SBI Clerk 2023 – Preparation tips and Strategy for Quant Section

SBI Clerk 2023 – Strategy and last-minute tips for the Numerical Ability / Quantitative Aptitude Section

This section of the SBI Clerk 2023 Prelim exam comprises of 35 Qs that are to be attempted in 20 minutes, while the SBI Clerk 2023 Main exam comprises of 50 Qs that need to be attempted in 45 mins. This section is called ‘Numerical Ability’ in the Prelim exam and ‘Quantitative Aptitude’ in the Main exam.

There is a negative marking scheme, where 1/4th of the marks assigned for a question are deducted for each wrongly marked response. There are NO minimum qualifying marks for individual tests OR for the aggregate score.

The students should focus on the following question types.


  • Simplifications
  • Approximations
  • Number Series (Missing and Wrong Numbers)
  • Data Interpretation
  • Quadratic comparisons
  • Individual quant questions on Arithmetic
  • Data Sufficiency (Important for Main exam; very rarely asked in Prelim exam)
  • Data Comparison (Important for Main exam; very rarely asked in Prelim exam)

Data Interpretation: Questions on Data Interpretation carry more weightage in the Main exam than in the preliminary exam. In the Prelim exam, questions on single graph like Table, Bar Graph, Line Graph, and Single Pie chart are asked whereas in the Main exam, question types include a combination of graphs like Table + Bar Graph, Table + Line graph, two pie charts, Caselet etc. The questions based on Caselet should be attempted at the end. In recent exams, questions based on Quant-based DI (Time and distance, Averages, Mixtures and Alligations, Mensuration etc..) have also been asked. One must be thorough with the basic concepts of Quantitative Aptitude to attempt these question types accurately.

Simplifications & Approximations:

Questions based on Simplifications and Approximations are asked quite frequently in the Prelim exam and carry more weightage here than they do in the Main exam. In the main exam, about 5 questions can be posed. These questions are easy to solve and hence, students should not skip them.

To answer questions on Simplifications & Approximations and Data Interpretation, students should learn and practice the following:


  • Multiplication Tables (20x20)
  • Squares of first 25 Natural numbers
  • Cubes of first 20 Natural numbers
  • Powers of 2 (Up to 12)
  • Powers of 3 (Up to 7)
  • Fraction / Reciprocal values (Up to 12)
  • Complements of 100.
  • BODMAS
  • Rules of Indices
  • Percentage concepts

Arithmetic Questions:

Questions here test the understanding of the fundamental concepts of a student. These questions are important for both the Prelim and the Main examinations.

Important topics include – Ages, Percentages, Profit and Loss, Partnership, Time and Work, Boats and streams, Trains, Mensuration, Simple and compound Interest, Averages, Mixtures & Alligations etc.

Number Series: Generally, there are five questions on Number Series (Missing & Wrong No.). These are important for both the Prelim and the Main examinations. In the mains exams, the pattern of number series is different from that of Prelims and is of a higher level of difficulty.

Quadratic Comparisons: There are five questions on Quadratic Comparisons in the Prelim exam in almost all the slots. At times, in the main exam, about 5 questions can be posed. These are easy to solve, and students should look at scoring maximum marks from this topic. However, in the main exams, the presentation of questions is different from that of Prelims and is of higher level of difficulty. It is more time-consuming.

Data Sufficiency & Data Comparison: Questions based on Data Sufficiency & Data Comparisons are in general a part of the Main exam. These questions demand a thorough understanding of the basics and are tricky to solve. These two question types at times can be asked in the Prelim exam as well, but their difficulty level would certainly be much lower, keeping in mind the basic nature of the exam.

The following table represents a topic-wise split of question types asked in the SBI Clerk 2022 & 2021 prelim exams. [This is based on feedback given by T.I.M.E. students who have appeared for such exams earlier]

Topic 2022 Prelim 2021 Prelim
Simplifications 10 – 15 10
Number Series 5 (Both Missing & Wrong Number) 5 (Both Missing & Wrong Number)
Quadratic Comparisons 0 – 5 5
Data Interpretation 5 10
Individual Quant Questions 10 10


The following table represents a topic-wise split of question types asked in the SBI Clerk 2022 & 2021 main exams. [This is based on feedback given by T.I.M.E. students who have appeared for such exams earlier]

Topic 2022 Main 2021 Main
Approximations 3 3
Quadratic Equations 4 (New pattern) 3(New pattern)
Number Series 3 2 (Wrong Number)
Data Interpretation 25 (Table (Missing Data) - 5 Qs, Line Graph - 5 Qs, Pie Chart - 5 Qs, Caselet 1 - 5 Qs, Caselet 2 - 5 Qs) 25 (5 sets) (Table; Bar + Table; Pie + Pie; Caselet 1 : Income and Expenditure; Caselet 2: Mixtures and Alligations)
Individual Quant Questions 10 12
Data Sufficiency 3 (2 Statements) 3 (2 Statements)
Data Comparison 2 (2 Quantity comparison) 2 (2 Quantity comparison)

Strategy & Time-Management:

To maximise the score and to manage time effectively, we recommend the below-mentioned plan for attempting questions.

It is advisable to attempt questions on - Simplifications & Approximations, Number Series, Quadratic Comparisons, Individual questions on Arithmetic, Data Comparisons and Data Sufficiency - first, before moving on to those on Data Interpretation.

Questions on Data Interpretation should be targeted at the end. Among these questions, Quant-based DI and Caselet-based questions should be attempted last.

All the best!!