Search Colleges, Exams, Schools & more
Login
SBI PO Exam Pattern 2026 - Marking Scheme, Exam Duration & Mode of Exam
SBI PO Exam Pattern 2026 - State Bank of India prescribes the SBI PO exam pattern 2026 in the official notification at sbi.bank.in. According to the SBI PO exam pattern, there will be three phases of the recruitment process - Prelims, Mains, and Psychometric tests. Aspirants preparing for the SBI PO exam must go through the exam pattern in detail before starting their preparation.
This Story also Contains
- SBI PO exam pattern 2026: Highlights
- SBI PO Marking Scheme 2026
- SBI PO 2026 Syllabus
- SBI PO Best Books 2026
Apart from the exam pattern, candidates must also be aware of the SBI PO Syllabus. The SBI PO exam pattern helps aspirants know about the scheme and mode of exam, the structure of the SBI PO question paper, and the weightage of topics. SBI PO full form is State Bank of India Probationary Officers. The SBI PO recruitment 2026 exam is one of India's most competitive exams in India as it is based on graduation level. Read this article till the end to know all about the exam pattern of SBI PO 2026.
SBI PO exam pattern 2026: Highlights
The SBI PO exam is conducted in 3 phases - Prelims, Mains, and Psychometric tests. The prelims and mains stage is conducted online (CBT) mode. In order to start the preparation and to crack the exam, aspirants must understand the exam pattern of SBI recruitment 2026, stick to the syllabus, and only refer to the selected few books. We have shared all the important information related to the SBI PO exam pattern 2026 here in detail.
Key Highlights of SBI PO Exam Pattern 2026
Exam name | State Bank of India - Probationary Officer (SBI PO) | ||
Official Website | sbi.co.in | ||
Exam Language | English and Hindi (Except for the English test) | ||
Stages of the SBI PO exam | Stage 1: Preliminary | Stage 2: Mains | Stage 3: Group Exercise & Interview |
SBI PO exam Duration | 1 hour | 3 hours 30 minutes | - |
Mode of SBI PO Exam | Online | Online (Objective + Descriptive) | Offline |
SBI PO total marks | 100 | 250 (200+50) | 50(20+30) |
SBI PO negative marking | 1/4th for wrong answers | - | |
SBI PO Exam Pattern 2026 Prelims (Phase I)
Going by the SBI PO 2026 exam pattern, the Phase 1 - preliminary exam consists of 3 sections. The SBI PO total marks allotted for prelims is 100 marks. The preliminary test of SBI PO is held in online mode.
Exam pattern of SBI PO 2026 - Prelims
Sections | Number of questions | Duration | Total Marks |
Reasoning Ability | 30 | 20 minutes | 100 marks |
English Language | 40 | 20 minutes | |
Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | 20 minutes | |
Total | 100 | 1 hour |
SBI PO exam 2026 Prelims - Important points
- There are 3 sections in the SBI PO prelims exam.
- All the sections in the SBI PO exam are English, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability.
- In the prelims exam, there are a total of 100 objective-type questions asked.
- The time duration of the preliminary exam of SBI PO is 01 hour (20 minutes for each section).
- As per the exam pattern of SBI PO prelims, the prelims exam is qualifying in nature, and the marks will not be counted while preparing the merit list.
SBI PO exam pattern 2026 - Mains (Phase II)
After the prelims exam, comes the Phase 2, which is the mains exam, which consists of an objective-type test for 200 marks and a descriptive test of 50 marks. Both the tests, as per the SBI PO 2026 exam pattern, will be conducted in online mode. The objective test comprises 4 sections with a separate time duration for each section. According to the exam pattern of SBI PO 2026, the descriptive test is conducted for 30 minutes duration of 50 marks. Candidates will have to write a letter and an essay in English in the descriptive test of SBI PO.
SBI PO exam pattern 2026 - Mains
Online Objective Test | |||
Name of the test | No. of question | Marks | Duration |
Data analysis and interpretation | 30 | 60 | 45 minutes |
Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | 40 | 50 | 60 minutes |
English Language | 40 | 20 | 40 minutes |
General/Economy/Banking Awareness | 60 | 60 | 45 minutes |
Total | 155 | 200 | 3 hours |
Online Descriptive Test | 2 | 50 | 30 minutes |
SBI PO exam 2026 Mains - Important points
- The objective-type paper in the mains exam is to be completed in 3 hours for 200 marks.
- The descriptive type paper in the SBI PO exam should be completed in 30 minutes. The descriptive test of 30 minutes with two questions for 50 marks will be a Test of English Language (Letter Writing & Essay).
- In the objective section, there will be 4 sections: English Language, Data Analysis & Interpretation, Reasoning & Computer Aptitude, and Economy/ General/Banking Awareness.
- There will be a penalty for a wrong answer and 0.25 marks will be deducted in the SBI PO mains exam.
- No deduction will be made in marks if a question is left unattempted.
SBI PO 2026 Exam Pattern - Interview (Phase III)
Candidates qualifying for the mains exam will have to undergo a group exercise and interview. The group exercise and interview will be conducted for 20 and 30 marks, respectively. Marks secured in the preliminary exam will not be added for the preparation of the final merit list. The final selection in the 2026 SBI PO will be done on the basis of marks obtained by candidates in the mains examination, group exercises & interview.
SBI PO 2026 Exam Pattern - Final Selection
Candidates will have to qualify both in Phase-II and Phase-III of SBI PO separately. The marks obtained in the SBI PO Main exam (Phase-II), both in the Objective Test and the Descriptive Test, will be added to the marks obtained in Phase-III for preparing the final merit list. Candidates note that the marks obtained in the SBI PO prelims exam (Phase-I) will not be added to prepare the final merit list for selection. The marks obtained by the candidates in the mains exam (Phase-II), both Objective & Descriptive Tests) and Phase-III (Group Exercise & Interview) will be normalised to 100 marks.
| Test | Main exam | Group discussion & Interview | Total |
| Maximum marks | 250 | 50 | 300 |
| Minimum marks | 75 | 25 | 100 |
SBI PO Marking Scheme 2026
Marking Scheme of SBI PO Preliminary Exam
As per the exam pattern, aspirants must score equal to or more than the SBI PO 2026 cut off to qualify for the next phase. The preliminary stage consists of questions about the English Language, Reasoning Ability, and Quantitative Aptitude. There are 100 questions with 100 marks. One-fourth of the marks will be deducted as SBI PO negative marks for wrong answers.
Marking Scheme of SBI PO Mains Exam
The second phase of SBI PO is objective + descriptive level. The objective test consists of four sections of 200 marks according to the SBI PO exam pattern 2026. Those who qualify the objective sections will qualify to appear for the descriptive test. The descriptive test evaluates a candidate’s ability in letter writing and essay writing. The total marks for the descriptive section are 50.
How to calculate SBI PO marks?
Calculation of Marks: Total weighted score = Scores obtained in ( Reasoning & computer aptitude+data interpretation+general/ economy/banking awareness + English language)
Group Exercise/Personal Interview Phase: After both stages are successfully aspirants will be called for group discussions and interviews. This phase will be evaluated on the basis of group discussion and interviews. Group discussion is of 20 marks, and the interview is of 30 marks.
Candidates will be shortlisted and called for recruitment in various branches of the State Bank of India all over India after qualifying all the stages of the SBI PO exam.
Free download: Basic information about category-wise top career exams
SBI PO 2026 Syllabus
Along with the exam pattern, aspirants must also know about the syllabus of the 2026 SBI PO. The syllabus consists of the topics and sections for both phases of the exam. The SBI PO syllabus 2026 contains the topics from which the questions will be asked in the prelims and mains.
SBI PO 2026 Syllabus Prelims
Sections | SBI PO Syllabus (Prelims) |
Reasoning Ability |
|
English Language |
|
Quantitative Aptitude |
|
SBI PO 2026 Syllabus Mains
Sections | SBI PO Syllabus (Mains) |
Data analysis and interpretation |
|
Computer aptitude |
|
Reasoning |
|
General/Economy/Banking Awareness |
|
SBI PO Best Books 2026
There are a lot of books available in the market to prepare for the SBI PO 2026 exam. It is mandatory to stick to the best and selected few books. From the following table, we have shared a list of the best books for 2026 SBI PO preparation, which can help candidates start their preparation for the exam effectively.
Best Books for SBI PO 2026
Topics | Books | Author |
Quantitative Aptitude | Quantum CAT | Sarvesh Verma |
Quantitative Aptitude | RS Aggarwal | |
Reasoning | Reasoning | MK Pandey |
Verbal- Nonverbal Reasoning | R.S. Aggrawal | |
English | English | SP Bakshi |
English Language | Wren & Martin | |
General Awareness | Guide to Banking General Awareness | R.Gupta |
Banking Awareness | Arihant Publication | |
Computer | Objective Computer Knowledge & Literacy | Kiran Publication |
Computer Awareness | Arihant Publication | |
Data Analysis and Interpretation | Data interpretation for CAT | Arun Sharma |
CAT Data Interpretation | Nishit Sinha |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Is 60% necessary in graduation to become an SBI PO?
A:
No. 60% in graduation is not necessary to become a PO in SBI.
Q: Is a B.Tech student eligible for SBI PO exams?
A:
Definitely. B.Tech graduates are eligible to be a PO.
Q: What is the selection procedure of 2026 SBI PO?
A:
The recruitment process, as per the exam pattern of SBI PO is three phased, prelims, mains and group exercise and interview.
Q: Can a B.Sc graduate apply for SBI PO exams?
A:
B.Sc. graduates are eligible to apply for SBI PO 2026 provided the graduation is done from a recognized university.
Q: What are the stages in the SBI PO 2026 exam?
A:
There are three stages in the SBI PO exam 2026 - preliminary, mains and personality test.
Q: Is there negative marking in the SBI PO exam?
A:
Yes there is negative marking in the SBI PO exam preliminary as well as mains stage for objective type questions.
Articles
Related Stories
|
Upcoming Competition Exams
Certifications By Top Providers
Explore Top Universities Across Globe
Questions related to SBI PO
On Question asked by student community
Have a question related to SBI PO ?
Hello Aspirant,
Generally, having vitiligo does not prevent you from working in a bank like SBI as a PO or Clerk, or in other banks.
Bank eligibility primarily focuses on:
-
Educational qualification
-
Age limit
-
Nationality
-
General good health
Vitiligo is a skin condition that affects pigmentation and is not typically
If your parents’ income exceeds the OBC NCL limit this year, you should apply under the General category for IBPS PO and SBI PO recruitment. Previous years' applications under OBC NCL do not affect the current year's eligibility if income criteria change.
Hello aspirant ,
I hope you are doing well. As per your mentioned query , practising previous year question papers helps you to find the difficulty level of an exam . You also get to know about the exam pattern , important topics as well. It will boost your preparation.
Hi Akarsh,
The eligibility for the SBI PO exam is based on specific age criteria mentioned in the official notification.
SBI PO Age Criteria :
- Minimum Age : 21 years.
- Maximum Age : 30 years.
- Age relaxation is provided for reserved categories as per government norms.
If you're being declared
Hello Saurav,
It is unlikely to create a problem during the document verification (DV) process, as long as the university name on your certificates matches the details provided in your application form. However, since your college (ABC) is affiliated with XYZ University, it's important that the certificates or documents you
Applications for Admissions are open.
Apply for Online M.Com from Manipal University
SBI PO Notifications
Never miss SBI PO update
Get timely SBI PO updates directly to your inbox. Stay informed!