Stay ahead in your preparation with the official SBI Clerk Exam Pattern 2026. This comprehensive guide covers the section-wise distribution of marks, exam duration, negative marking policy, selection process, Local Language Test (LPT) guidelines, and proven strategy tips.
SBI Clerk Exam Pattern 2026 Overview
Understanding the comprehensive SBI Clerk Exam Pattern 2026 is a critical first step for aspirants aiming to secure a Junior Associate position. A clear grasp of the exam structure enables candidates to design an efficient study plan, master time management, and reduce errors during the exam. The overall recruitment journey is divided into two primary stages: the Preliminary Examination and the Main Examination.
Aspirants who successfully clear the Prelims stage will qualify to sit for the Mains Exam. The final merit list is compiled based solely on Mains performance, subject to passing the mandatory Local Language Proficiency Test (LPT). Read on to discover the detailed, stage-wise exam structure below.
SBI Clerk Exam Pattern 2026 – Key Highlights
| Particulars | Details |
| Exam Name |
SBI Clerk (Junior Associate)
|
| Conducting Authority |
State Bank of India
|
| Selection Process |
Prelims, Mains, LLPT
|
| Mode of Examination | Online |
| Negative Marking | 0.25 Marks |
| Prelims Questions | 100 |
| Prelims Marks | 100 |
| Mains Questions | 190 |
| Mains Marks | 200 |
| Official Website | www.sbi.co.in |
SBI Clerk Selection Process 2026 Explained
The SBI Clerk selection criteria are strategically structured to thoroughly evaluate candidate potential across multiple phases. These stages assess numerical aptitude, analytical reasoning, language command, and general suitability for the role of Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales). The complete recruitment procedure involves:
- Preliminary Examination
- Main Examination
- Local Language Proficiency Test (LPT), wherever applicable
- Document Verification
SBI Clerk Prelims Exam Pattern 2026
The SBI Clerk Preliminary Exam serves as the initial screening round, designed to filter eligible candidates for the Mains phase. Conducted in an online mode, the exam features three distinct sections: English Language, Reasoning Ability, and Numerical Ability, each assigned a specific sectional time limit.
To progress further, candidates must secure high scores as there are no sectional cut-offs, only an overall cut-off. Refer to the table below for a detailed breakdown of the SBI Clerk Prelims exam format.
| Name of Tests (Objective) | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Total Time |
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Numerical Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 minutes |
SBI Clerk Mains Exam Pattern 2026
The SBI Clerk Mains Exam is the ultimate merit-deciding phase of the selection drive. This stage features strict sectional timings across four key areas: General/Financial Awareness, General English, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude. Since the final selection relies entirely on these scores, understanding this layout is crucial. Review the table below for the comprehensive SBI Clerk Mains exam blueprint.
| Name of Test (Objective) | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| General/ Financial Awareness | 50 | 50 | 35 Minutes |
| Test of English Language | 40 | 40 | 35 Minutes |
| Test of Quantitative Aptitude | 50 | 50 | 45 Minutes |
| Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude | 50 | 60 | 45 Minutes |
| Total | 190 | 200 | 2 Hrs 40 Mins |
Important Notes for Candidates:
- Penalty for Wrong Answers (Applicable to both – Online Preliminary and Online Main examinations). There will be a penalty for wrong answers marked in the Objective Tests. For each wrong answer one-fourth or 0.25 of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted as a penalty to arrive at a corrected score. If a question is left blank, i.e., no answer is marked by the candidate, there will be no penalty for that question.
- The questions in objective tests, except for the test of General English, will be bilingual i.e., English & Hindi.
| Particular | Details |
| Correct Answer | 1 Mark Awarded |
| Incorrect Answer | 0.25 Mark Deducted |
| Un-attempted Question | No Marks Awarded or Deducted |
SBI Clerk Local Language Proficiency Test (LPT)
The SBI Clerk Local Language Test is conducted post-Mains for qualified candidates who cannot provide official academic proof (such as 10th or 12th-grade marksheets) of having studied the specified regional language of their applied state.
Candidates who present valid academic certificates demonstrating proficiency in the local language are exempted from this round. For others, passing the language test is mandatory prior to joining, and failure to prove proficiency will lead to the cancellation of their candidature.
| Sl. | 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 | |||
Medium of SBI Clerk Examination
The SBI Clerk Prelims and Mains papers are bi-lingual/multi-lingual, available in English, Hindi, and the specified regional languages. For candidates applying from states or Union Territories where Hindi is not the official local tongue, the exam can be taken in the respective regional language option.
| Sr. No. | State/UT |
Medium of Exam
|
| 1 | Andaman & Nicobar | English, Hindi |
| 2 | Andhra Pradesh |
English, Hindi, Telugu, Urdu
|
| 3 | Arunachal Pradesh | English, Hindi |
| 4 | Assam |
English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali
|
| 5 | Bihar |
English, Hindi, Urdu
|
| 6 | Chhattisgarh | English, Hindi |
| 7 | Chandigarh |
English, Hindi, Punjabi
|
| 8 | Delhi | English, Hindi |
| 9 | Goa |
English, Hindi, Konkani
|
| 10 | Gujarat |
English, Hindi, Gujarati
|
| 11 | Haryana |
English, Hindi, Punjabi
|
| 12 | Himachal Pradesh | English, Hindi |
| 13 | Jammu & Kashmir |
English, Hindi, Urdu
|
| 14 | Jharkhand | English, Hindi |
| 15 | Karnataka |
English, Hindi, Kannada
|
| 16 | Kerala |
English, Hindi, Malayalam
|
| 17 | Ladakh |
English, Hindi, Urdu
|
| 18 | Lakshadweep |
English, Hindi, Malayalam
|
| 19 | Madhya Pradesh | English, Hindi |
| 20 | Maharashtra |
English, Hindi, Marathi
|
| 21 | Manipur |
English, Hindi, Manipuri
|
| 22 | Meghalaya | English, Hindi |
| 23 | Mizoram | English, Hindi |
| 24 | Nagaland | English, Hindi |
| 25 | Odisha |
English, Hindi, Odia
|
| 26 | Puducherry |
English, Hindi, Tamil
|
| 27 | Punjab |
English, Hindi, Punjabi
|
| 28 | Rajasthan | English, Hindi |
| 29 | Sikkim | English, Hindi |
| 30 | Tamil Nadu |
English, Hindi, Tamil
|
| 31 | Telangana |
English, Hindi, Telugu, Urdu
|
| 32 | Tripura |
English, Hindi, Bengali
|
| 33 | Uttar Pradesh |
English, Hindi, Urdu
|
| 34 | Uttarakhand | English, Hindi |
| 35 | West Bengal |
English, Hindi, Bengali
|
Key Takeaways: SBI Clerk Exam Guidelines
Aspirants should carefully review these critical highlights concerning both the Prelims and Mains stages of the SBI Clerk recruitment drive.
- There will be no Interview.
- Candidates will have to pass each of the objective tests of the online examinations.
- Both the Prelims and Mains exams will be conducted online.
- A candidate has to qualify in the Preliminary Examination to appear in the Main Examination.
- The main exam will be conducted for the final selection.
- The question paper will be bilingual i.e. available in Hindi as well as English language.
- The Cutoff of the SBI Clerk of prelims and mains exam will be decided by SBI.
| Links Related to SBI Clerk Exam | |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is there any sectional cut-off in the SBI Clerk Exam?
No, SBI has not specified any sectional cut-off marks for either the Prelims or Mains stages of the SBI Clerk recruitment. Candidates only need to clear the overall state-wise cut-off.
How many questions are asked in the SBI Clerk Exam?
According to the current SBI Clerk Exam Pattern, the Preliminary Exam contains 100 questions, while the Mains Exam comprises 190 questions.
Q. What is the difficulty level of the SBI Clerk Exam?
Ans. Typically, the SBI Clerk Prelims exam ranges from Easy to Moderate in difficulty, whereas the Mains exam is generally Moderate to Difficult.
Q. What are the stages in the SBI Clerk selection process?
Ans. The SBI Clerk recruitment selection process comprises three main phases: the Preliminary Exam, the Main Exam, and the Local Language Proficiency Test (LPT).