Basic Exam Structure & Pattern
Exam name: SBI Clerk Prelims 2025
Sections: English Language (30 questions), Numerical Ability (35), Reasoning Ability (35) β Total 100 questions in 60 minutes.Β
Negative marking: 1/3rd mark for each wrong answer.Β
Four shifts per day.Β
π Shift 1 (20 September): Section-Wise Difficulty & Good Attempts
From feedback of candidates:
| Section | No. of Questions | Difficulty Level | Good Attempts* |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | Easy-to-Moderate | ~22-25Β |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | Easy-to-Moderate | ~26-29Β |
| Numerical Ability | 35 | Moderate (some time-consuming) | ~22-25Β |
| Overall Good Attempts | 100 | Easy-to-Moderate | 75-82Β |
*βGood Attemptsβ means number of questions one could attempt with decent accuracy to stand a chance of clearing cut-off.
Key Topics & Trends in Shift 1
English: Reading Comprehension (~8 questions), Para Jumbles, Single Fillers, Error Detection, Word Swap, Word Usage etc.Β
Reasoning: Heavy on puzzles and seating arrangement, plus some inequality, syllogism, direction/distance, word series.Β
Numerical Ability: Mix of Data Interpretation (DI), Simplification, Arithmetic topics like age, mixture/alligation etc. DI included table, bar graph etc.
π Shift 2 (20 September): Section-Wise Difficulty & Good Attempts
Feedback from Shift 2 shows similar overall trend with slight variation in difficulty in Numerical:
| Section | No. of Questions | Difficulty Level | Good Attempts* |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | Easy-to-Moderate | ~24-26Β |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | Easy-to-Moderate | ~29-32Β |
| Numerical Ability | 35 | Moderate (slightly tougher than Shift 1) | ~22-24Β |
| Overall Good Attempts | 100 | Easy-to-Moderate | 75-80Β |
Topics & Trends in Shift 2
English: Reading comprehension (about 8-10 questions, topic: Water Tanker), error detection, para jumbles, single fillers, phrase replacement, word usage.Β
Reasoning: Same as Shift 1: puzzles dominate (parallel row seating, box puzzles, etc.), a few questions from inequality, syllogism, blood relation etc.Β
Numerical Ability: Slightly more time consuming; arithmetic, simplification, several DI questions (table DI, line DI, caselet DI, etc.).
βοΈ Comparison: Shift 1 vs Shift 2
| Aspect | Shift 1 | Shift 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Overall difficulty | Easy-Moderate | Easy-Moderate |
| Numerical section | Easier relative; some DI but manageable | Slightly tougher; more DI and arithmetic questions taking more time |
| English & Reasoning | Scoring; strong sections for time management | Similar, though English slightly better for many candidates |
| Good attempts overall | Around 75-82 | Around 75-80 |
β What This Means for Candidates
If you attempted ~75-82 in Shift 1 or ~75-80 in Shift 2 with a good accuracy, you are likely in a safe zone for the cut-off (though cut-offs also depend on category and region).
Time management is essential, especially in Numerical Ability, which tends to be the time sink.
English and Reasoning are more scoring β not very tricky, so a candidate who is strong in those sections can leverage them to balance out numerical.
π Preparation Tips for Upcoming Shifts
Sharpen Arithmetic & DI Skills: Since Numerical Ability may be tougher in some shifts, revise formulas, practice more DIs and time-bound tests.
Mock Tests & Speed Practice: Simulate shift timings; practice full prelim papers to improve accuracy under time pressure.
Revise English & Reasoning Topics: RC, error detection, para jumbles for English; puzzles, seating arrangement, inequalities etc. for Reasoning.
Avoid getting stuck on a single question β skip and return if time allows.
Accuracy over Attempts: Wrong answers cost via negative marking. Itβs better to attempt fewer correctly than more with many mistakes.
π Final Word
The SBI Clerk Prelims on 20 September has kicked off with papers that are largely easy to moderate. English and Reasoning continue to be strong scoring sections, while Numerical Ability is the differentiator. Candidates who manage ~75 to 82 correct attempts in Shift 1 or ~75 to 80 in Shift 2 (with good accuracy) are likely in a good position.
As more shifts get over, patterns may shift slightly, but the core trend of balanced difficulty should hold. Best of luck to all appearing in upcoming shifts β use the insights above, stay calm, and attempt smartly!
