The SBI Clerk syllabus aligns closely with standard banking recruitment patterns. Both Preliminary and Mains examinations cover Reasoning Ability, Numerical Ability, and English Language. Additionally, the Mains exam includes sections on General Awareness and Computer Aptitude. Mastering the complete SBI Clerk syllabus and exam pattern is essential for identifying high-yield topics and optimizing your study strategy.
SBI Clerk Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2026
The SBI Clerk exam is the gateway for aspiring candidates to secure the Junior Associate position at the State Bank of India. To achieve a competitive score, candidates must stay updated with the latest exam structure and syllabus. The State Bank of India executes a structured selection process for SBI Clerk Recruitment 2026.
Stage 1- Preliminary Examination: A 100-mark paper consisting of 100 questions to be completed within a 60-minute timeframe.
Stage 2- Mains Examination: A comprehensive 200-mark paper featuring 190 questions, allocated a total duration of 2 hours and 40 minutes.
Stage 3- Local Language Proficiency Test (Qualifying nature)
| SBI Clerk Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2026- Overview | |
|---|---|
| Mode of Exam | Online |
| No. of Questions | Prelims- 100 Mains- 190 |
| Exam Duration | Prelims- 1 hour Mains- 2 hours 40 minutes |
| Negative Marking | ¼th mark (0.25 marks) |
| Selection Process | Prelims > Mains > Local Language Proficiency Test |
SBI Clerk 2026 Notification- Click to View Details
What is the SBI Clerk Prelims Syllabus?
1. Numerical Ability
- Data Interpretation (Bar, Line, Pie, Tabular)
- Data Sufficiency
- Quadratic Equation
- Mensuration – Cylinder, Cone, Sphere
- Approximation
- Missing Number Series
- Simplification
- Time & Work, Pipes & Cisterns
- Problems on Ages
- Average, Ratio, Percentage, Profit & Loss
- Simple Interest & Compound Interest
- Speed, Distance & Time
- Permutation & Combination
- Boat & Stream
- Probability
- Partnership
- Mixture & Allegation
2. Reasoning Syllabus
- Blood Relations
- Input Output
- Data Sufficiency
- Coded Inequalities
- Seating Arrangement (Circular/Triangular/Square/Rectangular)
- Logical Reasoning
- Alphanumeric Series
- Ranking/Direction/Alphabet Test
- Puzzle
- Tabulation
- Syllogism
- Meaningful Word
- Odd One Out
- Coding Decoding
- Direction & Distance
- Letter/Digit/Mix Series
- Pair Formation
- Inequality
- Order & Ranking
3. English Language Syllabus
- Reading Comprehension
- Cloze Test
- Para jumbles
- Miscellaneous
- Fill in the blanks/Fillers
- Multiple Meaning
- Paragraph Completion
- Error Detection
- Misspelt
- Word/Sentence Rearrangement
- Single Fillers
- Match the Column
- Para Jumble
- Word Usage
- Word Swap
- Column-Based Sentence
- Phrase Replacements
SBI Clerk Prelims High-Scoring Topics
Based on an extensive analysis of previous years' question papers, we have identified the core topics that demand high priority during your exam preparation.
| English Topics | No. of Questions |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 7 to 10 questions |
| Cloze Test | 5 to 6 questions |
| Error Detection | 4 to 5 questions |
| Para Jumbles | 4 to 5 questions |
| Numerical Ability Topics | No. of Questions |
|---|---|
| Data Interpretation | 5 to 10 questions |
| Number Series | 5 questions |
| Simplification | 10 to 15 questions |
| Arithemetic | 10 to 15 questions |
| Reasoning Ability Topics | No. of Questions |
|---|---|
| Puzzle & Seating Arrangements | 12-16 questions |
| Syllogism | 3 to 5 questions |
| Coding-Decoding | 4 to 5 questions |
| Direction & Distance | 3 to 5 questions |
What is the SBI Clerk Mains syllabus?
| Quantitative Aptitude | Reasoning Ability | General/Financial Awareness | General English |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Computer Aptitude
|
|
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What are the high-weightage topics for SBI Clerk 2026 Mains?
Answer: Focus on Data Interpretation and Quadratic Equations (Quant), Advanced Puzzles (Reasoning), Reading Comprehension and Cloze Test (English), Banking Awareness and Current Affairs (General Awareness), and essential MS Office and Networking concepts (Computer Aptitude).
SBI Clerk Syllabus PDF Download
Download the official SBI Clerk Prelims & Mains Syllabus PDF via the link below to streamline your offline preparation. This document contains a comprehensive breakdown of all subject-wise topics.
Download SBI Clerk Syllabus PDF
SBI Clerk Local Language Proficiency Test
Candidates qualifying the Prelims and Mains who did not study the specific local language of their applied state in 10th or 12th grade must clear the Local Language Proficiency Test (LLPT). This is a mandatory qualifying assessment conducted to ensure regional linguistic competency.
| Test Pattern | Section | No. of Passages | No. of Questions | Total Marks |
| Non- Verbal Test | Objective | 3 | 15 | 15 |
| 3 | 15 | 15 | ||
| Verbal Test | Subjective | -- | -- | 20 |
Are LLPT marks included in the final merit list?
Answer: No, the LLPT is strictly a qualifying test; your score here does not affect the final selection ranking.
SBI Clerk Exam Pattern 2026
Reviewing the exam structure is vital before diving into the detailed syllabus. The SBI Clerk Exam Pattern 2026 for both selection stages is outlined below.
SBI Clerk Prelims Exam Pattern
The Prelims exam comprises 100 questions across 3 sections: English (30), Numerical Ability (35), and Reasoning (35). Each correct answer awards 1 mark, while incorrect responses incur a negative marking of 0.25 marks.
| SNo. | Section | No. of Questions | Total Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| 2 | Numerical Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| 3 | Reasoning | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 minutes | |
SBI Clerk Mains Exam Pattern
The Mains exam consists of 190 questions distributed across 4 sections, totaling 200 marks. Candidates have 2 hours and 40 minutes to complete the test, subject to a negative marking of 1/4th of the marks assigned to each question.
| S No. | Section | No. of Questions | Total Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | General English | 40 | 40 | 35 minutes |
| 2. | Quantitative Aptitude | 50 | 50 | 45 minutes |
| 3. | Reasoning Ability and Computer Aptitude | 50 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| 4. | General/Financial Awareness | 50 | 50 | 35 minutes |
| Total | 190 | 200 | 2 hours 40 minutes | |
Note: A penalty of 0.25 marks (1/4th of a mark) applies to every incorrect answer in both the Prelims and Mains examinations.
Exam Preparation Tips
Beyond mastering the syllabus, evaluating your performance with past exam trends is crucial. We recommend practicing with the official SBI Clerk Mock Test 2026, curated by our experts, to improve your speed and accuracy.
FAQs
The SBI Clerk Prelims syllabus includes English, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning, while the Mains covers Quantitative Aptitude, General English, General/Financial Awareness, Reasoning Ability, and Computer Awareness.
Selection for the SBI Clerk post is determined solely by the marks obtained in the Mains Examination, as there is no interview round.
Difficulty varies based on preparation. Historically, the SBI Clerk Prelims exam typically ranges from easy to moderate, while the Mains examination is generally considered to be of a moderate difficulty level.
LLPT stands for Local Language Proficiency Test. It is a qualifying assessment for candidates who lack formal academic certification (10th or 12th standard) in the local language of their applied state.
The SBI Clerk Mains exam consists of 190 questions totaling 200 marks, with a strict time limit of 2 hours and 40 minutes spanning four distinct sections.
Yes, the SBI Clerk examination enforces strict sectional timing for both the Prelims and Mains stages.
A penalty of 0.25 marks is deducted for every incorrect objective-type answer in both the Preliminary and Mains exams.
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