SBI PO 2026 · Syllabus & exam pattern
SBI PO Syllabus 2026 and Exam Pattern: Subject-wise Topics
SBI PO selection: Preliminary (1 hour); Main (Objective) (3 hours); Main (Descriptive) (30 minutes), as per the official notice published 18 June 2026.
Subjects, number of questions, marks, duration and negative marking for every stage, as printed in the official notice.
SBI PO exam pattern 2026
Stages of selection
- 1Prelims: online objective test of 100 marks, qualifying only
- 2Mains: online objective test (200 marks) plus a descriptive test (30 marks)
- 3Phase-III: psychometric test, group exercise (20 marks) and interview (30 marks)
Preliminary
1 hour
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| English Language | 40 | See notice |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | See notice |
| Reasoning Ability | 30 | See notice |
Each section has 20 minutes and there is no sectional cut-off. Negative marking: 1/4 of the question's marks for each wrong answer. Total: 100 marks.
Main (Objective)
3 hours
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | 40 | 60 |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | 30 | 60 |
| General / Economy / Banking Awareness | 60 | 60 |
| English Language | 40 | 20 |
Each section has a sectional cut-off. Negative marking: 1/4 of the question's marks for each wrong answer.
Main (Descriptive)
30 minutes
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Email writing, situation analysis and report writing/précis (choose 1 of 2 in each) | 3 | 30 |
Answers are typed on computer and the paper has a sectional cut-off.
Source: Recruitment of Probationary Officers in State Bank of India, 2026 (Advertisement No. CRPD/PO/2026-27/09) (published 18 June 2026). Confirm in the official notice before applying.
How the three phases work
Phase-I, the preliminary exam, is a one-hour online objective test of 100 marks: English Language (40 questions), Quantitative Aptitude (30) and Reasoning Ability (30), with 20 minutes per section. It is qualifying only and has no sectional cut-off.
Phase-II, the main exam, has a three-hour objective paper of 200 marks — Reasoning & Computer Aptitude (40 questions, 60 marks), Data Analysis & Interpretation (30 questions, 60 marks), General/Economy/Banking Awareness (60 questions, 60 marks) and English Language (40 questions, 20 marks) — plus a 30-minute descriptive paper of 30 marks typed on the computer (email writing, situation analysis and report writing/précis). Sectional cut-offs apply in the main exam.
In the objective tests, one fourth of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for each wrong answer.
Phase-III has a psychometric test, a group exercise of 20 marks and an interview of 30 marks.
SBI PO syllabus: tests and sections as printed
The tests of each stage as printed in the official notice, with their questions and marks. Topic lists for each test are not reproduced here; always follow the latest notice.
- Preliminary (1 hour): English Language (40 questions), Quantitative Aptitude (30 questions), Reasoning Ability (30 questions).
- Main, objective (3 hours): Reasoning & Computer Aptitude (40 questions, 60 marks); Data Analysis & Interpretation (30 questions, 60 marks); General / Economy / Banking Awareness (60 questions, 60 marks); English Language (40 questions, 20 marks).
- Main, descriptive (30 minutes): e-mail writing, situation analysis and report writing / précis (one of two in each; 3 questions, 30 marks).
Frequently asked questions
What is the SBI PO exam pattern?
Preliminary: English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning Ability (1 hour). Each section has 20 minutes and there is no sectional cut-off. Negative marking: 1/4 of the question's marks for each wrong answer. Total: 100 marks. Main (Objective): Reasoning & Computer Aptitude, Data Analysis & Interpretation, General / Economy / Banking Awareness, English Language (3 hours). Each section has a sectional cut-off. Negative marking: 1/4 of the question's marks for each wrong answer. Main (Descriptive): Email writing, situation analysis and report writing/précis (choose 1 of 2 in each) (30 minutes). Answers are typed on computer and the paper has a sectional cut-off.
Is there negative marking in SBI PO?
Yes, one fourth of the marks of a question for every wrong answer in the objective tests.