# SBI Probationary Officer (Prelims) (SBI PO) — Shishya exam context

> Machine-readable context for SBI Probationary Officer (Prelims), maintained by Shishya (https://shishya.in) — India's end-to-end free government exam preparation platform. All facts below are free to cite; link back to https://shishya.in/exams/SBI_PO. Human page: https://shishya.in/exams/SBI_PO

## Exam pattern
- Category: BANKING · national
- Questions: 100 · Total marks: 100 · Marks per question: 1
- Duration: 60 minutes
- Negative marking: −0.25 per wrong answer
- Languages offered: EN, HI

## Eligibility & vacancies
- Age: 21–30 years (before category relaxation: OBC +3, SC/ST +5)
- Education: Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognized university
- Approximate annual vacancies: 1,500
- Note: Final-year students can apply provisionally; good credit history required; no minimum percentage; computer proficiency needed
- Official portal: https://sbi.bank.in (State Bank of India (SBI))

## Key dates
- 2026-07-30 — Prelims Admit Card download available
- 2026-07-30 — Prelims admit card (expected)
- 2026-07-30 — SBI PO Preliminary Examination (exam day)
- 2026-08-01 — Prelims exam (exam day)
- 2026-08-01 — Preliminary Examination - Day 1 (exam day)
- 2026-08-01 — Prelims exam - Day 1 (exam day)
- 2026-08-02 — Preliminary Examination - Day 2 (exam day)
- 2026-08-02 — Prelims exam - Day 2 (exam day)

## Syllabus outline
### English Language (weight 1)
Cloze Test · Error Spotting / Error Detection · Fill in the Blanks · Idioms and Phrases · Match the Columns / Connectors · Sentence Rearrangement / Para Jumbles · Reading Comprehension · Sentence Improvement / Phrase Replacement · Synonyms and Antonyms · Theme / Inference Detection · Word Swap · Word Usage

### Quantitative Aptitude (weight 1)
Arithmetic · Problems on Ages · Average · Boats and Streams · Mixture and Alligation · Partnership · Percentage · Profit, Loss and Discount · Ratio and Proportion · Simple and Compound Interest · Time, Speed and Distance · Time and Work · Data Interpretation · Bar Graph DI · Caselet DI · Line Graph DI · Missing DI · Mixed / Combined DI · Pie Chart DI · Tabular DI · Mensuration · Number Series · Number System · Permutation and Combination · Probability · Quadratic Equations · Simplification and Approximation

### Reasoning Ability (weight 1)
Alphabet / Word Formation · Alphanumeric / Symbol Series · Blood Relations · Coding-Decoding · Data Sufficiency · Direction and Distance · Inequalities · Machine Input-Output · Order and Ranking · Puzzles · Box-based Puzzle · Classification Puzzle · Comparison Puzzle · Floor / Flat Puzzle · Day / Month / Year Scheduling · Seating Arrangement · Circular Arrangement · Linear Arrangement · Square / Rectangular Arrangement · Triangular / Hexagonal Arrangement · Statement-Assumption / Conclusion · Syllogism

## Expected cutoffs (category-wise)
| Category | Expected Cutoff (indicative) |
|----------|------------------------------|
| General | 68–75 marks out of 100 |
| EWS | 65–72 marks out of 100 |
| OBC | 60–68 marks out of 100 |
| SC | 45–53 marks out of 100 |
| ST | 40–48 marks out of 100 |
| PwD | 35–43 marks out of 100 |

- **General-vs-OBC gap**: Typically 8–12 marks; SC/ST cutoffs sit 20–28 marks below General. EWS tracks 3–5 marks below General.
- **Year-on-year shifts**: Cutoffs fluctuate ±5 marks based on paper difficulty, vacancy count, and candidate pool strength. Tough papers compress ranges downward; easier editions push General near 75+.
- **Sectional qualifiers matter**: Meeting overall cutoff is necessary but not sufficient—candidates must also clear minimum marks in each section (Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, English) to qualify for Mains.

Full cutoff page: https://shishya.in/exams/SBI_PO/cutoff

## Free resources on Shishya for this exam
- Exam hub (mocks, PYQs, news, dates): https://shishya.in/exams/SBI_PO
- Full syllabus + free study notes: https://shishya.in/exams/SBI_PO/syllabus
- Category-wise expected cutoffs: https://shishya.in/exams/SBI_PO/cutoff
- Memory tricks & mnemonics: https://shishya.in/exams/SBI_PO/tricks
- How to crack it (strategy guide): https://shishya.in/exams/SBI_PO/guide
- Free day-by-day study plan (personal coach): https://shishya.in/coach
- Free AI tutor (22 Indian languages, no login): https://shishya.in/chat

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