Test booklet: प्रश्न पुस्तिका
Booklet No.: 5624428
Series: A

SBI Clerk Prelims Paper 8

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 boat covers 100 km downstream in 5 hours and 72 km upstream in 4 hours. What is the speed of the boat in still water?

Question 31 1 km/h 38 km/h 19 km/h 17 km/h 20 km/h

Answer and working
Answer C
Downstream speed = 100 ÷ 5 = 20 km/h; upstream = 72 ÷ 4 = 18 km/h. Boat = (20 + 18) ÷ 2 = 19 km/h.
A shopkeeper marks an article 40% above its cost price and allows a discount of 10%. If the article was sold for ₹1,953, what was its cost price?

Question 32 ₹2,170 ₹1,367 ₹1,550 ₹1,172 ₹1,395

Answer and working
Answer C
SP = CP × 1.4 × 0.9 = CP × 1.26. So CP = 1,953 ÷ 1.26 = ₹1,550.
Solve both equations and compare x and y.
I. x² + 13x + 40 = 0
II. y² − 81 = 0

Question 33 x > y x ≥ y x < y x ≤ y x = y or no relation can be established

Answer and working
Answer E
I gives x = −8 or −5. II gives y = −9 or 9. 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? 124, 215, 342, 511, 728, ?

Question 34 999 998 1,270 1,000 945

Answer and working
Answer A
The rule: the terms are 5³, 6³, 7³ … minus 1. The missing term is 999.
Simplify: 13 + 5 × 8 − 48 ÷ 4

Question 35 45 24 41 132 65

Answer and working
Answer C
Division and multiplication first: 5 × 8 = 40 and 48 ÷ 4 = 12. Then 13 + 40 − 12 = 41.
Two trains 200 m and 160 m long run on parallel tracks in opposite directions at 26 km/h and 46 km/h. How long do they take to cross each other?

Question 36 19 seconds 36 seconds 65 seconds 20 seconds 18 seconds

Answer and working
Answer E
Relative speed = 26 + 46 = 72 km/h = 20 m/s. Distance = 200 + 160 = 360 m. Time = 360 ÷ 20 = 18 seconds.
₹10,000 amounts to ₹13,225 in 2 years at compound interest, compounded annually. What is the rate of interest?

Question 37 13% 30% 16.13% 17% 15%

Answer and working
Answer E
(1 + R/100)² = 13,225/10,000 = 1.3225, so 1 + R/100 = 1.15 and R = 15%. Dividing the interest equally between the years (simple interest) gives a wrong answer.
What is the average of the first 41 natural numbers?

Question 38 41 22 42 21 40

Answer and working
Answer D
Sum = 41 × 42/2, so the average is (41 + 1)/2 = 21.
21 litres of a mixture contains milk and water in the ratio 2 : 1. How much water must be added to make the ratio 2 : 3?

Question 39 16 litres 14 litres 10 litres 7 litres 21 litres

Answer and working
Answer B
Milk = 14 l, water = 7 l. For 2 : 3, water must be 14 × 3/2 = 21 l. Add 21 − 7 = 14 litres.
One card is drawn at random from a well-shuffled pack of 52. What is the probability that it is a face card?

Question 40 ⁶⁄₁₃ ¹¹⁄₅₂ ¹⁄₄ ¹⁄₁₃ ³⁄₁₃

Answer and working
Answer E
12 of the 52 cards qualify. Probability = ³⁄₁₃.
Solve both equations and compare x and y.
I. x² − 4x − 32 = 0
II. y² + 5y − 6 = 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 = −4 or 8. II gives y = −6 or 1. Some x are bigger and some smaller than some y, so no single relation holds: x = y or no relation can be established.
A is twice as efficient as B. Together they finish a job in 22 days. How long would A take alone?

Question 42 35 days 44 days 11 days 66 days 33 days

Answer and working
Answer E
If B does 1 unit a day, A does 2; together 3 units a day for 22 days = 66 units. A alone: 66 ÷ 2 = 33 days.
Which number replaces the question mark? 6, 7, 16, 51, 208, ?

Question 43 1,045 1,882 365 1,046 1,044

Answer and working
Answer A
The rule: each term is the previous × 1 + 1, × 2 + 2, × 3 + 3, and so on. The missing term is 1,045.
A number is first increased by 50% and then decreased by 50%. What is the net change?

Question 44 25% increase 25% decrease No change 23% decrease 29% decrease

Answer and working
Answer B
Net effect = 50 − 50 − (50 × 50)/100 = −25%, so 25% decrease.
Which number replaces the question mark? 4, 8, 17, 33, ?, 94

Question 45 49 59 83 57 58

Answer and working
Answer E
The rule: the differences are squares: 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49. The missing term is 58.
Solve both equations and compare x and y.
I. x² + 11x + 24 = 0
II. y² − y − 72 = 0

Question 46 x > y x ≥ y x < y x ≤ y x = y or no relation can be established

Answer and working
Answer E
I gives x = −8 or −3. II gives y = −8 or 9. 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 − 6x − 7 = 0
II. y² + 5y − 6 = 0

Question 47 x > y x ≥ y x < y x ≤ y x = y or no relation can be established

Answer and working
Answer E
I gives x = −1 or 7. II gives y = −6 or 1. Some x are bigger and some smaller than some y, so no single relation holds: x = y or no relation can be established.
What is the value of 99² − 34²?

Question 48 4,225 8,745 8,577 8,645 17,423

Answer and working
Answer D
a² − b² = (a + b)(a − b) = 133 × 65 = 8,645.
The monthly rent of a shop goes from ₹980 to ₹588. What is the percentage decrease?

Question 49 80% decrease 40% decrease 66.67% decrease 45% decrease 35% decrease

Answer and working
Answer B
Change = ₹392. On the original value: 392 ÷ 980 × 100 = 40%, a 40% decrease. Dividing by the new value, 588, is the usual slip.
The present ages of Asha and her father are in the ratio 5 : 9. After 5 years, the ratio will be 3 : 5. What is Asha’s present age?

Question 50 30 years 45 years 25 years 15 years 20 years

Answer and working
Answer C
Ages 5x and 9x. (5x + 5) : (9x + 5) = 3 : 5 gives x = 5. Asha is 5 × 5 = 25 years.
Find the wrong number in the series: 4, 9, 16, 25, 38, 49, 64

Question 51 4 49 9 64 38

Answer and working
Answer E
The rule: the terms are 2², 3², 4² …. The term in place of 38 should be 36, so the wrong number is 38.
A sum of money doubles itself in 5 years at simple interest. What is the rate of interest per annum?

Question 52 22.5% 40% 14.29% 15% 20%

Answer and working
Answer E
The interest earned is 1 times the principal in 5 years. Rate = 1 × 100 / 5 = 20%.
Solve both equations and compare x and y.
I. x² − 15x + 56 = 0
II. y² − 2y − 48 = 0

Question 53 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 8. II gives y = −6 or 8. Some x are bigger and some smaller than some y, so no single relation holds: x = y or no relation can be established.
Simplify: ¹⁄₃ + ⁵⁄₆ + ⁷⁄₈

Question 54 ¹⁸⁄₂₃ 2 ⁴⁹⁄₂₄ ²⁵⁄₁₂ ⁴⁹⁄₂₅

Answer and working
Answer C
Over the common denominator 24: the sum is ⁴⁹⁄₂₄. Adding tops and bottoms separately (18/23) is the trap.
Directions for questions 55 to 59
Study the table and answer the questions that follow.
Students enrolled in five coaching centres, in two successive years
Centre Year 1 Year 2
Centre A 400 480
Centre B 580 812
Centre C 600 750
Centre D 600 480
Centre E 620 713
Which one grew the most in percentage terms from Year 1 to Year 2?

Question 55 Centre A Centre E Centre D Centre C Centre B

Answer and working
Answer E
Growth: Centre A 20%, Centre B 40%, Centre C 25%, Centre D −20%, Centre E 15%. The highest is Centre B.
By what percent did Centre A’s figure change from Year 1 to Year 2?

Question 56 20% increase 15% increase 20% decrease 25% increase 16.67% increase

Answer and working
Answer A
Change = 480 − 400 = 80. On Year 1: 80 ÷ 400 × 100 = 20% increase.
What is the ratio of Centre E’s Year 1 figure to Centre D’s Year 2 figure?

Question 57 713 : 480 31 : 24 713 : 600 24 : 31 31 : 30

Answer and working
Answer B
620 : 480 = 31 : 24.
What is the total for Centre C over the two years?

Question 58 1,370 1,080 1,350 1,500 1,330

Answer and working
Answer C
600 + 750 = 1,350.
What is the average Year 2 figure of the five?

Question 59 603.5 647 560 657 637

Answer and working
Answer B
Sum of Year 2 = 3,235. ÷ 5 = 647.
Find the wrong number in the series: 8, 14, 22, 36, 44, 58, 74

Question 60 36 14 8 22 44

Answer and working
Answer A
The rule: the differences grow by 2: 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16. The term in place of 36 should be 32, so the wrong number is 36.
By selling a watch for ₹368, a man loses 20%. For how much should he sell it to gain 15%?

Question 61 ₹529 ₹549 ₹423 ₹497 ₹475

Answer and working
Answer A
CP = 368 × 100/80 = ₹460. For a 15% gain: 460 × 115/100 = ₹529.
If A : B = 5 : 2 and B : C = 6 : 5, what is A : B : C?

Question 62 15 : 6 : 5 6 : 15 : 5 5 : 2 : 5 3 : 1 : 3 25 : 12 : 10

Answer and working
Answer A
Make B the same in both: A : B = 30 : 12 and B : C = 12 : 10. So A : B : C = 15 : 6 : 5.
A scooter runs at 36 km/h. What is its speed in metres per second?

Question 63 10 m/s 20 m/s 40 m/s 15 m/s 18 m/s

Answer and working
Answer A
Multiply by 5/18: 36 × 5/18 = 10 m/s.
Simplify: 76 + 2 × 6 − 35 ÷ 7

Question 64 90 62 83 93 463

Answer and working
Answer C
Division and multiplication first: 2 × 6 = 12 and 35 ÷ 7 = 5. Then 76 + 12 − 5 = 83.
Simplify: ¹⁄₂ + ³⁄₄ + ⁴⁄₅

Question 65 ⁴¹⁄₂₁ ¹¹⁄₁₇ 2 ⁴¹⁄₂₀ ²¹⁄₁₀

Answer and working
Answer D
Over the common denominator 40: the sum is ⁴¹⁄₂₀. Adding tops and bottoms separately (11/17) is the trap.

SBI Clerk Prelims Paper 8

Instructions निर्देश

Part AEnglish language

Part BNumerical Ability

Part CReasoning Ability

Centre	Year 1	Year 2
Centre A	400	480
Centre B	580	812
Centre C	600	750
Centre D	600	480
Centre E	620	713