SBI PO 2026 Syllabus & Exam Pattern — Prelims, Mains and Interview Complete Guide
SBI PO 2026 syllabus and exam pattern for Prelims (100Q), Mains (170Q + Descriptive) and the Group Exercise & Interview stage, with free mock test practice.
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SBI PO 2026 syllabus and exam pattern are the first things every aspirant should master before starting Probationary Officer preparation. With the SBI PO 2026 notification drawing large numbers of applicants every year, this guide breaks down the exact Prelims and Mains syllabus, question count, marks, timing and the Group Exercise & Interview stage — so your preparation is built on the real exam structure.
SBI PO 2026 Exam Pattern at a Glance
| Stage | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prelims | 100 | 100 | 60 minutes |
| Mains (Objective) | 170 | 200 | 3 hours |
| Mains (Descriptive) | 3 tasks | 30 | 30 minutes |
Prelims is only qualifying, with no sectional cutoff. Both Prelims and Mains carry 0.25 (1/4th) negative marking per wrong answer in the objective sections.
SBI PO Prelims Syllabus 2026
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 40 | 40 | 20 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 minutes |
- English Language: reading comprehension, error detection, sentence rearrangement, vocabulary, grammar-based questions
- Quantitative Aptitude: arithmetic, data interpretation, number series, simplification, quadratic equations
- Reasoning Ability: puzzles and seating arrangements, syllogism, inequality (direct and coded), coding-decoding, blood relations, direction sense and distance
SBI PO Mains Syllabus 2026
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | 40 | 60 | 50 minutes |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | 30 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| General/Economy/Banking Awareness | 60 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| English Language (Objective) | 40 | 20 | 40 minutes |
| Total (Objective) | 170 | 200 | 3 hours |
| Descriptive Test (English) | 3 tasks | 30 | 30 minutes |
- Reasoning & Computer Aptitude: puzzles, seating arrangement, syllogism, machine input-output, computer fundamentals
- Data Analysis & Interpretation: tables, caselets, bar/line/pie charts, data sufficiency, probability
- General/Economy/Banking Awareness: current affairs, banking terms, RBI functions, government schemes, static GK
- English Language: reading comprehension, cloze test, error spotting, sentence improvement, vocabulary
- Descriptive Test: Email Writing, Situation Analysis and Report/Précis Writing — candidates attempt one of two options in each task, typed online immediately after the objective Mains paper
SBI PO 2026 Selection Process
- Preliminary Examination — qualifying only, marks not counted in final merit
- Main Examination — objective + descriptive; contributes 75% weightage (after normalization) to the final merit list
- Group Exercise & Interview (Phase III) — includes a non-marked Psychometric Test, a Group Exercise (20 marks) and a Personal Interview (30 marks); together contributes 25% weightage to the final merit list
How to Prepare: Section-Wise Strategy
Since Prelims has no sectional cutoff, prioritise your strongest section first to bank marks quickly, then clear the overall cutoff with the remaining time. For Mains, Data Analysis & Interpretation and General/Economy/Banking Awareness carry the highest combined weightage — practising DI sets daily and reading banking/economy news are the two habits that move your Mains score the most. Don't neglect the Descriptive Test: practising timed email and précis writing in the final month prevents silly marks loss in a section most candidates under-prepare for.
Practice free SBI PO Prelims and Mains mock tests on FreePrep.in with instant scoring and no login required. Check the SBI PO 2026 notification guide for exam dates, vacancy and eligibility, read IBPS PO vs SBI PO 2026 if you're deciding between the two exams, and use the FreePrep Daily Quiz to keep your General Awareness section sharp every day.
SBI PO 2026 Syllabus — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the SBI PO 2026 exam pattern?
Prelims has 100 questions for 100 marks in 60 minutes. Mains has a 170-question objective test for 200 marks in 3 hours, plus a 30-minute Descriptive Test worth 30 marks — 230 marks in total for Mains.
Is there negative marking in SBI PO 2026?
Yes, 0.25 (1/4th) marks are deducted for every wrong answer in the Prelims and Mains objective papers. There is no negative marking in the Descriptive Test.
Does SBI PO have sectional cutoffs?
Prelims has no sectional cutoff — only an overall cutoff. Mains normalisation and cutoffs are applied section-wise as well as overall, per the official notification each year.
What happens after SBI PO Mains?
Shortlisted candidates go through Phase III — a non-marked Psychometric Test, a 20-mark Group Exercise and a 30-mark Personal Interview. Mains contributes 75% and Phase III contributes 25% to the final merit list.
Is computer knowledge part of the SBI PO syllabus?
Yes, Computer Aptitude is combined with Reasoning in the Mains exam and covers computer fundamentals relevant to banking operations.
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