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Revised for 2026

SBI PO Exam Pattern 2026

Prelims (100 Marks), Mains (230 Marks) & Phase III (50 Marks)

Descriptive Test marks reduced from 50 to 30 this year — full section-wise breakdown, duration, and marking scheme below. (Last Updated: 25 July 2026)

Attempt Free SBI PO Mock TestCheck SBI PO Syllabus
Want cutoff context?Check SBI PO Cut Off Trend
Officially Revised PatternSection-Wise BreakdownUpdated for 2026
Prelims Marks
100
Mains Marks
230
Phase III Marks
50
Wrong Answer Penalty
0.25

The SBI PO Exam Pattern 2026 consists of three stages: Prelims (100 marks, 1 hour), Mains (230 marks, 3 hours 30 minutes) — split into a 200-mark Objective Test and a 30-mark Descriptive Test — and Phase III (50 marks) covering a Psychometric Test, Group Exercise (20 marks), and Interview (30 marks). The key change for 2026 is that the Descriptive Test marks have been reduced from 50 to 30, bringing the Mains total down from 250 to 230. Negative marking of 0.25 marks per wrong answer applies in both Prelims and Mains objective sections, with no penalty for unattempted questions. Prelims has no sectional cutoff, but Mains does.

On This Page

What Changed in SBI PO Exam Pattern 2026

Key Change

Descriptive Test Marks

Descriptive test marks are reduced to focus weightage on core analytical areas.

50 Marks
30 Marks
Key Change

Mains Total Marks

The overall maximum score for Mains falls correspondingly due to Descriptive edits.

250 Marks
230 Marks
Unchanged

Descriptive Duration

Candidates still receive the same amount of time to answer all descriptive prompts.

30 Minutes (No Change)
Unchanged

Prelims Exam Pattern

The Preliminary qualifying round maintains its exact metrics, subjects, and scoring rules.

100 Marks (No Change)

SBI PO Prelims Exam Pattern 2026

Section 1

English Language

Tests grammar, vocabulary & comprehension
Weight30 Questions · 30 Marks
20 Minutes
Section 2

Quantitative Aptitude

Tests data sufficiency, logic & speed math
Weight35 Questions · 35 Marks
20 Minutes
Section 3

Reasoning Ability

Tests puzzles, blood relations & code lines
Weight35 Questions · 35 Marks
20 Minutes
Total Prelims Weightage100 Questions | 100 Marks
Total Duration: 1 Hour
Key Prelims Rules
Mode: Online, Objective (MCQ) format only.
Prelims is qualifying only — marks do not count for final rank list.
No sectional cutoff — only an overall cutoff determines qualification.
Negative marking: 0.25 marks deducted per incorrect option.
Approximately 10 times the category vacancies are shortlisted for Mains.
Prepare systematically by reviewing exact topic weights and sectional priorities:View Official Syllabus

SBI PO Mains Exam Pattern 2026 (Objective)

Module 1

Reasoning & Computer Aptitude

Advanced logic matrices, coded directions & flowchart logic
Weight40 Qs · 60 Marks
50 Mins
Module 2

Data Analysis & Interpretation

Funnel charts, triangular metrics, missing DI tables
Weight30 Qs · 60 Marks
45 Mins
Module 3

General/Economy/Banking Awareness

RBI policies, dynamic news & static financial terminology
Weight60 Qs · 60 Marks
45 Mins
Module 4

English Language

Reading comprehensions, connectors & advanced grammar
Weight40 Qs · 20 Marks
40 Mins
Total Mains Objective Weightage170 Questions | 200 Marks
Total Duration: 3 Hours
Key Mains Objective Rules
Mode: Online, Objective + Descriptive test modules.
Sectional cutoff applies — candidates must clear the minimum score in each individual section, not just the overall total.
Negative marking: 0.25 marks deducted per wrong answer in objective sections.
Each section has its own fixed timing — no shifting time between sections.

SBI PO Descriptive Test Pattern 2026

The Descriptive Test is conducted online immediately after completing the Objective Mains paper. Candidates type answers on the keyboard.

Task 1

Email Writing

Draft business or formal correspondence emails

1 of 2 options10 Marks
Task 2

Situation Analysis

Analyze dynamic business cases or problem prompts

1 of 2 options10 Marks
Task 3

Report / Precis

Summarize standard passages or write reports

1 of 2 options10 Marks
Total Descriptive Weightage3 Tasks | 30 Marks
Total Duration: 30 Minutes
Key Descriptive Rules
Conducted online immediately after the Mains Objective Test.
No negative marking applies to Descriptive Test items.
Evaluated only for candidates who clear the Objective Test qualifying cut-off.
Descriptive Test marks are fully included in the final merit list.
Review target Descriptive writing prompts, formats, and essay keywords:Check Descriptive Topics

SBI PO Phase III: Psychometric Test, Group Exercise & Interview

Phase III - Step 1

Psychometric Test

Findings shared with interview panel to assess personality suitability.

Qualifying (No Marks)
Phase III - Step 2

Group Exercise (GE)

Assesses teamwork, communication, and situational leadership qualities.

20 Marks
Phase III - Step 3

Personal Interview (PI)

Assesses banking awareness, suitability, and career motivations.

30 Marks
Total Phase III WeightageGE + PI Total: 50 Marks
Conducted Offline at Designated SBI Centres
Learn how this final stage coordinates with structural guidelines and document verifications:Check Selection Process

SBI PO Final Selection: Marks Weightage

Component 1

Mains Examination

Combined score of Objective (200 marks) + Descriptive (30 marks) normalized down.

75% Normalized Weightage
Component 2

Phase III GE & Interview

Combined score of Group Exercise (20 marks) + Interview (30 marks) normalized down.

25% Normalized Weightage
Mains Normalized Weight (75%)Phase III Normalized Weight (25%)
Final Rank Score BreakdownNormalized Score: 100 Marks (75% Mains + 25% Phase III)
Key Weightage Rules
Prelims marks are NOT included in final rankings.
Final rank lists are based solely on normalized Mains + Phase III scores.
Category-wise normalized final cutoffs determine final selection allotments.
Review chronological category cutoffs to gauge targeted prep scores:Check Cut Off Trends

SBI PO Negative Marking Rules (Consolidated)

Prelims (Objective)
0.25 marks deducted per wrong answer.
Mains (Objective)
0.25 marks deducted per wrong answer.
Mains (Descriptive)
No negative marking applies.
Phase III (Interview & GE)
No negative marking applies.

Critical Note: No marks are deducted for questions left unattempted, at any stage of the recruitment process. Make educated guesses only when you can narrow options down to two.

Frequently Asked Questions

PrepBanker Editorial & Verification Standards
Written By
Yashraj Deshmukh
Yashraj Deshmukh

Senior Content Manager – Banking Exams, PrepBanker

Cleared IBPS PO (2021) • 7+ Years Experience • Verified 500+ mock papers

Yashraj Deshmukh has been writing and reviewing banking exam content for 7 years. He cleared IBPS PO in 2021, has a background in banking awareness content for 5+ years, and has reviewed 500+ mock test papers for accuracy against the latest SBI pattern. At PrepBanker, Yashraj tracks every SBI and IBPS notification the day it's released and personally verifies vacancy, salary, and exam-date updates against the official SBI/IBPS PDFs before they go live on this page.

Reviewed By
DB
Divya Bhosale

Subject Matter Expert, Quantitative Aptitude, PrepBanker

IDBI Junior Assistant Manager • Bank of Maharashtra Customer Service Associate via IBPS PO

Divya Bhosale has been reviewing quantitative aptitude and banking exam material for PrepBanker. She has cleared the IDBI Junior Assistant Manager exam and served as a Customer Service Associate at the Bank of Maharashtra via IBPS PO, bringing invaluable real-world exam expertise to PrepBanker.

Last updated: July 10, 2026
Next scheduled review: August 2026 (admit card release)

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