State Bank of India Probationary Officer 2014 Tips and Tricks

For those of you aspiring for a banking career, the Sate Bank of India Probationary Officer recruitment may just be the perfect launching pad. As the last date for application approaches here is a glance at the SBI PO 2014 exam paper pattern and tips that will help you clear it.

Paper PatternThe SBI PO recruitment will be held in two Phases. Phase-I will consist of the written examination and Phase-II will include a Group Discussion and Personal Interview. Only candidates clearing Phase-I exam will move on to Phase-II.

The Phase-I examination will comprise of an Objective Test for 200 marks and a Descriptive Test for 50 marks. Aspirants will be required to attempt both Phase-I exams in succession; first the two hour duration computer based Objective Test followed by the one hour paper based Descriptive Test. Negative marking is applicable for the Objective Test.

The Objective Test will be divided into the following sections:1. English Language (Grammar, Vocabulary, Comprehension etc)
2. General Awareness, Marketing and Computers
3. Data Analysis and Interpretation
4. Reasoning

The Descriptive Test will test the English language writing skills of the aspirant and will ask the writer to attempt a short precis, letter writing or essay etc.

Candidates will be required to secure passing marks in each section of the Objective Test and in the Descriptive Test. The passing marks will be decided by the bank authorites. 

Tips

• As negative marking is applicable its important to attempt only the questions you are sure about
• The English language section includes questions based on un-seen passages, antonyms, synonyms, understanding vocabulary, fill in the blanks, finding the error in a statement, jumbled up questions
• Revise your basic grammar skills by referring to Grammar Book such as Wren and Martin
• Listen to English news and practice speaking in English, apart from helping you prepare for the Group Discussion and Interview, this will improve your language skills and help you notice language errors
• Glance through a thesaurus to understand and revise antonyms, synonyms and learn more vocabulary
• The General Awareness, Marketing and Computer section is one of the most scoring and can also be completed quickly if you have had thorough preparation
• Questions from the General Awareness, Marketing and Computer generally come from banking knowledge, current affairs, computer knowledge, operating systems, computer hardware and software and basics of marketing
• Study from a recent general knowledge book and basic books on computers and marketing, focus on understanding the essentials
• Data Analysis and Interpretation will test your mathematical and analytical skills
• Common questions for the Data Analysis and Interpretation are based on Number Systems, Fractions, Ratio and Proportion, Timea and Work, Percentage, Profit and Loss, Problems on Ages, Simple Interest and Compound Interest, Averages, Area and Time  and Distance
• Prepare for Data Analysis and Interpretation by practicing calculations and increasing your speed, also revise important maths formulae and revise reading charts, graphs and tables
• Reasoning section can be confusing so make sure you completely understand the question before attempting it; the section aims at testing your logical thinking and problem solving skills
• Most questions for Reasoning are based on Seating Arrangements, Syllogism, Coding-Decoding, Statement and Conclusions, Directions, Blood Relations, Analogy, Classification, Series problems, Missing Characters, Odd Man out, Ranking Test, Data sufficiency, Assumptions and Directions
• The Reasoning section is also one of the most time consuming, so if you are not able to answer a question, move on and get back to it later
• Practice various types of puzzles and analogies to prepare
• The most important tip for preparation for all the sections is to practice as many sample papers, model papers and previous year papers as possible.

While all the candidates will attempt both the Objective Test and Descriptive Test, the Descriptive Test answer sheets of only those candidates clearing the Objective Test will be evaluated.

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