SBI Clerk Exam 2026 Syllabus
State Bank of India (SBI)
SBI Clerk Exam 2026 Syllabus — Quick Summary
The SBI Clerk Exam 2026 syllabus covers a 100-mark Prelims and a 200-mark Mains for the Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales) post. It spans English, Numerical Ability, Reasoning, Computer Aptitude and General/Financial Awareness, with 0.25 marks deducted for each wrong answer. This guide gives the pattern, topics, books and preparation plan.
Key Facts at a Glance
Exam Name
SBI Clerk Exam 2026
Conducting Body
State Bank of India (SBI)
Post Name
Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales)
Exam Mode
Online (Computer-Based Test)
Prelims
100 questions, 100 marks, 1 Hour
Mains
190 questions, 200 marks, 2 Hours 40 Minutes
Negative Marking
0.25 marks deducted for each wrong answer
Key Subjects
English, Numerical Ability/Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning, Computer Aptitude, General/Financial Awareness
How to Use This Syllabus
Visit the official SBI website at www.sbi.co.in.
Open the careers section and find the SBI Clerk 2026 notification.
Download the syllabus PDF and save it on your device.
Mark each topic as strong, average or weak.
Build a timetable that gives more time to weak topics.
Solve previous year papers to see which topics are asked often.
Take regular mock tests and revise the topics you miss.
SBI Clerk Exam 2026: Overview
The State Bank of India (SBI) conducts this recruitment for the post of Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales). The exam is an online Computer-Based Test with objective (MCQ) questions. Selection runs through Prelims, Mains, Language Proficiency Test (LPT), Document Verification and a Medical Test. The official website is www.sbi.co.in. The total vacancy count, exam dates and application fee are not part of the syllabus details supplied here, so check the official notification for them.
A clerk-level role at India's largest public sector bank is a popular career choice. That is why knowing the syllabus before you start preparing matters so much.
SBI Clerk Exam Pattern 2026
| Stage | Paper | Subject | Questions | Marks | Duration | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prelims | Objective | English Language | 30 | 30 | 1 Hour (total for Prelims) | 0.25 per wrong answer |
| Prelims | Objective | Numerical Ability | 35 | 35 | Included above | 0.25 per wrong answer |
| Prelims | Objective | Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | Included above | 0.25 per wrong answer |
| Mains | Objective | Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude | 50 | 60 | 2 Hours 40 Minutes (total for Mains) | 0.25 per wrong answer |
| Mains | Objective | General English | 40 | 40 | Included above | 0.25 per wrong answer |
| Mains | Objective | Quantitative Aptitude | 50 | 50 | Included above | 0.25 per wrong answer |
| Mains | Objective | General/Financial Awareness | 50 | 50 | Included above | 0.25 per wrong answer |
Prelims totals 100 questions for 100 marks. Mains totals 190 questions for 200 marks. Each correct answer carries 1 mark, unattempted questions get no marks, and the question paper is in English. Sectional time limits, if any, are given in the official notification.
Subject-Wise Syllabus
English Language (Prelims and Mains)
- Reading Comprehension
- Phrase Replacement
- Fillers
- Odd Sentence
- Para Jumbles
- Cloze Test
- Inference
- Sentence Completion
- Connectors
Numerical Ability and Quantitative Aptitude
Data Interpretation is a high-priority area. Practise the arithmetic and number-based topics in the official syllabus PDF, such as simplification, number series and data analysis, and check the PDF for the complete list.
Reasoning Ability
- Puzzles
- Seating Arrangements
- Other verbal and non-verbal reasoning topics listed in the official PDF
Computer Aptitude (Mains)
- Security Tools
- Networking
- Software and Hardware
- History of Computers
- Basic Knowledge of the Internet
- Computer Languages
- Computer Shortcut Keys
- Database
- Input and Output Devices
- MS Office
General/Financial Awareness (Mains)
- Current Affairs: national and international events of the last 6 months
- Banking and RBI updates
- Government Schemes
How Cut-Offs Are Decided
No verified cut-off for this exam is listed here, so we do not quote any marks. Cut-offs move with several factors:
- Number of vacancies announced
- Difficulty level of the paper in that shift or year
- Number of candidates who appear
- Category-wise relaxation
The real figures are published by SBI. Look at the official score card and the result PDF on www.sbi.co.in for the Prelims and Mains cut-offs.
Recommended Books
| Subject | Book | Author/Publication |
|---|---|---|
| General English | Objective General English | S.P. Bakshi |
| Reasoning | A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning | R.S. Aggarwal |
| Computer Aptitude | Computer Knowledge for SBI/IBPS Clerk | Disha Experts |
For Quantitative Aptitude, use a standard competitive-exam book of your choice. For General/Financial Awareness, read The Hindu or The Indian Express daily and follow monthly current affairs compilations. Use NCERT books for basics.
Preparation Strategy
Ideally, 3 to 6 months of dedicated preparation is sufficient, though it depends on your pace and prior knowledge. Follow this plan:
- Download the official syllabus and mark every topic as strong, average or weak.
- Split your time by weightage and give more time to difficult topics.
- Set daily, weekly and monthly targets in a written timetable.
- Prioritise Current Affairs, Puzzles, Seating Arrangements and Data Interpretation.
- Solve the last 5 to 10 years of question papers to learn trends and manage time.
- Take full-length mock tests in exam-like conditions and analyse every attempt.
- Make short notes of formulas and facts for last-minute revision.
- Sleep 7 to 8 hours and take regular breaks to stay focused.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
- Ignoring negative marking: each wrong answer costs 0.25 marks, so guess only when you can eliminate options.
- Skipping Mains-only topics: Computer Aptitude and General/Financial Awareness appear only in Mains, so start them early.
- Neglecting current affairs: read the news daily instead of cramming at the end.
- Not practising time management: attempt easy questions first and leave time-consuming ones for later.
- Relying on old information: the core syllabus stays similar but small changes can occur, so always check the latest official notification.
Frequently Asked Questions — SBI Clerk Exam 2026 Syllabus
Prelims covers English Language, Numerical Ability and Reasoning Ability. Mains covers Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude, General English, Quantitative Aptitude and General/Financial Awareness. Topic lists for each subject are given in the official syllabus PDF.
Prelims has 100 questions for 100 marks in 1 hour: English 30, Numerical Ability 35 and Reasoning 35. Mains has 190 questions for 200 marks in 2 hours 40 minutes: Reasoning & Computer Aptitude 50 questions (60 marks), General English 40, Quantitative Aptitude 50 and General/Financial Awareness 50. Both are online objective tests.
Yes. 0.25 marks are deducted for each wrong answer. Each correct answer carries 1 mark and unattempted questions get no marks, as per the pattern supplied.
There are five stages: Prelims, Mains, Language Proficiency Test (LPT), Document Verification and Medical Test. Check the official notification for the schedule and details of each stage.
