The State Bank of India (SBI) Specialist Officer (SO) Exam is conducted to recruit candidates for Specialist Cadre Officer (SCO) positions across various SBI branches. The SBI SO Exam Pattern 2025 provides essential details about the number of questions, sections, marking scheme, time duration, and weightage given to different components of the exam. Candidates preparing for the SBI SO 2025 must understand the exam pattern thoroughly to optimize their preparation strategy. The selection process consists of a written exam followed by an interview, and the final merit list is prepared based on marks normalization from both stages.
SBI SO Exam Pattern 2025
The SBI SO Exam is divided into two parts:
- Paper 1 (General Aptitude): Tests logical reasoning, numerical ability, and English language skills.
- Paper 2 (Professional Knowledge): Evaluates subject-specific knowledge required for the respective specialist officer role.
The Professional Knowledge section carries the highest weightage, making it the most crucial part of the exam. The other sections in Paper 1 are qualifying in nature, meaning they are used for shortlisting but do not contribute to the final merit list.
SBI SO Paper Wise Exam Pattern 2025
The SBI SO Exam consists of 110 questions, carrying a total of 150 marks. The exam is divided into two papers:
- Paper 1 is qualifying in nature, while Paper 2 determines final ranking.
- The total duration of the exam is 120 minutes.
- The Professional Knowledge section carries the highest marks.
- The final merit list is prepared with a 70:30 weightage (Written Test: 70%, Interview: 30%).
- SBI decides the cutoff marks for each section based on vacancies and competition.
| Paper | Section | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
|---|
| Paper 1 (General Aptitude) | Test of Reasoning | 15 | 15 | 45 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 15 | 15 |
| English Language | 20 | 20 |
| Paper 2 (Professional Knowledge) | Subject-Specific Knowledge | 60 | 100 | 75 minutes |
SBI SO Paper 1 Exam Pattern for General Aptitude (Qualifying in Nature)
This section tests candidates on reasoning ability, mathematical skills, and English proficiency. The marks obtained here do not contribute to the final merit list but must be cleared to qualify for Paper 2.
- Subjects Covered in Paper 1 - Test of Reasoning (15 Marks), Quantitative Aptitude (15 Marks), and English Language (20 Marks)
- Time - The total time allotted for Paper 1 is 45 minutes.
- These sections help in assessing basic aptitude and communication skills.
- Only qualifying marks are required in this section; no impact on final ranking.
SBI SO Paper 2 Exam Pattern for Professional Knowledge (Most Important Section)
This paper assesses technical and professional knowledge relevant to the job role applied for in the Specialist Cadre Officer (SCO) exam.
- Subjects Covered in Paper 2 - General IT Knowledge (For IT-based roles), Banking and Finance Knowledge (For Finance-based roles), Legal Aspects (For Law Officer roles), Data Analytics & Statistics (For Statistician roles), and Accounting & Auditing Standards (For Chartered Accountant roles).
- The Professional Knowledge section carries 100 marks.
- This is the most crucial part as it determines the final selection.
- The total time allotted for Paper 2 is 75 minutes.
Also Check SBI SO Syllabus
SBI SO Marks Weightage Written Test & Interview
The final merit list is prepared based on normalized marks from both the Written Test and Interview.
- Candidates must perform well in both the written test and the interview.
- The higher weightage (70%) is given to the written exam, making Paper 2 (Professional Knowledge) the most crucial section.
| Grade | Written Test Weightage | Interview Weightage |
|---|
| JMGS-I & MMGS-II | 70% | 30% |
