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Bank Exam Syllabus: Looking for a job in the banking sector? Guess what? This is one of the fastest-growing job sectors which has attracted people from all backgrounds because of factors like job security, better pay scale, work-life balance, additional perks and benefits, etc. To secure a job in a bank in India, you need to crack an entrance exam, such as Probationary Officer (PO), Specialist Officer (SO), etc.
The Bank Exam syllabus depends on the type of exam and the post you are applying for. Every year, various public and private organizations recruit eligible candidates for various bank positions. The officials conducting bank exams follow a standard structure or pattern to test the candidate’s knowledge. The Bank exam syllabus is mostly divided into four (4) sections; Quantitative Aptitude (Mathematics), English Language, Analytical Reasoning, and General Awareness. In this article, we will discuss the entire syllabus.
Table of Contents
| Category | Bank Exam |
| Exam Level | National |
| Posts | Clerk Probationary Officer (PO), Specialist Officer (SO) |
| Types | SBI, IBPS, RRB |
| Eligibility | Graduation Work Experience |
| Exam Duration | 1 hour 30 minutes (90 minutes) |
| Sector | Banking |
| Popular Bank Exams | SBI PO and SO, IBPS PO and SO IBPS RRB |
Section-Wise Bank Exam Syllabus 2024
The bank exam syllabus usually consists of four subjects; English language, Analytical Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude and General Knowledge. Candidates’ performance in the examination is the determining factor for their selection for the bank job. Candidates who will be appearing for the Bank examination must understand the exam syllabus and the topics included in it.
| Activity | Details |
| Bank Exam Syllabus | Click Here |
Also Read: All About Banking; Banking Courses, Job Opportunities
Bank Exam Syllabus for Prelims
There is a slight difference in the bank exam syllabus for the Prelims and Mains exams. The preliminary examination is considered as the qualifying examination. Candidates who clear the cut-off marks in the preliminary examination are called for the Mains exam, which has a somewhat different syllabus. The table below highlights the bank exam syllabus for Prelims.
| Subjects | Number of Questions |
| English Language | 30 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 |
| Analytical Reasoning | 35 |
| Total | 100 |
*The duration of the preliminary round is 1 hour.
Bank Exam Syllabus for Mains
Here’s a table highlighting the Bank exam syllabus for the Mains exam. The Mains test has a time duration of 3 hours and a total of 200 marks. This exam will have separate timing for every section. There is also a descriptive test of 30 minutes duration with two questions for 50 marks will be a Test of the English Language (Letter Writing and essay).
| Subjects | Number of Questions |
| English Language | 35 |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | 30 |
| Reasoning and Computer Aptitude | 40 |
| Banking Awareness/ Economics | 50 |
| Total | 155 |
Also read: List of Banking Courses After 12th
Section-wise Syllabus for Bank Exam
Here are the details of the section-wise syllabus for the Bank Exam. Each section has various dedicated topics for the students to prepare for this exam.
English Language Syllabus
Detailed information about the bank examination English syllabus is highlighted in the table below.
| Word Substitution | Reading Comprehension | Article Writing |
| Error Spotting | Fill in the Blanks | Idioms and Phrases |
| Grammar | Cloze Test | Sentence Rearrangement |
| Synonyms and Antonyms | Sentence Correction | Letter Writing |
Analytical Reasoning Syllabus
The table below highlights all the topics included in the bank examination analytical reasoning syllabus.
| Statement and Assumption | Blood relation | Venn Diagram |
| Seating Arrangement | Statement and Conclusion | Word Formation |
| Direction Sense | Causes and Effects | Assertion and Reason |
| Syllogism | Alphabet Test | Syllogism |
| Coding-decoding | Odd one out | Analogy |
General Knowledge Syllabus
Candidates can check the table below to understand all the topics included in the General Knowledge section of the syllabus of the bank exams
| General Science | Latest Government Policies | Indian Constitution and Law |
| Books and Authors | Current Affairs | International Events |
| Currencies and Capitals | Entertainment & Sports | Awards and Honours |
| Banking Awareness | National Parks & Sanctuaries | Indian History |
Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus
Check the table below to learn about all the topics included in the quantitative aptitude section of the bank examination.
| HCF & LCM | Proft & Loss | Mixture & Allegation |
| Mensuration | Statistics | Permutation & Combination |
| Graphs | Simple & Compound Interests | Averages |
| Simplification | Ratio & Proportion | Percentage |
| Time and Work | Distance, Time and Speed | Decimal & Fraction |
Currently, 3 major organisations conduct the bank examinations in India for the positions of Clerk, Probationary Officer (PO) and Specialist Officer (SO). these organisations are as follows:
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
- State Bank of India (SBI)
- Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS)
FAQs
The syllabus for the bank exam includes English Language, Analytical Reasoning, General Awareness and Quantitative Aptitude. The exam for preliminary and main examinations have a slight difference.
The duration of the bank examination varies depending on the post. The duration of the preliminary examination is 1 hour, and the duration of the main examination is 3 hours.
The application fee for the bank examination depends on the category of the candidate. Candidates belonging to the General/ EWS/ OBC categories will have to pay INR 750. Candidates belonging to SC/ ST/ PwD categories will have to pay INR 100. The application fee for bank exams is non-refundable.
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