SBI SO (Specialist Cadre Officer) Free Mock Test
SBI SO (Specialist Cadre Officer) (SBI Specialist Officer) is part of India's Government Exams category, covering 4 topics. Kamiyab provides a free SBI SO (Specialist Cadre Officer) Full Mock test — questions matched to the official exam pattern with real timing, instant scoring, and per-question explanations. Eligibility: Graduate · specialist. Aligned to the current 2026 official syllabus.
SBI SO (Specialist Cadre Officer) mock is being built
We're working through the SBI SO (Specialist Cadre Officer) previous-year papers to build a PYQ-grounded, expert-audited question bank. The syllabus, eligibility and exam pattern below stay accurate — the mock launches as soon as the bank clears audit. Live exams today: SSC CGL, SSC CHSL, and SSC MTS.
Topics covered
Topics are listed for reference. The mock launch unlocks once each topic's PYQ-grounded question bank is audited.
About SBI SO (State Bank of India — Specialist Cadre Officer)
SBI Specialist Cadre Officer (SBI SO) recruitment is the lateral, qualification-specific hiring channel at India's largest public-sector bank. While SBI PO is a generalist management-cadre entry exam, SBI SO recruits domain experts directly into roles requiring professional credentials and prior experience — Chartered Accountants for credit analysis and finance functions, lawyers for legal and recovery, engineers and IT specialists for digital banking and infrastructure, MBAs for marketing and HR, statisticians and economists for risk and analytics, and security officers from defence backgrounds. SBI runs SO notifications multiple times in a year for different streams, sometimes on contract and sometimes on regular cadre.
Streams typically notified include: Deputy Manager (Credit Analyst), Deputy Manager (Statistician), Deputy Manager (Internal Audit), Manager (Marketing), Manager (Risk), Manager (Cyber Security), Manager (Data Scientist), Manager (Anywhere Banking Channels — Wealth/Digital), Manager (Law / Compliance), Assistant Manager (Engineer — Civil/Electrical), Specialist Officer (Information Security), Specialist Officer (Anti-Money Laundering), Specialist Officer (Tech Roles in DevOps/SRE/Cloud), Specialist Cadre Officer (Procurement / Vendor / Sourcing), Wealth Hub roles (Customer Relationship Executive, Investment Officer, Customer Service Manager) and Sportsperson / Departmental Cadre roles. Exact streams, grade levels, age bands and qualification thresholds vary notification by notification.
Selection is stream-specific. The most common pattern is: Online Written Test (objective + descriptive for selected streams) → Shortlisting → Personal Interview, with merit determined by a fixed weight between the written test and interview (commonly 75:25 or 60:40). Some streams (Wealth Hub roles, sportsperson cadre, certain contractual roles) skip the written test and proceed directly to interview after shortlisting on qualification and experience. Pay scale and grade are stream-specific: Deputy Manager and Manager roles in MMGS-II/III range from approximately Rs 64,820 to Rs 1,04,400 basic with DA, HRA and perks taking gross to Rs 1.1-1.6 lakh in a Tier-I metro. Senior Specialist (Scale IV / Scale V) and Chief Manager roles command higher emoluments.
Conducted by: State Bank of India Central Recruitment & Promotion Department (CRPD), Corporate Centre, Mumbai. Specialist Cadre recruitment is conducted by SBI under stream-specific notifications and does not run through the IBPS SO framework.
Eligibility
- General eligibility framework (varies by stream)Age: Stream-specific. Common bands: Deputy Manager (Credit Analyst, Statistician, Internal Audit) — 25 to 35 years. Manager (Marketing, Risk, Cyber Security, Data Scientist, Anti-Money Laundering) — 25 to 35 years. Assistant Manager / Specialist Officer roles — 22 to 32 years. Wealth Hub roles — 22 to 35 years. Sportsperson cadre — 18 to 30 years. Age relaxation: SC/ST +5 years, OBC (non-creamy layer) +3 years, PwBD (General/EWS) +10 years, PwBD (OBC) +13 years, PwBD (SC/ST) +15 years, Ex-Servicemen +5 years subject to ceiling. EWS candidates receive NO age relaxation. Always read the stream-specific notification for the exact age window.
Exam Pattern
Stage-by-stage breakdown of the recruitment process.
Online Written Test (where applicable — varies by stream)
- Questions
- Stream-specific. Typical Specialist Cadre objective papers carry 120-150 multiple-choice questions across Reasoning (50 Q), Quant (35-50 Q), English (35-50 Q) and stream-specific Professional Knowledge (50-60 Q).
- Marks
- Stream-specific. Typical total: 120-200 marks objective; descriptive (if applicable) carries an additional 50-60 marks.
- Duration
- Stream-specific. Typical duration: 2 hours to 2 hours 45 minutes for the full objective paper; an additional 30-45 minutes for descriptive where applicable.
Shortlisting / Application Screening
- Questions
- Not applicable — credential review.
- Marks
- Qualifying (pass/fail).
- Duration
- Conducted offline by CRPD between the written test result and interview call dates.
Personal Interview
- Questions
- Not applicable — structured interview.
- Marks
- Stream-specific. Typical weight in final merit: 25% to 40% (e.g., written test 75:25 PI for some streams; 60:40 for streams emphasising domain expertise).
- Duration
- Approximately 20-40 minutes per candidate.
Syllabus
7 sections, 63 topics in total.
- Reasoning Ability (Online Written Test)11 topics
- Quantitative Aptitude (Online Written Test)12 topics
- English Language (Online Written Test)8 topics
- Professional Knowledge — Credit Analyst / Risk / Finance streams8 topics
- Professional Knowledge — IT / Cyber Security / Data Scientist streams9 topics
- Professional Knowledge — Law / Marketing / HR / other streams6 topics
- Banking Awareness (cross-stream)9 topics
Preparation Strategy
Subject-wise strategy, a study plan and the books aspirants rely on for SBI SO (State Bank of India — Specialist Cadre Officer).
Read the preparation guideRecent Changes to Know
- SBI SO notifications have moved to a more frequent, stream-specific release pattern — 6-10 separate notifications across a year are now common, replacing the older once-a-year omnibus SO recruitment cycle.
- Digital and Data Science streams have expanded significantly in line with SBI's YONO/Anywhere Banking strategy. Manager (Data Scientist), Manager (AI/ML), Manager (DevOps/SRE/Cloud) and Specialist Officer (Information Security) are now recurring notifications.
- Wealth Hub recruitment for Customer Relationship Executive (CRE), Investment Officer (IO) and Customer Service Manager (CSM) roles is contractual (3-5 year terms) and uses direct interview shortlisting on qualifications and NISM certifications — no written test.
- Several Specialist Cadre roles are now on contractual / fixed-term basis (typically 3 to 5 years) rather than regular PSU cadre. The notification clearly distinguishes 'Regular Cadre' from 'Contractual' — read this carefully before applying.
- Professional Knowledge sections increasingly reference current regulatory and policy updates — RBI's Co-Lending Framework, Digital Lending Guidelines (2022), FLDG Guidelines (2023), DPDP Act 2023, RBI's Cyber Security & Resilience Framework updates, and Ind AS 109 ECL provisioning are recurring areas across relevant streams.
Important Dates
- Notification
- SBI SO notifications are released stream-by-stream throughout the year on sbi.co.in/careers. There is no single fixed annual calendar — stream-specific notifications are timed to staffing needs. The application window per notification stays open for approximately 2-3 weeks.
- Exam
- Online Written Test (where applicable) is typically conducted 4-6 weeks after the application window closes. Interview is typically 4-6 weeks after the written-test result. Streams using direct shortlisting move from application closure to interview in 4-6 weeks without a written test.
- Results
- Online written test result: approximately 2-4 weeks after the test. Final merit list with offer letters: typically 4-6 weeks after the interview.
Stream-specific notifications, dates, vacancy counts, age bands, qualification thresholds and experience requirements differ significantly. Always confirm against the latest notification on sbi.co.in/careers Current Openings page before applying or scheduling preparation.
SBI SO (Specialist Cadre Officer) preparation guides
- Master Static GK: Proven Ways to Remember General AwarenessDiscover a step‑by‑step system to lock in static general knowledge for SSC CGL and RRB NTPC exams, using practical tricks, smart organization, and daily habits that turn facts into long‑term memory.
- Master Quantitative Aptitude: Topic‑Wise Priority Blueprint for SSC CGL & IBPS POA step‑by‑step, topic‑wise priority guide that shows you exactly which Quantitative Aptitude concepts to master first, how much time to allocate, and proven tactics to solve each type of problem efficiently.
- Master Exam-Day Calm: Turn Anxiety into Peak PerformanceLearn proven, step‑by‑step techniques to silence exam‑day nerves, boost focus, and unleash your true potential on any competitive test.
- Master Bank PO Exams While Working Full‑Time: A Practical RoadmapLearn how to juggle a day job and Bank PO preparation with realistic scheduling, free resources, and proven study techniques—stay focused, confident, and burnout‑free.
SBI SO (Specialist Cadre Officer) mock test — frequently asked questions
What is the SBI SO (Specialist Cadre Officer) eligibility?
Stream-specific qualification + experience. Examples: Deputy Manager (Credit Analyst) — CA or CMA or MBA Finance from premier institutes with 2-3 years' relevant experience. Deputy Manager (Statistician) — Master's degree in Statistics or Operations Research with 60%+ aggregate. Manager (Risk) — Master's in Statistics/Mathematics/Economics or MBA Finance plus FRM/PRM certification preferred. Manager (Cyber Security) — BE/BTech in CS/IT plus relevant certifications (CISSP, CISM, CEH) and 3-5 years' experience. Manager (Data Scientist) — MTech/BE+MSc in Data Science/AI/ML/Analytics with relevant publications or industry experience. Manager (Law) — LLB with 3-5 years' practice at Bar or in-house legal. Manager (Marketing) — MBA Marketing from a recognised institute with 3-5 years' experience. Wealth Hub roles — graduation plus relevant banking/finance experience and NISM certifications (Mutual Fund, Investment Adviser, Equity Derivatives) as applicable. Age: Stream-specific. Common bands: Deputy Manager (Credit Analyst, Statistician, Internal Audit) — 25 to 35 years. Manager (Marketing, Risk, Cyber Security, Data Scientist, Anti-Money Laundering) — 25 to 35 years. Assistant Manager / Specialist Officer roles — 22 to 32 years. Wealth Hub roles — 22 to 35 years. Sportsperson cadre — 18 to 30 years. Age relaxation: SC/ST +5 years, OBC (non-creamy layer) +3 years, PwBD (General/EWS) +10 years, PwBD (OBC) +13 years, PwBD (SC/ST) +15 years, Ex-Servicemen +5 years subject to ceiling. EWS candidates receive NO age relaxation. Always read the stream-specific notification for the exact age window. Nationality: Citizen of India, or subject of Nepal or Bhutan, or Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1 January 1962 with intent to permanently settle, or person of Indian origin who has migrated from specified countries to permanently settle in India. Non-Indian citizens must produce an eligibility certificate from the Government of India..
What is the SBI SO (Specialist Cadre Officer) exam pattern?
Online Written Test (where applicable — varies by stream) covers Objective: Reasoning · Quantitative Aptitude · English Language · Professional Knowledge of the stream (the heaviest-weighted section). Streams with a descriptive paper add a Professional Knowledge essay/case-study component.. Stream-specific. Typical Specialist Cadre objective papers carry 120-150 multiple-choice questions across Reasoning (50 Q), Quant (35-50 Q), English (35-50 Q) and stream-specific Professional Knowledge (50-60 Q). questions for Stream-specific. Typical total: 120-200 marks objective; descriptive (if applicable) carries an additional 50-60 marks. marks, with negative marking of 0.25 marks deducted per wrong objective answer; descriptive components are evaluated subjectively..
Is the SBI SO (Specialist Cadre Officer) mock test on Kamiyab really free?
Yes, completely free. No payment and no hidden charges — every SBI SO (Specialist Cadre Officer) full mock on Kamiyab is free to use.
Do I need to create an account to attempt the SBI SO (Specialist Cadre Officer) mock test?
Yes — you sign in (free) with your mobile number or Google before starting a SBI SO (Specialist Cadre Officer) mock. It takes a few seconds and lets us save your scores and weak-topic insights.
How many questions are there in the SBI SO (Specialist Cadre Officer) mock test?
A Full Mock is built to match the real SBI SO (Specialist Cadre Officer) exam pattern and timing — a complete, full-length paper. You can also practise a single topic on its own for a shorter, focused session.
Which subjects and topics are covered for SBI SO (Specialist Cadre Officer)?
4 topics are covered for SBI SO (Specialist Cadre Officer), including Reasoning Ability, English Language, Quantitative Aptitude / Data Interpretation and more. Each topic can be practised on its own or combined into a full-length mock.
Are the SBI SO (Specialist Cadre Officer) questions reliable and up to date with the latest syllabus?
Every question is hand-curated and kept aligned with the current official SBI SO (Specialist Cadre Officer) syllabus, each with a short explanation. When the exam body revises the syllabus, the question bank is updated so you are not practising removed or out-of-syllabus topics.
Do I get the correct answers and explanations for SBI SO (Specialist Cadre Officer)?
Yes. After you submit the test, every question shows the correct option along with a short explanation, so you can review and fix weak areas immediately.
Will the SBI SO (Specialist Cadre Officer) mock test work on a low-end phone or slow connection?
Yes. Kamiyab runs in any modern mobile browser with no app install. The timer, scoring and explanations all work on basic Android phones and on slow networks.
How should I use Kamiyab to prepare for SBI SO (Specialist Cadre Officer)?
Practise a single topic daily for focused revision, then take a full-length mock to simulate the real SBI SO (Specialist Cadre Officer) timer and pressure. Read the explanations after every test and re-practise the topics where you score low.