SBI PO Mock Test Free 2026 — Prelims, Mains, Group Exercise & Interview
The State Bank of India Probationary Officer (SBI PO) exam is conducted by India's largest public sector bank to recruit officer-cadre staff. SBI PO is widely regarded as the most prestigious banking exam in India, owing to SBI's scale, brand and faster promotions.
The exam is held annually with a notification typically in September, Prelims in November-December, and Mains in December-January. SBI PO recruits about 2,000–2,500 officers per year. Starting CTC is approximately ₹12–13 lakh per annum.
Selection is in three phases — Phase I (Prelims, screening), Phase II (Mains: objective + descriptive), and Phase III (Group Exercise + Interview). Final merit is calculated 75:25 from Mains and Phase III.
संक्षिप्त परिचय
SBI PO परीक्षा भारत के सबसे बड़े सार्वजनिक बैंक State Bank of India में Probationary Officer पदों के लिए होती है। हर साल लगभग 2,000–2,500 पद होते हैं।
चयन तीन चरणों में होता है — Phase I (Prelims), Phase II (Mains वस्तुनिष्ठ + वर्णनात्मक), और Phase III (Group Exercise + Interview)। अंतिम मेरिट Mains और Phase III के 75:25 अनुपात से बनती है।
न्यूनतम योग्यता स्नातक है। आयु सीमा 21–30 वर्ष है। शुरुआती CTC लगभग ₹12–13 लाख प्रति वर्ष होती है।
Exam Pattern
SBI PO selection has three phases. Phase I (Prelims) is qualifying. Phase II (Mains) has 4 objective sections and 1 descriptive paper. Phase III combines Group Exercise (20 marks) and Interview (30 marks).
| Subject / Section | Questions | Marks / Time |
|---|---|---|
| Prelims — English Language | 30 | 30 marks · 20 min |
| Prelims — Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 35 marks · 20 min |
| Prelims — Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 marks · 20 min |
| Prelims Total | 100 | 100 marks · 60 min |
| Mains — Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | 40 | 50 marks · 50 min |
| Mains — Data Analysis & Interpretation | 30 | 50 marks · 45 min |
| Mains — General/Banking/Economy Awareness | 50 | 60 marks · 45 min |
| Mains — English Language | 35 | 40 marks · 40 min |
| Mains — English Descriptive (Letter + Essay) | 2 | 50 marks · 30 min |
| Phase III — Group Exercise + Interview | — | 50 marks (20 + 30) |
Negative marking: 0.25 marks per wrong answer in Prelims and Mains objective. Final merit weight: 75% Mains + 25% Phase III. SBI PO Mains is considered tougher than IBPS PO Mains, especially in DI and Reasoning.
Syllabus — Topic-wise Breakdown
English Language
Reading Comprehension (often 2 passages, including economy / banking / business themes), Cloze Test (newer formats), Para Jumbles, Error Spotting, Word Replacement, Sentence Improvement, Vocabulary, Idioms, Para Completion, Inference questions.
Data Analysis & Interpretation (Mains-Specific)
Caselet DI (paragraph-based), Mixed DI (chart + text), Probability-based DI, Bar/Line/Pie Charts, Tabular DI, Quadratic Comparison, Approximation, Number Series. SBI PO DI is calculation-heavy and often has 5-question caselets — practice for speed.
Reasoning & Computer Aptitude
Advanced puzzles (5-variable, double-row, blood relations + seating), Logical Reasoning (Statement-Assumption, Course of Action, Cause-Effect, Inference), Critical Reasoning, Coding-Decoding (new pattern), Input-Output, Data Sufficiency. Computer: hardware, software, MS Office, internet, networking, cyber security basics.
General / Banking / Economy Awareness
Banking Awareness (RBI structure, monetary policy, types of banks, NPAs, financial inclusion, Basel III, priority sector lending), Indian Economy (GDP, inflation, fiscal/monetary policy, Union Budget), Static GK, Schemes (PMJDY, MUDRA, Stand Up India, PM SVANidhi), Current Affairs (last 6 months — banking events, RBI announcements, mergers).
Descriptive English (Mains)
50 marks combined — one letter (formal / business / informal) and one essay. Essay topics often revolve around banking & economy: digital payments, fintech disruption, NPAs, financial inclusion, women entrepreneurs, climate finance, India's economic reforms.
Preparation Tips & Strategy
1. SBI PO Mains is Tougher than IBPS PO — Prepare Accordingly
SBI Mains DI and Reasoning sections are harder than IBPS counterparts. The questions test depth of understanding, not just speed. Solve at least 100 high-difficulty caselet DI sets and 50 advanced puzzles before the exam.
2. Speed + Accuracy in Prelims
Sectional 20-minute timing in Prelims means you must finish each section without spillover. Aim for 75+ attempts at 90% accuracy. Practice 3 sets per section daily under timed conditions.
3. Master the Descriptive — 50 Marks Game-Changer
Descriptive carries 50 marks in SBI PO Mains (highest among bank exams). Daily practice — alternate one letter and one essay. Use banking-relevant data points. Aim for grammatically clean, structured 250-word essays.
4. Prepare for Group Exercise & Interview From Day 1
Phase III is 25% of final merit. Read newspaper editorials daily — this builds opinions for Group Exercise. Prepare common HR questions (why banking? why SBI? strengths/weaknesses) and current banking events for Interview.
5. 30+ Mock Tests in Last 45 Days
Daily mock in the last 30 days. Track sectional accuracy and time-per-question. Focus on the section where your delta-from-cutoff is smallest.
Ready to Test Your Preparation?
Free mock tests on ParikshaExamPrep — no signup, instant score, available in Hindi & English. Practice with the latest exam pattern.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the SBI PO 2026 exam pattern?
SBI PO 2026 has three phases — Phase I (Prelims, 100 marks, 60 min), Phase II (Mains, 200 marks objective + 50 marks descriptive), and Phase III (Group Exercise 20 + Interview 30 = 50 marks). Final merit is calculated 75:25 from Mains and Phase III.
What is the SBI PO salary 2026?
SBI PO starting basic pay is ₹48,480 per month under the latest 12th BPS. Including DA, HRA, special allowance and other benefits, gross in-hand is approximately ₹85,000–₹90,000 per month. Annual CTC ranges between ₹12 lakh and ₹13 lakh.
Is SBI PO tougher than IBPS PO?
Yes, generally. SBI PO Mains has more difficult Data Interpretation (caselet-heavy) and Reasoning sections. SBI PO also has Group Exercise + Interview (50 marks total) compared to IBPS PO's 100-mark interview only. SBI offers higher salary, better postings and faster promotions, attracting top talent.
What is the eligibility for SBI PO?
Graduate from a recognized university in any discipline. Final-year students can also apply provisionally. Age limit: 21–30 years (with relaxation for reserved categories: OBC +3, SC/ST +5, PwBD +10, ex-servicemen as per rules).
How many attempts are allowed for SBI PO?
General category: 4 attempts. OBC: 7 attempts. SC/ST/PwBD: no limit (subject to upper age limit). Each appearance in any phase counts as one attempt.
अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले प्रश्न (हिंदी में)
SBI PO 2026 परीक्षा पैटर्न क्या है?
SBI PO में तीन चरण होते हैं — Phase I (Prelims, 100 अंक), Phase II (Mains 250 अंक — वस्तुनिष्ठ + वर्णनात्मक), और Phase III (Group Exercise + Interview 50 अंक)। अंतिम मेरिट 75:25 (Mains:Phase III) पर बनती है।
SBI PO का वेतन कितना है?
शुरुआती बेसिक ₹48,480 प्रति माह है। कुल in-hand ₹85,000–₹90,000 और वार्षिक CTC ₹12–13 लाख तक होता है।
क्या SBI PO IBPS PO से कठिन है?
हाँ, सामान्यतः SBI PO Mains का DI और Reasoning IBPS की तुलना में कठिन माना जाता है। SBI में Group Exercise और Interview भी होता है।
SBI PO के लिए कितने प्रयास मिलते हैं?
सामान्य वर्ग: 4 प्रयास। OBC: 7 प्रयास। SC/ST/PwBD: असीमित (आयु सीमा तक)।
SBI PO के लिए योग्यता क्या है?
किसी भी विषय में स्नातक। अंतिम वर्ष के छात्र भी अनुदेय रूप से आवेदन कर सकते हैं। आयु सीमा 21–30 वर्ष।
Related Mock Tests & Guides
SBI PO Application — Photo & Signature Specs
Need exact photo or signature dimensions for the SBI PO application form? Use our free resizer:
Free Tools for Your Application
Need to upload a photo, signature, or check your age before applying? Use these free in-browser tools: