SBI Apprentice Syllabus 2026 – Exam Pattern, Section-wise Topics & Preparation Guide
SBI Apprentice 2026 selection has two stages: an Online Written Test (200 questions, 2.5 hours) followed by a Local Language Test. There is no interview or GD. The written test is the only hurdle between your application and a call letter — understanding the exact syllabus and section weights is the first step in an effective preparation plan.
👉 SBI Apprentice Salary 2026 — honest breakdown of the ₹15,000 stipend and whether this apprenticeship is worth applying
SBI Apprentice 2026 — Selection Process Overview
| Stage | Mode | Nature | Cut-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online Written Test | Computer-based | Competitive — score determines merit list | Yes — section-wise + overall |
| Local Language Test | Written/Oral | Qualifying — pass/fail in local state language | Pass only |
| Medical Examination | Physical | Qualifying — basic fitness standards | Pass only |
| Final Engagement | — | Based on merit in online test + LLT + medical | State-wise merit list |
Online Written Test — Section-wise Breakdown
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time (if sectional) | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude | 50 | 60 | — | Moderate |
| General / Financial Awareness | 50 | 50 | — | Easy–Moderate |
| General English | 50 | 40 | — | Easy |
| Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation | 50 | 50 | — | Moderate |
| Total | 200 | 200 | 150 minutes (2.5 hrs) | — |
Negative marking: 0.25 marks deducted for each wrong answer. There is no sectional time limit — you can move freely between sections within the 2.5-hour window. The composite score across all four sections determines your state-wise merit rank.
Section 1 — Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude (50Q / 60 Marks)
This is the highest-weighted section. The extra 10 marks come from computer aptitude questions which are straightforward hardware/software/MS Office basics.
| Topic | Expected Questions |
|---|---|
| Puzzles & Seating Arrangement | 10–12 (linear, circular, floor-based) |
| Syllogisms | 3–4 |
| Inequalities | 3–5 |
| Blood Relations | 2–3 |
| Direction & Distance | 2–3 |
| Coding-Decoding | 3–4 |
| Input-Output | 3–5 |
| Computer Aptitude (hardware, networking, MS Office) | 8–10 |
Section 2 — General / Financial Awareness (50Q / 50 Marks)
This section covers current affairs (last 4–6 months), banking awareness, and static GK. For an SBI-specific exam, banking GK carries extra weight.
| Topic | Expected Questions |
|---|---|
| Current Affairs (last 4–6 months) | 15–18 |
| Banking & Financial Awareness (RBI policy, Repo rate, SEBI, NABARD) | 12–15 |
| SBI-specific (history, products, schemes, MD&CEO) | 4–5 |
| Government schemes (PM Kisan, Jan Dhan, PMJDY, PMAY) | 5–6 |
| Static GK (HQs, currencies, national parks, awards) | 6–8 |
Section 3 — General English (50Q / 40 Marks)
| Topic | Expected Questions |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension (2 passages) | 10–12 |
| Error Spotting / Sentence Correction | 6–8 |
| Fill in the Blanks | 5–6 |
| Cloze Test | 5 |
| Para Jumbles | 4–5 |
| Vocabulary (Synonyms, Antonyms, Word Usage) | 6–8 |
Section 4 — Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation (50Q / 50 Marks)
| Topic | Expected Questions |
|---|---|
| Data Interpretation (Bar/Line/Table/Pie) | 10–15 (2 DI sets) |
| Number Series | 3–5 |
| Simplification & Approximation | 5–6 |
| Percentage, Profit/Loss, Simple/Compound Interest | 5–7 |
| Time & Work, Speed & Distance | 4–5 |
| Ratio & Proportion, Averages | 3–4 |
| Quadratic Equations | 4–5 |
Local Language Test
After clearing the online test cut-offs (section-wise + overall), shortlisted candidates appear in a Local Language Test. This tests reading, writing, and comprehension in the official language of the state you applied for. The test is qualifying — you must pass, but your score in it does not add to your merit rank. If you applied for Rajasthan vacancies, you'll be tested in Hindi; for Karnataka — Kannada; for Tamil Nadu — Tamil; and so on.
Most graduate candidates who have done their schooling in the state language pass this comfortably. If you're applying outside your home state and don't know the local language, this stage can eliminate you even with a high online test score.
60-Day Preparation Strategy for SBI Apprentice 2026
| Week | Focus | Daily Target |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1–2 | Reasoning: Puzzles, seating arrangement (high-weight topics) | 50 puzzle practice questions/day |
| Week 3 | Quant: DI sets, simplification, number series | 3 DI sets/day + 30 arithmetic questions |
| Week 4 | GK/Financial Awareness: RBI, banking terms, government schemes | 20 current affairs/day; read 1 banking topic |
| Week 5 | English: RC passages, error spotting, cloze test | 2 RC passages/day + 20 error questions |
| Week 6 | Computer Aptitude: OS, networking, MS Office basics | 1 hour/day — straightforward scoring section |
| Week 7–8 | Mock tests — 1 full test every day; analyse weak sections | Focus last 2 weeks on weakest section + GK revision |
SBI Apprentice is not as difficult as SBI Clerk or IBPS PO. The level is roughly equivalent to IBPS Clerk — if you've been preparing for banking exams, 45–60 days of focused preparation is sufficient. Aim for 155–170 out of 200 to be safely within the merit list for most states.
Frequently Asked Questions — Syllabus
Q: Is there negative marking in SBI Apprentice online test?
Yes — 0.25 marks are deducted for each wrong answer. Avoid random guessing, especially in Reasoning and Quant where wrong answers can cost more than the marks you gain.
Q: Is there a sectional cut-off?
Yes — SBI applies section-wise minimum cut-offs in addition to an overall cut-off. Clearing only the overall total but failing a section's minimum will disqualify you. Ensure you attempt at least 25–30 questions per section even if one section is weaker.
Q: What is the safe score to target?
Based on previous SBI Apprentice cycles, scores of 155–170 out of 200 have been competitive in most states. Higher-vacancy states (UP, Maharashtra, Bihar) have lower competition; metro-heavy or small-vacancy states may require 165+.
Q: Can I apply for multiple states?
No — SBI Apprentice is state-specific. You apply for a specific state, appear in that state's exam centre, and must pass that state's Local Language Test. You cannot apply to multiple states in a single cycle.
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Section-by-Section Deep Dive — How to Score 160+ in SBI Apprentice Online Test
Reasoning & Computer Aptitude (60 marks) — Highest Weight, Most Trainable
This section has the highest marks and is also the most trainable through practice. Puzzles and seating arrangement together account for 10–12 questions. If you can solve 3–4 puzzle sets in 25 minutes, you control this section. The computer aptitude questions (8–10) are typically straightforward: types of memory, network topologies, MS Office shortcuts, functions of CPU components. These are free marks if you prepare for them — most candidates skip this and leave easy points on the table.
Strategy: Spend 30–35 minutes on Reasoning. Attempt all computer aptitude questions first (2–3 minutes, very fast), then tackle puzzles (20–25 minutes), then remaining reasoning topics. Target: 42–48 marks out of 60.
General/Financial Awareness (50 marks) — The Differentiator Section
This section separates candidates who read news from those who don't. Banking awareness is the most consistently scored area. Every SBI Apprentice exam has 5–8 questions on RBI policy tools (Repo rate, Reverse Repo, CRR, SLR, MSF), 3–5 on government financial schemes, and 3–5 SBI-specific questions. Current affairs cover the last 4–6 months — by the time your exam happens, focus on the period from the notification date going back 4 months.
| Topic | How to Prepare | Questions Expected |
|---|---|---|
| RBI Monetary Policy | Know Repo, Reverse Repo, CRR, SLR, MSF rates — read RBI's bi-monthly policy statements | 4–6 |
| Banking Terms | CASA ratio, NPA, Priority Sector, NABARD, SIDBI, NHB — flashcard method works best | 4–5 |
| Government Schemes | PM Kisan, PMJDY, PMAY, PMFBY, Atal Pension Yojana — know implementing agencies | 5–6 |
| SBI Specific | Number of branches (~22,500+), MD & CEO name, YONO app, SBI subsidiaries | 3–5 |
| International Finance | IMF, World Bank, ADB, BRICS — HQ and India's role | 3–4 |
| Current Affairs | Budget highlights, cabinet decisions, awards, sports — last 4 months | 12–15 |
Strategy: Read a banking awareness app (GK Today, Adda247 banking capsule) for 20–30 minutes daily. For current affairs, maintain a notes file of 5 items per day from a reliable source. Target: 38–44 marks out of 50.
General English (40 marks) — Lowest Marks, Don't Neglect It
The English section has the lowest total marks (40) but a sectional cut-off still applies. Reading comprehension is the backbone — two passages of 5–6 questions each. The passages in SBI Apprentice are typically banking/economy themed (financial inclusion, digital banking, RBI initiatives) — relevant to what you're applying for. Error spotting and sentence correction test basic grammar: subject-verb agreement, tense consistency, articles, prepositions.
Strategy: Practice 2 RC passages daily. For grammar, focus on 5–6 core rules — subject-verb agreement, tense errors, articles (a/an/the), and preposition use. These cover 80% of error-spotting questions. Target: 30–35 marks out of 40.
Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation (50 marks) — Data is the Key
Data Interpretation (DI) is the heaviest component here — two DI sets of 5 questions each = 10 questions from DI alone. The DI sets in SBI Apprentice are typically bar graphs, line charts, or tables (less complex than SBI PO level). Arithmetic topics (percentage, profit-loss, SI/CI) are tested through calculation-based questions. Simplification and approximation questions reward candidates who can calculate quickly without a calculator.
Strategy: Solve 3 DI sets daily for 3 weeks — speed and accuracy both matter. Learn Vedic maths tricks for multiplication and percentage calculations. Avoid spending more than 3 minutes on any single DI question. Target: 38–44 marks out of 50.
Books and Resources — What Actually Works
| Section | Recommended Resource | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Reasoning | R.S. Aggarwal Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning; Puzzles from Oliveboard/Testbook mock tests | Chapter-wise practice then mock-based exposure |
| Quantitative Aptitude | R.S. Aggarwal Quantitative Aptitude; DI sets from any banking mock platform | Quantitative aptitude is transferable across all banking exams |
| English | S.P. Bakshi Objective English; The Hindu editorials for RC practice | Grammar rules + reading habit combination |
| GK/Banking Awareness | Adda247 Banking Awareness book; GKToday monthly current affairs capsule | Specific banking focus, not general UPSC-level GK |
| Mock Tests | Testbook, Oliveboard, Adda247 SBI Apprentice mock test series | Real exam interface simulation — essential for time management |
Common Scoring Mistakes in SBI Apprentice Exam
| Mistake | Cost | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Spending 8+ minutes on one tough puzzle | Missing 3–4 other Reasoning questions | Skip and return — time management is critical |
| Attempting all 50 GK questions quickly without knowing | Wrong answers eat 0.25 marks each — 10 wrong = −2.5 marks | Attempt only what you know; skip doubtful ones |
| Ignoring computer aptitude questions | 8–10 easy marks left unclaimed | Prepare these in 3 hours total — completely predictable |
| Not reading RBI policy updates | 4–6 monetary policy questions missed | Read RBI's bi-monthly policy decisions 1 day after release |
| Reading comprehension attempted at end | Rushing RC passages leads to errors | Attempt RC first in English section while fresh |
SBI Apprentice vs IBPS Clerk — Difficulty Comparison
| Parameter | SBI Apprentice | IBPS Clerk |
|---|---|---|
| Reasoning Level | Moderate — puzzles up to 3-variable, simple directions | Moderate-High — more complex coding-decoding, high-level puzzles |
| Quant Level | Easy-Moderate — DI not very calculation-heavy | Moderate — DI sets can be tabular + mixed |
| English Level | Easy — RC passages economy-focused, standard grammar | Easy-Moderate — vocabulary usage slightly more demanding |
| GK/Banking Level | Moderate — last 4 months current affairs + core banking | Moderate — similar current affairs scope + banking |
| Competition Level | High — 7,150 posts, lakhs of applicants | Very High — similar or more applicants for similar posts |
| Overall Recommendation | Good first banking exam to attempt | Attempt alongside or immediately after SBI Apprentice |
If you are preparing for SBI Apprentice, you are simultaneously preparing for IBPS Clerk. The syllabi overlap at roughly 80%. Any candidate who consistently scores 160+ in SBI Apprentice mocks is competitive for IBPS Clerk. Running both applications simultaneously in the same cycle is the standard strategy among serious banking aspirants.
Final Preparation Checklist — 2 Weeks Before Exam
| Task | Why |
|---|---|
| Download and read the official SBI notification once more | Confirm exam date, centre, documents required at venue |
| Solve 1 full mock test daily | Build stamina for 2.5-hour continuous exam |
| Revise current affairs of last 4 months — 30 topics minimum | GK section is pure memory — fresh recall wins |
| Practice 2 DI sets and 1 puzzle set daily (not more) | Maintain speed without overloading |
| Prepare your exam day kit: Admit card + original ID + pen | No last-minute searching |
