SBI PO 2026 Exam Pattern — Prelims, Mains, GE & Interview Details
The SBI PO 2026 Exam Pattern has three phases: Phase I (Prelims), Phase II (Mains with objective + descriptive), and Phase III (Group Exercise + Interview).
Phase I — Prelims
100 questions, 100 marks, 60 minutes with sectional time. English (30Q, 20min), Quant (35Q, 20min), Reasoning (35Q, 20min). Negative marking 0.25. Sectional cutoffs. Screening only.
Phase II — Mains
Objective: 155 questions, 200 marks, 180 minutes. Reasoning+Computer (45Q, 60M, 60min), Data Analysis (35Q, 60M, 45min), Banking GK (40Q, 40M, 35min), English (35Q, 40M, 40min). Descriptive: 50 marks, 30 min — Essay + Letter Writing. Total Mains = 250 marks. Sectional cutoffs in objective.
Phase III — GE & Interview
Group Exercise: Candidates participate in group discussions/activities assessed on leadership, teamwork, and communication. Interview: Personal interview by a panel testing banking awareness, personality, and career motivation. Combined GE+Interview = 50 marks.
Final Merit
Final merit = Mains Marks (75% weightage) + GE & Interview Marks (25% weightage). Candidates are ranked on this combined score and allotted to SBI branches.
SBI PO 2026 Exam Pattern
Prelims
| Subject | Questions | Marks | Duration | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes | 0.25 per wrong answer |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes | 0.25 per wrong answer |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes | 0.25 per wrong answer |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
Mains (Objective + Descriptive)
| Subject | Questions | Marks | Duration | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | 45 | 60 | 60 minutes | 0.25 per wrong answer |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | 35 | 60 | 45 minutes | 0.25 per wrong answer |
| General/Economy/Banking Awareness | 40 | 40 | 35 minutes | 0.25 per wrong answer |
| English Language | 35 | 40 | 40 minutes | 0.25 per wrong answer |
| Total | 155 | 200 |
