5 Things to Know Before Applying for SBI Clerk Exam

Before candidates apply for any competitive examination, it is best to understand the details of the same. The SBI Clerk Exam is competitively conducted every year to help fill the Junior and Associate vacancies across various locations for the State Bank of India.

SBI only has a few vacancies every year, but numerous candidates clamour for the coveted position of working in a public sector bank. Hence, every candidate should ensure that they are well prepared for the examination to increase their chances of securing a position.

What Should You Know About the SBI Clerical Jobs?

Before applying for the examination, candidates should ensure they have sufficient information regarding the vacancies, salary, and other relevant information. Although these are coveted positions, many candidates are not well-informed about the positions and the selection procedure.

For a candidate to prepare well, it is essential to know the selection procedure and what the candidate will be tested on in each stage.

Two Stages of Examinations

Every candidate needs to clear the Prelims, Mains, and the Language test to qualify for a position. The prelims are merely a qualifying round; however, it is not easy to clear. Once candidates clear the prelims, they move into the mains and language examination. The Prelims paper’s total marks are 100, while for the Mains and Language Examination, it is 200 marks.

Online Examination

The SBI Clerk Exam is conducted online. Hence, candidates are assigned different centers where they can take the examination under strict supervision. Since this is an online examination, candidates need to be careful about reading the rules and regulations regarding their conduct in the exam hall and what items are prohibited.

Change in Exam Pattern

Recently, there has been a change in the regular exam pattern for conducting the Clerk examination for SBI. Changes include the introduction of variable marking and sectional timing. Candidates need to understand these changes well before they appear for the examination.

With the inclusion of the sectional timing, candidates will not be able to go back and check their answers for a particular section once the time is up. Additionally, candidates will not switch between various sections to look at all of the questions.

When taking the exam, candidates should ensure that they answer each section carefully and use any extra time to check their answers. In case they are sure about their answers, they can move on to the next section to save some time.

However, in this case, they will not be able or come back to the submitted section. Once the sectional time is over, each section will auto-submit, and the candidate will immediately be redirected to the next section.

Variable Marking

For the first time, the concept of variable marking has been introduced to the examination. The Reasoning and Computer section has more weightage; for 50 questions in this section, 60 marks have been allotted. Thus, some questions will have higher marks than the others. Hence, candidates can score more by solving the higher marked questions correctly.

Various Topics Covered

For this examination, the syllabus is vast. Hence, candidates need to ensure that they start preparing with ample time to cover all topics. The topics which the examination covered are Reasoning and Computer, Numerical Ability and English Language. As mentioned above, the Reasoning and Computer section carries more weight than the other section. Hence candidates should be sure that they prepare well for this section.

What Are Some Tips for Clearing this Examination?

With candidates across the country, this examination is highly competitive. Hence, candidates should ensure that they have a strategic plan for clearing the exam. Here are some general tips which can help you clear the exam with ease:

• Going through previous years’ question papers is a must as it helps candidates understand the general exam pattern, what type of questions to expect, and the weightage of different sections. Although the exam procedure has changed recently, going through the previous years question papers will still be useful.
• Practicing mock tests not only helps you understand which sections you may be weak in, but it also helps with time management. With the introduction of sectional timing, it gets crucial to ensure that you practice time management with the help of mock tests.
• When preparing for this examination, it is important to create a study plan. With a realistic study plan, it is easier to ensure that you will cover the syllabus in time.

Aspiring candidates should ensure that they start preparing for the examination with plenty of time in hand. Understanding the competitive examination ensures that candidates are well-prepared and know what to expect when entering the exam hall.