Work and time questions appear in both Prelims and Mains, but work and wages problems are primarily a Mains-level topic — appearing 2–4 times in the Quantitative Aptitude section with significantly more complexity than Prelims work questions. The added wages component requires you to link efficiency ratios to payment ratios, a step that trips up over 55% of aspirants in mock tests (PrepGrind internal data, 2024, n=500+).
The key insight most students miss: wages are distributed in proportion to work done, not time spent. This single principle, combined with the LCM method for work calculation, covers every work and wages question type in SBI PO Mains.
- Work and wages questions appear 2–4 times in SBI PO Mains Quantitative Aptitude
- Wages are distributed proportional to work done — not to time worked
- The LCM method converts fractional work rates into whole-number units for fast calculation
- If A is twice as efficient as B, A earns twice B's share — the efficiency ratio = wage ratio
- Ten days of Mains-level practice (15 questions/day) achieves full accuracy on this topic
Source: SBI PO 2024 official exam notification — sbi.co.in
🔢 The LCM Method: Your Foundation for All Work Calculations
Before wages can be distributed, total work must be calculated cleanly. The LCM method eliminates fractions entirely and is essential for multi-person work and wages problems.
The 3-step LCM setup:
- Take the LCM of all given time values — this becomes your total work units
- Divide total work by each person's individual time — this gives their work per day
- Multiply work per day by actual days worked — this gives work contribution
A completes a job in 12 days, B in 15 days. LCM = 60 units. A's rate = 5 units/day, B's rate = 4 units/day. If A works 6 days and B works 10 days — A contributes 30 units, B contributes 40 units out of 60.
Wages are then split 30:40 = 3:4. No fractions, no complex algebra.
💰 The Wage Distribution Principle: The Most Tested Concept
The governing rule for all work and wages problems is: wages are shared in proportion to work done, not in proportion to time worked.
This matters because in many SBI PO Mains questions, different workers work for different numbers of days. A worker who works fewer days but is more efficient may still earn more — because their total work contribution is higher.
Swati from Lucknow cleared SBI PO Mains 2024 after correcting this understanding: "I was splitting wages by days worked and getting wrong answers on every wages question. The moment I switched to splitting by work units, my accuracy went from 40% to 92%."
The Efficiency Ratio Shortcut
💡 When daily efficiencies are given directly (A is 3 times as efficient as B), skip the LCM setup entirely. The wage ratio equals the efficiency ratio multiplied by the number of days each person actually works.
Wage share ∝ Efficiency × Days worked
📊 Work and Wages Question Types in SBI PO Mains
| Question Type | Method | Key Step | Time Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed total wages, multiple workers | LCM method | Find work units per person | 35 seconds |
| Wages given, find individual share | Efficiency ratio | Ratio of work done | 25 seconds |
| Worker joins/leaves midway | LCM + partial days | Multiply rate × actual days | 40 seconds |
| Find total wages from individual rate | Unit wage × total work | Convert to common unit | 30 seconds |
Source: SBI PO 2022–2024 Mains paper analysis, bankersadda.com
📅 Your 10-Day Action Plan
- Days 1–3: LCM Method Drilling Practise pure work (no wages) questions using only the LCM method — 15 questions/day. Calculate work contributions for each worker as whole numbers. This builds the foundation before wages complexity is added.
- Days 4–7: Wages Integration Add wage distribution to your LCM setups. For every question, explicitly write the work contribution ratio before calculating the wage split. Practise questions where workers join or leave at different points — these are the most common Mains variants.
- Days 8–10: Timed Mixed Practice Attempt 15 mixed work and wages questions at Mains pace. Target: under 40 seconds per question. Any question requiring more than one re-read signals an LCM setup error — go back to the method, not the answer.
📊 In our analysis of 500+ PrepGrind students, those who separated LCM drilling from wages integration improved work and wages accuracy from 51% to 88% within ten days on Mains-level questions (PrepGrind internal data, 2024).
🔍 People Also Search For
What types of time and work questions are asked in bank exams?
Time and work questions usually involve finding the time taken to complete a task individually or together, efficiency comparison, and work and wages distribution. Candidates must apply concepts like work rate and ratio. Understanding these basics helps in solving mains-level arithmetic problems. Regular practice improves speed and accuracy.
What is the basic formula used in time and work problems?
The main formula is work = rate × time, and efficiency is inversely proportional to time taken. If a person completes work in 'x' days, their one-day work is 1/x. Combining individual work rates helps in finding total time required. Concept clarity helps in solving questions quickly.
How to solve time and work questions quickly in exams?
Candidates should assume total work as LCM of given days to simplify calculations. Writing data step by step and using ratio methods reduces mistakes. Practising shortcut techniques after understanding concepts improves speed. Time management is important in the exam.
What are work and wages questions in quantitative aptitude?
Work and wages questions involve distributing payment based on the amount of work done by individuals. Candidates must calculate efficiency and time contribution to divide wages correctly. Understanding ratio and proportion concepts helps in solving such problems. Regular practice improves accuracy.
How to prepare time and work topic for bank exams effectively?
Preparation should include learning formulas, practising arithmetic questions daily, and revising related topics like pipes and cisterns. Sectional mock tests help in identifying weak areas. Candidates should focus on improving calculation speed and accuracy. Consistent revision strengthens quantitative aptitude performance.
🎯 Conclusion: Your Next Step
Work and wages problems for SBI PO Mains become predictable once you internalise two principles: the LCM method for clean work calculation, and wages proportional to work done — not time spent. Ten days of structured practice, separating method-building from timed application, converts this challenging topic into a reliable marks contributor.
Ready to complete your SBI PO Mains Quantitative Aptitude preparation? Explore PrepGrind's SBI PO Mains module — featuring 300+ work and wages drills at Mains difficulty, timed mock sets, and step-by-step video solutions built by Bank PO toppers.