SBI PO/Clerk 2026 | Reasoning By Sona Sharma
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The SBI PO Exam is a highly competitive national-level banking exam conducted by the State Bank of India to recruit Probationary Officers (PO). The official notification for 2026 has been released for 1,500 vacancies, with the online application window open from 18 June to 8 July 2026. [1, 2, 3, 4]
📅 Important Dates (2026 Cycle)
- Online Registration & Fee Payment: 18 June – 8 July 2026
- Phase-I: Preliminary Examination: August 2026
- Phase-II: Main Examination: September 2026
- Phase-III: Psychometric Test & Interview: October / November 2026
- Final Result Declaration: November / December 2026 [2, 4]
📋 Eligibility Criteria
To apply for the SBI PO exam, you must fulfill the following parameters as specified in the official guideline: [5, 6]
- Educational Qualification: A Graduation Degree in any stream from a recognized university. Final-year students can also apply provisionally, provided they produce proof of passing by 30 September 2026. [7]
- Age Limit: 21 to 30 years (as of 1 April 2026). Upper age relaxations apply for reserved categories (e.g., +3 years for OBC, +5 years for SC/ST). [7, 8]
- Number of Attempts: Limited to 4 attempts for General/EWS and 7 attempts for OBC. Attempts are only counted if you actually appear for the Mains exam. [8]
⚔️ Selection Process & Exam Pattern
The selection process spans three distinct phases: [4]
Phase I: Preliminary Examination (Qualifying Only) [1, 9, 10]
This is an online objective test of 100 marks with a duration of 1 hour. It serves as a screening test, and these marks are not counted in the final merit. There is no sectional cut-off in Prelims. [1, 2, 4]
- English Language: 40 Marks | 20 Minutes
- Quantitative Aptitude: 30 Marks | 20 Minutes
- Reasoning Ability: 30 Marks | 20 Minutes
- Note: A penalty of 0.25 marks is deducted for every wrong answer. [11]
Phase II: Main Examination (Objective + Descriptive)
Shortlisted candidates (approx. 10 times the vacancies) move to the Mains exam. It consists of 230 total marks: [12]
- Objective Test (200 Marks / 3 Hours): Covers Reasoning & Computer Aptitude, Data Analysis & Interpretation, General/Economy/Banking Awareness, and English Language. [13, 14]
- Descriptive Test (30 Marks / 30 Minutes): Conducted online right after the objective test. Revised for the 2026 pattern, it evaluates communication skills through Email Writing, Situation Analysis, and a choice between Report/Precis Writing. [11, 12]
Phase III: Psychometric Test, Group Exercise & Interview [15, 16]
Candidates clearing the Mains cut-off are called for Phase III. The Psychometric test is personality-based and mandatory, followed by a Group Exercise (20 marks) and a Personal Interview (30 marks) to evaluate leadership and communication. [4, 11, 12, 17]
🏆 Final Merit List
The final merit list is prepared by combining normalized scores from the Mains Exam (Phase II) and Phase III in a 75:25 weightage ratio. Prelims marks are completely excluded from the final selection. [4, 18, 19, 20]
If you are gearing up for the upcoming cycle, you can check active application steps directly through the SBI Careers Portal. [1, 21]
To help me tailor the best preparation strategy, study notes, or mock details for you, please let me know:
- Are you a fresher or have you appeared for bank exams before?
- Which specific section (e.g., Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning, Banking Awareness) do you find most challenging?
- Are you looking for a structured day-by-day study roadmap?
[6] https://www.zeroeducators.com
[10] https://edutap.in
[11] https://www.oliveboard.in
[12] https://www.mahendras.org
[13] https://byjus.com
[14] https://testbook.com
[15] https://www.pw.live
[18] https://www.shankarbankingacademy.com
[19] https://www.aaabrightacademy.in
[20] https://prepp.in