SBI PO vs CAT — Which is Tough? Complete Comparison Based on Syllabus, Difficulty, Salary & Career (2025)

If you’re confused about SBI PO vs CAT which is tough, or searched on Quora or Reddit for answers, this complete guide covers everything — difficulty level, syllabus, salary, exam pattern, career scope, and whether you can prepare for both simultaneously.

What Are SBI PO and CAT Exams?

SBI PO: Banking exam conducted by State Bank of India for the post of Probationary Officer.
CAT: Common Admission Test for entry into top MBA colleges like IIMs.

Both exams are extremely popular — but they are for totally different careers. Let’s compare them in depth.

SBI PO vs CAT — Key Differences

Criteria	SBI PO	CAT
Purpose	Recruitment for SBI Probationary Officer	Admission into MBA/PGDM programs like IIMs
Difficulty Level	Moderate to High	High to Very High
Negative Marking	Yes	No (Only score drops indirectly)
Competition	~10–12 lakh candidates	~2.5 lakh candidates
Math Level	10th–12th basic maths	Advanced Quant (up to high-level algebra)
Career Type	Government job + job security	Corporate job + high salary

SBI PO vs CAT — Which Is Tough?

If you compare both purely on difficulty of questions, then:

CAT is tougher than SBI PO.

But if you compare overall challenge + competition + selection process — then:

SBI PO is harder to crack due to extremely low vacancy–selection ratio.

CAT vs Bank PO Syllabus — Detailed Comparison

Section	SBI PO	CAT
Quantitative Ability (Maths)	Easy–Moderate (10th level)	Moderate–High (Advanced Maths)
Reasoning	Major part of exam	Almost no reasoning
English	Easy–Moderate	High-level Verbal Ability
GK/Current Affairs	Included	Not included

Is SBI PO Exam Tougher Than NEET?

No. NEET is a medical entrance exam with heavy Class 11–12 Physics, Chemistry, Biology and far more competition. But SBI PO has a lower selection ratio, so clearing it is not easy either.

Is SBI PO Exam Tougher Than SSC CGL?

SBI PO is faster, time-bound, and has more difficult reasoning. SSC CGL is vast, lengthy, and knowledge-based. Overall difficulty: SBI PO (reasoning & speed based) > SSC CGL (knowledge & practice based)

SBI PO Salary (2025)

Component	Amount
Basic Pay	₹41,960
Gross Salary	₹65,000 – ₹85,000
In-hand Salary	₹52,000 – ₹60,000

Perks: Leased house, travelling allowance, medical, petrol, job security, rapid promotions.

SBI PO Syllabus (Complete)

1. Prelims Syllabus

Quant: SI/CI, Profit & Loss, Time & Work, DI
Reasoning: Puzzles, Seating Arrangement, Syllogism
English: Cloze Test, Para Jumbles, Error Detection

2. Mains Syllabus

Reasoning (High level)
Data Interpretation
General Awareness
Banking Awareness
Computer Aptitude

Can I Prepare for CAT and Bank PO Simultaneously?

Yes, 60–70% syllabus overlaps.

CAT Quant = Useful for SBI PO Advanced Maths
SBI PO English = Useful for CAT VARC
Only major difference → CAT does NOT have reasoning or GK

Recommended strategy: Prepare for CAT → Use the same preparation to score high in SBI PO.

Conclusion — Who Should Choose What?

If you want:

Government job + job security → Choose SBI PO
Corporate career + high salary → Choose CAT + MBA

If your main question is SBI PO vs CAT which is tough, then:

CAT is academically tougher, but SBI PO is tougher to get due to massive competition and lowest selection ratio.

SBI PO vs CAT — Which is Tough? Syllabus, Difficulty, Salary & Career (2025)