SBI PO Note-Taking Priorities
Since the 2025 exam cycle is concluded and the 2026 notification is
expected soon (likely between June and December 2026), your notes should
be divided into two clear phases: Prelims (speed/accuracy) and Mains (deep
analytical skills).
1. Quantitative Aptitude (300 Pages)
The SBI PO Quant section is heavily focused on Data Interpretation (DI).
Foundation (50 pages): Speed math, percentage-to-fraction charts,
squares (up to 50), and cubes (up to 30).
Arithmetic Concepts (150 pages): Dedicated space for topics like Profit
& Loss, SI/CI, and Time & Work. Write the concept and then 2–3
"Mains-level" twisted versions of that concept.
Data Interpretation (100 pages): For SBI PO, you need space for
complex DI like Missing DI, Caselets, and Arithmetic-based DI, which
are common in Mains.
2. Reasoning Ability (300 Pages)
In Reasoning, Puzzles and Seating Arrangements typically carry 50–60% of
the weightage.
Miscellaneous (100 pages): Syllogism, Blood Relations, CodingDecoding, and Input-Output.
Puzzles & Seating (200 pages): You will need large A4 pages to map
out multiple possibilities for high-level Mains puzzles (e.g., threevariable puzzles or uncertain number of persons).
Quick Exam Overview (Expected 2026)
The exam follows a three-stage process: Prelims, Mains, and a Phase 3
involving a Psychometric Test, Group Exercise, and Interview.
Stage
Sections
Marks/Duration
Note-Taking Strategy
Prelims English, Quant,
Reasoning
100 Marks / 1 Hr
Focus on shortcuts and
speed.
Mains
Reasoning, Data
Analysis, GA,
English
250 Marks / 3.5
Hrs
Focus on detailed logic and
new patterns.
Phase
3
Psychometric, GE,
Interview
50 Marks
Leave space
for personality/banking
notes.
SBI PO English Note-Taking Priorities
To make your notes effective, divide your notebook into the following four
clear sections:
1. Functional Grammar (50–60 Pages)
Instead of writing down every rule from a textbook, focus on "high-yield"
rules that frequently appear in Error Spotting and Sentence Improvement.
Core Rules: Subject-Verb Agreement, Tenses (especially parallelism),
Prepositions, and Conditional Sentences.
The 120 Rules Method: Dedicate pages to the most common 120
grammar rules. For each rule, write one simple example and one "SBI
PO level" complex sentence.
The "Error Log": Reserve 10 pages at the end of this section to note
down specific grammar traps you fell into during mock tests.
2. Contextual Vocabulary & Phrasal Verbs (80–100 Pages)
SBI PO focuses on how words are used in banking and economic contexts
rather than just their dictionary definitions.
Editorial Words: Daily, note down 5–10 new words from The
Hindu or The Economic Times. Include their synonyms, antonyms, and
a sentence showing their usage in a business context.
Phrasal Verbs & Idioms: Dedicate 20 pages specifically to highfrequency phrasal verbs (e.g., break down, call off, lay off) as these are
common in Cloze Tests and Fillers.
3. Reading Comprehension & Verbal Ability (50 Pages)
Since RC and Para Jumbles carry the highest weightage (often 10–15 marks),
focus on strategy notes rather than content.
Strategy Checklists: Write down steps for identifying the "Main Idea,"
"Tone," and "Inference" of a passage.
Para Jumble Links: Note down "mandatory pair" techniques—
connecting nouns to pronouns or looking for transition words
like However, Therefore, or Consequently.
4. Descriptive English (Last 30 Pages)
This is unique to the SBI PO Mains and requires practicing on a computer,
but your notebook should store your "brainstorming" material.
Format Templates: Clear structures for Formal/Informal Letters and
Essay writing.
Topic Bank: A list of 20–30 current socio-economic topics with 4–5
bullet points (data/facts) for each to use as essay content.
Note-Taking Tips for English
Use Visuals: Use tables to compare confusing words
(e.g., Its vs. It's, Lose vs. Loose) or charts for tense consistency.
Root Words: Use a section for root word analysis (e.g., Bene =
good, Mal = bad) to help decode unfamiliar words in RCs.
Revision over Volume: It is better to have 100 pages of rules you
actually remember than 300 pages of copied textbook material.
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