SBI Junior Associates (Customer Support & Sales) Syllabus 2026
State Bank of India
SBI Junior Associates (Customer Support & Sales) Syllabus 2026 — Quick Summary
The SBI Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales) syllabus covers English, Numerical Ability, Reasoning, General and Financial Awareness, and Computer Aptitude across a preliminary and main online exam, followed by a local language proficiency test. Candidates should prepare banking awareness and quantitative topics in depth, since they carry the most weight in the mains. This guide explains the exam pattern, topic-wise syllabus, books, and a preparation plan for 2026.
Key Facts at a Glance
Exam Name
Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales)
Conducting Body
State Bank of India (SBI)
Exam Mode
Online / Offline
Key Subjects
General Awareness, Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, English
How to Use This Syllabus
Visit the official SBI careers portal and download the latest notification PDF.
Open the syllabus section and note every subject and topic listed.
Check the exam pattern for marks, duration, and negative marking in each section.
Build a weekly study plan covering all topics, starting with your weakest areas.
Practise sectional tests daily and full-length mocks under timed conditions.
Review every mock for errors and revise related topics before the next attempt.
SBI Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales) Exam Overview
State Bank of India (SBI) recruits Junior Associates (Customer Support and Sales) to handle customer service, account operations, and sales support across its branches. The post is a clerical cadre role, and the recruitment is conducted online by SBI in a multi-stage process. Vacancies, exam dates, and the number of posts change with each notification, so candidates should always confirm figures on the official SBI careers portal. Because SBI is one of the largest employers in the banking sector, the exam attracts a very large number of applicants every cycle, which makes a structured preparation plan essential.
Exam Pattern
The selection process has three stages: a preliminary exam, a main exam, and a language proficiency test (LPT). The preliminary exam is screening only, and its marks are used to shortlist candidates for the mains. The mains marks determine the final merit list. The pattern below follows recent SBI clerical cycles, so verify it against the latest notification.
| Stage | Paper | Subject | Questions | Marks | Duration | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 | Preliminary | English | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes | 0.25 per wrong answer |
| Stage 1 | Preliminary | Numerical Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes | 0.25 per wrong answer |
| Stage 1 | Preliminary | Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes | 0.25 per wrong answer |
| Stage 2 | Main | General and Financial Awareness | 50 | 50 | Total 160 minutes | 0.25 per wrong answer |
| Stage 2 | Main | General English | 40 | 40 | Total 160 minutes | 0.25 per wrong answer |
| Stage 2 | Main | Quantitative Aptitude | 50 | 50 | Total 160 minutes | 0.25 per wrong answer |
| Stage 2 | Main | Reasoning and Computer Aptitude | 60 | 60 | Total 160 minutes | 0.25 per wrong answer |
| Stage 3 | LPT | Local Language Proficiency | Practical test | Qualifying | As notified | Not applicable |
Subject-Wise Syllabus
English Language
- Reading comprehension with inference and tone-based questions
- Cloze test and fill in the blanks
- Error spotting and sentence improvement
- Para jumbles and sentence rearrangement
- Synonyms, antonyms, and one-word substitution
- Idioms, phrases, and vocabulary
Numerical Ability and Quantitative Aptitude
- Simplification and approximation
- Number series and missing number problems
- Percentage, profit and loss, and discount
- Ratio, proportion, and partnership
- Time and work, time and distance
- Data interpretation using tables, bar graphs, and pie charts
- Simple and compound interest, averages, and mensuration
Reasoning Ability
- Puzzles and seating arrangement
- Syllogism and inequalities
- Coding-decoding and blood relations
- Direction sense and order and ranking
- Logical reasoning and data sufficiency
General and Financial Awareness
- Banking terminology and RBI functions
- Recent banking developments, schemes, and government initiatives
- Indian economy, budget, and financial markets
- Static GK: history, geography, polity, science, and awards
- Current affairs from the previous 6 to 12 months
Reasoning and Computer Aptitude
- Computer basics, hardware, and software
- MS Office, internet, and networking terms
- Keyboard shortcuts and abbreviations
- Logical and analytical reasoning overlap
Previous Year Cut-Off Trends
SBI does not publish fixed cut-offs for every cycle, and cut-offs vary by shift, difficulty, and vacancy count. In recent clerical cycles, general category candidates generally needed roughly 50 to 60 marks out of 100 in the preliminary exam to move forward, while reserved categories had lower qualifying marks. Mains cut-offs are typically set separately for each category. Treat these figures as approximate and check the official cut-off PDF after each exam.
Recommended Books
- English: Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis; High School English Grammar by Wren and Martin; Practice sets from Arihant SBI English
- Quantitative Aptitude: Quantitative Aptitude by R.S. Aggarwal; Quantitative Aptitude by Arun Sharma
- Reasoning: A Modern Approach to Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning by R.S. Aggarwal; Logical Reasoning by Arihant Publications
- Banking and Financial Awareness: Banking Awareness by Arihant Experts; Banking and Financial Awareness by Kiran Prakashan
- General Knowledge: Manorama Yearbook for current affairs; Lucent General Knowledge
- Computer Aptitude: Computer Awareness by Arihant Publications
Preparation Strategy
Most candidates with no banking background need three to four months of focused preparation. Plan three to four hours of study daily, with one hour reserved for current affairs. Begin with quantitative aptitude and reasoning, since these need regular practice and speed. Prioritise banking awareness and English in the final two months, as these sections carry substantial mains weight.
A practical mock schedule is to take one sectional test daily from the second month, one full-length preliminary mock each week, and one full-length mains mock every ten days during the last six weeks. Analyse every mock for accuracy, time spent per section, and recurring error types before attempting the next one.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
- Ignoring negative marking: Attempt only questions where you can eliminate at least two options.
- Spending too long on one question: Set a time limit of 60 to 90 seconds per question in quantitative sections and move on if stuck.
- Neglecting current affairs: Read a daily digest and make monthly notes of banking news.
- Relying only on theory: Solve at least 50 previous year questions for each section.
- Skipping the computer section: Practise basic computer terminology, as it is often scored easily with revision.
- Not checking the official notification: Confirm the latest pattern, dates, and syllabus on the SBI careers portal before you start.
Frequently Asked Questions — SBI Junior Associates (Customer Support & Sales) Syllabus 2026
The syllabus covers English, Numerical Ability, Reasoning Ability in the preliminary exam, and General and Financial Awareness, General English, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning and Computer Aptitude in the main exam. A local language proficiency test is also conducted in the final stage.
The preliminary exam has 100 questions for 100 marks in 60 minutes across English, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning. The main exam has 200 marks in 160 minutes across four sections. The pattern can change with each notification, so check the latest official PDF.
Yes, recent SBI clerical cycles apply negative marking of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer in both the preliminary and main exams. Unanswered questions carry no penalty.
The selection has three stages: a preliminary exam, a main exam, and a local language proficiency test. The preliminary exam is for shortlisting, and final merit is based on the main exam, with the language test being qualifying.