Put Quant and Reasoning in your sharpest hours, keep English and GA for later in the day, and end with 30 minutes of mistake-book revision. A sample 7-hour timetable is below.
The best timetable is one you can repeat every day for months. The pattern below works for most full-time candidates; adjust the clock times to your routine but keep the order of tasks.
Sample timetable (full-time, before Prelims)
| Time | Task |
|---|---|
| 6:30-7:00 | Calculation drill: 20 simplification or approximation questions with a timer |
| 7:00-9:00 | Quant topic of the day: learn the method, then 40 questions |
| 9:00-9:30 | Break |
| 9:30-11:30 | Reasoning: 3 puzzle or seating sets + 20 questions of a short topic |
| 11:30-12:30 | English: 1 RC passage + 20 grammar or filler questions |
| Afternoon | Rest, then 1 hour GA or computer (from month 2) |
| Evening | 1 hour: sectional test (20 minutes) + analysis |
| Night | 30 minutes: mistake book and vocabulary |
Mock days
From week 5 or 6, replace the morning topic block with a full Prelims mock 2-3 times a week. Take the mock at the time of your likely exam slot, then analyse it immediately. Analysis should take 60-90 minutes; it is where most improvement happens.
After Prelims
Shift the balance: 2-3 hours GA and computer, 2 hours Quant (more DI and arithmetic at Mains level), 1.5 hours Reasoning, 1 hour English. Mains has separate timers too: GA 35 minutes, English 35, Quant 45, Reasoning and Computer 45.
If you can study only in the evening
Keep the same order in a shorter window: 20 minutes calculation drill, 60 minutes Quant, 60 minutes Reasoning, 30 minutes English, and 15 minutes of mistake-book revision. Move GA to your commute or lunch break, and put mocks on the weekend.
Rules can change with each notification. Confirm on sbi.bank.in/web/careers.
More preparation questions
- Can I crack SBI Clerk in 3 months?Yes, three months is enough for many first-time candidates who study 5-6 hours a day, build Prelims speed in …→
- Can I crack SBI Clerk Prelims in 2 months?Possible if you already know basic maths and English and can give 6-7 hours a day. Cover only high-weight top…→
- Can I crack SBI Clerk in 1 month?From zero, one month is very unlikely to be enough. With an earlier bank-exam base, or if you have just writt…→
- Can I prepare for SBI Clerk without coaching?Yes. The syllabus is standard and every topic can be learnt from free material, a few books and online practi…→
- How many hours a day should I study for SBI Clerk?For a full-time aspirant, 6-8 focused hours a day is a common, sustainable range. Working candidates can mana…→
- How do I start SBI Clerk preparation from zero?Read the official pattern, take one diagnostic mock to see where you stand, then spend the first three weeks …→