SBI PO 2026 · CRPD/PO/2026-27/09
SBI PO Exam Pattern 2026
Official marks, sections, time limits, and scoring — all three phases
Phase I
Prelims
100 marks
1 hour
Qualifying · no sectional cut-off
Phase II
Mains
230 marks
3.5 hours
Normalized to 75 marks
Phase III
Psychometric GE + Interview
50 marks
—
Normalized to 25 marks
Phase I — Preliminary Examination
Online objective test · 100 questions · 100 marks · 1 hour · –¼ per wrong answer
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 40 | 40 | 20 min |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | 30 | 20 min |
| Reasoning Ability | 30 | 30 | 20 min |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 1 hour |
Top ~15,000 candidates (10× vacancies per category) shortlisted for Mains based on overall merit.
Phase II — Main Examination (Objective)
Online · 170 questions · 200 marks · 3 hours · Sectional cut-off applies · –¼ per wrong answer
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | 40 | 60 | 50 min |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | 30 | 60 | 45 min |
| General/Economy/Banking Knowledge | 60 | 60 | 45 min |
| English Language | 40 | 20 | 40 min |
| Total (Objective) | 170 | 200 | 3 hours |
Phase II — Main Examination (Descriptive)
Conducted online (typed) immediately after objective paper · Minimum qualifying marks apply
| Task | Format |
|---|---|
| Email Writing | 1 out of 2 options |
| Situation Analysis | 1 out of 2 options |
| Report Writing / Précis Writing | Any 1 out of 2 options |
| Total (Descriptive) | 30 marks · 30 minutes |
Phase III — Psychometric Test, Group Exercise & Interview
October / November 2026 (tentative)
Psychometric Test — New in recent cycles
Mandatory personality profiling test conducted before GE & Interview. Findings are placed before the Interview panel. Can be conducted online (proctored) or at exam centres. All questions are mandatory.Full guide →
| Component | Marks |
|---|---|
| Psychometric Test | Qualifying / Profiling (no marks added) |
| Group Exercise | 20 |
| Personal Interview | 30 |
| Total | 50 |
Final Merit List — Score Normalization
Marks from Phase II and Phase III are normalized to 100 to prepare the final merit list. Phase I marks are not counted.
| Component | Raw Marks | Normalized To |
|---|---|---|
| Phase II — Main Exam (Objective + Descriptive) | 230 | 75 |
| Phase III — Group Exercise + Interview | 50 | 25 |
| Total (Final Merit) | 280 | 100 |
Candidates must qualify Phase II and Phase III separately. Shortlist for Phase III: ~3× vacancies per category from top of Mains merit list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there sectional cut-off in SBI PO Prelims 2026?
No. The official notification explicitly states there is no sectional cut-off in the Preliminary Examination. Only the overall merit list is used to shortlist candidates for Mains.
Is sectional cut-off present in Mains?
Yes. Each candidate must score a minimum qualifying score in each of the 5 Mains sections individually (Reasoning, DA&I, GA/Banking, English, and Descriptive). Section-wise cut-offs are decided by the Bank.
What is the SBI PO descriptive test format in 2026?
The Mains Descriptive Test has 3 tasks: Email Writing (1 of 2 options), Situation Analysis (1 of 2 options), and Report Writing or Précis Writing (1 of 2 options). Total: 30 marks, 30 minutes, typed online.
Does Phase I score count in the final merit?
No. Prelims is a screening test only. Only Phase II (Mains) and Phase III (GE + Interview) scores count in the final merit list, normalized to 100.
What is the exam mode for SBI PO 2026?
All phases of SBI PO 2026 are conducted online. The Preliminary and Main examinations are Computer Based Tests (CBT). The Descriptive Test is typed online. The Psychometric Test can be conducted in proctored online mode or at exam centres.