The SBI Clerk Prelims exam conducted by the State Bank of India is one of the most competitive banking exams in India. Based on the latest exam held in September 2025 (used as the most recent reference for 2026 aspirants), this article provides a detailed analysis of difficulty level, section-wise questions, good attempts, and expected cut-off.
SBI Clerk Prelims 2025–26: Overall Exam Analysis
- Overall Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate
- Total Questions: 100
- Total Marks: 100
- Duration: 60 minutes
The paper was speed-based rather than concept-heavy, meaning candidates with strong time management had a clear advantage.
Section-Wise SBI Clerk Prelims Analysis
1. English Language Analysis
- Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate
- Good Attempts: 24–27
Topics Asked:
- Reading Comprehension (8 questions)
- Cloze Test (5 questions)
- Error Detection (5 questions)
- Sentence Rearrangement
- Word Usage / Word Swap
Key Observations:
- Most questions were grammar-based and direct
- Vocabulary level was moderate
- Reading comprehension passages were easy to understand
👉 Candidates with basic grammar knowledge could easily score high in this section.
2. Reasoning Ability Analysis
- Difficulty Level: Easy
- Good Attempts: 28–32
Topics Asked:
- Seating Arrangement (Linear/Circular puzzles)
- Floor-based Puzzle
- Syllogism
- Inequality
- Blood Relation
- Coding-Decoding
- Alphanumeric Series
Key Observations:
- Puzzle-based questions dominated the section
- Non-puzzle questions were very scoring
- Logical reasoning was straightforward
👉 This section was the most scoring part of the paper.
3. Numerical Ability (Quant) Analysis
- Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate
- Good Attempts: 22–26
Topics Asked:
- Simplification (10 questions)
- Data Interpretation (Bar Graph, Caselet DI)
- Wrong Number Series
- Arithmetic (Profit & Loss, Time & Work, SI/CI)
Key Observations:
- Simplification questions were easy and scoring
- DI sets were moderate but doable
- Arithmetic questions were slightly time-consuming
👉 This section required speed + calculation accuracy.
Shift-Wise Difficulty Trend
Across multiple shifts:
| Section | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|
| English | Easy to Moderate |
| Reasoning | Easy |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Easy to Moderate |
| Overall | Easy to Moderate |
👉 The difficulty level remained consistent across all shifts.
Good Attempts (Safe Score)
Based on student feedback and analysis:
- Overall Good Attempts: 75–85 questions
- Safe Score Range: 70–78 marks (General category)
👉 Candidates scoring above 80 had a high chance of clearing prelims.
Expected Cut-Off 2025–26
The expected cut-off depends on difficulty and vacancies:
- General Category: 70–78
- OBC: 65–75
- SC/ST: 60–70
👉 Easier paper = Higher cut-off trend.
Important Highlights from SBI Clerk Prelims
1. Speed is the Key
The exam was not conceptually tough but required fast problem-solving skills.
2. Reasoning Dominated
Puzzle and seating arrangement questions played a major role.
3. Quant Required Practice
Though easy, it was time-consuming, especially DI and arithmetic.
4. English Was Scoring
Candidates with basic preparation could easily score 25+.
Topic-Wise Weightage (Most Important for Next Attempt)
High Weightage Topics:
- Puzzles & Seating Arrangement
- Simplification
- Reading Comprehension
Medium Weightage Topics:
- Arithmetic
- Cloze Test
- Data Interpretation
Low Weightage Topics:
- Coding-Decoding
- Miscellaneous reasoning
Preparation Strategy Based on Analysis
1. Focus on Speed Practice
- Solve 100+ questions daily
- Attempt sectional tests
2. Master Puzzles
- Practice 2–3 puzzles daily
- Focus on different types (linear, circular, floor-based)
3. Strengthen Quant Basics
- Focus on simplification and arithmetic
- Improve calculation speed
4. Improve English Accuracy
- Practice grammar rules
- Read comprehension passages daily
5. Attempt Mock Tests
- Analyze mistakes after each test
- Work on weak areas
SBI Clerk Prelims Exam Pattern (Quick Overview)
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 min |
| Numerical Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 min |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 min |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 min |
👉 Negative marking: 0.25 marks per wrong answer
Final Conclusion
The SBI Clerk Prelims 2025–26 exam was easy to moderate, with a strong focus on speed and accuracy. Candidates who practiced mock tests and had a clear strategy performed well.
If you are preparing for the next attempt:
- Focus more on puzzles + simplification
- Maintain high speed with accuracy
- Target a score of 80+ for safety
With consistent preparation and the right strategy, clearing the SBI Clerk Prelims is absolutely achievable.