The State Bank of India conducts the SBI PO Exam in three rigorous phases—Online Prelims, Mains, and the Interview process—to recruit 1,500 Probationary Officers. To excel in the SBI PO recruitment drive, banking aspirants must master the updated exam pattern. Review the comprehensive SBI PO Prelims & Mains exam structure below to streamline your preparation.
SBI PO Exam Pattern 2026
The latest official notification outlines the revised exam patterns for all three stages. Candidates must qualify in each stage by meeting the category-specific cut-off marks. While the Prelims serve as a qualifying stage, scores from the Mains and Interview are pivotal for the final merit list. Understand the 2026 SBI PO exam structure to prepare effectively.
Key Changes in Exam Pattern:
- The descriptive exam marks have been revised from 50 to 30 marks starting in 2026.
- Total marks for the Mains examination have been adjusted from 250 to 230.
- The attempt limit has been increased from 4 to 6 for UR/EWS candidates and from 7 to 8 for OBC applicants.
SBI PO 2026 Prelims Exam Pattern
The first stage of the SBI PO 2026 recruitment is the Preliminary Examination, which is a mandatory qualifying hurdle to progress to the Mains.
1. The SBI PO Prelims consist of 3 core sections: English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability.
2. The SBI PO Prelims 2026 exam features a total of 100 objective-type questions.
3. The examination duration is 60 minutes, with a dedicated 20-minute sectional timing for each test.
4. The Prelims are purely qualifying in nature; these marks are not included in the final merit list calculation.
5. There is no sectional cut-off requirement in the Preliminary stage.
Penalty for wrong answers: A deduction of 0.25 marks applies to every incorrect answer. Unattempted questions will not attract any negative marking.
| SBI PO Prelims Exam Pattern 2026 [Revised] | ||||
| S.No. | Name of Tests (Objective) | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| 1 | English Language | 40 | 40 | 20 minutes |
| 2 | Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| 3 | Reasoning Ability | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 1 hour | |
Selection criteria for the Main Examination: A category-wise merit list is generated based on aggregate Prelims scores. Approximately 10 times the number of vacancies in each category are shortlisted for the Mains based on this merit list.
SBI PO Notification 2026 Released for 1500 Vacancies - Click to Check
SBI PO 2026 Online Application Process Starts - Click to Apply
SBI PO 2026 Mains Exam Pattern
The SBI PO Mains exam consists of both an Objective and a Descriptive section, detailed below:
1. The objective paper duration is 3 hours, while the descriptive paper lasts 30 minutes.
2. The objective section comprises 4 parts: Reasoning & Computer Aptitude; Data Analysis & Interpretation; General/Economy/Banking Awareness; and English Language.
3. A descriptive test covering 2 specific questions is conducted immediately following the online objective test.
4. Penalty for wrong answers: A negative marking of 0.25 marks applies to every incorrect response in the Mains exam. No penalties exist for unanswered questions.
Sectional Cut-Off: The Mains exam maintains a sectional cut-off policy. Candidates must achieve the minimum required score in every individual section.
| SBI PO Mains Exam Pattern 2026 | ||||
| S.No. | Name of Tests(Objective) | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| 1 | Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | 40 | 60 | 50 minutes |
| 2 | Data Analysis & Interpretation | 30 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| 3 | General/ Economy/ Banking Awareness | 60 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| 4 | English Language | 40 | 20 | 40 minutes |
| Total | 170 | 200 | 3 hours | |
Descriptive Test (Writing Skills) Syllabus: This test assesses communication skills through: | 03 | 30 | 30 minutes | |
| Grand Total | 230 | 3 Hours 30 Minutes | ||
(i) Objective Test: The 3-hour objective test consists of 170 questions totaling 200 marks, with strictly enforced sectional time limits.
(ii) Descriptive Test: A 30-minute test consisting of 2 questions for 30 marks, evaluating English language proficiency via essay and letter writing.
Psycometrice Test, Group Exercise & Personal Interview
- Candidates who qualify for the main examination are called for the psychometric test, group discussion, and interview.
- The psychometric test assesses candidates' psychological traits and suitability for the banking profession.
- Group discussion and interview further evaluate the candidates' communication skills, leadership qualities, and overall personality.
| Test Structure | Group Exercise | Interview | Total |
| Maximum Marks | 20 | 30 | 50 |
Final Selection
Following the Personal Interview, the final merit list is prepared by the State Bank of India, factoring in the Mains Exam and Interview scores. Final cut-offs are determined based on overall performance and vacancies. Successful candidates are issued appointment letters for the Probationary Officer position.
| SBI PO Final Selection | |||
| Test | Main Exam | Group Exercise & Interview | Total |
| Maximum Marks | 230 | 50 | 300 |
| Normalization Marks | 75 | 25 | 100 |
FAQs
Yes, the descriptive test marks in the Mains exam have been reduced from 50 to 30.
Yes, there is a penalty of 0.25 marks for every incorrect answer.
No, there is no negative marking for unattempted or blank questions.
The recruitment process consists of 3 stages: Prelims, Mains, and the Interview.
The Prelims exam covers 3 sections: Reasoning Ability, Quantitative Aptitude, and the English Language.
Also Read:
- SBI PO 2026 Notification: Apply Online for 1500 Vacancies, Exam Date & Eligibility
- SBI PO 2026 Application Guide: Essential Document Checklist
- SBI Clerk 1st Waiting List 2026 Out: Download PDF and Check Selection Status
- SBI PO Preparation Strategy 2026: Ace the Exam in 6 Weeks
- SBI PO Reasoning Questions, Most Important 30 Questions
- Top 30 SBI PO Quantitative Aptitude Questions with Detailed Solutions