Thinking about cracking the SBI SO 2025 exam? You’re not alone! Every year, thousands of banking aspirants aim for Specialist Officer (SO) roles in India’s largest bank—State Bank of India (SBI). But here’s the catch: understanding the exam pattern is half the battle won.
The SBI SO 2025 selection process includes an online written test (70% weightage) and an interview (30%). The exam tests General Aptitude (Reasoning, Quant, English) and Professional Knowledge (varies by role). Some posts skip the written test and rely on shortlisting + interview.
This guide breaks down the latest SBI SO exam pattern, marking scheme, and expert tips to help you ace the test.
Key Highlights of SBI SO 2025 Exam 📌
Key Point | Details |
---|---|
Organization Name | State Bank of India (SBI) |
Exam Name | SBI Specialist Officer (SO) Exam |
Selection Process | Online Test (70%) + Interview (30%) |
Total Questions | 110 (Paper 1: 50, Paper 2: 60) |
Total Marks | 150 (Paper 1: 50, Paper 2: 100) |
Exam Duration | 120 minutes (45 min + 75 min) |
Negative Marking | No penalty for wrong answers |
Qualifying Sections | General Aptitude (Paper 1) |
Merit-Based Section | Professional Knowledge (Paper 2) |
Official Website | www.sbi.co.in |
SBI SO Exam Pattern 2025: Detailed Breakdown
1. Two-Paper Structure 📝
The SBI SO exam is divided into two papers:
Paper | Sections | Questions | Marks | Duration |
---|---|---|---|---|
Paper 1 (General Aptitude) | Reasoning | 15 | 15 | 45 mins |
Quantitative Aptitude | 15 | 15 | ||
English Language | 20 | 20 | ||
Paper 2 (Professional Knowledge) | IT/Finance/Law (Role-based) | 60 | 100 | 75 mins |
🔹 Paper 1 is qualifying (must clear cutoff).
🔹 Paper 2 decides final ranking.
2. Section-Wise Syllabus 📚
A) General Aptitude (Paper 1)
Section | Key Topics |
---|---|
Reasoning | Coding-Decoding, Blood Relations, Puzzles, Syllogism |
Quantitative Aptitude | Profit & Loss, Time & Work, Data Interpretation |
English | Reading Comprehension, Grammar, Error Spotting |
B) Professional Knowledge (Paper 2)
This varies by role. Here’s a quick look:
Post | Key Topics |
---|---|
IT Officer | DBMS, Networking, Cybersecurity, Java/C++ |
Law Officer | Banking Laws, Negotiable Instruments Act |
Finance Officer | Accounting Standards, Taxation, Auditing |
Marking Scheme & Cutoff Trends 📊
1. How is the Exam Scored?
- No negative marking (great news!).
- 70% weightage for the online test, 30% for interview.
- Normalization is used for final merit lists.
2. Previous Year Cutoffs (Approx.)
Category | General Aptitude (Qualifying) | Professional Knowledge (Merit) |
---|---|---|
General | 40-45/100 | 55-60/100 |
OBC/SC/ST | 35-40/100 | 50-55/100 |
💡 Pro Tip: Focus on Professional Knowledge—it’s the game-changer!
Expert Tips to Crack SBI SO 2025 🎯
- Master Your Domain – 80% of your prep should be on Professional Knowledge.
- Speed & Accuracy – Since there’s no negative marking, attempt all questions.
- Mock Tests – Take at least 10-15 full-length mocks before the exam.
- Interview Prep – If you clear the written test, banking awareness & role-based knowledge matter in interviews.
Final Thoughts
The SBI SO 2025 exam is a golden opportunity for specialists in IT, Law, Finance, and more. With no negative marking and a strong focus on domain knowledge, a structured approach can land you the job.
🚀 Start preparing now—your SBI career awaits!
(Need a detailed syllabus? Check the official SBI website here.)
Tanvi Reddy is a creative writer specializing in exam notifications and admit cards. With a degree in Journalism and 4+ years of experience, Tanvi loves crafting engaging content for students. She enjoys exploring new cuisines.