SBI Clerk Exam Pattern 2026, Check Prelims and Mains Exam Pattern

Candidates preparing for the SBI Clerk 2026 exam should first understand the latest exam pattern to plan their preparation effectively. Knowing the section-wise marks distribution, exam duration, and negative marking scheme can help improve performance.

This article explains the complete SBI Clerk Exam Pattern 2026 in detail to help candidates prepare with confidence.

SBI Clerk Exam Pattern 2026

Knowing the SBI Clerk Exam Pattern 2026 is important for effective preparation, as it helps candidates plan their study schedule, improve time management, and increase accuracy. The selection process includes two stages: the Preliminary Examination and the Main Examination.

Candidates who qualify in the Prelims appear for the Mains, while the final selection is based on Mains performance, followed by qualifying the Local Language Proficiency Test (LPT). The detailed exam pattern for both stages is provided below.

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SBI Clerk Exam Pattern – Highlights

Prelims Exam Pattern

The SBI Clerk Prelims Exam serves as the first stage of the selection process, aimed at shortlisting candidates for the Mains examination. The exam includes separate sections for English, Reasoning, and Numerical Ability, each with its own time limit.

Candidates must meet both sectional and overall qualifying criteria to move ahead. The detailed SBI Clerk Prelims Exam Pattern is given in the table below.

Mains Exam Pattern

The SBI Clerk Mains Exam is a Scoring as well as Merit-deciding exam. There is sectional timing for each section i.e., General/ Financial Awareness, General English, Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude. The final merit list of candidates will be made based on marks obtained by the candidates in the SBI Clerk Mains exam. Candidates can check the SBI Clerk Mains Exam Pattern in the table below.

Important Note:

• 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.

SBI Clerk Language Proficiency

The SBI Clerk Local Language Test is conducted after the Mains examination for candidates who qualify for selection but do not have valid proof of studying the opted local language in Class 10th or 12th.

Candidates who submit a relevant mark sheet or certificate showing their language qualification are exempted from this test. Those appearing for the language test must prove their proficiency before joining, failing which their candidature will be cancelled.

SBI Clerk Exam Medium

The SBI Clerk Prelims and Mains exams will be available in Hindi, English, and regional languages. In states or Union Territories where Hindi is not the primary language, candidates can choose the respective regional language option.

Important Points

Candidates can check important points of the SBI Clerk Exam Pattern of Prelims & Mains.

1. There will be no Interview.
2. Candidates will have to pass each of the objective tests of the online examinations.
3. Both the Prelims and Mains exams will be conducted online.
4. A candidate has to qualify in the Preliminary Examination to appear in the Main Examination.
5. The main exam will be conducted for the final selection.
6. The question paper will be bilingual i.e. available in Hindi as well as English language.
7. The Cutoff of the SBI Clerk of prelims and mains exam will be decided by SBI.