Prelims pattern
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 min |
| Numerical Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 min |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 min |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 min |
Each section has its own timer. You cannot move unused English time to Quant or Reasoning. Wrong objective answers attract a penalty of one-fourth of the marks assigned to the question.
The practical implication is that Prelims tests both ability and selection under a clock. A long puzzle or arithmetic question can cost more than the mark attached to it if it blocks access to several easier questions.
Mains pattern
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| General / Financial Awareness | 50 | 50 | 35 min |
| General English | 40 | 40 | 35 min |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 50 | 50 | 45 min |
| Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude | 50 | 60 | 45 min |
| Total | 190 | 200 | 160 min |
Mains is not simply a longer Prelims paper. The 190-question/200-mark structure means all questions do not carry the same weight. Reasoning & Computer Aptitude gives 60 marks for 50 questions, while GA offers many independent questions that can be scored without constructing a large set.
No sectional qualifying mark under the current structure
The notification states that candidates are required to score the minimum aggregate decided by SBI and that no minimum qualifying mark for an individual subject is prescribed. That does not make any section optional; a weak section can still pull down the aggregate sharply.
What to practise from the pattern
For Prelims, practise the exact 20-minute sectional blocks. For Mains, practise within the 35/35/45/45-minute split and learn where marks are realistically available for you.
Negative marking makes blind guessing expensive in both stages. Record accuracy with attempts; attempt count alone does not tell whether the paper was handled well.