The SBI PO 2025 notification has been officially released, and it brings with it a golden opportunity for thousands of aspirants dreaming of a career in the banking sector. Every year, lakhs of candidates apply for this prestigious post, and with the announcement out, it’s time to gear up.
Understanding the SBI PO Selection Process 2025 and the detailed SBI PO Exam Pattern is now more important than ever. That’s why this article is here — to give you a clear, student-friendly breakdown of everything you need to know to crack this exam confidently.
Overview SBI PO Selection Process and Exam Pattern
If you’re dreaming of becoming a Probationary Officer (PO) in India’s largest bank, State Bank of India (SBI), understanding the SBI PO Selection Process 2025 and SBI PO Exam Pattern is your first and most important step.
The recruitment of SBI POs is highly competitive and is conducted in three main phases – Prelims, Mains, and Interview. In this article, we will break down each phase, provide clarity on the SBI PO Exam Pattern, and explain the selection process in the simplest way possible.
SBI PO Selection Process 2025
The SBI PO Selection Process 2025 is a three-tier process:
- Phase I – Preliminary Examination
- Phase II – Main Examination (Objective + Descriptive)
- Phase III – Psychometric Test, Group Exercise & Interview
Each phase is a step forward in your journey towards a prestigious banking career. Let’s understand each phase one by one.
Phase I – SBI PO Prelims Exam Pattern
This is the first stage and is of qualifying nature. The marks from this stage won’t count towards your final selection. It’s only meant to screen candidates for the next round.
SBI PO Prelims Exam Pattern 2025
| Section | No. of Questions | Marks | Time (per section) |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 40 | 40 | 20 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 1 hour |
Negative marking: 0.25 marks will be deducted for every wrong answer.
Candidates approximately 10 times the number of vacancies are shortlisted for Mains.
Phase II – SBI PO Mains Exam Pattern
This stage is the most crucial, as its marks are counted in the final merit.
SBI PO Mains Objective Test Pattern
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | 40 | 60 | 50 minutes |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | 30 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| General/Economy/Banking Awareness | 60 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| English Language | 40 | 20 | 40 minutes |
| Total | 170 | 200 | 3 hours |
SBI PO Mains Descriptive Test
| Test Type | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Letter & Essay Writing (English) | 50 | 30 mins |
The descriptive test is held immediately after the objective test.
There is a sectional cutoff and overall cutoff.
Phase III – Psychometric Test, Group Exercise & Interview
Candidates who clear the Main Exam are called for the final round, which includes:
- Psychometric Test (for personality profiling)
- Group Exercise (20 marks)
- Interview (30 marks)
Only candidates who qualify this round are considered for the final merit list.
Final Selection in SBI PO 2025
Final merit is calculated from marks obtained in:
- Main Exam (Objective + Descriptive) – 75 marks (after normalization)
- Group Exercise & Interview – 25 marks
Total Final Score: Out of 100
Candidates are selected category-wise from the top of the final merit list.
Key Points about SBI PO Selection Process 2025
Prelims is just qualifying – not counted in the final score
Mains and Interview are most important
Psychometric Test helps assess personality
Negative marking in both Prelims and Mains (0.25 marks per wrong answer)
Call letters are issued online only – no hard copy
Final selection is subject to verification of documents and medical fitness
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online Registration | 24 June – 14 July 2025 |
| Prelims Exam | July/August 2025 |
| Mains Exam | September 2025 |
| Phase III (Interview etc.) | October/November 2025 |
| Final Result Declaration | December 2025 |
FAQs
Q1. Is there any negative marking in SBI PO Exam?
Yes, 0.25 marks are deducted for each wrong answer in both Prelims and Mains.
Q2. Is the Prelims score added to the final merit?
No, only the marks from Mains and Interview are counted for the final selection.
Q3. Can final-year graduation students apply?
Yes, but they must have passed the degree before 30th September 2025.
Q4. What is the qualifying mark in the interview round?
It varies, as the bank decides minimum qualifying marks. The total marks for Group Exercise + Interview is 50, normalized to 25.
Q5. Is there sectional timing in SBI PO 2025?
Yes, each section in Prelims and Mains has a separate time limit.
