Preparing for the SBI PO( State Bank of India Probationary Officer) test requires a clear understanding of what lies ahead. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the SBI PO syllabus, selection process, test pattern, and weightage for each stage. Whether you’re a first-time applicant or revising your strategy, this companion will help you navigate through the crucial factors of the test, understand how marks are distributed across sections, and prepare effectively for every phase of the selection process. Dive in to protest ‑ start your SBI PO medication with clarity and confidence!
SBI PO 2026 Selection Process
The SBI PO exam is conducted in three phases:
- Preliminary Exam
- Main Exam
- Group Exercise & Interview
Latest Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2026
SBI PO 2026 Exam Pattern
Preliminary Exam (Objective Type)
| Section | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Time |
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 min |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 35 | 20 min |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 min |
Total: 100 questions, 100 marks
Note: This is a qualifying stage; candidates need to clear sectional and overall cut-offs to qualify for the mains exam.
Main Exam (Objective + Descriptive)
Objective Test:
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
| Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | 45 | 60 | 60min |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | 35 | 60 | 45min |
| General/Economy/Banking Awareness | 40 | 40 | 35min |
| English Language | 35 | 40 | 40min |
| Total | 155 | 200 | 3hours |
Descriptive Test (Letter & Essay)
Duration: 30 minutes
Maximum Marks: 25
Conducted online immediately after the objective test.
Group Exercise & Interview
Candidates qualifying in the mains exam appear for a Group Discussion (GD)/Personal Interview (PI) round.
Total marks: 100
SBI PO Syllabus 2026
Preliminary Exam Syllabus
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English Language: Reading Comprehension, Cloze Test, Spotting Errors, Sentence Improvement, Para Jumbles, Fillers.
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Quantitative Aptitude: Simplification/Approximation, Data Interpretation, Quadratic Equations, Arithmetic Problems (Profit & Loss, Time & Work, Speed, Time & Distance, Simple & Compound Interest, Ratio & Proportion).
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Reasoning Ability: Puzzles & Seating Arrangement, Inequalities, Syllogism, Blood Relations, Coding-Decoding, Direction Sense, Input-Output, Logical Reasoning.
Main Exam Syllabus
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Reasoning & Computer Aptitude: Puzzles, Seating Arrangement, Coding-Decoding, Input-Output, Blood Relations, Order & Ranking, Computer Fundamentals, Networking, Internet, Security.
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Data Analysis & Interpretation: Tabular, Line, Pie, Bar Charts, Caselets, Data Sufficiency, Data Comparison.
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General/Economy/Banking Awareness: Current Affairs, Banking Awareness, Financial Awareness, Static GK.
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English Language: Reading Comprehension, Cloze Test, Para Jumbles, Sentence Correction, Error Spotting, Vocabulary (Synonyms, Antonyms).
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Descriptive Test: Essay, Letter Writing on current topics or banking-related scenarios.
SBI PO Topic-wise Weightage ( Prelims & Mains)
Quantitative Aptitude Class
SBI PO Prelims – Topic-wise Weightage
Reasoning Ability (35 Questions)
| Topic | Expected Questions |
|---|---|
| Puzzles & Seating Arrangement | 18–22 |
| Inequality | 3–5 |
| Syllogism | 3–5 |
| Blood Relation | 2–3 |
| Direction Sense | 1–2 |
| Coding–Decoding | 1–2 |
| Order & Ranking | 1–2 |
| Alphanumeric Series | 1–2 |
Maximum Weightage: Puzzles & Seating Arrangement
Quantitative Aptitude (35 Questions)
| Topic | Expected Questions |
|---|---|
| Simplification / Approximation | 8–10 |
| Number Series | 5–6 |
| Data Interpretation (DI) | 10–12 |
| Quadratic Equation | 4–5 |
| Arithmetic (Word Problems) | 8–10 |
Arithmetic Topics Include: Profit & Loss, SI–CI, Time & Work, Speed–Distance, Ratio, Percentage, Mixture
Maximum Weightage: DI + Arithmetic
English Language (30 Questions)
| Topic | Expected Questions |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 8–10 |
| Cloze Test | 5–6 |
| Error Detection | 4–5 |
| Sentence Improvement | 3–4 |
| Fill in the Blanks | 3–4 |
| Para Jumbles | 3–4 |
Maximum Weightage: Reading Comprehension.
SBI PO Mains – Topic-wise Weightage
Reasoning & Computer Aptitude (60 Questions)
| Topic | Expected Questions |
|---|---|
| Puzzles & Seating Arrangement | 20–25 |
| Logical Reasoning | 10–12 |
| Data Sufficiency | 5–6 |
| Input–Output | 4–5 |
| Computer Aptitude | 6–8 |
| Critical Reasoning | 4–5 |
Data Analysis & Interpretation (60 Questions)
| Topic | Expected Questions |
|---|---|
| Data Interpretation (Caselet, Graph) | 25–30 |
| Arithmetic (Advanced Level) | 10–12 |
| Data Sufficiency | 5–6 |
| Probability | 3–4 |
| Permutation & Combination | 3–4 |
| Number System | 3–4 |
| Mensuration | 2–3 |
Maximum Weightage: DI (High level)
English Language (40 Questions)
| Topic | Expected Questions |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 10–12 |
| Vocabulary (Synonyms/Antonyms) | 6–8 |
| Cloze Test | 6–8 |
| Sentence Rearrangement | 5–6 |
| Error Detection | 4–5 |
| Word Usage | 3–4 |
General Awareness (40 Questions)
| Area | Expected Questions |
|---|---|
| Current Affairs (Last 6 Months) | 20–25 |
| Banking & Financial Awareness | 10–12 |
| Static GK (Economy, Reports) | 5–8 |
Maximum Weightage: Current Affairs
Descriptive Test (50 Marks)
| Topic | Marks |
|---|---|
| Essay | 30 |
| Letter / Email | 20 |
SBI PO – Preparation Tips
1. Focus on previous year papers to understand the exam pattern and repeated questions.
2.Give more weight to Quantitative and Reasoning topics in prelims, as they have higher weightage.
3.Read banking awareness, current affairs, and economic news daily.
3.Practice mock tests and time management to improve speed and accuracy.
SBI PO FAQs
Q. Is the SBI PO test conducted every Year?
Ans :Yes, the SBI PO test is generally conducted formerly every year, depending on jobs available at SBI.
Q. What’s the payment of an SBI PO?
Ans: The starting introductory pay of an SBI PO is around ₹ 41,960, and the aggregate in-hand payment ranges between ₹ 65,000 – ₹ 70,000 per month, including allowances.
Q. Can final- year scholars apply for the SBI PO test?
Ans: Yes, final- year Students can apply, but they must produce evidence of scale at the time of the interview.
Q. Where can I download the SBI PO syllabus PDF?
Ans: The SBI PO syllabus PDF can be downloaded from the sanctioned SBI website.