SBI Clerk Mains Exam Analysis: What Happened and What It Means for You

The SBI Clerk Mains exam is one of the most important steps for those trying to land a secure bank job in India. This year too, thousands of candidates walked into the exam hall with big dreams. If you’re someone who wrote the paper, or plan to appear next time, let’s break it down together. We’ll look at the difficulty level, question types, good attempts, and expected cut-off. So, stay with me till the end.

Overall Difficulty Level

To be honest, the paper was not easy. In fact, many students felt it was more difficult than the last few years. That’s not to scare you, but to tell you the truth. The exam had four main sections – Reasoning & Computer Aptitude, Quantitative Aptitude, General English, and General/Financial Awareness. Each one brought its own level of challenge. Let’s look at them one by one.

Reasoning & Computer Aptitude

This section had 50 questions for 60 marks, and it was moderate to tough. Most students said the puzzle and seating arrangement questions were not only tricky but also very time-taking. Out of 50, around 30–33 questions were based on puzzles, and only a few were direct logic-type questions like syllogisms or inequalities. The computer part was very basic — like full forms and shortcut keys — but hardly 4–5 questions came from it. So, if you’re not strong in puzzles, this section could have felt heavy.

Quantitative Aptitude

This section too had 50 questions for 50 marks, and again, it was moderate to difficult. DI (Data Interpretation) ruled the section, and some questions needed real calculation power. Topics like caselet DI, bar graph DI, and arithmetic DI showed up with tough numbers and wordy statements. Simplification and number series didn’t appear much, which made the section even harder for those who depend on speed. Ideal number of good attempts here would be around 22–27, if accuracy was good.

General English

English had 40 questions for 40 marks, and this was one of the slightly easier sections, but not a cakewalk. Reading comprehension took up the major space, and the passage was slightly on the complex side — full of indirect tone and inference-based questions. Other topics were sentence rearrangement, fill in the blanks, and error spotting. Vocabulary and grammar were tested smartly. Good attempt in this section would be 28–32 questions, but only if done with confidence.

General/Financial Awareness

This is the section many either love or fear. There were 50 questions for 50 marks, and this section was moderate, though some found it a bit random. Questions were asked from current affairs (past 4–6 months), static GK, and banking awareness. Most weight was on events between October and February. If someone had followed daily news and revision PDFs, this would’ve been their scoring area. Good attempts here could range from 30–35.

Ideal Good Attempts

After all’s said and done, everyone wants to know — “How many questions should I have attempted?” While it depends on accuracy, here’s a rough breakdown:

• Reasoning & Computer – 25–30
• Quantitative Aptitude – 22–27
• General English – 28–32
• General/Financial Awareness – 30–35

So, a total of 105–120 good attempts could be considered safe, assuming at least 85–90% accuracy. Remember, SBI Clerk Mains has no sectional cut-off, so even if one section was weak, a strong show in others can help you balance the score.

Expected Cut-Off

As per this year’s difficulty level, the cut-off may drop slightly compared to last year, especially in states where the paper was tougher. But again, SBI follows a state-wise merit, so don’t compare blindly. For general category, an average cut-off may lie around 85–95 marks, but it can change based on vacancies and performance across the board.

What Should You Do Next?

If you’ve written the exam, now is the time to start preparing for the interview (in case you also wrote PO or other exams), and keep a close watch on SBI’s website for result updates. If you’re planning to appear next year, then start with puzzle practice, DI sets, and daily current affairs reading from now itself. The competition is high, but with regular practice and smart planning, cracking it is very much possible.

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