SBI PO Exam Pattern 2026 Revised: Check Prelims, Mains & Descriptive Updates

The State Bank of India conducts the SBI PO Exam in three comprehensive phases—Online Prelims Exam, Mains Exam, and Interview Process—to recruit 1,500 Probationary Officers. To secure your success in the SBI PO Recruitment Exam, understanding the latest exam pattern is crucial for structuring an efficient study plan. Review the detailed SBI PO Prelims & Mains Exam Pattern below to kickstart your preparation.

SBI PO Exam Pattern 2026

Alongside the official notification, the bank has released the updated exam pattern for all three stages. Candidates must clear each stage (Prelims, Mains & Interview) by securing the minimum cut-off marks established by the authorities. While the Prelims exam serves as a qualifying round, the scores from the Mains exam and Interview are used to compile the final merit list. Read through the sections below to prepare effectively according to the latest SBI PO 2026 Exam Pattern.

SBI PO Admit Card 2026 Out- Click to Download

Changes in Exam Pattern: 

• The descriptive exam weightage has been revised from 50 marks to 30 marks starting in 2026.
• Total Mains marks have been reduced from 250 to 230.
• The maximum attempt limits have been increased from 4 to 6 for UR/EWS candidates and from 7 to 8 for OBC candidates.

SBI PO 2026 Prelims Exam Pattern

The first stage of the SBI PO 2026 recruitment process is the Preliminary Examination, which candidates must successfully clear to qualify for the SBI PO Mains Exam.

1. The SBI PO Prelims Exam comprises three core sections, similar to other major PO examinations: English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability.

2. A total of 100 objective-type multiple-choice questions will be featured in the SBI PO Prelims Exam 2026.

3. The overall duration of the examination is exactly 1 hour, allocated as 20 minutes for each individual section.

4. The SBI PO Prelims stage is strictly qualifying in nature; these scores are not factored into the final merit list.

5. There is no sectional cut-off implemented in the preliminary examination. 

Penalty for wrong answer: A negative marking of 0.25 marks applies to every incorrect answer attempted by a candidate. No marks will be deducted for any questions left unattempted or left blank.

Selection criteria for Main Examination: Category-wise merit lists are generated based on aggregate marks scored in the Preliminary Exam, as there are no sectional cut-offs. Approximately 10 times the number of total vacancies per category will be shortlisted from the top of this merit list for the Main Examination.

SBI PO 2026 Mains Exam Pattern

The SBI PO Mains Exam consists of an objective and descriptive section, detailed thoroughly below:

1. The objective paper must be completed within 3 hours, while the descriptive paper is allotted 30 minutes.

2. The objective section features 4 distinct tests: Reasoning & Computer Aptitude; Data Analysis & Interpretation & General/Economy/Banking Awareness; and English Language.

3. A descriptive paper will be administered immediately following the online objective test, consisting of 2 key questions.

4. Penalty for wrong answer: A penalty of 0.25 marks is deducted for every incorrect response in the SBI PO Mains Exam. Unattempted questions will not incur any negative marking.

5. Sectional Cut Off: Sectional cut-off marks apply to the Mains exam. Every candidate must achieve the required minimum score in each individual test of the Main Examination.

(i) Objective Test: The 3-hour objective test comprises 4 sections featuring 170 questions for a total of 200 marks, complete with dedicated sectional time limits.

(ii) Descriptive Test: The 30-minute descriptive test includes two questions worth 50 marks, evaluating candidates' English language proficiency through tasks such as letter writing and essay writing.

Psycometrice Test, Group Exercise & Personal Interview

• Candidates who qualify for the main examination are called for the psychometric test, group discussion, and interview.
• The psychometric test assesses candidates' psychological traits and suitability for the banking profession.
• Group discussion and interview further evaluate the candidates' communication skills, leadership qualities, and overall personality.

Final Selection

Following the completion of the Personal Interview stage, the State Bank of India compiles the final merit list by incorporating candidate scores from both the Mains Exam and the Interview Round. Final cut-off marks are determined based on overall candidate performance and open vacancies. Candidates who successfully clear these cut-offs receive official appointment letters from the State Bank of India for the Probationary Officer position.