• Updated on 20 Apr, 2026 by Gazal Arora
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SBI PO Exam Pattern 2026 is designed by the State Bank of India to assess candidates across different stages of the recruitment process for the Probationary Officer post. As per the latest structure, the SBI PO Preliminary Exam consists of three sections, including English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability, with a total of 100 marks and serves as a qualifying stage.
SBI PO Exam Pattern 2026 for the Mains Exam includes both objective and descriptive papers, carrying a total of 250 marks, which play a crucial role in final selection. The Phase III round comprises a Psychometric Test followed by Group Exercises and an Interview, where the psychometric test is qualifying in nature, and the Group Exercises and Interview together carry 50 marks.
SBI PO Exam Pattern 2026: Highlights
Interested candidates can refer to the table below to check the highlights of the SBI PO Exam Pattern 2026:
What are the New Changes in the SBI PO Exam Pattern 2026?
SBI PO is a national-level recruitment exam, and thousands of aspirants apply for it each year. However, only a few candidates make it to the final selection. To prepare effectively, candidates should first understand the updated exam pattern. Last year, the State Bank of India introduced some changes to the SBI PO selection process.
According to the revised pattern:
- A Psychometric Test will now be held in Phase III of the examination.
- This test is designed to analyse the personality traits of candidates shortlisted for the final phase.
- The outcomes of this test will be shared with the interview panel to help in the assessment.
- No marks will be awarded for the Psychometric Test.
- The group exercise and personal interview will take place in person.
SBI PO Exam Pattern 2026: Stage-wise Breakdown
SBI PO exam is conducted in multiple stages. Candidates can check the stage-wise SBI PO Exam Pattern in the tables below.
SBI PO Exam Pattern 2026: Prelims Pattern
SBI PO prelims exam consists of 100 objective questions carrying a total of 100 marks. The duration of the exam is one hour, and it is divided into three sections with separate time limits for each. The marks obtained in this phase are not considered while preparing the final merit list. Candidates will get one mark for each correct answer, and 0.25 marks will be deducted for every wrong answer. The detailed structure of the SBI PO prelims exam is given below.
SBI PO Exam Pattern 2026: Mains Pattern
SBI PO Main Exam pattern includes both objective and descriptive sections, carrying a total of 250 marks. The paper contains 170 questions to be completed in 3 hours and 30 minutes. The objective test is divided into four sections, each with its own time limit. The detailed structure of the SBI PO Mains Exam is outlined below:
SBI PO Exam Pattern 2026: Psychometric Pattern
Candidates who qualify in both the prelims and mains of the SBI PO exam move on to Phase III, which includes a psychometric test, interview, and group exercises. The psychometric test is conducted to assess the candidates’ personality traits, and its findings may be shared with the interview panel to help them gain a better understanding of the candidate. The total marks for this phase are 50, with 30 marks assigned to the interview and 20 marks to the group exercises.
SBI PO Exam Pattern 2026: Marking Scheme
Candidates can check the marking scheme for the the SBI PO exam below.
- There is an SBI PO negative marking for wrong answers; one-fourth of the marks in the objective test are deducted as a penalty to arrive at the corrected scores.
- There is no SBI PO negative marking for the subjective part of the mains exam.
- If a question is left blank, there will be no penalty for that question.
- For correct answers, candidates score one mark.
SBI PO Exam Pattern 2026: Exam Duration
The duration for the SBI PO prelims exam is 60 minutes, and for the mains exam is 3.5 hours. Candidates can check the stage-wise exam duration below:
SBI PO Exam Pattern 2026: Prelims Duration
Candidates can check the table below to know the SBI PO Prelims Exam Duration:
SBI PO Exam Pattern 2026: Mains Duration
Candidates can check the table below to know the SBI PO Mains Exam Duration:
SBI PO Exam Pattern 2026: Syllabus
Candidates who wish to appear in the SBI PO exam must refer to the SBI PO Syllabus 2026 as mentioned below. The syllabus and the topics included in the syllabus are mentioned below.
- Reasoning Ability: Logical Reasoning, Data Sufficiency, Seating Arrangement, Puzzles, Syllogism, Coding-Decoding, Input-Output and many more.
- English Language: Reading Comprehension, Cloze Test, Para Jumbles, Fill in the blanks, Multiple Meaning/Error Spotting, etc.
- Quantitative Aptitude: Simplification, Simple Interest & Compound Interest & Surds & Indices, Time & Distance, Work & Time, Ratio & Proportion, Percentage, Data Interpretation, Number Systems, etc.
- General Awareness: Financial Awareness, Current Affairs, General Knowledge, Static Awareness, Banking and Financial Awareness
- Computer Aptitude: Internet, Memory, Keyboard Shortcuts, Computer Abbreviations, Microsoft Office, Computer Hardware, Computer Fundamentals /Terminologies, Networking, Operating System, Basic of Logic Gates, etc.
Check SBI PO Cutoff 2026
SBI PO Exam Pattern 2026 FAQs
What are the stages of the SBI PO Exam 2026?
The SBI PO exam has three stages: Prelims, Mains, and Phase III (Interview and Group Exercises). Prelims test reasoning, English, and quant. Mains have objective and descriptive papers covering reasoning & computer aptitude, data analysis, banking awareness, and English. Phase III includes a psychometric test, an interview, and a group discussion. Candidates must clear each stage to move on to the next and finally get selected.
How many questions are there in SBI PO Prelims 2026?
The Prelims exam has 100 questions total, divided into three sections: English Language (40 questions), Reasoning Ability (30 questions), and Quantitative Aptitude (30 questions). Each question carries 1 mark, and candidates get 60 minutes to finish. The marks scored here decide who qualifies for Mains.
What is the duration of the SBI PO Mains exam?
The SBI PO Mains exam consists of two parts: an objective test lasting 3 hours and a descriptive test of 30 minutes. The objective section has four parts and 170 questions total. The descriptive paper tests writing skills like letter writing and essay. Candidates must clear sectional cutoffs to qualify for the next phase.
What sections are in the SBI PO Mains objective test?
The Mains objective test has four sections: Reasoning & Computer Aptitude (40 questions), Data Analysis & Interpretation (30 questions), General/Economy/Banking Awareness (60 questions), and English Language (40 questions). Each section has a fixed time limit, and the total marks for the Mains objective paper are 200.
Is there negative marking in SBI PO exams?
Yes, there is a penalty of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer in both Prelims and Mains exams. No marks are deducted for unattempted questions. Candidates should be careful while answering and avoid guesswork to save their scores.
What topics does the SBI PO Prelims cover?
Prelims cover three subjects: English Language tests, grammar and comprehension, Reasoning Ability includes puzzles and logical reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude tests math skills like arithmetic and data interpretation. Candidates must prepare these topics well to clear the Prelims.
What is the descriptive test about in SBI PO Mains?
The descriptive test lasts 30 minutes and includes two tasks: letter writing and essay writing. This test checks candidates' communication skills and clarity of expression in English. Only those who clear the objective section are evaluated in this paper.
How much time is given for each section in SBI PO Prelims?
In Prelims, candidates get 20 minutes for each section: English Language, Reasoning Ability, and Quantitative Aptitude. The total time for Prelims is 60 minutes. Time management is important to attempt all questions.
What is the total number of marks for SBI PO Mains?
The total marks for SBI PO Mains are 250, with 200 marks allocated to the objective test and 50 marks to the descriptive test. Candidates’ performance in the Mains determines who will be shortlisted for the next stage.
What is Phase III of the SBI PO selection process?
Phase III includes a psychometric test, group exercises, and an interview. The psychometric test profiles candidates’ personality and is mandatory, but not scored. The interview carries 30 marks, and the group exercises carry 20 marks, totalling 50 marks. Candidates must clear the minimum qualifying marks here to finalise selection.
Can PwBD candidates get extra time in SBI PO exams?
Yes, PwBD candidates with 40% or more disability get compensatory extra time of 20 minutes per hour in both Prelims and Mains, whether or not they use a scribe. This helps them complete the exam without stress.
Are SBI PO question papers bilingual?
Yes, the SBI PO exam question papers are provided in both English and Hindi. Candidates can choose their preferred language to answer the questions comfortably, except for the English language section.
How many questions must candidates attempt to pass SBI PO Prelims?
There is no fixed number of questions to attempt, but candidates must score above the cutoff marks to qualify. Cutoffs vary each year based on difficulty and competition, so focus on accuracy rather than just attempts.
Is Computer Knowledge tested in SBI PO Mains?
Yes, reasoning and computer aptitude are combined in one section in Mains. Questions can include computer basics, operating systems, software, and recent computer-related advancements, along with logical reasoning.
What happens if a candidate fails in one section of the Mains?
Candidates must clear the sectional cutoffs in all subjects of the Mains to qualify for the next phase. Not meeting the minimum required score in any section leads to disqualification, even if the overall marks are high.