PO Prelims Concluded · Mains Expected September · Clerk Updates Tracked

SBI PO, Clerk & SO.
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Complete SBI bank exam coaching guide for Surat & Vadodara aspirants — exam dates, syllabus, cutoff marks, salary and eligibility for SBI PO, Clerk, and Specialist Officer 2026. Includes free mock tests and 1:1 mentor support. SBI PO 2026 Prelims have concluded; Clerk and SO content is updated as each notification drops.

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SBI PO & SBI Clerk

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SBI PO

Prelims held · 1,500 posts

SBI Clerk

Expected August 2026

SBI SO

Rolling, post-specific

SBI PO 2026 At a Glance

Conducting BodyState Bank of India

NotificationCRPD/PO/2026-27/09

Registration Window18 Jun – 8 Jul 2026

Prelims1–2 Aug 2026 (held)

StagesPrelims · Mains · Psychometric Test, GD & Interview

Vacancies1,500

Age Limit21–30 years

Annual CTC~₹21.97 LPA

Based on the official SBI PO 2026 notification (18 June 2026). Prelims held 1–2 August 2026; Mains expected September 2026 — verify at sbi.bank.in.

SBI Clerk 2026 At a Glance

Conducting BodyState Bank of India

Post NameJunior Associate (CSS)

Notification (Expected)August 2026

StagesPrelims · Mains · LLPT

Vacancies (Last Cycle)~6,589

Age Limit20–28 years

Starting In-Hand~₹35,000–46,000/mo

Notification not yet released. Figures are trend-based estimates from the last several cycles — re-verify once SBI releases the official 2026 notification.

SBI SO 2026 At a Glance

Conducting BodyState Bank of India

Recruitment StyleRolling, post-specific

Common StreamsIT · Law · HR · Marketing

StagesWritten Test/Shortlist + Interview

Age Limit21–35 yrs (varies by post)

ExperiencePost-dependent; freshers OK for some

ScaleOfficer Scale I / II / III

SBI SO has no single annual cycle — each stream (IT Officer, Trade Finance, SCO, etc.) gets its own notification, dates, and pattern. Always check the specific post's notification.

Exam Pattern

Section-Wise Breakdown.

Each SBI track runs on a different structure. PO and Clerk both use sectional, timed Prelims + Mains; SO varies sharply by post and may skip the written exam entirely.

Prelims — Qualifying Stage (Revised 2026)

Section	Questions	Time Limit	Marks
English Language	40	20 min	40
Quantitative Aptitude	30	20 min	30
Reasoning Ability	30	20 min	30
Total	100	1 hour	100

Mains — Decisive Stage (75% Weight)

Section	Questions	Time Limit	Marks
Reasoning & Computer Aptitude	40	50 min	60
Data Analysis & Interpretation	30	45 min	60
General/Economy/Banking Awareness	60	45 min	60
English Language	40	40 min	20
Objective Total	170	3 hours	200
Descriptive Test (Email + Situation Analysis + Report/Precis)	03	30 min	30
Grand Total	—	3 hrs 30 min	230

Marking Scheme: +1 for every correct objective answer, −0.25 for every incorrect one, no penalty for unattempted questions. Prelims has no sectional cut-off — only an overall qualifying score. Mains does have sectional cut-offs — you must clear the minimum qualifying mark in each objective section and in the Descriptive Test individually, not just the overall total. The Descriptive Test (revised to 30 marks this cycle, down from 50) has no negative marking. Final merit = Mains (75%) + GD & Interview (25%), normalized out of 100.

Clerk Prelims and Mains share the same three subjects as PO Prelims, but Mains adds Computer Aptitude and is set at a relatively easier difficulty than PO Mains.

Prelims — Qualifying Stage

Section	Questions	Time Limit	Marks
English Language	30	20 min	30
Numerical Ability	35	20 min	35
Reasoning Ability	35	20 min	35
Total	100	60 min	100

Mains — Decisive Stage

Section	Questions	Time Limit	Marks
General/Financial Awareness	50	35 min	50
General English	40	35 min	40
Quantitative Aptitude	50	45 min	50
Reasoning & Computer Aptitude	50	45 min	60
Total	190	160 min	200

Trend-based, unconfirmed: These figures follow the last several SBI Clerk cycles. Marking scheme: +1 per correct answer, −0.25 per incorrect answer, no sectional cut-off. After Mains, a mandatory Local Language Proficiency Test (LLPT) is held — qualifying only, no marks added to merit. Re-verify exact numbers once SBI releases the official 2026 notification.

There is no single SBI SO pattern — it depends entirely on the post. Three broad formats repeat across cycles:

Format	Typical Posts	Structure
Online Test + Interview	IT Officer, Risk/Credit Analyst	Professional Knowledge + Reasoning/English/GA, followed by interview
Shortlisting + Interview Only	Manager/senior specialist roles, experienced hires	No written test; shortlisted on profile, selected via interview
Interview Only (SCO category)	Trade Finance Officer, Specialist Cadre Officer (SCO)	Pure interview-based selection, no written exam at all

Always check the specific notification: SBI SO posts are recruited on a rolling, as-needed basis throughout the year, each under its own advertisement number with its own pattern, syllabus (if any), vacancy count, and timeline. Professional/domain knowledge typically carries the highest weight in final selection.

Syllabus

What To Actually Study.

PO and Clerk share the same core subjects at different difficulty levels. SO syllabus is post-specific and centered on professional/domain knowledge.

Reasoning & Computer Aptitude

Mains' highest-weight section

Reasoning

● Advanced puzzles, seating arrangement, scheduling

● Syllogism, data sufficiency, critical reasoning

● Input-output, coding-decoding, blood relations

● Machine input-output and multi-condition puzzles at Mains difficulty

Computer Aptitude

● Computer basics — hardware, software, generations of computers

● Networking, internet fundamentals, MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

● Number systems, database basics, computer security & viruses

Data Analysis & Interpretation

Set-based, calculation-heavy

Data Interpretation

● Tables, bar/line/pie charts, caselets

● Multi-source sets combining two data formats in one caselet

● Missing/approximated-data cases

Data Sufficiency & Application

● Data sufficiency (statement-based, 1/2 conditions)

● Ratio, proportion, averages applied to DI sets

● Probability and permutation-combination, occasionally

General/Economy/Banking Awareness

Current affairs heavy

Banking & Financial Awareness

● Banking terms, RBI monetary policy tools (repo, reverse repo, CRR, SLR)

● Types of banks, financial institutions, NBFC basics

Current Affairs & Static GK

● National & international current affairs (last 6–8 months)

● Static GK — capitals, currencies, headquarters

● Govt schemes and budget/economic survey highlights

Prelims uses the same English, Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning subjects at a lighter, standalone-question level (no sets), since it's purely a qualifying screen:

Quantitative Aptitude (Prelims)

Standalone questions, no sets

● Simplification, approximation, number series

● Average, percentage, ratio & proportion, SI/CI

● Time-speed-distance, time & work, profit & loss

● Basic data interpretation (single table/chart)

Reasoning Ability (Prelims)

Lighter than Mains difficulty

● Alphanumeric series, coding-decoding

● Basic seating arrangement, blood relations, direction sense

● Inequality, syllogism, ranking & order

English Language (Prelims)

Standalone screening level

● Reading comprehension

● Cloze test, error spotting/detection

● Fill in the blanks, para/sentence jumbles

Numerical / Quantitative Ability

Same family as PO, simpler level

● Simplification, approximation, number series

● Average, percentage, ratio, time & work, SI/CI

● Data interpretation (tables, bar/pie charts)

Reasoning & Computer Aptitude

Mains-only addition

● Puzzles, seating arrangement, syllogism

● Coding-decoding, direction sense, blood relations

● Computer basics — input/output devices, MS Office, internet

English & General/Financial Awareness

Mains-weighted heavily

● Reading comprehension, cloze test, error spotting

● Para jumbles, fill-in-the-blanks

● Banking & financial current affairs, static GK

Professional/Domain Knowledge

Highest weight, post-specific

● IT Officer: programming, networking, databases, cybersecurity

● Law Officer: banking law, contract law, recovery procedures

● HR/Marketing: core subject-area concepts and case scenarios

General/Economic Awareness

Where a written test exists

● Banking & economic current affairs

● Basic English comprehension and grammar

Interview Readiness

Often the only real filter

● Work experience walkthrough and role-fit questions

● Sector-specific scenario and judgment questions

● Letter-writing and communication skills, where assessed

Calendar

SBI 2026 Recruitment Calendar.

PO dates below are official. Clerk dates are forecast from past cycles. SO has no fixed calendar — it runs on a rolling basis.

18 June 2026

Official Notification Released

SBI released CRPD/PO/2026-27/09 for 1,500 vacancies at sbi.bank.in.

18 June – 8 July 2026

Online Registration Window

Application open via the SBI careers portal. Three-week window — apply early.

1–2 August 2026

Preliminary Examination (Held)

Computer-based test conducted in multiple shifts across centres nationwide. Result and Mains call letters expected next.

September 2026 (Expected)

Mains Examination

Objective + Descriptive test for shortlisted Prelims candidates (~10x vacancies).

October – November 2026 (Expected)

Psychometric Test, GD & Interview

Phase III — group exercise, psychometric assessment, and personal interview.

August 2026 (Expected)

Official Notification Release

Forecast based on past SBI Clerk cycles. Not yet released as of this writing.

Following 2–3 Weeks

Online Registration Window

Application opens shortly after notification, typically with a ~2-3 week window.

~6–8 Weeks Post-Notification

Preliminary Examination

Conducted across multiple cities and slots, state/region-wise.

~2–3 Months Post-Notification

Mains Examination

Shortlisted Prelims candidates attempt the higher-difficulty Mains paper.

Post-Mains

Local Language Proficiency Test (LLPT)

Qualifying-only test in the candidate's preferred state's local language.

Throughout the Year

Post-Specific Notifications

Each SO stream (IT, Law, HR, Marketing, Wealth Management, SCO, etc.) is advertised separately as vacancies arise.

~2–4 Weeks Per Notification

Application Window

Each notification carries its own short registration window — track the specific post you want.

Varies by Post

Written Test (Where Applicable) / Shortlisting

Some posts have an online test; others shortlist directly from applications based on profile and experience.

Final Stage

Interview

Decisive for almost every SO post — often the sole or near-sole basis for final merit.

Eligibility

Can You Apply?

Degree, age, and nationality decide eligibility for PO and Clerk. SO eligibility is post-specific and often requires relevant domain experience. Thinkoraa's SBI coaching mentors in Surat and Vadodara help aspirants verify eligibility and build a personalised prep plan before batch start.

Bachelor's Degree, Any Discipline

From a university recognized by the Central Government. Chartered Accountants are also eligible, regardless of degree.

Age: 21–30 Years

Born between 2 April 1996 and 1 April 2005 (both dates inclusive), as per cutoff. Category-wise relaxation applies.

Final-Year Students

Can apply provisionally. Proof of graduation must be produced on or before 30 September 2026.

Attempt Limit

General/EWS: up to 6 attempts. OBC: up to 9 attempts. SC/ST/PwBD: no limit, subject to age criteria.

Aadhaar verification is now mandatory for all SBI PO 2026 candidates, per the official notification. Integrated Dual Degree (IDD) holders must ensure their passing date matches the notification's cutoff.

Bachelor's Degree, Any Discipline

From a recognized university. Distance/correspondence degrees are generally accepted.

Age: 20–28 Years

As per the cutoff date specified in the notification. Category-wise relaxation applies (OBC +3, SC/ST +5, PwBD up to +15).

Local Language Knowledge

Candidates must know the local language of the state/region they're applying for, verified via the LLPT after Mains.

Final-Year Eligibility

Final-year students are typically eligible conditionally — confirm exact terms once the 2026 notification is released.

Age and other figures above reflect recent SBI Clerk cycles. The 2026 notification (expected July/August) will carry the confirmed eligibility window — verify before applying.

Relevant Degree per Post

E.g. B.Tech/MCA for IT Officer, LLB for Law Officer, MBA/PGDM for HR or Marketing roles — varies by stream.

Age: 21–35 Years (Varies)

Differs by post and seniority — Scale I roles skew younger, Scale II/III roles allow a higher upper limit.

Work Experience

Often mandatory for mid/senior posts (e.g. Trade Finance, Wealth Management); some entry posts like IT Officer accept freshers.

Certifications

Specific posts may require additional certification — e.g. an IIBF Forex Operations certificate for Trade Finance Officer.

Because every SO post has its own eligibility bar, always check the specific notification for the role you're targeting rather than relying on generic criteria.

Selection Process

How Final Selection Works.

PO runs a four-stage process that ends in an assessment centre; Clerk is a two-stage, marks-only process with no interview at all.

SBI PO: Prelims → Mains → GD & Interview

Prelims is only a qualifying screen — no marks carry forward. Mains (weighted 75%) plus the Phase III Psychometric Test, GD & Interview (weighted 25%) are normalised together to produce the Final Merit List.

Phase III: Psychometric Test, Group Exercise & Interview

Candidates shortlisted from Mains (roughly 3x vacancies) attend an assessment centre covering a psychometric test, a group exercise/GD, and a personal interview. Prelims marks play no role beyond qualifying for Mains.

SBI Clerk: Prelims → Mains → Final Merit

No Group Exercise or Interview at any stage. Prelims qualifies candidates for Mains; Mains marks alone decide the Final Merit List and post allotment.

Clerk's Only Extra Step: LLPT

After Mains, selected candidates take a qualifying-only Local Language Proficiency Test (LLPT) for their allotted state — it gates final allotment but adds no marks to the merit list.

SBI SO selection varies entirely by post — see the Exam Pattern section above for SO-specific stages, since there's no single SO selection process to generalise.

Where SBI Can Take You

Salary, Pay Scale & Career Growth.

Three tracks, three trajectories — officer-track pay and promotion speed, clerical stability, or specialist-market pay for domain experts.

Track	Starting Basic Pay	Pay Scale (JMGS-I / equiv.)	Approx. Annual CTC	Promotion Path
SBI PO	₹48,480	₹48,480–2000/7–62,480–2340/2–67,160–2680/7–85,920	~₹21.97 LPA	Officer cadre — managerial track, faster promotions to Scale II/III
SBI Clerk	₹26,730	₹24,050–1340/3–28,070–1650/3–33,020–2000/4–41,020...	~₹35,000–46,000/mo in-hand	Clerical cadre — can move to officer track via internal promotion exams
SBI SO	Post-dependent	Officer Scale I / II / III, per role seniority	Often PO-comparable or higher for senior/contract roles	Specialist cadre — domain-track growth, contract or permanent depending on post

Figures and caveats: PO CTC reflects the figure stated in the official SBI PO 2026 notification. Clerk pay scale and in-hand figures are drawn from recent recruitment cycles and current postings; actual in-hand pay varies by posting location (metro/urban/rural) due to DA and HRA differences. SO compensation varies widely by post, seniority, and whether the role is on a permanent or fixed-term contract basis — always check the specific notification for exact figures. All three tracks include DA, HRA, and other allowances on top of basic pay, plus NPS and medical benefits.

Previous Year Data

SBI Cutoff Marks
2020–2025 — Subject Wise

Sectional + overall cutoffs for SBI PO and Clerk — last 5 years, all categories. SBI PO Prelims has no sectional cutoff; Mains does. Use these to benchmark your preparation target per section.

Note: SBI PO Prelims — no sectional cutoff, only overall qualifying score. Mains — sectional cutoffs apply on each objective section AND Descriptive Test separately. Final merit = Mains (75%) + GD & Interview (25%), normalised out of 100.

General/UR

OBC

EWS

Prelims — Overall Cutoff (out of 100) — No Sectional Cutoff

Stage	Max	General	OBC	SC	ST	EWS
English Language	40	No sectional cutoff — only overall matters
Quantitative Aptitude	30	No sectional cutoff — only overall matters
Reasoning Ability	30	No sectional cutoff — only overall matters
Overall Prelims	100	66.75	65.50	59.25	51.50	64.50

Mains — Sectional + Overall Cutoff

Section	Max	General	OBC	SC	ST	EWS
Reasoning & Computer Aptitude	60	18.00	15.75	12.25	9.50	17.25
Data Analysis & Interpretation	60	15.50	13.25	10.00	7.75	14.75
General/Economy/Banking Awareness	40	12.00	10.25	7.75	6.00	11.50
English Language	40	11.50	9.75	7.50	5.75	11.00
Descriptive Test (Letter + Essay)	30	10.75	9.25	7.00	5.50	10.25
Overall Mains	230	89.50	77.25	58.00	45.75	85.75

Prelims — Overall Only

Stage	Max	General	OBC	SC	ST	EWS
Overall Prelims	100	60.75	54.25	43.00	34.25	58.00

Mains — Sectional + Overall

Section	Max	General	OBC	SC	ST	EWS
Reasoning & Computer Aptitude	60	17.25	15.00	11.50	9.00	16.50
Data Analysis & Interpretation	60	14.75	12.50	9.25	7.25	14.00
General/Economy/Banking Awareness	40	11.25	9.50	7.25	5.50	10.75
English Language	40	10.75	9.25	7.00	5.25	10.25
Descriptive Test	30	10.25	8.75	6.75	5.00	9.75
Overall Mains	230	86.25	73.75	55.50	43.50	82.50

Stage	Max	General	OBC	SC	ST	EWS
Overall Prelims	100	58.50	52.00	41.25	32.75	56.00
Reasoning & Computer (Mains)	60	16.50	14.25	10.75	8.50	15.75
Data Analysis (Mains)	60	13.75	11.75	8.75	6.75	13.25
G/E/Banking Awareness (Mains)	40	10.50	9.00	6.75	5.25	10.00
English Language (Mains)	40	10.25	8.75	6.50	5.00	9.75
Descriptive Test (Mains)	50	14.50	12.25	9.25	7.25	13.75
Overall Mains	250	88.00	75.50	56.75	44.75	84.25

Stage	Max	General	OBC	SC	ST	EWS
Overall Prelims	100	54.75	48.50	38.25	30.00	52.25
Reasoning & Computer (Mains)	60	15.75	13.50	10.25	8.00	15.00
Data Analysis (Mains)	60	12.75	10.75	8.00	6.25	12.25
G/E/Banking Awareness (Mains)	40	9.75	8.25	6.25	4.75	9.25
English (Mains)	40	9.50	8.00	6.00	4.50	9.00
Descriptive Test (Mains)	50	13.50	11.50	8.75	6.75	13.00
Overall Mains	250	83.50	71.25	53.25	41.50	79.75

Stage	Max	General	OBC	SC	ST	EWS
Overall Prelims	100	51.25	45.00	35.50	27.75	48.75
Reasoning & Computer (Mains)	60	14.75	12.75	9.50	7.50	14.25
Data Analysis (Mains)	60	11.75	9.75	7.25	5.75	11.25
G/E/Banking Awareness (Mains)	40	9.00	7.50	5.75	4.25	8.50
English (Mains)	40	8.75	7.25	5.50	4.25	8.25
Descriptive Test (Mains)	50	12.75	10.75	8.25	6.25	12.25
Overall Mains	250	79.25	67.25	49.75	38.50	75.75

Note: SBI Clerk — Prelims has no sectional cutoff, only overall. Mains: no sectional cutoff either, only overall determines merit. After Mains, a Local Language Proficiency Test (LLPT) is held — qualifying only, marks not added to merit. State-wise cutoffs vary; figures are national averages.

Prelims — Overall Cutoff (No Sectional)

Stage	Max	General	OBC	SC	ST	EWS
Overall Prelims	100	70.25	63.75	52.50	42.00	67.50

Mains — Overall Cutoff (Final Merit)

Section	Max	General	OBC	SC	ST	EWS
General/Financial Awareness	50	No sectional cutoff — overall merit only
General English	40	No sectional cutoff — overall merit only
Quantitative Aptitude & DI	50	No sectional cutoff — overall merit only
Reasoning Ability & Comp Aptitude	50	No sectional cutoff — overall merit only
Overall Mains	190	95.50	84.25	65.75	52.00	92.00

Stage	Max	General	OBC	SC	ST	EWS
Overall Prelims	100	67.75	61.00	49.75	39.50	65.25
Overall Mains	190	92.25	81.00	62.50	49.25	88.75

Stage	Max	General	OBC	SC	ST	EWS
Overall Prelims	100	65.25	58.50	47.00	37.25	62.75
Overall Mains	190	88.75	77.50	59.25	46.50	85.25

Stage	Max	General	OBC	SC	ST	EWS
Overall Prelims	100	61.50	55.00	44.25	34.75	59.00
Overall Mains	190	84.50	73.25	55.75	43.25	81.00

Stage	Max	General	OBC	SC	ST	EWS
Overall Prelims	100	57.75	51.25	41.00	32.00	55.25
Overall Mains	190	80.25	69.00	52.25	40.25	76.75

Previous Year Analysis

What Past Papers Tell You.

Qualitative trends worth noting across recent SBI PO and Clerk cycles — read alongside the cutoff table above, not as a replacement for it.

DA&I Has Grown Calculation-Heavy

PO Mains

● Recent PO Mains sets lean toward multi-step calculation rather than a simple read of a chart

● Caselets increasingly combine two data formats (e.g. a table plus a paragraph) in one set

● Speed on approximation and simplification matters as much as concept clarity here

Awareness Rewards SBI-Specific Reading

PO & Clerk

● Questions increasingly reference SBI's own reports and initiatives, not just generic banking news

● RBI monetary policy announcements (repo rate actions, policy stance) are a recurring theme

● Static GK on banking history and financial institutions keeps reappearing across cycles

Reasoning Puzzles Keep Getting Denser

PO & Clerk Mains

● Seating arrangement and puzzle sets now commonly combine two or three conditions in one set

● Input-output style questions have become less mechanical, needing careful step tracking

● Time per set is the real constraint, more than the raw difficulty of any single condition

Descriptive Test Rewards Structure

PO Mains only

● Letter and essay topics tend to draw on banking, economy and current-affairs themes seen in the objective paper

● Clear structure and on-topic content matter more than vocabulary complexity for scoring here

● Practising within the fixed time limit matters, since there's no negative marking to offset a rushed attempt

Preparation Strategy

Prep By Where You're Starting.

PO's Mains-plus-GD/Interview structure needs a longer runway than Clerk's simpler two-tier exam — pick the track that matches your starting point and target post.

Beginner

Start with basic Quant and Reasoning fundamentals and build vocabulary/grammar for English. PO aspirants should budget extra months for this stage, since Mains difficulty jumps sharply after Prelims; Clerk aspirants can move to sectional practice sooner given the comparatively lighter Mains.

Intermediate

Shift to timed sectional tests and full-length Prelims mocks. PO candidates should start layering in Data Analysis & Interpretation and Banking/Economy Awareness for Mains early; Clerk candidates can keep mocks focused on the three Prelims subjects plus Computer Aptitude for Mains.

Advanced

Run full-length Mains mocks under real timing, including the Descriptive Test for PO. PO aspirants nearing Mains should also start Group Exercise, GD and Interview practice — current-affairs discussion, group tasks and mock personal interviews — since that phase carries real weight in final merit. Clerk aspirants can stay focused purely on Mains accuracy and speed, since there's no interview stage.

Working Professional

With limited daily hours, prioritise high-weight sections first — Reasoning & Computer Aptitude and DA&I for PO Mains, Quant and Reasoning for Clerk — and use weekends for full-length mocks. Short, consistent current-affairs reading compounds better than occasional long sessions for the Awareness sections in both exams.

FAQ

Common Questions.

Has the SBI PO 2026 notification been released?+

Yes. SBI released the official SBI PO 2026 notification (CRPD/PO/2026-27/09) on 18 June 2026 for 1,500 vacancies. Online registration ran 18 June to 8 July 2026, and the Preliminary exam was held 1–2 August 2026. Mains is expected in September 2026.

What is the SBI PO 2026 exam pattern?+

Prelims has 100 questions for 100 marks across English, Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning in 60 minutes. Mains has 170 objective questions for 200 marks across four sections in 3 hours, plus a 30-mark Descriptive Test in 30 minutes. Mains carries 75% weight and GD+Interview 25% in the final merit.

What is the difference between SBI PO, Clerk and SO?+

SBI PO (Probationary Officer) is a management-track entry role with a tougher exam and faster promotions. SBI Clerk (Junior Associate) is a customer-facing operational role with a comparatively easier exam and lower starting pay. SBI SO (Specialist Officer) recruits domain experts (IT, Law, HR, Marketing) for specific roles, often with relevant experience required and sometimes only an interview, no written exam.

Has the SBI Clerk 2026 notification been released?+

Not yet, as of this writing. SBI Clerk (Junior Associate) 2026 notification is expected in July or August 2026. The figures on this page are trend-based estimates from the last several recruitment cycles, to be confirmed once SBI releases the official notification.

Is there an interview for SBI Clerk?+

No written interview, but candidates who clear Prelims and Mains must pass a mandatory Local Language Proficiency Test (LLPT) for their preferred state/region before being finally selected.

Who is eligible for SBI PO 2026?+

A bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognized university, with age between 21 and 30 years as of the cutoff date (born between 2 April 1996 and 1 April 2005). Final-year students can apply provisionally, and Chartered Accountants are also eligible regardless of degree.

How many attempts are allowed for SBI PO and Clerk?+

For SBI PO 2026, the notification revised the permitted attempts to 6 for General/EWS candidates and 9 for OBC candidates, with no attempt limit for SC/ST/PwBD candidates (subject to the age criteria). SBI Clerk has traditionally not capped the number of attempts at all — eligibility is governed purely by the age window — though this should be confirmed against the 2026 Clerk notification once SBI releases it.

Are calculators allowed in the SBI PO/Clerk exam?+

No physical calculators are permitted at the exam centre for either PO or Clerk, at any stage. A basic on-screen virtual calculator is built into the computer test interface during the Mains exam to help with Data Analysis & Interpretation and Quant calculations; Prelims has no calculator, physical or virtual.

What score is considered a good score for SBI PO or Clerk?+

There's no fixed number since cutoffs move with difficulty and vacancies each year — use the multi-year cutoff table on this page as your benchmark. For SBI PO 2025, the General category cleared Prelims at 66.75/100 and Mains at 89.50/230; for SBI Clerk 2025, General cleared Prelims at 70.25/100 and Mains at 95.50/190. Aim to comfortably clear these with margin rather than target the exact cutoff, since a strong year can push cutoffs higher.

What is the application fee for SBI PO and Clerk?+

SBI charges a nominal application fee for General, EWS and OBC candidates, while SC, ST, PwBD and other exempted categories typically pay no fee. The exact amount is specified separately in each notification and can change cycle to cycle, so always check the current SBI PO/Clerk notification's fee clause before applying.

What does the GD/Interview stage involve for SBI PO? Does Clerk have one too?+

SBI PO's Phase III — weighted 25% of final merit — includes a Psychometric Test, a Group Exercise/GD, and a Personal Interview, conducted for candidates shortlisted from Mains (roughly 3x vacancies). SBI Clerk has no Group Exercise or Interview at all — its Final Merit List comes purely from Mains marks, followed only by a qualifying-only Local Language Proficiency Test (LLPT).

Is age relaxation available for reserved categories?+

Yes. SBI applies standard age relaxation across its recruitment — as reflected in the Clerk eligibility on this page, OBC candidates get +3 years, SC/ST +5 years, and PwBD candidates up to +15 years (combined with other applicable relaxations), plus additional relaxation for categories like Ex-servicemen and J&K-domicile candidates as specified in the notification. Always confirm the exact slabs in the specific SBI PO/Clerk notification you're applying under.

SBI PO, Clerk & SO.EverythingIn One Place.

Section-Wise Breakdown.

Prelims — Qualifying Stage (Revised 2026)

Mains — Decisive Stage (75% Weight)

Prelims — Qualifying Stage

Mains — Decisive Stage

What To Actually Study.

Reasoning & Computer Aptitude

Data Analysis & Interpretation

General/Economy/Banking Awareness

Quantitative Aptitude (Prelims)

Reasoning Ability (Prelims)

English Language (Prelims)

Numerical / Quantitative Ability

Reasoning & Computer Aptitude

English & General/Financial Awareness

Professional/Domain Knowledge

General/Economic Awareness

Interview Readiness

SBI 2026 Recruitment Calendar.

Can You Apply?

Bachelor's Degree, Any Discipline

Age: 21–30 Years

Final-Year Students

Attempt Limit

Bachelor's Degree, Any Discipline

Age: 20–28 Years

Local Language Knowledge

Final-Year Eligibility

Relevant Degree per Post

Age: 21–35 Years (Varies)

Work Experience

Certifications

How Final Selection Works.

SBI PO: Prelims → Mains → GD & Interview

Phase III: Psychometric Test, Group Exercise & Interview

SBI Clerk: Prelims → Mains → Final Merit

Clerk's Only Extra Step: LLPT

Salary, Pay Scale & Career Growth.

SBI Cutoff Marks2020–2025 — Subject Wise

What Past Papers Tell You.

DA&I Has Grown Calculation-Heavy

Awareness Rewards SBI-Specific Reading

Reasoning Puzzles Keep Getting Denser

Descriptive Test Rewards Structure

Prep By Where You're Starting.

Beginner

Intermediate

Advanced

Working Professional

Start YourSBI Exam Prep.

Common Questions.

You Might Also Be Preparing For

Know The Exam.Now Build The Plan.

Thinkoraa — Surat & Vadodara Centres

SBI PO, Clerk & SO.
Everything
In One Place.

SBI Cutoff Marks
2020–2025 — Subject Wise

Start Your
SBI Exam Prep.

Know The Exam.
Now Build The Plan.