This examination is generally held annually to recruit the clerical cadre in State Bank of India and its associate banks. Applications are invited for the following posts:

1. Clerk
2. Typist (English)
3. Steno (English)
4. Agricultural Clerks
5. Steno (Hindi)
6. Typist (English and Hindi)
7. Steno (English and Hindi)
8. Clerk-cum-Cashier
9. Clerk-cum-Godown Keeper
10. Data Entry Operators
11. Telephone Operators

Age: Not below 18 years and not above 28 years. Relaxation in upper age limit: as per rules for specified categories including SC/ST/OBC etc.

Nationality: A candidate must be either a citizen of India or one holding eligibility certificates issued by the Government of India.

For the posts of Clerks and Typists Bachelor's degree of a recognized University in any discipline or its equivalent recognized as such by the Central Government.

Passed with 50% marks in aggregate in Higher Secondary Examination/(10+2) of 10+2+3 pattern/Eleventh Standard Examination of 11+3 pattern/Intermediate/Pre-University or its equivalent.

Passed with 50% marks in aggregate in Diploma in Banking recognized by Central/State Government or U.T. Administration.

Passed with 60% marks in aggregate in Matriculation/SSC (old pattern)/SSLC/ l0th standard of 10+2+3 pattern or equivalent.

For the posts of Stenographers, Data Entry Operators, Telephone Operators

A pass in Matriculation/SSC (old pattern) SSLC/ l0th standard examination of 10+2+3 pattern or equivalent.

For the posts of Agricultural Clerks

A degree or Diploma in Agriculture (including Agricultural Engineering) from a recognized University/Institution.

Passed Higher Secondary/ 12th Standard of 10+2+3 pattern or Intermediate or equivalent examination with Agriculture as a subject with 50% marks for all candidates except SC/ST/OBC/XS/OBC/OH candidates in whose case the eligibility is a mere pass in these subjects.

A Matriculation/SSC (l0th Standard) certificate in case of a Village Level Worker with a minimum of 3 years experience as Village level worker under a Government.

Additional Qualifications:

Applicants for the posts of Typists and Stenographers must have proficiency in Typing and Shorthand with the following minimum speed.

Entrance examination involves two basic parts – Written Test and Interview.

Part-I (Objective Type)
It will consist of four tests viz. Test of Reasoning, Test of English Language, Test of Numerical Aptitude and Test of Clerical Aptitude.

Part-II (Descriptive Type)
It will consist of Essay, Office correspondence, Précis writing and arguments for or against a proposition to judge the candidate’s ability to express his/her thoughts. The question Papers excepting the English Language Test of Part-I will be bi-lingual.

Interview
A candidate has to qualify in each of the Objective and Descriptive tests separately. Candidates qualifying in written examination would be called for an interview and a skill test in case of certain skill posts.

Test of Reasoning:

This test would include questions of both verbal and non-verbal type. The test may include questions on analogies, similarities, differences, space visualization, problem-solving, analysis, judgment, decision-making, visual memory, discrimination, observation, relationship concepts, arithmetical reasoning, verbal and figure classification, arithmetical number series, etc.

The test will also include questions designed to test the candidate's abilities to deal with abstract ideas and symbols and their relationships, arithmetical computation and other analytical functions.

Test of English Language:
This is a test to see how well you know English. English language ability would be tested through questions on grammar, vocabulary, sentence completion, synonyms, antonyms, comprehension of a passage, etc.

Test of Numerical Ability:
Questions will be designed to test the ability of arithmetical computation of whole numbers, decimals and fractions and relationship between numbers. The questions would be based on arithmetical concepts and relationship between numbers and not on complicated arithmetical computations.

Test of Clerical Aptitude:
The questions in Clerical Aptitude will be set to test the candidate's perceptual accuracy and aptitude. This is the ability to notice similarities and differences between the pairs of names and numbers. Questions in Clerical Aptitude will also assess in addition to perceptual accuracy and aptitude, ability to handle office routine work like filing, abbreviating, indexing, etc.

Descriptive Papers:
It intends to measure your higher order cognitive abilities.
N.B. (i) The candidate has to pass each of the Objective and Descriptive Tests separately. It is a question paper-cum-answer sheet in Hindi and English and the Regional Language and you have to restrict your answers to the space provided on the answer-sheet. Use of supplements is not allowed.

• All the questions should be attempted in the same language.
• For candidates appearing for the post of Agricultural Clerk, an objective test of Agricultural Knowledge (50 questions, 30 minutes) will also be there. In this test problems relating to Agricultural matters will be asked.

Notifications for the Clerical Grade examinations appear in all leading National newspapers and Employment News. Neatly typed or legibly handwritten applications should be submitted in the specified format to the Board as is mentioned in the notification.

Every year, a multitude of candidates appear for the banking service examinations and naturally, there is an intense competition for the jobs that are a handful in number. Therefore, a thorough preparation is required in order to get through.

To be successful, regular practice in all the five tests viz. Test of Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, General Awareness, Descriptive Test and English Language, is essential. Various competition magazines adequately cover all the sections. To supplement their efforts, candidates may refer to standard books on General Knowledge.

The basics can be done by using tenth standard books and then start doing section tests, from Reasoning, Maths, English, etc. Try to get a good score in each section. After that, do some full-length tests that contain all the sections, within the stipulated time. For the descriptive paper, refer to the model paragraphs and descriptive questions published in the Competition Magazines. The candidate must have a good expression and the sentences must be grammatically correct. Efforts must be made to improve your handwriting as well, as this could be a major shortcoming in the written paper. Apart from this, the candidate must be aware of current issues and recent incidents of importance.

There are a number of books and correspondence courses available for bank preparatory examinations. There is, however, no substitute for self-study and self-preparation. Regular studies, systematic preparations, self-confidence and regular practice, is all that is required to pass this exam.

After the written examination, the short-listed candidates are called for an interview. General questions are asked to check the candidate's General Awareness and relevant issues related to Economics. The interview is also conducted to gauge the candidate’s personality and aptitude. Therefore, Candidates should prepare for the interview simultaneously and take care to develop their personality and confidence.