SBI PO Exam Pattern 2026: Check Prelims and Mains Marks Distribution

Feb 6, 2026

SBI PO Exam Pattern 2026 consists of three stages: Prelims, Mains, and Interview. The Prelims include 100 objective questions across English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability, with a total duration of 1 hour. The Mains exam includes 170 objective questions and a descriptive test, totalling 3 hours and 30 minutes. Candidates who clear the Mains are called for the Interview, which, along with the Mains score, determines the final selection in SBI PO 2026.

Table of Contents

SBI PO Exam Pattern 2026
SBI PO Prelims Exam Pattern 2026
SBI PO Mains Exam Pattern 2026
SBI PO Interview & Group Discussion
SBI PO Final Selection
SBI PO Exam Pattern 2026 FAQs

SBI PO Exam Pattern 2026

The course of selection is divided into three stages:

Prelims Test (Qualifying)
Mains Examination (Marks to be considered for merit list)
Interview & Group Discussion

Each stage of the examination contains its specific subjects, sectional duration of the test, and marking scheme.

SBI PO Prelims Exam Pattern 2026

The Prelims Paper is qualifying in nature and has three sections as follows:

S. No.	Section	No. of Questions	Maximum Marks	Duration
1	English Language	40	40	20 mins
2	Quantitative Aptitude	30	30	20 mins
3	Reasoning Ability	30	30	20 mins
Total	—	100	100	1 hour

Key Details:

Objective-type questions.
0.25 negative marking per incorrect answer.
No Sectional Cut-off; around 10 times the number of vacancies, top candidates will clear the Mains exam.

SBI PO Mains Exam Pattern 2026

The Mains exam is conducted in two parts, objective and descriptive as follows:

S. No.	Section	No. of Questions	Maximum Marks	Duration
1	Reasoning & Computer Aptitude	40	60	50 mins
2	Data Analysis & Interpretation	30	60	45 mins
3	General/Economy/Banking Awareness	60	60	45 mins
4	English Language	40	40	40 mins
Total (Objective)	—	170	200	3 hours

Descriptive Test:

S. No.	Test	No. of Questions	Marks	Duration
1	English Language (Essay & Letter)	2	50	30 mins

Key Details:

There is a sectional cutoff for the main exam.
0.25 would be deducted for each incorrect answer.
Descriptive Test for Writing Skills (Essay and Letter).

SBI PO Interview & Group Discussion 2026

Candidates shortlisted in both the Prelims and Mains will be invited for a Group Discussion (20 marks) and a Personal Interview (30 marks). This test assesses your all-around skills, including communication, leadership, and general knowledge of the economy and banking sector.

SBI PO Final Selection 2026

The Final Merit List is prepared based on the normalised marks scored in the Mains (out of 250) and Interview/GD (50), totalling 300 marks.

SBI PO Preparation 2026: Tips & Tricks

Here are some quick strategies to clear SBI PO 2026 examination:

Familiarise yourself with the exam pattern: Learn about the sections, timing, and marking to strategise your preparation effectively.
Syllabus Coverage: Cover your syllabus completely by going through all the topics, giving more weight to the areas like Reasoning, Quant, English and GA.
Pick up the most essential topics: Know what is most important for your paper, and learn only what is necessary.
Prepare mock tests: Practising regularly enhances your speed, accuracy, and time management, allowing you to identify areas for improvement.

Just stick to a regular study schedule and concentrate, and success will come!

Relevant Links
SBI PO Previous Year Question Papers	SBI PO Pre-Exam Training	SBI PO Admit Card
SBI PO Syllabus	SBI PO Eligibility	SBI PO Application Process

SBI PO Exam Pattern 2026 FAQs

Ques: Are SBI PO 2026 Prelims marks added to the final merit list?

Ans: No, the Prelims exam is only qualifying in nature. Marks obtained in Prelims are not considered for final selection; only Mains and Interview/GD scores determine the final merit.

Ques: Is there any negative marking in SBI PO Exam 2026?

Ans: Yes, there is a penalty of 0.25 marks for every wrong answer in both Prelims and Mains, making accuracy important to avoid losing marks due to incorrect attempts.

Ques: Is there any section-wise cut-off in SBI PO Prelims 2026?

Ans: No, SBI PO Prelims doesn’t have section-wise cut-offs. Candidates are shortlisted based on overall scores only, which makes balanced performance across all sections essential.

Ques: How much does SBI PO 2026 Interview and GD weigh?

Ans: The Interview and Group Discussion is of 50 marks. They are added to the Mains marks and the rank list is determined.

Ques: How is SBI PO 2026 merit list prepared in the end?

Ans: The final SBI PO merit list is prepared using normalised marks from the Mains exam (250 marks) and Interview/GD (50 marks), making the total weightage for final selection 300 marks.