The State Bank of India ( SBI) conducts the Specialist Officer ( SO) recruitment to appoint professionals in specialist cadres like IT Officer, Law Officer, Marketing Officer, HR Officer, Data Analyst, and other specialized roles. This exam tests both general aptitude and professional knowledge of the candidate.
SBI SO 2026 – Selection Process
The selection process for SBI SO usually consists of the following stages:
- Online Written Exam
- Personal Interview / Interaction
The final merit list is prepared based on 70% weightage for the written test and 30% for the interview.
SBI SO 2026 – Exam Pattern
The SBI SO written test is typically divided into two papers:
Paper 1 – General Aptitude (Common for All Posts)
| Section | No. of Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning | 15 | 15 | 45 min |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 15 | 15 | |
| English Language | 20 | 20 |
This paper is qualifying in nature for many posts; marks might not be counted for final merit, but candidates generally have to score minimum qualifying marks.
Paper 2 – Professional Knowledge (Post-Specific)
| Section | No. of Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional Knowledge | 60 | 100 | 75 mins |
This is the most important section since it carries the maximum marks and has a major role in the final selection.
- Total Marks (Written Test): 150 (Approx — varies slightly by post)
- Negative Marking: In the most recent patterns, there is no negative marks in many SO exams, especially where the general sections are qualifying only. However, some posts / previous patterns have shown -0.25 per wrong answer. Check the specific notification.
Latest Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2026
SBI SO Syllabus 2026
A. Reasoning Ability
The Reasoning section tests logical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Topics include:
- Blood Relations
- Logical Sequence of Words
- Clocks & Calendars
- Analogy
- Alphabet Test
- Theme Detection
- Series
- Sitting Arrangements
- Direction Sense Test
- Coding-Decoding
- Mathematical Operations
- Logical Reasoning
- Number, Ranking, and Time Sequence Test
- Eligibility Test
- Inserting the Missing Character
- Puzzle Test
- Alpha Numeric Sequence Puzzle
- Inserting the Missing Character
- Arithmetical Reasoning
- Classification
- Data Sufficiency
- Statement – Conclusions
- Number, Ranking & Time Sequence
B. Quantitative Aptitude
- HCF & LCM
- Roots
- Decimal & Fractions
- Logarithms
- Probability
- Heights & Distances Partnership
- Problems on Ages
- Time and Distance
- Bar Graphs
- Line Graphs
- Problems on Trains
- Boats & Streams
- Averages
- Number System
- Percentages
- Simple & Compound Interest
- Pie Charts
- Simplification
- Profit and Loss
- Mixtures & Allegations
- Volume & Surface Area
- Permutation & Combination
- Time and Work
- Mensuration
- Clocks
- Pipes & Cisterns
- Ratio and Proportions
C. English Language
Focus on language comprehension and grammar.
Topics include:
- Prepositions
- Reading Comprehension
- Idioms And Phrases
- Synonyms and Antonyms
- Vocabulary
- Passage Correction
- Tenses
- Sentence Rearrangement
- Conjunctions
- Active And Passive Voice
- One Word Substitution
- Spotting the Error
- Cloze Test
- Grammar
- Fill in the Blanks
- Conclusion
- Subject-Verb Agreement
D. Professional Knowledge
This is a post-specific subject section, and the syllabus depends on the specialist role you apply for.
Below are some examples of professional knowledge topics:
For IT / Systems Officer
- Software Development (SDLC, OOPs)
- Networking (TCP/IP, OSI, Firewalls)
- Database Management (SQL)
- Cyber Security Concepts
- Infrastructure Support & Cloud Ops
For Law Officer
- Banking Laws & Regulations (RBI Act, SARFAESI, Negotiable Instruments Act)
- Contract Law
- Cyber Laws
- Compliance & Ethics
- Security Laws & Banking Operations
For Finance / Risk / Audit Posts
- Financial Management
- Accounting Principles
- Auditing & Taxation
- Financial Reporting & Compliance
- Risk Assessment & Controls (varies by post)
SBI SO 2026 Preparation Strategy
- Start with the basics of Reasoning, Quant & English (qualifying sections).
- Strongly focus on Professional Knowledge for your chosen post — this section decides final merit.
- Practice mock tests and previous year papers to understand the question style.
- Regular revision of theory and sample questions helps improve accuracy.
SBI SO 2026 FAQs
Q. What’s the SBI SO exam?
Ans: The SBI SO( Specialist Officer) test is conducted by the State Bank of India to recruit Aspirants for specialist roles such as IT Officer, Law Officer, Finance Officer, HR Officer, & other professional posts. Selection is based on a written test and an interview.
Q. What’s the selection process for SBI SO?
Ans: The SBI SO selection process generally includes an online written examination followed by a personal interview. For some posts, recruitment may be done directly through an interview without a written test, depending on the announcement.
Q. Is there negative marking in the SBI SO exam?
Ans: Generally, there’s no negative marking in the SBI SO test. Still, campaigners should always check the most recent sanctioned announcement as the marking scheme may vary for different posts.