The SBI Clerk 2026 recruitment process for Prelims and Mains is conducted to select high-performing candidates for Junior Associate (Customer Support and Sales) positions across various State Bank of India branches nationwide.
Banking aspirants aiming to clear the SBI Clerk exam must be thoroughly familiar with the official exam pattern set by the State Bank of India. Understanding the latest structure and SBI Clerk syllabus, is a crucial step to effectively prepare for the selection process and exam format.
SBI Clerk Exam Pattern 2026
The SBI Clerk selection procedure comprises two online examinations (Preliminary and Main) followed by a mandatory test of the specified local language. Review the detailed exam pattern and structure below.
SBI Clerk Prelims Exam Pattern 2026
The Preliminary examination is an objective-type online test worth 100 marks. This paper has a total duration of 60 minutes and is divided into the following 3 sections:
| Section | No. of Questions | Total Marks | Duration |
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Numerical Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Reasoning | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 minutes |
Important Points
- Each test will have a separate timing as mentioned above.
- There will be negative marks for wrong answers in the Objective tests. 1/4th of the mark assigned for the question will be deducted for each wrong answer.
- No minimum qualifying marks for the individual subjects as well as for aggregate (overall) are prescribed.
- The adequate number of candidates in each category as decided by the Bank (approximately 10 times the number of vacancies, subject to availability) will be shortlisted for the Main Examination from the list of all candidates arranged in descending order of aggregate marks scored.
SBI Clerk Mains Exam Pattern 2026
The Main examination follows a rigorous online objective-type format designed to test candidate proficiency as outlined here:
| Sections | No. of Question | Total Marks | Duration |
| General English | 40 | 40 | 35 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 50 | 50 | 45 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability and Computer Aptitude | 50 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| General/Financial Awareness | 50 | 50 | 35 minutes |
| Total | 190 | 200 | 2 hours 40 minutes |
Important Points
- Each test will have separate timing.
- The questions in objective tests, except for the test of General English, will be bilingual i.e., English & Hindi. There will be negative marks for wrong answers in the Objective tests. 1/4th of the mark assigned for the question will be deducted for each wrong answer.
- Candidates are required to score a minimum percentage marks on aggregate (For SC/ST/OBC/PWD/XS candidates, 5% relaxation available thereon).
- Minimum qualifying marks on aggregate will be decided by the bank.
- No minimum qualifying marks for individual subjects are prescribed.
- Merit list will be drawn State-wise, category-wise.
- Candidates qualified in the test (main examination) will be placed according to their aggregate marks in descending order in respective States and Categories.
SBI Clerk Language Proficiency Test
Candidates who are provisionally selected but did not study the specified local language of their applied state in 10th or 12th grade must qualify for the Local Language Proficiency Test (LLPT). The test pattern is structured as follows:
| S No. | Test Pattern | Section | No. of Passages | No. of Questions | Max. Marks |
| 1 | Non- Verbal Test | Objective | 3 | 15 | 15 |
| Subjective | 3 | 15 | 15 | ||
| 2 | Verbal Test | 20 | |||
FAQs
Ans. The SBI Clerk recruitment selection process consists of two primary stages: Preliminary and Main online examinations.
Ans. The SBI Clerk Prelims exam covers three core sections: English Language, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning Ability.
Ans. Both the SBI Clerk Prelims and Mains examinations are conducted as objective-type computer-based tests.
Ans. Yes, a negative marking scheme is applicable, where 1/4th of the marks assigned to a question are deducted for every incorrect answer in both exam phases.
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