How to Improve Speed in SBI PO Prelims 2026 Exam?

The SBI PO Prelims exam is not just a test of knowledge it is a test of speed, accuracy, and decision-making under pressure. Every year thousands of candidates know the concepts but fail to clear the cut-off because they are unable to attempt enough questions within the limited time.

How to Improve Speed in SBI PO Prelims 2026 Exam?

The biggest mistake aspirants make is assuming that speed will automatically improve with practice. In reality, speed improves only when practice is done strategically. If you keep solving questions the same way every day, your speed may remain stagnant even after months of preparation.

This article focuses on practical techniques that can genuinely help you increase your attempts without compromising accuracy in SBI PO Prelims 2026.

What “Speed” Actually Means?

Many candidates think speed means solving questions faster. However, in SBI PO, speed has three components:

• Quickly understanding a question
• Choosing the right approach
• Avoiding unnecessary calculations
• A candidate who solves 65 questions with 90% accuracy often performs better than someone attempting 80 questions with multiple errors.

Improve Reading Speed for English Language

The English section can consume a lot of time if your reading speed is slow. To improve:

• Read editorials daily for 15–20 minutes.
• Practice skimming passages to identify the main idea.
• Learn to locate keywords instead of reading every line repeatedly.
• Build vocabulary through context rather than memorizing word lists.
• The faster you comprehend passages, the more time you save for other sections.

Develop a Fixed Attempt Strategy

One reason candidates lose time is because they keep deciding what to attempt during the exam. Before the exam, decide:

• Which section you will start with.
• Which question types you will attempt first.
• Which questions you will leave immediately.

Learn the Art of Leaving Questions

Top scorers are not the ones who solve everything. They are the ones who quickly identify:

• Lengthy puzzles
• Calculation-intensive DI sets
• Confusing English questions
• If a question appears time-consuming, move ahead immediately.
• Spending two minutes on one question can cost you four easy questions elsewhere.

Practice With a Stopwatch

Many candidates solve questions casually while preparing and then struggle in the actual exam. A better method is:

• Set strict time limits.
• Solve individual topics against the clock.
• Record the time taken after every practice session.
• This creates exam-like pressure and trains your brain to think faster.

Strengthen Mental Calculation Skills

In the Quantitative Aptitude section, calculations consume significant time. Work on:

• Squares up to 40
• Cubes up to 25
• Percentage-fraction conversions
• Tables up to 30
• Approximation techniques

Focus on High-Return Topics

Not all topics provide the same score-to-time ratio. Prioritize topics that generally require less time and offer more questions.

English

• Cloze Test
• Error Detection
• Sentence Improvement
• Fillers

Quantitative Aptitude

• Simplification
• Approximation
• Number Series
• Quadratic Equations

Reasoning Ability

• Inequality
• Blood Relations
• Direction Sense
• Coding-Decoding

Analyze Every Mock Test

Taking mock tests alone will not improve speed.

After every mock:

Ask yourself:

• Which questions took too much time?
• Where did I make avoidable mistakes?
• Which section slowed me down?
• Which shortcuts could have been used?
• The analysis phase is often more important than the mock itself.

Follow the 30-Second Rule

While practicing, apply a simple rule:

• If you cannot identify an approach within 30 seconds, move on.
• This habit prevents you from getting stuck and keeps your overall speed high.

Build Section-Wise Stamina

Many candidates start the paper quickly but slow down after a few minutes. To avoid this:

• Solve sectional tests daily.
• Maintain concentration for longer periods.
• Practice multiple sections continuously.
• The goal is to maintain speed from the first question to the last.

Reduce Guesswork

Random guessing often wastes time and lowers accuracy. Instead:

• Attempt only when reasonably confident.
• Eliminate options logically.
• Avoid spending extra time trying to force an answer.
• Remember, accuracy and speed must grow together.

Create a Daily Speed Improvement Routine

A simple daily plan could be:

• 20 minutes: Simplification & Approximation
• 20 minutes: Reasoning Short Questions
• 20 minutes: Reading & English Practice
• 1 Sectional Test
• 1 Hour Mock Analysis