The competitive landscape for regulatory body recruitment saw a major milestone as the SEBI Grade A Phase 1 exam was successfully conducted on 10th January 2026. Aspirants fighting for one of the 90 vacancies available in this recruitment cycle faced a rigorous online test designed to filter candidates for the next stage. Understanding the structural layout, overall difficulty, and specific question distribution is essential for candidates gauging their performance or preparing for upcoming cycles.
The examination structure comprises two online papers totaling 100 marks each, managed within a strict total duration of 1 hour and 40 minutes. Paper 1 is allocated a sectional timing of 60 minutes, while Paper 2 follows with a 40-minute sectional window. To successfully clear the preliminary phase, candidates must navigate a 30% sectional cut-off in Paper 1 alongside a 40% aggregate cut-off. Additionally, aspirants must account for a negative marking scheme penalizing incorrect answers by 1/4th of the assigned mark.
SEBI Grade A 2026 Phase 1 Overall Difficulty & Section-Wise Trends
Feedback from test-takers and academic experts indicates that the overall difficulty level of the SEBI Grade A 2026 Phase 1 exam is rated as moderate. While certain sections proved exceptionally demanding in terms of time management, others offered manageable scoring opportunities.
The performance metrics and section-wise difficulty breakdown are outlined below:
| Section | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|
| Reasoning Ability | Moderate |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Moderate |
| English Language | Easy to Moderate |
| General Awareness | Moderate |
| Overall | Moderate |
Detailed Sectional Breakdown & Question Patterns
A closer inspection of individual sections highlights specific trends that dictated success rates during the exam:
General Awareness & Core Decisive Factors
General Awareness, which included a focus on financial topics, proved to be the decisive factor for determining the cut-off. Candidates with a strong grasp of recent financial updates and current affairs found a clear advantage here.
English Language
Rated as easy to moderate, the English section was relatively straightforward. The distribution of questions covered standard comprehension and grammar assessments:
- Reading Comprehension (Mars Planet) - 5 questions
- Error Spotting - 4–5 questions
- Double Fillers - 4–5 questions
- Sentence Improvement - 3–4 questions
- Para Jumble - 4 questions
| Topics | No. of Questions |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension (Mars Planet) | 5 |
| Error Spotting | 4–5 |
| Double Fillers | 4–5 |
| Sentence Improvement | 3–4 |
| Para Jumble | 4 |
Reasoning Ability
The Reasoning section maintained a moderate difficulty level but was noted as time-consuming due to intricate puzzle layouts:
- Month + Subject + 6 Persons Puzzle - 4–5 questions
- Box + Color Puzzle - 3 questions
- Linear Double Row Seating Arrangement - 4–5 questions
- Height Based Puzzle - 3–5 questions
- Statement Assumption - 3 questions
| Topics | No. of Questions |
|---|---|
| Month + Subject + 6 Persons Puzzle | 4–5 |
| Box + Color Puzzle | 3 |
| Linear Double Row Seating Arrangement | 4–5 |
| Height Based Puzzle | 3–5 |
| Statement Assumption | 3 |
Quantitative Aptitude
Similar to reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude was rated moderate and tested candidate patience through calculations and data interpretation:
- Approximation - 5 questions
- Wrong Number Series - 4–5 questions
- Arithmetic (Profit & Loss, Mixture All., Mensuration, SI/CI, etc.) - 5–6 questions
- Line Graph DI - 5 questions
- Caselet DI - 5 questions
| Topics | No. of Questions |
|---|---|
| Approximation | 5 |
| Wrong Number Series | 4–5 |
| Arithmetic (Profit & Loss, Mixture All., Mensuration, SI/CI, etc.) | 5–6 |
| Line Graph DI | 5 |
| Caselet DI | 5 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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