Pariksha SaathiSBI Clerk 2026: exam pattern, marks, negative marking, age limit
Every figure on this page is copied from an official document linked next to it, with the date we last checked it. Pattern, age limit and dates are from the JA 2026-27 notification. Last verified: 15 October 2026.
At a glance
- Selection stages
- Phase-I: Preliminary Examination (online) → Phase-II: Main Examination (online) → Phase-III: Local Language Proficiency Test
- First stage: Questions / Marks / Time
- 100 / 100 / 60 min
- Negative marking
- One-fourth (1/4) of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for each wrong answer.
- Tentative vacancies
- 7,680 (as on 11 August 2026)
Weekly live mock: Sunday, 8 November 2026, 10:00–12:00 IST · 50 questions in 60 minutes, one paper for everyone · Sit it in the Android app →
Exam pattern
Phase-I: Preliminary Examination (online)
Preliminary Examination
| Section | Questions | Marks each | Marks | Time (min) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 1 | 30 | 20 |
| Numerical Ability | 35 | 1 | 35 | 20 |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 1 | 35 | 20 |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 |
Time allowed: 60 minutes. Candidates eligible for a scribe get 20 minutes of compensatory time for every hour of the examination. Negative marking: One-fourth (1/4) of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for each wrong answer. This part is qualifying only: it does not add to the merit score.
- Each test has its own 20-minute timer. English Language is set in English; the other two tests are set in English, Hindi and the language(s) listed in the notice for the State/UT applied for. No minimum qualifying marks are prescribed for any individual test or for the aggregate, and section-wise marks are not maintained.
- Candidates apply for one State/UT only. Marks decide only who is shortlisted for the Main examination: an adequate number in each category, about 10 times the vacancies subject to availability, in descending order of aggregate marks. Preliminary marks are not added to the final merit list.
- The vacancy total shown for this exam (7,680) is the notice's total of regular vacancies. Backlog vacancies for SC/ST/OBC, PwBD and ex-servicemen are listed separately in the notice's State-wise table.
Phase-II: Main Examination (online)
Main Examination
| Section | Questions | Marks each | Marks | Time (min) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General / Financial Awareness | 50 | 1 | 50 | 35 |
| General English | 40 | 1 | 40 | 35 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 50 | 1 | 50 | 45 |
| Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude | 50 | 1.20 | 60 | 45 |
| Total | 190 | 200 | 160 |
Time allowed: 160 minutes. 2 hours 40 minutes. Candidates eligible for a scribe get 20 minutes of compensatory time for every hour of the examination. Negative marking: One-fourth (1/4) of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for each wrong answer.
- Each test has its own timer. General English is set in English; the other tests are set in English, Hindi and the language(s) listed for the State/UT applied for.
- No minimum qualifying marks for individual tests, and section-wise marks are not maintained. Candidates must score a minimum percentage of marks on aggregate, as decided by the Bank, with 5% relaxation for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD/XS/DXS candidates.
- The final merit list (State-wise, category-wise) is made on the aggregate marks of the Main examination only. Trained apprentices of SBI who meet the notice's conditions get a bonus of 2.5% of the maximum marks (5 out of 200).
Phase-III: Local Language Proficiency Test
Applies to: Provisionally selected candidates who have not studied any of the specified local languages of the State/UT applied for in class 10 or 12.
Local Language Proficiency Test (LLPT)
This part is qualifying only: it does not add to the merit score.
- Held after the Main examination and before joining. A candidate who fails the test is not offered appointment. Candidates who show a class 10 or 12 mark sheet or certificate proving they studied the specified local language are not tested.
- Pattern as printed in the notice: Non-Verbal Test with an objective section (3 passages, 15 questions, 15 marks) and a subjective section (3 passages, 15 questions, 15 marks); Verbal Test, 20 marks.
- Candidates must score the minimum qualifying marks decided by the Bank in each individual test, with 5% relaxation for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD/XS/DXS candidates. Final selection is also subject to verification of eligibility.
Source: Recruitment of Junior Associates (Customer Support & Sales), Advertisement No. CRPD/CR/2026-27/17 ↗ · Last verified: 15 October 2026 · Report an error
Free SBI Clerk mock tests in this official pattern →
Syllabus: subjects tested
The subjects in short, as the official syllabus lists them. The exam body's own notification is final.
- Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude
- Puzzles, seating arrangement, syllogism, coding-decoding, inequalities, and basic computer-aptitude topics at the Mains stage.
- Numerical / Quantitative Aptitude
- Number series, simplification, data interpretation, and arithmetic word problems.
- English Language
- Reading comprehension, cloze test, error spotting, sentence rearrangement, and vocabulary.
- General / Financial Awareness
- Banking terms, financial current affairs, and general static GK relevant to the sector.
Full syllabus, stage by stage → · Official website ↗
Age limit and qualification
20 to 28 years as on 1 April 2026 (born between 2 April 1998 and 1 April 2006, both days inclusive). Upper age relaxation: OBC 3 years; SC/ST 5 years; PwBD 10 years (General/EWS), 13 years (OBC), 15 years (SC/ST). Ex-servicemen, widows and divorced women, and trained SBI apprentices have separate relaxations listed in the notice. Relaxations are not cumulative. Age is counted as on 1 April 2026.
| Posts | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales), all States/UTs | Graduation in any discipline from a recognised university or an equivalent qualification recognised by the Central Government, as on 31 December 2026. Final-year or final-semester students may apply provisionally, but if provisionally selected they must show proof of passing on or before 31 December 2026. |
| Ex-servicemen (matriculate) | Matriculate ex-servicemen who hold the Indian Army Special Certificate of Education (or the equivalent in the Navy or Air Force) after at least 15 years of service in the Armed Forces are also eligible. The certificate must be dated on or before 31 December 2026. |
| State/UT applied for | Candidates apply for one State/UT only and must be proficient (reading, writing, speaking and understanding) in the specified local language of that State/UT. The notice lists the language(s) against each State/UT. |
Preliminary: no minimum marks for any test or for the aggregate. Main: no minimum for individual tests; a minimum aggregate percentage as decided by the Bank (5% relaxation for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD/XS/DXS). Local language test: minimum qualifying marks in each test as decided by the Bank.
Source: Recruitment of Junior Associates (Customer Support & Sales), Advertisement No. CRPD/CR/2026-27/17 ↗ · Last verified: 15 October 2026 · Report an error
Important dates
| Event | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Online registration and fee payment | 11 August 2026 to 31 August 2026 | official notice ↗ |
| Phase-I: Preliminary Examination | September 2026 (tentative, per the notice) | official notice ↗ |
| Phase-II: Main Examination | November 2026 (tentative, per the notice) | official notice ↗ |
Source: Recruitment of Junior Associates (Customer Support & Sales), Advertisement No. CRPD/CR/2026-27/17 ↗ · Last verified: 15 October 2026 · Report an error
Source: Tentative vacancies ↗ · Last verified: 15 October 2026 · Report an error
Practice questions by section
Free questions, each with its answer, in the subjects this exam tests. Every topic opens a list of question pages.
Reasoning
- Syllogism 115 questions
- Blood Relations 89 questions
- Coding-Decoding 88 questions
- Analogy 39 questions
- Direction Sense 38 questions
- Seating Arrangement 29 questions
- Calendar 19 questions
- Clock 19 questions
Computer Knowledge
Quantitative Aptitude
- Geometry: Lines and Triangles 24 questions
- Number System 21 questions
- Percentage 21 questions
- Trigonometry 20 questions
- Boat and Stream 19 questions
- Mensuration: 2D 16 questions
- Permutation and Combination 15 questions
- Probability — Tier II 15 questions
English
- Error Spotting 94 questions
- Fill in the Blanks 56 questions
- Sentence Improvement 52 questions
- Cloze Test 38 questions
- Direct and Indirect Speech 30 questions
- One Word Substitution 19 questions
- Degrees of Comparison 13 questions
- Active and Passive Voice 12 questions
General Studies
- General Science 480 questions
- Static General Knowledge 240 questions
- Indian Geography 239 questions
- Physical and World Geography 239 questions
- Indian Polity and Constitution 238 questions
- Environment and Ecology 237 questions
- Modern Indian History and Freedom Struggle 235 questions
- Indian Art and Culture 234 questions
General Awareness
All practice questions by topic →
Free notes (PDF)
Notes for every topic in this exam’s syllabus, one PDF per subject: each lesson ends with a quick-revision box, and each PDF ends with a revision sheet. Written by an AI assistant and not reviewed by a subject-matter expert.
- Quantitative Aptitude (89 pages, 1.1 MB)
- Reasoning (74 pages, 954 KB)
- English (65 pages, 819 KB)
- General Awareness (208 pages, 2.3 MB)
- Computer Knowledge (18 pages, 314 KB)
- Descriptive, interview and physical tests (22 pages, 339 KB)
Latest notices
- SBI Junior Associates special recruitment drive (SC/ST/OBC backlog): Mains on 29 October 2026, call letters outadmit card · 20 October 2026
- SBI Clerk prelims call letter released ahead of September 26-27 examadmit card · 26 September 2026
- SBI Clerk prelims tentatively scheduled for September 26 and 27notification · 18 September 2026
SBI Clerk admit card, result and answer key: every notice →
Recent current affairs for this exam
- TRAI releases Telecommunication Interconnection (Third Amendment) Regulations, 2026: shift to LSA-level and IP-based interconnection, effective 1 January 20273 November 2026
- India to pursue solution-oriented and equitable climate action at UNFCCC COP31 in Antalya: Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav3 November 2026
- Coal Ministry's Coal Controller Organisation develops SUVIKALP, a digital mine repurposing tool for closed and abandoned mines3 November 2026
- NITI Aayog and TEXMiN sign a Joint Statement of Intent to strengthen India's critical minerals ecosystem3 November 2026
- APEDA facilitates trial export of 1.5 MT of Arunachal Pradesh kiwi from Ziro to Dubai3 November 2026
Prepare
- Exam calendar: official dates across every exam
- Syllabus and subjects tested
- Job profile and salary
- Free lessons
- Start practising
Frequently asked questions
What are the selection stages of SBI Clerk?
Phase-I: Preliminary Examination (online) → Phase-II: Main Examination (online) → Phase-III: Local Language Proficiency Test, as per the JA 2026-27 notification.
How many questions are in the SBI Clerk first stage?
Phase-I: Preliminary Examination (online): 100 questions for 100 marks in 60 minutes, as per the JA 2026-27 notification.
Is there negative marking in SBI Clerk?
Phase-I: Preliminary Examination (online), as per the JA 2026-27 notification: One-fourth (1/4) of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for each wrong answer.
Is there negative marking in SBI Clerk Phase-II: Main Examination?
Phase-II: Main Examination (online), as per the JA 2026-27 notification: One-fourth (1/4) of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for each wrong answer.
Which parts of the SBI Clerk exam are qualifying?
As per the JA 2026-27 notification, these are qualifying: Phase-I: Preliminary Examination (online): Preliminary Examination; Phase-III: Local Language Proficiency Test: Local Language Proficiency Test (LLPT).
What is the age limit for SBI Clerk?
20 to 28 years as on 1 April 2026 (born between 2 April 1998 and 1 April 2006, both days inclusive). Upper age relaxation: OBC 3 years; SC/ST 5 years; PwBD 10 years (General/EWS), 13 years (OBC), 15 years (SC/ST). Ex-servicemen, widows and divorced women, and trained SBI apprentices have separate relaxations listed in the notice. Relaxations are not cumulative. Age is counted as on 1 April 2026.
Can final-year students apply for SBI Clerk?
As per the JA 2026-27 notification: Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales), all States/UTs: Graduation in any discipline from a recognised university or an equivalent qualification recognised by the Central Government, as on 31 December 2026. Final-year or final-semester students may apply provisionally, but if provisionally selected they must show proof of passing on or before 31 December 2026.
What are the minimum qualifying marks in SBI Clerk?
Preliminary: no minimum marks for any test or for the aggregate. Main: no minimum for individual tests; a minimum aggregate percentage as decided by the Bank (5% relaxation for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD/XS/DXS). Local language test: minimum qualifying marks in each test as decided by the Bank.
How many vacancies are there in SBI Clerk?
7,680 tentative vacancies for JA 2026-27, as officially published on 11 August 2026.
Which subjects does the SBI Clerk exam test?
The official syllabus lists: Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude; Numerical / Quantitative Aptitude; English Language; General / Financial Awareness.
Source: Recruitment of Junior Associates (Customer Support & Sales), Advertisement No. CRPD/CR/2026-27/17 ↗ · Last verified: 15 October 2026 · Report an error
How this page is made
These facts are transcribed from the official documents linked above and checked against them on the date shown. If anything here differs from the official notification, the official notification is right. Please tell us through the Contact page. See also our editorial standards. Contact · Editorial standards