1.

The structure of SBI PO Exam 2013

2.

Reasoning: Topicwise breakup SBI papers

3.

Reasoning: SSC vs SBI

4.

Reasoning approach: Higher Level

5.

3 Statement Syllogism

6.

Reasoning Approach: Usual topics

1. Eligibility Test
2. Math Operations+Inequality
3. Sitting arrangement
4. Non verbal
5. Data Sufficiency
6. Input Output

7.

Reasoning: Peripheral Topics

1. DBT: Direction Based Test
2. Coding Decoding
3. Dictionary (Alphabet) tests

8.

How people dig their grave in Bank PO/Clerk exams?

9.

So, How to avoid your grave?

10. Cutoffs of SBI PO 2011 Exam

1. Phase 1: sectional cutoffs (2010, 11)
2. Phase 1: Marks of last candidate

The structure of SBI PO Exam 2013

MCQ
(2hrs)
Phase 1
(28.04.2013
)

50

Data Interpretation (DI)

50

Reasoning

50

English grammar, vocab and Comprehension 50

Descriptive
(1 hr)

Phase 2

GA+Marketing+Computer

GDPI

Essay, prcis, letter writing

50

Total

250

Group Discussion (GD)

20

Personal Interview (PI)

30

Total

50

Phase 1 (250m) marks are are converted to out of 75

Final

marks secured in Phase 2 (50m) are converted to out of

25.
Final Merit list of 75+25=100 marks.

Reasoning: Topicwise breakup SBI papers

Reasonin

Coding-Decoding

2011

201
0

2010(Asso.Banks
)

g
Usual

Direction based tests

Dictionary (Alphabet) test

Maths operations, inequalities

Sitting arrangement

13

Eligibility Test

Odd pair

Data Sufficiency

Input output

Misc.

Subtotal: Reasoning (Usual)

33

25

25

Fact-assumption-inferenceconclusion

10

Course of Action

Strong/weak argument

3 statement Syllogism

Subtotal: Reasoning (Higher

12

20

20

Reasonin
g
Cause effect
High Level

level)

Non
Verbal

Series of four imageblocks

Total: Verbal Reasoning

(usual+higher)+Non verbal

50

50

50

2008s SBI PO paper doesnt follow this pattern of High level reasoning
(or tougher data interpretation Qs like those of 2010s papers). Hence
2008 is ignored from the analysis.

Reasoning: SSC vs SBI

SSC

SBI PO

Non verbal reasoning involves usual 4 imag series+ paper-folding, mirror test,
paper-folding, mirror reflection test, dice/cubes.
dice/cubes= not given.
2 statement syllogism x at most 2 questions.

3 statement syllogism,
minimum 5 questions.

Lot of Qs. From Analogy, series, and odd pairs.

Hardly.

Barely any question on higher level reasoning.

(assumption, inference etc.)

Lots of.

Anyways, lets start.For the purpose of efficient preparation, I classify reasoning

topics into two categories.

Core topics

Here if you master one topic, you can expect around 5

questions in the exam from each.
So Cost:Benefit ratio is quite good.

Chillar

Barely 2-3 questions from each topic.

(peripheral)
Observe this chart:

Reasoning approach: Higher Level

Based on the previous papers of SBI, we can see that higher level reasoning is
made up of following topics
1. Fact-assumption-inference-conclusion
2. Course of Action
3. Cause effect
4. Strong/weak argument
5. Three Statement Syllogism
While both R.S.Agarwal and BS Sijwalis books have covered these topics,
but problem with both of those books= they merely give you a few solved
exams and then give a big list of practice questions.
But the basic concepts/ theory /underlying principles are not covered in
depth.
Then You often face the doubt why option A is the answer and why not B
option? OR why is this an inference and not an assumption?
So, for SBI POs higher level reasoning questions (assumption, inference,
strong/weak argument etc), refer to Analytical Reasoning by MK Pandey
(BSC publication)
MK Pandey not only helps you for Higher level reasoning, but also for
provides some speed-techniques for usual reasoning topics (such as input
output, arrangement, eligibility test, coded inequalities etc.)
Anyways the study approach for Higher level Reasoning (for SBI PO) should be
like following:
Chapter Number
Higher Reasoning Topic

1. Statement-Assumption

MK Pandey

RS Agarwal

1 Strong/ Weak argument

4, 9

1 Inference, conclusion

5, 6

1 Cause effect

10

1 Course of Action

For example, pickup the topic Assumptions.

1. First understand theory from MK Pandeys Chapter #3, solve all sums
given in MK Pandey.
2. Then move to RS Agarwals Chapter #3 for extra practice. (or if youve BS
Sijwali, go to Chapter #23).

3 Statement Syllogism
All cats are dogs..
To master 3 statement syllogism, first youve to master the 2statement.Understand the UPUN method explain in these two articles articles:
1. Two Statement Syllogism Click ME
2. Three Statement Syllogism Click ME
Then do all sums given in Chapter 11 of MK Pandey and finally Chapter 1 of RS
Agarwal (under Logic portion).

Reasoning Approach: Usual topics

In Decreasing priority order.

Chapter Number

MK Pandey

RS Agarwal

1. Eligibility Tests

12

18

1 Math Operations

17,18,19

13

1 Sitting Arrangement

20

6 (Puzzle Test)

1 Data Sufficiency

17

1 Input Output

13 to 16

Eligibility Test
First youre given a passage with conditions like,
Applications are invited for xyz post. If candidate has graduation with 50%
marks and 3 years work experience. then forward letter to Deputy manager,
else . forward letter to.
Then five questions are given, each has a unique case like If Rahul
Gandhi has **% in graduation and ** years of work ex and.then what to
do?
This is known as eligibility test- very commonly asked in BankPO exams.
Advantage=If you get the question, its a set of 4-5 questions. (helps you
clear sectional cutoff).
Problem=can be time consuming, if not practiced @home.
First understand the techniques and tips given in Chapter 12 of MK
Pandey. Then practice all the sums given in Chapter 18 of RS Agarwal.

Math Operations+Inequality

Theyre usually of three types

Type

Example

1. BODMAS

+ means x,
x means and..

1 Inequality

P@Q means P is not smaller than Q

P%Q means P is neither smaller not equal to Q

1 Relationship

P#Q means P is brother of Q

P^Q means P is sister of Q

Again, math operation questions are pretty common in BankPO exams

Problem= you may get wrong answer or waste lot of time.=need maximum
practice at home.
Approach: All theory and all sums of Chapter 17,18,19 of MK Pandey.
Then practice all the sums given in Chapter 18 of RS Agarwal.

Sitting arrangement
Can be of following types
1. Circular table
2. Rectangular table
3. Blood relations (A is mother of B who is sister of C and)
4. Appointment (Arranging lectures from Mon. to Sat., name of professors vs
subjects)
5. Complex (Person, building floor, occupation etc.)
Advantage=Minimum 1 set (=5 questions) always asked in BankPO exam.
(=helps clearing the sectional cutoffs).

 Problem= can be sitters (=very time consuming), If not practiced @home.

Approach: Understand the techniques explained in Chapter 20 of MK
Pandey.
Then practice all the sums given in Chapter 6 (Puzzle Test) of RS Agarwal.

Non verbal
Usually five questions.
Practice is must. Try to solve the question by eliminating the unfit cases
first.
Solve all the questions in RS Agarwal==> Non Verbal portion ==>Series,
Analogy and Classification.
You may ignore mirrors and paper folding, because usually not asked in
BankPO exams. (However theyre important for SSC-CGL exam).

Data Sufficiency
Problem= very easy to make mistake. Theoratical part must be absolutely
clear.
So first clear the theory from Chapter 7 of MK Pandey. Practice all
exercises.
Then practice all sums given in Chapter 17 of RS Agarwal.

Input Output
Chapter 13 to 16 of MK Pandey then practice Chapter 7 of RS Agarwal.
This ends the core topics.
Now, Moving to the peripheral topics (i.e. Chillar topics).

Reasoning: Peripheral Topics

Peripheral Topics

Chap.# in RS Agarwal

1. Coding Decoding

1 Direction Based Tests

1 Dictionary (alphabet) arrangement

10

DBT: Direction Based Test

E.g. A man walks 1 km towards East and then he turns to South and walks for 5
kms. Then heNow how far is he from the starting point?
This is a no-excuse topic. Practice all sums given in Chapter 8 of RS Agarwal.

Coding Decoding
Can be of two types
Words

Numbers

Health is written as GSKZDG then North

will be written as

453945 means decide then

8978 means

Sometimes youre given a matrix table and youve to decode the words
accordingly. Do all the sums given in Chapter #4 of RS Agarwal.

Dictionary (Alphabet) tests

Chapter #10 of RS Agarwal.
Misc.
Once ^all of above is done, get an overview of the misc. topics such as
sequence, series, odd pair, dice, cubes, clocks, calendars, Venn Diagrams
etc. from RS Agarwals/BS Sijwalis book.

 This concludes the preparation of reasoning section for SBI PO. In the
upcoming articles, well see the approach for
GA+Marking+Computer+DI+English.

How people dig their own graves in Bank PO/Clerk exams?

1. They underestimate the level of competition.
2. They buy the books, magazines, download PDF files from internet and so
on. But they only gather material. They never process the gathered
material.
3. They just spend time in day dreaming and doing nothing but facebook, TV,
SMS, PC/mobile games, cricket, loitering around etc.
4. They start serious preparation only AFTER receiving the exam call letter.
5. During the exam, they think, ya ya ya the marketing and English section is
pappu so Im going to solve all questions here. And after that, Ill go to
maths and reasoning section.
6. They get stuck in lengthy calculations of Data interpretation (because
theyve never practiced multiplication and division @home). And often
make silly mistakes in calculation =negative marking.
7. They waste lots of minutes in sitting arrangement/eligibility test/non-verbal
reasoning type questions.
Ultimately they cannot even cross the sectional cutoffs.( Getting in the final merit
list is a far cry.)

So, How to avoid your grave?

Maximum revision + Maximum practice @home.
A loser will always find excuses (my cousins wedding, workload @office,
Im not in the mood.) but while youre making those excuses, someone
somewhere is busy reading books and doing sums.
The train of success doesnot show mercy on anyone, no matter how good
the excuse is. So always remember Anil Kapoor from Tezaab: time hotaa
nahi hai, time nikaalnaa padtaa hai. (There is no time as such, but
youve to take out time (to study)).

 Donot HATE reasoning. In fact, Syllogism, sitting arrangement, eligibility

test etc. reasoning questions can be solved with maximum accuracy. So
dont consider them your enemies, make them your weapons.
When you get the question paper, you dont have to solve all questions in a
continuous sequence i.e. Reasoning question from 1 to 50. Then English 1
to 50 then DI from 1 to 50
Instead, first try to tick minimum 10-15 in each section and then come back
and solve remaining questions.

Cutoffs of SBI PO 2011 Exam

Phase 1: sectional cutoffs (2010, 11)
2011

2010

Phase 1

Max
marks

SC/ST/PW
D

OB
C

GE
N

SC/ST/PW
D

OB
C

GE
N

English

50

10

10

13

10

Language
General
Awareness

50

11

DI

50

10

10

13

Reasoning

50

10

10

13

12

Descriptive

50

18

18

20

18

18

20

Phase 1: Marks of last candidate

Now the marks scored by last candidate from Phase 1 to GDPI (Phase 2), in
each category.
Phase 1(2011)

250

SC/ST/PH

88

OBC

99

GEN

110

Courtesy: Mr.csl80 of pagalguy forum, for providing the cut off data and other
essential inputs regarding this exam.