How difficult is the SBI PO compared to the IBPS PO?

In India, the two hottest exams for bank PO exams are definitely SBI PO and IBPS PO. The combined applications received for them are countless. The number of aspirants who sit in these exams can fill up a small city of India. Such a statistic suggests how popular these two exams are in India.  

The debates over the two exams are long and can be talked about for hours. Today, we will look at certain markers or characteristics of both exams to see which one is more difficult than the other.  

First, let’s do the analysis for both the exams (Prelims pattern):

                IBPS PO PRELIMS EXAM PATTERN   vs   SBI PO PRELIMS EXAM PATTERN 

Subjects	Questions	Marks	Time	–	Subjects	Questions	Marks	Time
English	30	30	20 min	–	English	30	30	20 min
Quant Apt	35	35	20 min	Vs SBI PO Prelims	Quant Apt	35	35	20 min
Reasoning	35	35	20 min	–	Reasoning	35	35	20 min
Total	100	100	1 Hour	–	Total	100	100	1 hour

Well, there isn’t any difference between the exam pattern of both SBI PO prelims and IBPS PO prelims. But we can look at other factors for a meaningful comparison. One such factor is the number of applications received for each exam. And the other can be the number of vacancies available.  

Applications received for SBI PO – Nearly 1 million (based on previous year records) 

Applications received or IBPS PO – 8 lakhs (based on previous year records) 

So, not only applications received for SBI PO are higher but the vacancies are nearly half if compared with IBPS PO. The State Bank of India releases nearly 2,000 vacancies each year whereas the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection releases a notification for about 4000+ vacancies.  

In such a scenario, the SBI PO stands to be much more competitive than IBPS PO. The ratio of vacancies available per applicant makes the IBPS PO a winner here.  

Read the article – Why RRB PO is a better job than SBI PO for some aspirants? 

Analysis for Mains Exam Pattern

IBPS PO EXAM PATTERN MAINS                             VS             SBI PO EXAM PATTERN MAINS 

Section	Question	Mark	Time	–	Section	Question	Mark	Time
Reasoning & Computer Aptitude	45	60	60 min	–	Reasoning & Computer Aptitude	45	60	60 min
General/ Economy/ Banking Awareness	40	40	35 min	Vs SBI PO Prelims	General/ Economy/ Banking Awareness	40	40	35 min
English Language	35	40	40 min	–	English Language	35	40	40 min
Data Analysis & Interpretation	35	60	45 min	–	Data Analysis & Interpretation	35	60	45 min
TOTAL	155	200	3 hrs		TOTAL	155	200	3 hrs
English Language (Letter Writing & Essay)	2	25	30 min		English Language (Letter Writing & Essay)	2	50	30 min

There is no difference in the mains exam pattern for the first four sections. Everything is the same for each section, a number of questions, marks allotted, time allotted, etc. However, there is one big difference between the English language and essay writing sections. Both exams will have two questions that will have to be answered within 30 minutes, but IBPS PO has the maximum marks like 25, and on the other hand, SBI PO has allotted 50 marks. The importance given to the English section in totality is much more in SBI PO if compared with the IBPS PO exam. Your writing skills should be on point if you are considering SBI PO.  

Some other notable exam pattern criteria’s for both the exams:

Interview Rounds – The ratio which SBI maintains for mains marks to the SBI PO interview is 75:25. However, IBPS PO maintains the same at 80:20.  

The IBPS PO has got a sectional cut-off for prelims. However, SBI doesn’t entertain any sectional cut-offs.

One other pattern of SBI is that they have come up with new types of questions year by year.

Conclusion

All such differences mentioned above make SBI PO tougher than the IBPS PO. It wasn’t the exam pattern as such which made SBI PO tougher but the additional factors such as availability of vacancies, number of applications received played a bigger role in the comparison. But so are the benefits of the SBI PO job. A much better exposure and career path. The perks and in-hand salary is any day better at the State Bank of India.  

In order to prepare better for SBI PO take a free mock test by PracticeMock and get a complete analysis done of where you stand among other test-takers. 

You might want to subscribe to our push notifications for such daily valuable articles.     

You can also find daily SBI PO news and updates posted on our official Facebook page as well.    

Still, have some doubts about what we discussed in this blog? Leave your queries in the comment section below. We will surely respond to them.