SBI Clerk Exam Analysis 2026: Mains Exam Review, Questions Asked & Difficulty Level

The SBI Clerk Mains Exam 2026 is one of the most competitive banking exams in India, conducted by the State Bank of India to recruit Junior Associates (Customer Support & Sales). Thousands of aspirants appear every year, making a detailed exam analysis extremely important for both post-exam review and future preparation.

In this article, we provide a complete SBI Clerk Mains Exam Analysis 2026, including section-wise review, questions asked, overall difficulty level, and expected good attempts—explained in simple, student-friendly language.

Overview of SBI Clerk Mains Exam 2026

The SBI Clerk Mains exam is the second and final stage of the selection process. Marks scored in Mains are considered for the final merit list.

Exam Pattern at a Glance

• Total Questions: 190

• Total Marks: 200

• Total Time: 2 Hours 40 Minutes (160 minutes)

• Negative Marking: 0.25 marks for each wrong answer

Sections in Mains Exam

1. General / Financial Awareness

2. General English

3. Quantitative Aptitude

4. Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude

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Overall Difficulty Level – SBI Clerk Mains 2026

Based on candidate feedback and expert analysis, the overall difficulty level of SBI Clerk Mains 2026 was Moderate. The paper was well-balanced and followed the expected SBI exam trend.

Section-Wise SBI Clerk Mains Exam Analysis 2026

1. General / Financial Awareness

This section tested candidates’ awareness of current affairs and banking knowledge from the last 6–12 months.

Topics Asked:

• Current Affairs (National & International)

• Banking & Financial Awareness

• RBI Updates & Monetary Policies

• Government Schemes

• Static GK (Currencies, Capitals, Headquarters)

Difficulty Level: Moderate
Good Attempts: 30–35

Candidates with regular current affairs preparation found this section scoring.

2. General English

The English section was relatively scoring and less time-consuming compared to Quant and Reasoning.

Questions Asked:

• Reading Comprehension (1–2 passages)

• Error Detection

• Sentence Improvement

• Cloze Test

• Para Jumbles

• Vocabulary (Synonyms/Antonyms)

Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate
Good Attempts: 20–25

RC passages were readable, and grammar questions were mostly concept-based.

3. Quantitative Aptitude

Quantitative Aptitude remained lengthy and calculation-intensive, requiring smart time management.

Questions Asked:

• Data Interpretation (Table, Line Graph, Bar Graph)

• Simplification & Approximation

• Number Series

• Quadratic Equations

• Arithmetic Problems (Profit & Loss, SI/CI, Time & Work, Percentage)

Difficulty Level: Moderate
Good Attempts: 20–25

Data Interpretation questions consumed the most time.

4. Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude

This section combined logical reasoning and basic computer knowledge.

Reasoning Topics:

• Seating Arrangement (Circular & Linear)

• Puzzles (Floor-based, Box-based)

• Syllogism

• Inequality

• Input–Output

Computer Aptitude Topics:

• Basics of Computer Hardware & Software

• Internet & Networking

• MS Office

• Keyboard Shortcuts

Difficulty Level: Moderate
Good Attempts: 25–30

Puzzles were doable but required careful reading.

Overall Good Attempts – SBI Clerk Mains 2026

Note: Cut-offs may vary depending on category and state.

Types of Questions Asked (Memory-Based Trend)

• Banking & Financial awareness questions dominated GA

• Reading Comprehension and grammar-based English questions

• DI-heavy Quantitative Aptitude

• Puzzle-based Reasoning with basic computer awareness

The paper rewarded accuracy over blind attempts.

Key Takeaways from SBI Clerk Mains Exam 2026

• The exam was moderate but time-bound

• English section was the most scoring

• Current Affairs preparation played a crucial role

• Accuracy mattered due to negative marking

• Smart section-wise time allocation was essential

SBI Clerk 2026 Expected Cut-Off Marks (Mains)

The cut-off marks for SBI Clerk Mains vary every year based on:

• Exam difficulty

• Number of vacancies

• Number of candidates

• State-wise competition

Based on the 2025–26 exam trend, the overall difficulty being Moderate, and historical data from State Bank of India, here are the expected cut-off ranges.

Category-wise Expected Cut-Off (Out of 200)

⚠️ Note: These are expected ranges, not official cut-offs. Final cut-offs may vary state-wise and based on normalization.

State-Wise Expected Cut-Off (General Category – Approx.)

States with high competition generally see higher cut-offs.

SBI Clerk 2026 Preparation Strategy (Step-by-Step Plan)

If you’re preparing for SBI Clerk 2026, think of it like training for a sport. You don’t just practice—you practice smart.

Stage 1: Strong Foundation (First 30–40 Days)

Focus Areas

• Understand basic concepts

• Build speed + accuracy

• Remove fear of Quant & Reasoning

What to Do

• Quant: Percentages, Ratio, Profit & Loss, Time & Work

• Reasoning: Syllogism, Inequality, Blood Relations, Direction

• English: Grammar rules, Reading Comprehension basics

• GA: Start daily current affairs (last 6 months)

⏱️ Daily Study Time: 4–5 hours

Stage 2: Section-Wise Mastery (Next 40–50 Days)

This is where real improvement happens.

Quantitative Aptitude

• Practice Data Interpretation daily

• Focus on calculation speed

• Learn shortcut methods

Reasoning Ability

• Solve 2–3 puzzles daily

• Focus on seating arrangements

• Practice Input–Output regularly

English Language

• Daily Reading Comprehension

• Vocabulary from editorials

• Practice sentence correction

General / Financial Awareness

• Current affairs (last 8–10 months)

• Banking terms & RBI updates

• Government schemes & reports

⏱️ Daily Study Time: 5–6 hours

Stage 3: Mock Test & Revision Phase (Last 30 Days)

This phase decides selection or rejection.

Mock Test Strategy

• Attempt 3–4 full-length mocks per week

• Analyze every mock deeply

• Identify weak sections and improve them

Revision Plan

• Revise GA notes every alternate day

• Re-attempt wrong questions

• Maintain an error notebook

⏱️ Daily Study Time: 6–7 hours

Section-Wise Score Target (Safe Zone)

Smart Exam-Day Strategy

• Attempt strong sections first

• Avoid guesswork (negative marking hurts badly)

• Keep last 5 minutes for review

• Stay calm—SBI papers reward logic, not panic

📚 ✅ Best Books for SBI Clerk 2026 Preparation

📌 1. Quantitative Aptitude

These are the go-to books to build concepts, calculation speed, and DI skills:

• “Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations” – R.S. Aggarwal – Great for basics and consistent practice.

• “Fast Track Objective Arithmetic” – Rajesh Verma (Arihant) – Fantastic for shortcuts and speed techniques.

• “Magical Book on Quicker Maths” – M. Tyra – Helpful for quick calculations in exams.

• Topic-wise DI books (Kiran/Practice series) – Focused DI practice for Mains.

💡 Tip: Start with Aggarwal to strengthen basics, then move to Verma and Tyra to increase your speed and accuracy.

📌 2. Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude

To crack puzzles and logical reasoning with confidence:

• “A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning” – R.S. Aggarwal – Core reasoning concepts.

• “Analytical Reasoning” – M.K. Pandey – Excellent for puzzles and higher-order questions.

• “A New Approach to Reasoning Verbal and Non-Verbal” – B.S. Sijwali & Indu Sijwali – Good extra practice.

• Computer Awareness books (Arihant / Lucent) – Covering basics of computers relevant for Mains.

💡 Note: Reasoning is often scoring if you practice seating, puzzles, and inequalities regularly.

📌 3. General English

English needs a mix of grammar, vocabulary, and comprehension:

• “Objective General English” – S.P. Bakshi – Tried-and-tested for banking exams.

• “Word Power Made Easy” – Norman Lewis – Excellent for building vocabulary.

• Classic Grammar (Wren & Martin or High School Grammar) – For foundational grammar.

💡 Tip: Combined reading practice + vocabulary book builds a strong base for RC and grammar sections.

📌 4. General / Financial Awareness

General Awareness is critical in SBI Clerk Mains:

• “Pratiyogita Darpan” – Upkar Publication – Comprehensive current affairs coverage.

• “Manorama Yearbook” – Malayala Manorama – Helps with static GK and facts.

• Banking Awareness books (Disha / Arihant / Dhankar) – Excellent for banking terms, RBI, policies, etc.

💡 Pro Tip: Combine books with daily news apps, RBI updates, and monthly current affairs.

📌 5. Previous Year Solved Papers

Practicing past papers builds exam familiarity:

• “SBI Clerk 22 Years Prelims & Mains Solved Papers + Online Mock Tests” – Includes past questions and mock practice.

FAQs: SBI Clerk Mains Exam Analysis 2026

Q1. What was the overall difficulty level of SBI Clerk Mains 2026?
The overall difficulty level was Moderate.

Q2. Which section was the easiest in SBI Clerk Mains 2026?
The English Language section was considered the easiest and most scoring.

Q3. Which section was the most time-consuming?
Quantitative Aptitude, especially Data Interpretation, was the most time-consuming.

Q4. How many good attempts are required to clear SBI Clerk Mains?
A safe range is 85–105+ attempts, depending on accuracy and category.

Q5. Does SBI Clerk Mains include Computer Awareness?
Yes, Computer Aptitude is included along with Reasoning Ability.

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