Reasoning Ability for SBI Clerk Prelims: Conducted by the prestigious State Bank of India, the SBI Clerk exam selects candidates for the posts of Clerk at its branches across India. The SBI Clerk 2021 notification is expected to be out really soon.
The demanding selection process comprises Prelims, Mains, and a Language Proficiency Test. It is one of the most respected and challenging government sector examinations of its kind. If you are interested in appearing for the exam any time soon, here is an overview of the SBI Clerk reasoning ability section which will certainly be of major help.
SBI Clerk 2021: Exam Pattern
The SBI Clerk 2021 Prelims exam consists of three sections as mentioned below. Numerical Ability and Reasoning Ability sections carry 35 marks each with the English Language section having a weightage of 30 marks. The total time duration is divided into 20 minutes for each section.
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Numerical Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 minutes |
Important Reasoning Topics for SBI Clerk
Here are some of the important reasoning topics for the SBI Clerk Prelims exam that you must focus upon during your preparation.
| Directions | Seating Arrangement | Cause & Effects |
| Assertion & Reason | Word Formation | Syllogism |
| Puzzles | Alphabet Test | Statements & Conclusion |
| Coding-Decoding | Blood Relation | Inequalities [Coded Inequality & Direct Inequality] |
| Input-Output | Miscellaneous | Computer Aptitude |
SBI Clerk Reasoning Ability: Tips
Given below are some tips and strategies that will help in tackling SBI Clerk reasoning questions effectively.
- Section Breakdown: Out of 35 questions in SBI Clerk Reasoning Ability, 15 questions are typically asked from the Puzzles & Seating Arrangement section in the form of passage and related questions. This makes it one of the most important reasoning topics for SBI Clerk Prelims in recent years.Further, Inequalities and Syllogism account for the next crucial point of the exam with 6 questions between them. Similarly, there are around 9-10 questions generally on topics of Coding-Decoding, Directions and Series. Lastly, you must be prepared to see 5-6 odd questions on diverse and new topics.
- SBI Clerk MCQ question in the reasoning section is normally based on a passage-based pattern. This follows a three-part structure, namely, ‘Problem Statement/Passage/Directions’, ‘Question/Task’ and ‘Choices/Options’. First off, the Problem Statement gives you an introduction or premise along with the required basic information on which the questions are based. The Questions explore a missing link, a specific situation or a logical explanation related to the Problem Statement. Lastly, Choices are the options out of which only one is correct. In tough SBI Clerk reasoning ability questions, look out of extreme and implausible choices.
- Difficulty Level & Answering Strategy: The difficulty level of SBI Clerk reasoning questions typically stands about the average to moderate level with tough and complex questions few and far between. Thus, the best strategy to tackle the SBI Clerk reasoning ability section is to aim for 25-28 correct answers which are enough to get you through to the Mains. Don’t rely on guesswork as it ends up doing more harm than good.
SBI Clerk 2021: Key Takeaways
- Time Management: There are a total of 35 questions to be done in 20 minutes which is quite demanding in terms of speed and efficiency. You have only 40 seconds for each question. Hence, do not linger on one question for higher than 40 seconds. If you are struggling, mark it for revision and skip on to the next one. Come back to it later.
Employ as many creative and innovative learning methods as you can to memorize formulae and strategies. This includes flow charts, placards, puzzles, mind maps, diagrams, quizzes which go a long way in improving your memory, retention and recall skills.
Books:
| Book Name [Analytical & Logical Reasoning] | Publisher |
| A New Approach to Reasoning By B S Sijwali and S Sijwali | Arihant Publications |
| How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for the CAT and Other Management Examinations [McGraw Hill Publications] | Arun Sharma |
| Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT [Pearson Publications] | Nishit K.Sinha |
| Reasoning Book for Competitive Examinations | Pearson Publications |
| A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning | R.S. Aggarwal |
| Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT [Pearson Publications] | Nishit K Sinha |
Best of Luck