If you are preparing for the banking exams, SBI Clerk 2025, you already know how important the Number Series is in the Numerical Ability section. In this section, you get 35 questions for 35 marks and only 20 minutes to solve them. Just think how less time you get to solve this section. Basically, the examiner mainly checks two things first: how fast you can calculate with accuracy, and second, how well you perform under time pressure. So, the exam is not just about knowledge, but it also tests your speed, accuracy, and logical thinking skills. In this section, the Number Series topic is the high-weightage topic. If you practice daily, you can solve these questions in seconds. In this blog, you will get important Number Series questions with solutions, along with some easy tips to solve them quickly. This practice will help you improve your score and attempt the exam with confidence.
If we look at the SBI Clerk exam analysis of 3–4 previous years’ papers, we can see that Number Series questions are asked every year. Sometimes it is in the form of a Missing Number Series and sometimes as a Wrong Number Series, but one set is always there in the exam. This means that if you want to score well in the Numerical Ability section, you cannot skip this topic. To get a good score of 25+ marks, you must attempt the Number Series questions because they are usually less time-consuming compared to data interpretation or lengthy arithmetic. Our subject experts also suggest that if you practice different types of series regularly, it will be easier for you to identify the pattern quickly during the exam. Whether it is simple, moderate, or tricky, with enough practice, you can solve these questions within seconds. So, to score 25+ marks in Numerical Ability, Number Series practice is a must.
You need to practice the Number Series questions every day until you are able to recognize the pattern instantly. You need to solve 10–20 questions daily with a timer. Since this is part of Speed Maths, your goal should be to spend the least amount of time possible on these questions. As the saying goes, The more you practice, the faster your brain will catch the sequence.
From the previous year’s analysis, it is clear that in every exam, at least one type of Number Series question is always asked. If 5 questions are coming from a number series, then 3 must be very easy, 2 must be tricky, where a 2-step calculation will be needed. If you are not able to recognize the pattern within 20–30 seconds, we suggest you skip the question and move forward. Do not waste time on one question because time is very limited, and getting stuck on one question will affect your overall score.
Number Series can follow different patterns, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, squares, cubes, prime numbers, arithmetic progression, or geometric progression. By practicing each type, you will become familiar with common trends in number series just by looking at it.
Learn shortcuts for common patterns like Perfect Squares, Perfect Cubes, Arithmetic Series, Geometric Series, and Prime Numbers. For example, if you see numbers like 100, 121, 144, __, 196, you should immediately think of square numbers. These tricks save a lot of time in the exam.
Many students already know that Fast calculation is the backbone of solving Number Series. We suggest you memorize tables up to 50, squares up to 40, and cubes up to 30. This will help you to calculate quickly without using a pen and paper. Students who are quicker at mental math will be able to recognize the series pattern instantly.
Sometimes, SBI Clerk includes mixed or double-step series where two patterns are involved, like “+2, ×2, +3, ×3…”. These can confuse students. But the students who practice daily can easily crack them. You can make a separate notebook for such types of pattern questions, but with targeted practice, you will learn to crack them.
Here are some important and expected questions of the Number series for the SBI Clerk. Have a look:
Question 1: What will come in place of the question mark (?) in the following series?
6, 12, 19, 27, 36, ?
A) 47
B) 44
C) 45
D) 48
E) 46
Question 2: What will come in place of the question mark (?) in the following series?
54, 66, 86, 114, 150, ?
A) 190
B) 194
C) 210
D) 222
E) 196
Question 3: What will come in place of the question mark (?) in the following series?
21, 43, ?, 175, 351, 703
A) 87
B) 65
C) 86
D) 72
E) 70
Question 4: What will come in place of the question mark (?) in the following series?
188, ?, 164, 152, 140, 128
A) 180
B) 178
C) 174
D) 176
E) 182
Question 5: What will come in place of the question mark (?) in the following series?
5, 7, 12, 19, 31, 50, ?
A) 52
B) 74
C) 56
D) 69
E) 81
Download the free PDF of Number series questions for SBI Clerk prelims and practice Number series sets. These questions are based on the latest exam pattern to help you improve speed and accuracy. It helps make your preparation more productive for scoring well in the Quant section.
Here is what successful students say about practice mock. Have a look
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