The SBI Circle Based Officer (CBO) Exam 2025 was successfully conducted on 20 July 2025 across various exam centers. Thousands of aspirants appeared for the exam to secure a prestigious role at the State Bank of India. Now that the exam is over, candidates are eager to know how they performed. In this article, we bring you a detailed and section-wise SBI CBO Exam Analysis 2025, including difficulty level, good attempts, and questions asked in both objective and descriptive sections.
SBI CBO Exam Analysis 2025
As per feedback from students and exam experts, the overall level of the SBI CBO 2025 exam was moderate. The SBI CBO 2025 exam was well-balanced, with a moderate overall difficulty. Candidates who prepared consistently in areas like banking awareness, current affairs, and reasoning were able to attempt a good number of questions. The descriptive section was manageable and gave candidates an opportunity to showcase their writing and analytical skills.
SBI CBO Difficulty Level
The table below summarizes the difficulty level of each section based on student reviews:
| Section | Difficulty Level |
| English Language | Easy to Moderate |
| Banking Knowledge | Easy to Moderate |
| General Awareness/Economy | Moderate |
| Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | Moderate |
| Overall | Moderate |
SBI CBO Section-Wise Analysis
Let’s take a closer look at each section of the SBI CBO exam to understand the kind of questions asked and their difficulty levels.
SBI CBO English Language Analysis
This section was Easy to Moderate and focused on grammar, vocabulary, and comprehension skills. Candidates with good practice in basic English found it manageable.
| Topic | No. of Questions |
| Reading Comprehension | 07 |
| Error Detection | 03-04 |
| Sentence Rearrangement | 04 |
| Word Rearrangement | 04 |
| Double Fillers | 04-05 |
SBI CBO Banking Knowledge Analysis
The Banking Knowledge section had a mix of static and conceptual questions. The level was Easy to Moderate, and topics were mostly from banking awareness and regulatory frameworks
- LRS (Liberalised Remittance Scheme)
- Lead Bank Scheme
- KYC (8-10 Questions)
- Negotiable Instruments Act
- KCC, SEZ, GDI
- Nomination Process
- FATCA – Full form of “F”
- SSY – Minimum deposit amount
- MANI, DICGC
- DRI – Current rate (4%)
- Official Valid Documents
SBI CBO General Awareness/Economy Analysis
This section tested the candidate’s awareness of recent happenings in India and globally, with a special focus on the economy. The level was moderate, and questions were factual in nature.
- WAVE Mission
- 52nd Chief Justice of India
- Padma Vibhushan Awards
- Dhyanchand-related question
- India’s Iron Ore Production
- GIFT City
- Khelo India Scheme
- Second Largest Gold Reserve
- GST Slabs
- NAMASTE Scheme
- Gati Shakti Mission
- GDP-related question
SBI CBO Reasoning & Computer Aptitude Exam Analysis
The computer aptitude section included reasoning-based computer questions. Most students found this part moderate in difficulty, especially those not well-versed in logical reasoning formats used in this section.
| Topic | No. of Questions |
| Coded Blood Relation | 02-03 |
| Input-Output | 03 |
| Coded Inequality | 03-04 |
| Number-Symbol Coding | 03-04 |
| Coded Direction | 01-02 |
| Coded Syllogism | 03 |
SBI CBO Descriptive Test Analysis 2025
The descriptive test consisted of letter writing and essay writing. According to candidates, the difficulty level of this section was easy to moderate. Time management and clarity of thought were important here.
Letter Writing Topics:
- To Cyber Department – Reporting Internet Banking Fraud
- To Municipality – Requesting Sewage Treatment
- Regarding Installation of Solar Lights
Essay Writing Topics:
- Uses of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Benefits of Hosting Olympics in India
SBI CBO Previous Year Exam Analysis
The SBI CBO Exam 2024 was conducted on 21st January 2024 and was overall of moderate difficulty. The exam consisted of sections like Reasoning Ability, English Language, General Awareness, and a Descriptive Test. Candidates found the reasoning section slightly lengthy, while English and GA were more straightforward. The descriptive paper featured essay and letter writing on current and banking-related topics. Until the SBI CBO 2025 exam is conducted, candidates can refer to this analysis to understand the exam pattern, question trends, good attempts, and expected cut-offs for better preparation.
SBI CBO Exam Analysis 2024 Difficulty Level
The overall difficulty level of the SBI CBO 2024 exam was moderate to slightly difficult. While English and Computer Aptitude were manageable, Banking Knowledge and General Awareness required deeper conceptual clarity and updated knowledge.
| Subject | Difficulty Level |
| English Language | Moderate |
| Banking Knowledge | Moderate to Difficult |
| General Awareness/Economy | Moderate to Difficult |
| Computer Aptitude | Moderate |
SBI CBO Exam Analysis 2024 Good Attempts
A good number of attempts varied by section, with 21–22 questions considered safe in English and 23–24 in Banking Knowledge. General Awareness and Computer Aptitude had slightly fewer good attempts, reflecting their comparative difficulty.
| Subject | Good Attempts |
| English Language | 21-22 |
| Banking Knowledge | 23-24 |
| General Awareness/Economy | 14-17 |
| Computer Aptitude | 11-13 |
SBI CBO Exam Analysis 2024 for English Language
The English section was of moderate difficulty, focusing on comprehension, grammar, and vocabulary. Topics like Error Detection and Swapping of Words were prominent, testing candidates’ grasp of contextual language use and accuracy.
| Topic | Difficulty Level | No. of Questions | Important Points |
| Swapping of Words | Moderate | 5-7 | Emphasis on word meaning and context; focus on synonyms and antonyms; may involve prefixes and suffixes. |
| Rearrangement of Sentence | Moderate to Difficult | 3-5 | Logical flow and sentence structure crucial; coherence and grammatical accuracy key; watch out for implied connections. |
| Reading Comprehension | Moderate | 4-6 | Varied passage themes; focus on main ideas, supporting details, and inferences; skimming and scanning skills beneficial. |
| Error Detection | Moderate | 5-7 | Test grammatical accuracy, vocabulary usage, and sentence structure; common errors like tense agreement, subject-verb agreement, and pronoun agreement likely. |
SBI CBO Exam Analysis 2024 for Banking Knowledge
This section tested conceptual clarity and practical application of banking-related topics. Questions on SARFAESI Act, SLR, AML, and Nominee Rules were tricky, and required sound knowledge of current banking procedures and compliance.
| Topic | Difficulty Level | No. of Questions | Important Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominee | Moderate | 1-2 | Focus on rules and exceptions for nominee registration, cancellation, and rights. |
| AML (Anti-Money Laundering) | Moderate | 2-3 | Understand key concepts like KYC, suspicious transactions, and reporting procedures. |
| SARFAESI Act Applicability | Moderate | 1-2 | Know when and how the Act is applied for loan recovery by banks. |
| SLR (Statutory Liquidity Ratio) | Moderate | 1-2 | Grasp the concept, calculation, and impact of SLR on bank liquidity and lending. |
| Current Ratio | Moderate | 1-2 | Understand the formula, interpretation, and significance of current ratio for bank solvency. |
| Age For Opening Minor Account | Easy | 1 | Remember the minimum age requirement for opening minor accounts (usually 10 years). |
| UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India) | Easy | 1 | Be familiar with Aadhaar card and its role in banking KYC procedures. |
| PSL (Priority Sector Lending) | Moderate | 1-2 | Know the sectors and targets for PSL, its importance for national development. |
| DICGC Claim Amount | Moderate | 1-2 | Understand the maximum deposit insurance cover provided by DICGC for different account types. |
| Bearer | Moderate | 1-2 | Grasp the concept of bearer instruments (like cheques) and their transferability. |
| Interest on CRR | Easy | 1 | Know that banks do not earn interest on Cash Reserve Ratio deposits with RBI. |
| Drawn, Drawer Cheques | Moderate | 1-2 | Differentiate between the roles of drawer (issuer) and drawee (payer) in cheque transactions. |
| TDS (Tax Deducted at Source) | Moderate | 1-2 | Understand applicability of TDS on various banking transactions like interest income. |
| VISA | Easy | 1 | Have basic knowledge about VISA cards and their types (credit, debit). |
SBI CBO Exam Analysis 2024 for General Awareness/Economy
The General Awareness section had a mix of current affairs and economy-based static GK. Questions from World Economic Outlook, Inflation, GDP trends, and banking systems like RTGS/NEFT were commonly asked.
| Topic | Difficulty Level | No. of Questions | Important Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| World Outlook Report | Moderate | 1-2 | Focus on key takeaways from the latest IMF/World Bank reports on global economic trends, growth forecasts, and risks. |
| Inflation | Moderate | 2-3 | Understand different inflation types (CPI, WPI), recent inflation trends in India and globally, and government measures to control it. |
| GDP | Moderate | 1-2 | Grasp the concept of GDP, its calculation methods, and significance as a measure of economic growth. Know recent GDP growth figures for India and major economies. |
| COP (Conference of Parties) | Easy | 1 | Recall the main theme and key outcomes of the recent COP28 climate change conference held in 2023. |
| RTGS (Real Time Gross Settlement) | Easy | 1 | Understand the basic operation and advantages of RTGS system for instant fund transfer. |
| ASEAN Countries | Moderate | 1-2 | Know the member countries of ASEAN, its regional significance, and recent developments in its economic integration. |
| NEFT (National Electronic Funds Transfer) | Easy | 1 | Recall the purpose and limitations of NEFT system for electronic fund transfer within India. |
| PSL (Priority Sector Lending) | Moderate | 1-2 | Understand the sectors and targets for PSL, its importance for national development, and recent government initiatives in this area. |
| UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India) | Easy | 1 | Be familiar with Aadhaar card and its role in various government schemes and financial inclusion. |
SBI CBO Exam Analysis 2024 for Computer Aptitude
Computer Aptitude featured basic logic-based reasoning topics like Coding-Decoding, Input-Output, and Inequality. Though mostly moderate, the section demanded quick reasoning skills and familiarity with digital concepts.
| Topic | Difficulty Level | No. of Questions | Important Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Syllogism | Moderate | 2-3 | Focus on identifying relationships between concepts and recognizing valid conclusions. |
| Input and Output | Moderate | 2-3 | Understand how algorithms process data and generate outputs. Practice identifying patterns and relationships between input and output tables. |
| Blood Relation | Easy to Moderate | 1-2 | Know basic family relationships and symbols. Be able to solve logical puzzles based on given family trees. |
| Distance and Direction | Easy to Moderate | 1-2 | Understand compass directions and solve problems involving directions, distances, and movements. |
| Inequality | Moderate | 2-3 | Grasp the concept of inequalities and practice solving problems using comparison operators (<, >, ≤, ≥). |
| Coding and Decoding | Moderate | 2-3 | Understand basic principles of code substitution and pattern recognition. Be able to identify patterns and decode simple coded messages. |
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