, Blood Relation, Syllogism, Machine Input and Output. |
| Computer Awareness Syllabus | Input-Output Devices, MS Office, Internet, Networking, DBMS, Important Abbreviations |
Tips to Prepare for SBI Clerk Examination
Here are some tips to help you prepare for the SBI Clerical Cadre Examination
- Practise is the key to success – First, make sure to practise as much as possible. Taking practise tests and familiarising yourself with the types of questions you will be asked in the exam is essential.
- Make a timetable – Create a timetable and stick to it. Set aside a specific amount of time each day to study and make sure you work on your weaknesses.
- Prepare Mentally: It is important to be mentally prepared for the exam. Make sure you get a good night’s sleep before the exam and arrive early on the day of the exam. Eat a healthy breakfast and take a few moments to relax and clear your mind before the exam.
Check: CTET syllabus
Best Books for SBI Clerk Preparation
There are many good books available in the market for SBI Clerk Exam Preparation. Here are a few of them.
- English Language – Objective English for Competitive Examination by Hari Mohan Prasad and Uma Sinha
- Numerical Ability – Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by R S Aggarwal
- Reasoning Ability – A New Approach to Reasoning Verbal and Non-Verbal by Arihant Publication
- General/ Financial Awareness – Banking Awareness by Arihant Publication
Frequently Asked Questions
Both English and Hindi.
No, the competition level is very high. You need to prepare well for the exam.
Yes, 0.25 marks will be deducted for an incorrect answer.
Yes, the newly appointed clerks need to work on probation for at least six months.
