SBI Clerk (Junior Associate) - Pattern, Syllabus & Mock Tests
SBI Clerk is the common name for Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales), the clerical cadre post in State Bank of India. The latest advertisement is No. CRPD/CR/2026-27/17 dated 11 August 2026, with 7,680 regular vacancies across 24 States and UTs, plus backlog vacancies. Selection has an online Preliminary Examination, an online Main Examination and a test of the local language of the state you apply for. There is no interview. Prelims is 100 questions in 60 minutes with one-fourth negative marking, and only shortlists for Mains: the merit list is built on Mains marks alone. The guide and mocks here are for Prelims.
Under 10 minutes · no account needed · real percentile at the end
What is the SBI Clerk exam pattern?
Prelims has English Language (30), Numerical Ability (35) and Reasoning Ability (35), one mark each, with a separate 20-minute timer for each test. Every question has five options, and one-fourth of the marks for a question is deducted for a wrong answer. No minimum marks are prescribed for any test or for the aggregate; about 10 times the vacancies in each category are shortlisted for Mains on aggregate marks. Mains has 190 questions for 200 marks in 2 hours 40 minutes: General/Financial Awareness (50), General English (40), Quantitative Aptitude (50) and Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude (50 questions, 60 marks). Prelims marks are not added to the merit. Candidates who did not study the opted local language in Class 10 or 12 take a qualifying language test before joining.
| Section | Questions | Max Marks |
|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 |
| Numerical Ability | 35 | 35 |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 |
Full exam pattern: Tier-wise marks, timers and qualifying rules →
What is the SBI Clerk syllabus?
SBI does not publish a topic-wise syllabus. Its booklet says English is tested through grammar, vocabulary, sentence completion, synonyms, antonyms and comprehension of a passage. Numerical Ability measures how fast and accurate you are with numbers: computation, quantitative reasoning and interpretation of tables and graphs. Reasoning Ability uses classification, analogies, word formation, inferences from statements, coded operations, data sufficiency and syllogisms. As a study checklist of our own, cover simplification, number series, arithmetic and data interpretation for Numerical Ability, and puzzles, seating arrangement, inequalities, coding and blood relations for Reasoning. General/Financial Awareness and Computer Aptitude appear only in Mains.
Complete syllabus, subject by subject →
What is a good SBI Clerk cut-off?
SBI does not publish a state-wise, category-wise cut-off list as a public document; results are roll-number lists and each candidate sees their own marks through a lookup. We therefore quote no cut-off marks. What the advertisement does fix is the method: no sectional or aggregate minimum in Prelims, and approximately 10 times the vacancies in each category shortlisted for Mains in order of aggregate marks. The merit list is drawn state-wise and category-wise on Mains marks, so the line differs for every state. The 2026 advertisement has 7,680 regular vacancies: SC 1,114, ST 837, OBC 1,716, EWS 760 and General 3,253.
Official cut-offs and vacancies →
How should I prepare for SBI Clerk?
Each Prelims test has its own 20-minute timer, so practise in 20-minute blocks: 40 seconds per question in English and about 34 seconds in Numerical Ability and Reasoning. No calculator is allowed. With five options and one-fourth negative marking, a blind guess gains nothing on average, so guess only after eliminating at least one option. Since only Mains marks count in the merit list, start General/Financial Awareness and computer basics alongside Prelims work. If you are applying outside your home state, check whether you need the local language test.
Preparation strategy built on the marks and timers →
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are there in SBI Clerk Prelims?
100 questions for 100 marks in 60 minutes: English Language 30, Numerical Ability 35 and Reasoning Ability 35. Each test has a separate 20-minute timer.
What is the negative marking in SBI Clerk?
One-fourth of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for each wrong answer, in both Prelims and Mains.
Is there a sectional cut-off in SBI Clerk Prelims?
No. The 2026 advertisement prescribes no minimum qualifying marks for an individual test or for the aggregate in Prelims. Shortlisting for Mains is by aggregate marks, for about 10 times the vacancies in each category.
What is the age limit and qualification for SBI Clerk?
20 to 28 years as on 1 April 2026 under Advertisement CRPD/CR/2026-27/17, with 3 years relaxation for OBC and 5 years for SC and ST. The qualification is graduation in any discipline as on 31 December 2026; final-year students can apply provisionally.
Do Prelims marks count in the final selection?
No. Only the aggregate marks in the Main Examination, out of 200, are used for the final merit list. There is no interview.