SBI PO 2026 · Phase III
SBI PO Psychometric Test 2026
What it is, how it works, what happens to the results — and how to approach it
From the Official Notification — CRPD/PO/2026-27/09
“Psychometric Test: Psychometric Test will be conducted as part of Phase III of the selection process. The findings of the psychometric test will be placed before the interview panel. The psychometric test can be conducted in proctored online mode or at exam centres. All questions in the psychometric test are mandatory.”
Marks
None
Profiling only — not scored
Phase
Phase III
Before GE & Interview
Mode
Online / Centre
Proctored or at exam centre
What Is a Psychometric Test?
A psychometric test is a standardised assessment of personality traits, behavioural tendencies, cognitive styles, and emotional characteristics. Unlike a knowledge test (where answers are right or wrong), a psychometric test has no "correct" answers — it maps your personality profile.
Banks use psychometric assessments to understand whether a candidate's personality and behavioural inclinations are compatible with a banking role — particularly traits like customer orientation, integrity, stress resilience, and teamwork.
Customer Orientation
How naturally you orient toward helping people; empathy and service mindset
Integrity / Honesty
Tendency toward rule-following, ethical behaviour, and trustworthiness
Stress Resilience
Ability to remain effective under pressure; emotional stability
Teamwork
Collaborative vs. individualistic work style; willingness to support colleagues
Achievement Drive
Ambition, persistence, and goal-directedness
Conscientiousness
Attention to detail, reliability, and thoroughness in tasks
Common Types of Psychometric Questions
SBI has not published a sample paper for the Psychometric Test. Based on standard psychometric practice used in banking (IBPS, RBI, and international banks), expect question formats like:
Likert Scale (Agree / Disagree)
A statement is shown and you indicate your level of agreement on a 5-point scale (Strongly Agree → Strongly Disagree).
Example: 'I prefer working alone on tasks rather than in a group.' → Strongly Agree / Agree / Neutral / Disagree / Strongly Disagree
Forced Choice
You are given two statements and must choose which one describes you more accurately.
Example: 'A) I keep my workspace organised' vs. 'B) I adapt quickly to changing situations' — choose one.
Situational Judgment
A workplace scenario is described and you must choose how you would respond from multiple options.
Example: 'A customer is angry about a transaction error not caused by you. What do you do?' — choose from 3–4 responses.
Trait Inventory
A list of adjectives or short phrases and you rate how well each describes you.
Example: Rate how well each word describes you: Methodical / Ambitious / Empathetic / Risk-taking.
Can You Fail the Psychometric Test?
The official notification does not define any cut-off or pass/fail criterion for the Psychometric Test. It is described as "profiling" — meaning its purpose is to generate information about your personality, not to eliminate candidates directly.
However, the findings are placed before the Interview panel. This means the interviewers will have your psychometric profile when they speak to you. A profile that suggests very low integrity, honesty, or customer orientation could lead to harder questions during the interview, or influence the overall interview score.
In practice, psychometric tests are rarely used as standalone disqualifiers in Indian banking exams — they serve as supplementary data for the panel.
How to Approach the Psychometric Test
Answer honestly — but be aware of role expectations
Psychometric tests are designed to detect inconsistency. If you try to answer 'strategically', contradictions across similar questions will show up. Answer as honestly as you can while being mindful that you're being assessed for a banking role.
Don't overthink — go with your first instinct
Overthinking causes you to second-guess yourself and answer inconsistently. Most personality questions are measuring your natural tendencies, not your analytical reasoning. Respond quickly and move on.
Complete all questions — skipping is not allowed
The notification explicitly states all questions are mandatory. Missing answers may be flagged as an incomplete profile, which could work against you.
Read each statement fully before responding
Some questions are phrased to catch pattern-clicking (e.g., a statement worded in reverse). Read every statement before selecting your response.
Understand what banking values
Traits like customer empathy, integrity, teamwork, and resilience under pressure are valued in banking. Reflect on whether you genuinely exhibit these — if you do, your honest answers should produce a compatible profile.
How the Interview Panel Uses the Psychometric Report
The report is placed before the panel as context — they may or may not refer to it during your interview. Common ways it may be used:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there any preparation material for SBI PO Psychometric Test?
SBI has not released any official sample paper or syllabus for the Psychometric Test. You can familiarise yourself with psychometric question formats through free online tools like the Big Five personality inventory (OCEAN), SHL practice tests, or sample psychometric test papers from UK banking sector recruitment (which commonly uses similar tools).
How long is the SBI PO Psychometric Test?
The official notification does not specify the duration. Based on similar assessments in banking globally, psychometric tests typically range from 20 to 45 minutes. Expect between 80–150 questions of the agree/disagree or forced-choice type.
Will the psychometric test be online or offline?
Per the notification, it can be conducted in proctored online mode or at exam centres. SBI will communicate the exact mode for each candidate when announcing Phase III schedules.
Is the psychometric test new to SBI PO?
Yes. The Psychometric Test has been added to the SBI PO 2026 selection process (CRPD/PO/2026-27/09) as a new component. It was not part of the selection process in earlier SBI PO cycles.
Will SBI PO candidates know their psychometric test results?
No. Individual psychometric test results are not shared with candidates. The report is made available to the Interview panel only.
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