Test booklet: प्रश्न पुस्तिका
Booklet No.: 6479632
Series: D

SBI Clerk Prelims Paper 3

Questions: 100
Maximum marks: 100
Minutes allowed: 60

Instructions निर्देश

This booklet has 100 questions in 3 parts: A. English language (30), B. Numerical Ability (35), C. Reasoning Ability (35).
Each part has its own clock. When it runs out, that part closes and the next opens.
Each question has 5 options and one right answer. A right answer earns 1 mark. A wrong answer costs 0.25. A question left blank scores nothing.
Fill one bubble per question on the answer sheet. Unlike a real sheet, you can clear it and change your mind.

Scripting is off, so this page is a printed paper: answer on paper, then open each question’s working.

Part BNumerical Ability

35 questions, 1 mark each, 0.25 off for a wrong answer

A is four times as efficient as B. Together they finish a job in 28 days. How long would A take alone?

Question 31 112 days 35 days 7 days 140 days 39 days

Answer and working
Answer B
If B does 1 unit a day, A does 4; together 5 units a day for 28 days = 140 units. A alone: 140 ÷ 4 = 35 days.
What is the difference between the compound interest and the simple interest on ₹8,750 for 2 years at 12% per annum?

Question 32 ₹126 ₹252 ₹1,260 ₹1,050 ₹63

Answer and working
Answer A
For 2 years, CI − SI = P × (R/100)² = 8,750 × (12/100)² = ₹126.
The population of a town is 33,200. It grows by 10% every year. What will it be after 2 years?

Question 33 39,168 40,172 42,180 36,520 39,840

Answer and working
Answer B
33,200 × (1 + 10/100)² = 33,200 × 1.21 = 40,172. Growing 10% on 33,200 twice, not 20% once.
Simplify: ¹⁄₁₂ + ¹⁄₃ + ²⁄₃

Question 34 ¹⁵⁄₁₃ 1 ⁷⁄₆ ⁵⁄₂₁ ¹³⁄₁₂

Answer and working
Answer E
Over the common denominator 12: the sum is ¹³⁄₁₂. Adding tops and bottoms separately (5/21) is the trap.
Find the wrong number in the series: 13, 16, 23, 34, 53, 68, 91

Question 35 13 53 23 16 91

Answer and working
Answer B
The rule: the differences grow by 4: 3, 7, 11, 15, 19, 23. The term in place of 53 should be 49, so the wrong number is 53.
Section A has 38 students with an average score of 57; section B has 19 students averaging 48. What is the average score of both sections together?

Question 36 53 56 55 54 57

Answer and working
Answer D
(38 × 57 + 19 × 48) ÷ 57 = 3078 ÷ 57 = 54. The plain mean of 57 and 48 ignores the sizes of the sections.
Solve both equations and compare x and y.
I. x² + x − 6 = 0
II. y² − 18y + 72 = 0

Question 37 x > y x ≥ y x < y x ≤ y x = y or no relation can be established

Answer and working
Answer C
I gives x = −3 or 2. II gives y = 6 or 12. Every x is smaller than every y: x < y.
What is the fourth proportional to 7, 24 and 42?

Question 38 59 144 172 4 151

Answer and working
Answer B
7 : 24 = 42 : x, so x = 24 × 42 ÷ 7 = 144.
Simplify: ¹⁄₆ + ¹⁄₃ + ¹⁄₄

Question 39 ³⁄₁₃ ³⁄₄ ¹⁄₂ ³⁄₅ 1

Answer and working
Answer B
Over the common denominator 12: the sum is ³⁄₄. Adding tops and bottoms separately (3/13) is the trap.
Two fair dice are thrown together. What is the probability that the sum is at least 10?

Question 40 ⁵⁄₆ ¹⁄₄ ⁷⁄₃₆ ¹⁄₆ ¹⁄₂

Answer and working
Answer D
There are 36 equally likely outcomes and 6 of them qualify. Probability = ¹⁄₆.
Solve both equations and compare x and y.
I. x² − 4x − 77 = 0
II. y² − 12y + 20 = 0

Question 41 x > y x ≥ y x < y x ≤ y x = y or no relation can be established

Answer and working
Answer E
I gives x = −7 or 11. II gives y = 2 or 10. Some x are bigger and some smaller than some y, so no single relation holds: x = y or no relation can be established.
Solve both equations and compare x and y.
I. x² − 11x + 18 = 0
II. y² − 2y − 99 = 0

Question 42 x > y x ≥ y x < y x ≤ y x = y or no relation can be established

Answer and working
Answer E
I gives x = 2 or 9. II gives y = −9 or 11. Some x are bigger and some smaller than some y, so no single relation holds: x = y or no relation can be established.
A trader buys a bicycle for ₹1,400 and sells it for ₹980. What is the profit or loss percent?

Question 43 42.86% loss 30% loss 28% loss 35% loss 30% profit

Answer and working
Answer B
Loss = ₹420. As a percent of the cost price: 420 ÷ 1,400 × 100 = 30% loss.
Simplify: ³⁄₄ + ⁴⁄₅ + ¹⁄₆

Question 44 ²⁶⁄₁₅ ¹⁰³⁄₆₀ ³⁄₅ ¹⁷⁄₁₀ ¹⁰³⁄₆₁

Answer and working
Answer B
Over the common denominator 60: the sum is ¹⁰³⁄₆₀. Adding tops and bottoms separately (12/20) is the trap.
What is the value of 59² − 13²?

Question 45 2,116 5,040 3,312 3,286 3,412

Answer and working
Answer C
a² − b² = (a + b)(a − b) = 72 × 46 = 3,312.
Directions for questions 46 to 50
Study the table and answer the questions that follow.
Books issued by five libraries, in two successive years
Library Year 1 Year 2
Library A 640 960
Library B 520 598
Library C 240 264
Library D 340 357
Library E 700 1,050
What is the average Year 2 figure of the five?

Question 46 655.8 488 566.9 635.8 645.8

Answer and working
Answer E
Sum of Year 2 = 3,229. ÷ 5 = 645.8.
Library C’s Year 2 figure is what percent of Library A’s Year 2 figure?

Question 47 363.64% 17.5% 27.5% 37.5% 30.5%

Answer and working
Answer C
264 ÷ 960 × 100 = 27.5%.
What is the total for Library C over the two years?

Question 48 528 504 484 524 1,290

Answer and working
Answer B
240 + 264 = 504.
What is the ratio of Library E’s Year 1 figure to Library C’s Year 2 figure?

Question 49 35 : 12 35 : 8 175 : 44 66 : 175 175 : 66

Answer and working
Answer E
700 : 264 = 175 : 66.
By what percent did Library C’s figure change from Year 1 to Year 2?

Question 50 10% increase 15% increase 5% increase 9.09% increase 10% decrease

Answer and working
Answer A
Change = 264 − 240 = 24. On Year 1: 24 ÷ 240 × 100 = 10% increase.
A shopkeeper marks his goods 50% above the cost price and allows a discount of 20%. What is his profit or loss percent?

Question 51 20% loss 30% profit 70% profit 20% profit 25% profit

Answer and working
Answer D
Take CP = 100. Marked price = 150. After 20% off: 150 × 80/100 = 120. So 20% profit.
The present ages of Asha and her elder brother are in the ratio 5 : 6. After 5 years, the ratio will be 6 : 7. What is Asha’s present age?

Question 52 27 years 30 years 23 years 20 years 25 years

Answer and working
Answer E
Ages 5x and 6x. (5x + 5) : (6x + 5) = 6 : 7 gives x = 5. Asha is 5 × 5 = 25 years.
What is the simple interest on ₹53,000 at 8% per annum for 3 years?

Question 53 ₹4,240 ₹8,480 ₹14,310 ₹12,720 ₹65,720

Answer and working
Answer D
SI = P × R × T / 100 = 53,000 × 8 × 3 / 100 = ₹12,720.
Solve both equations and compare x and y.
I. x² − 25 = 0
II. y² + 2y = 0

Question 54 x > y x ≥ y x < y x ≤ y x = y or no relation can be established

Answer and working
Answer E
I gives x = −5 or 5. II gives y = −2 or 0. Some x are bigger and some smaller than some y, so no single relation holds: x = y or no relation can be established.
Which number replaces the question mark? 53, 59, 61, 67, 71, 73, ?

Question 55 78 80 75 79 85

Answer and working
Answer D
The rule: consecutive prime numbers. The missing term is 79.
Which number replaces the question mark? 4, 70, 10, 64, 16, ?

Question 56 58 100 57 59 60

Answer and working
Answer A
The rule: two series alternate: 4, 10, 16 … rising by 6, and 70, 64, 58 … falling by 6. The missing term is 58.
A bus goes from Pune to Nashik at 20 km/h and returns by the same road at 60 km/h. What is its average speed for the whole journey?

Question 57 40 km/h 30 km/h 28 km/h 32 km/h 44 km/h

Answer and working
Answer B
For equal distances, average speed = 2xy/(x + y) = 2 × 20 × 60 ÷ 80 = 30 km/h. The plain average, 40, ignores that the slower leg takes longer.
A boat covers 60 km downstream in 3 hours and 54 km upstream in 3 hours. What is the speed of the stream?

Question 58 4 km/h 19 km/h 1 km/h 2 km/h 3 km/h

Answer and working
Answer C
Downstream speed = 60 ÷ 3 = 20 km/h; upstream = 54 ÷ 3 = 18 km/h. Stream = (20 − 18) ÷ 2 = 1 km/h.
Which number replaces the question mark? 5, 15, 45, 135, 405, ?

Question 59 1,216 675 1,214 1,215 2,025

Answer and working
Answer D
The rule: each term is the previous × 3. The missing term is 1,215.
40 litres of a mixture contains milk and water in the ratio 7 : 3. How much water must be added to make the ratio 1 : 5?

Question 60 128 litres 140 litres 64 litres 130 litres 124 litres

Answer and working
Answer A
Milk = 28 l, water = 12 l. For 1 : 5, water must be 28 × 5/1 = 140 l. Add 140 − 12 = 128 litres.
What is 150% of 1,940?

Question 61 2,910 3,492 3,007 291 2,813

Answer and working
Answer A
150% of 1,940 = 1,940 × 150/100 = 2,910.
Simplify: ²⁄₅ + ¹⁄₄ + ²⁄₃

Question 62 ⁷⁹⁄₆₀ ¹²⁄₂₅ ⁴⁄₃ ¹³⁄₁₀ ⁷⁹⁄₆₁

Answer and working
Answer A
Over the common denominator 120: the sum is ⁷⁹⁄₆₀. Adding tops and bottoms separately (12/25) is the trap.
Solve both equations and compare x and y.
I. x² − 7x − 60 = 0
II. y² + 6y − 27 = 0

Question 63 x > y x ≥ y x < y x ≤ y x = y or no relation can be established

Answer and working
Answer E
I gives x = −5 or 12. II gives y = −9 or 3. Some x are bigger and some smaller than some y, so no single relation holds: x = y or no relation can be established.
A bus goes from Pune to Nashik at 38 km/h and returns by the same road at 114 km/h. What is its average speed for the whole journey?

Question 64 59 km/h 57 km/h 55 km/h 80 km/h 76 km/h

Answer and working
Answer B
For equal distances, average speed = 2xy/(x + y) = 2 × 38 × 114 ÷ 152 = 57 km/h. The plain average, 76, ignores that the slower leg takes longer.
Which number replaces the question mark? 8, 17, 35, ?, 143, 287

Question 65 72 70 71 107 53

Answer and working
Answer C
The rule: each term is the previous × 2 + 1. The missing term is 71.

SBI Clerk Prelims Paper 3

Instructions निर्देश

Part AEnglish language

Part BNumerical Ability

Part CReasoning Ability

Library	Year 1	Year 2
Library A	640	960
Library B	520	598
Library C	240	264
Library D	340	357
Library E	700	1,050