Do you want to work for one of the largest banks in India?
The State Bank of India will soon be recruiting Probationary Officers from across cities.
The written examination for the same will be held on Sunday, April 28, this year.
In an online chat with readers on April 8, Soumya Banerjee, CEO, Attano Media and Education Pvt Ltd and Deepak Agarwal, founder director, AIETS, a research based organisation addressed queries on how to prepare for the SBI Bank PO exam.
For those who missed the live chat, here's the unedited transcript:
Soumya Banerjee, CEO, Attano says, Hi everyone, do feel free to ask us as many questions regarding the SBI PO exam as you feel. We are here to help!
Deepal asked, Hello Sir... wht r d basics to crck the sbi PO??
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication answers, at 2013-04-08 15:52:27You must be conceptually clear and have a good speed of solving questions. The major emphasis of the paper is on English comprehension Data Interpretation General Awareness - questions related to Banking terms, current affairs, marketing and computers The Reasoning is the toughest part. Critical reasoning is the major c omponent.
PiyaliGuha asked, Can you suggest a easy way to do my last minute revision for the SBI exam as we are left with less than a month for the exam
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication answers, Take some Mock Tests very seriously at home. Identify your weak areas and try do take some remedial measures on them. Brush up with your revision notes and do a lot of practice.
madhav asked, what you suggest for last 15 days?
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication answers, Take some Mock Tests very seriously at home. Identify your weak areas and try do take some remedial measures on them. Brush up with your revision notes and do a lot of practice. Keep on reading newspapers and update your last 6 month current affairs.
att asked, where to download old papers?
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication answers, Old papers are available both on web and in the form of books. You can search for old papers and you will have a lot of sites offering them.
att asked, what is the starting salary
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication answers, The starting basic pay is Rs 16,900 applicable to junior management grade Scale 1 and the official will also be eligible for DA and HRA, the latter ranging from Rs 8,000 in rural areas to as much as Rs 29,500 in Mumbai. There are also medical benefits, loans at concessional rates, as well as other perks. The compensation per annum in Mumbai is pegged at Rs 800,000-plus.
Premjit asked, What's the best way to prepare for the SBI PO Exam?
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication answers, In the last 15 days you must take some Mock Tests very seriously at home. Identify your weak areas and try do take some remedial measures on them. Brush up with your revision notes and do a lot of practice. Keep on reading newspapers and update your last 6 month current affairs.
chandan asked, Do we need to score in all segments in written tests or overall marks matters?
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication answers, There is sectional cut-offs for each section. So you must attempt all the 4. Overall marks will ultimately matter only if you have cleared the sectional cut-offs.
sumit asked, Hello, how important is to have a knowledge about Accounts? I am from Science background.. Will your material help me crack the exam?
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication answers, No prior knowledge of Accounts reqd. Our pack will help you in revising all important concepts, taking small tests to check and give feedback on your prep. The full test will help you understand the requirements of the exam. So the pack fulfils all requirements and is designed for 15-20 days.
PiyaliGuha asked, I attempted the SBI exams twice but did not clear it due to lack of time management. Any suggestion on how can I manage my time well?
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication answers, Attempt a lot of Mock Tests, say 10-15, at home to increase your speed with proper time. While attempting the test focus on areas which are easy and your strong areas. Be careful in reasoning as it might consume a lot of time. Don't make blind guesses.
chandan asked, what should be the ideal time to complete each question? how many minutes do you get to complete descriptive part in test?
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication answers, General Intelligence and Reasoning - 35 minutes; English Comprehension - 20-25 mins; General Knowledge & Awareness - 20 mins; DI - 35 mins; Descriptive test - 60 mins
Lokesh asked, Is Information Technology better carrer options or the SBI Bank PO? Please suggest
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication answers, The banking industry is going to rock. The job with a govt bank is secure and offers pension. The IT sector is also good but might have some bad phases.
Soumya Banerjee, CEO, Attano answers, Dear Lokesh, this depends entirely on your interests and aptitude.
joel asked, are they any chance that the quesion asked last yr can be repeated this yr as well.
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication answers, very less chance. The type of qns may repeat but qns will not.
nilesh asked, high level reasoning consists of what kind of questions......
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication answers, statement-argument; course of action; input-output; cause effect; drawing inferences; puzzle tests, seating/ circular arrangements, syllogisms.
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'Take mock tests seriously before the exam'
Mihir asked, what is eligibility for SBI exam?
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication answers, 21-30 years, graduate in any discipline
Soumya Banerjee, CEO, Attano answers, (A) Essential Academic Qualifications: Graduation in any discipline from a recognized University or any equivalent qualification recognised as such by the Central Government. (B) Age Limit: As on 01.01.2013 Not below 21 years and not above 30 years as on 01.01.2013 i.e candidates must have been born not earlier than 02.01.1983 and not later than 01.01.1992 (both days inclusive) Relaxation in the Upper Age Limit to Reserved category candidates Upper age is relaxable by (i) 3 years in the case of OBC candidates. (ii) 5 years in the case of : (a) SC/ST candidates. (b) Ex-servicemen (including Emergency Commissioned Officers/Short Service Commissioned Officers) who have rendered at least five years continuous,Military Service and have been released on completion of assignment (including those whose assignment is due to be completed within one year) otherwise than by way of dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency or /on account of physical disability or have been released/discharged on account of physical disability attributable to Military Service (c) Candidates who had ordinarily been domiciled in Kashmir Division of the State of Jammu and Kashmir between 1st January, 1980 and 31st December, 1989. (iii) 10 years for VH/OH (Gen); 13 years for VH/OH (OBC) and 15 years for VH/OH (SC/ST) candidates.
siddhartha asked, I am working in IOCL with a basic of 29000. Will SBI be better
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication answers, Tough thing to decide. Both are equally better. So if you are doing well and are enjoying your job stay there.
Dipesh asked, i hv not done marketing aptitude ever...so is there any way to do it in last 20 days?
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication answers, Marketing is general so you can always crack a few qns. Revise some concepts and definitions that will help. 3-4 days is enough for mktg.
manager asked, The behaviour of SBI employees not good why?
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication answers, This can not be generalised. The bank has changed a lot and you can see this with their mktg etc.
nilesh asked, which publication available in market shall i refer?
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication answers, Go for Disha publication -guide for 100% concept clarity and practice workbook.
melon asked, total exam time?
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication answers, 2 hrs for objective test; 1 hr for descriptive test.
Kamlesh asked, How to prepare for GK for exam ?
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication answers, read news papers, prepare 6 months current affairs through books and magazines
siddhartha asked, Sir, What about promotion policies at SBI
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication answers, The below listed directions are indicated the career growth & promotions in the state bank of India (SBI) for Probationary officer (PO). PO –> Confirmation –> Assistant Manager –> MM2 –> MM3 –> SM4 –> AGM –> DGM –> GM –> CGM –> JMD –> MD –> Chairman The final stage can be reached by a person in about 25 years (For the present generation of employees). Previously it was 35 to 38 years.
neeraj asked, what is the best methodlogy at this time to prepare for sbi po....
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication answers, Take some Mock Tests very seriously at home. Identify your weak areas and try do take some remedial measures on them. Brush up with your revision notes and do a lot of practice. Keep on reading newspapers and update your last 6 month current affairs.
Martyn asked, What are other exams similar to SBI PO?
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication answers, IBPS Bank PO
rk asked, where we will get your pack and the cost thereof?
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication answers, http://www.attano.com/sbipo Only Rs 249/-
Ankur asked, In Sbi po xam, which part is askd more, currents affairs or general things about banking, economy, our country etc?
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication answers, all these are asked; banking -around 10; current affairs -10-12; marketing - 12-15; computer - 12-15; general -10
rachana asked, sir how to prepare for computer siklls
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication answers, revise using any book. 3-4 days should be enough
Arijit asked, Any idea about how much should one score in order to get a call for GD/PI round for SBI PO??
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication answers, you must score minimum 40% for cut-off for general.
chandan asked, Does descriptive part happens after objective test? Also how many questions (trend over past few years) if all correct is enough to clear General intelligence & Reasoning,English comphrension,GK & Awareness section?
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication answers, Yes after objective test. Around 40-50% in each.
sa asked, it is showing only ebook. can i get hard cpoy book in market???what whould be the price??
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication answers, there is no book for last 15 days. what u get will be very thick and you won't be able to complete.
Janaab asked, If I give SBI PO exam, will i be eligible for a job only with SBI, or all banks?
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication answers, SBI only
makhankhalsa asked, How to prepare for math for exam ?
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication answers, It is DI which constitutes around 35 qns the rest will be on basic maths. So focus more on DI
Shashikant asked, Is there any negative marking in this exam?
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication answers, 1/4 th
Chandni asked, Can we use the same revision material for IBPS PO as well?
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication answers, Yes but the GK section will differ.
sudhakar asked, Hi Deepak, Whats you suggestion on how many questions should we answer from each section.
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication answers, around 40-50%
ABHISHEK asked, WHICH PART IS EASIEST IN EXAM AND WHICH ONE IS TOUGHEST OR TIME CONSUMING
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication answers, reasoning - toughest GK - easy - if u know tick otherwise leave; English and DI will be moderate,
jagdale_26 asked, When are the results of entrance declared?
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication answers, depends on bank. But take it around 3-4 months
venkat asked, is there any age limit for this exam?
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication answers, yes, 21-30
Ankur asked, what will be the approximate cutoff out of 200 considering the level of xam which is more tuff than ibps xam?
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication answers, 40-50%
sac asked, Hello how many vacancies are open for this exam
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication answers, 1500
kaustubhp asked, hi sir dont you feel that the sbi & other banks po exams should have ques. related to just finance & banking ???
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication answers, not at all
shabnam asked, how i prepare in interview exam???
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication answers, prepare about your personality, read a lot about sbi, improve your communication, your indepth knowledge of your field.
Sahni asked, I feel I am good in Reasoning and Mathematics.. How to prepare for rest kindly guide
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication answers, Try to clear the cut-off in the rest and score more in your strong areas. Update current afairs of 6 months.
Ankur asked, is there any sectional cutoff in sbi po xam?
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication answers, yes;
ABHISHEK asked, DEEPAK JI TANKS FOR ENCOURAGING ME KINDLY ADVICE WHICH WAY NEWSPAPER STUDY WILL HELP ME IN THIS EXAM
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication answers, Economic Times, Hindu - they will help you in GK, descriptive test, and english
shabnam asked, what prepare in our field???
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication answers, what you do how you do your company job etc.
SS asked, Which book u suggest me for current Affair ?????? Sahni
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication answers, read latest magazines
sarath asked, 1>do we need to score 40-50% in each section in order to get a call for GD/interview ?
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication answers, The cut-off might be low in 1-2 areas say reasoning. But you must atleast keep a target of 40-50%
shabnam asked, sir but how understand about in which department in sbi
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication answers, forget it and crack the exam first. you will have a lot of time to think
SMITA asked, how many question in objective and how much questions in descriptive
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication answers, 200 in objective; descriptive test - Letter Writing :10 marks Paragraph Writing :8 marks Essay Writing :12 marks Precis Writing :10 marks Reading Comprehension :10 marks.
SMITA asked, will both d papers given in sdame time
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication answers, yes, one after the other
Deepak Agarwal, Director AIETS/ Disha Publication says, I wish Best of Luck to all of you. Stay focused and crack the exam. Thank you very much
Soumya Banerjee, CEO, Attano says, Best of luck everyone!
Illustration: Uttam Ghosh
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