SBI PO Syllabus 2026: Check the Latest Exam Pattern, Subject-Wise Topics, and Important Questions
The official syllabus for the SBI PO 2026 exam is conducted in a competitive two-tiered online testing process consisting of the Preliminary and Mains exams. The Prelims exam will test candidates across English, quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning, while the Mains exam tests Data Analysis, Banking Awareness, and a descriptive writing test.
Qualifying the State Bank of India Probationary Officer (SBI PO) exam will require more than just studying and working hard; it requires studying smart for the exam. With 1500 vacancies announced for the Probationary Officer for 2026, the competition for the seats will be fierce. The preliminary exam is expected to be conducted in August 2026. It leaves the candidates with only a limited amount of time to prepare for the SBI PO Exam 2026. The SBI PO application 2026 started from June 18, 2026 and will continue till July 8, 2026.
To help the candidates build an effective study plan, a simple breakdown of the official syllabus and exam pattern can help the candidates build a better preparation strategy for both the Prelims Exam and the Mains Exam for 2026.
SBI PO Syllabus 2026: Exam Pattern and Syllabus for the Prelims Exam
The SBI Prelims Exam is a fast-paced qualifying exam which conducted online. In this exam, the goal of the candidate should be simple: score high marks to qualify for the cutoff and appear for the next stage, i.e, the Mains exam. The candidates need to note that while the Prelims marks get you to the next round, it does not count toward the final selection merit list. Given below is the exam pattern of the SBI PO prelims Exam 2026:-
| Subjects | Number of Questions | Total Marks | Time |
| English Language | 40 | Total marks for the Prelims Paper is 100 | 20 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | 20 minutes | |
| Reasoning Ability | 30 | 20 minutes | |
| Total | 100 | 1 hour |
The SBI Prelims Exam will consist of 100 objective questions for a total of 100 marks and will be conducted online. The test will be conducted in three sections as mentioned above. The category-wise merit list will be drawn based on the marks scored by the candidates in the preliminary exam. The bank will penalise the candidates for the wrong answers marked in the prelims exam. For each incorrect question, a 1/4th mark will be deducted. No marks will be given to the candidates if the question is left unattempted.
SBI PO Prelims Syllabus 2026
Given below is the Syllabus for the SBI PO 2026 for the three sections on which the exams will be conducted:-
| Topic | Syllabus |
| English Language | Designed to evaluate the candidate’s verbal ability, comprehension and understanding of grammar concepts, it tests the candidates on the following topics:-
|
| Quantitative Aptitude | Designed to evaluate the candidate’s numerical understanding and problem-solving ability, it includes topics like:-
|
| Reasoning Ability | Designed to evaluate the candidates’ logical skills and critical thinking ability, it includes topics like:-
|
Candidates should focus on their speed, as in the prelims exam pattern, the sections are timed, and the candidates will have to finish it under the specified time.
SBI PO Syllabus 2026: Exam Pattern and Syllabus for the Mains Exam
The candidates who qualify for the Prelims SBI PO exam 2026 will be selected for the SBI PO Mains exam 2026, which is expected to be held in September 2026. The Mains exam evaluates the prelims, qualified candidates on both their analytical depth and writing skills. The Mains examination is conducted online and will consist of an Objective test of 200 marks and a descriptive test of 30 marks. Given below is the exam pattern for the SBI PO Mains Exam 2026:-
| (i) Objective Test:- This test will be conducted for 3 hours and will include 4 sections with a total of 200 marks. There is also a separate timing for each section. | ||||
| Test | Subject | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| I | Reasoning and Computer Aptitude | 40 | 60 | 50 minutes |
| II | Data Analysis and Interpretation | 30 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| III | General Awareness, Banking Knowledge and Economy | 60 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| IV | English Language | 40 | 20 | 40 minutes |
| Total | 170 | 200 | 3 hours | |
| (ii) Descriptive Test:- Communication Skills | ||||
| 3 | 30 marks | 30 Minutes | |
Each candidate will have to score a minimum qualifying score in each test or section, i.e., Test I, II, III, IV and Descriptive paper individually. Depending upon the number of vacancies, sectional cut-offs will be decided by the bank. The bank will penalise the candidates for the wrong answers marked in the prelims exam. For each incorrect question, a 1/4th mark will be deducted. No marks will be given to the candidates if the question is left unattempted.
SBI PO Mains Syllabus 2026
The SBI PO Syllabus for the Mains exam is divided into two papers,i.e, objective and descriptive. Given below is the Syllabus for the SBI PO 2026 for the Mains paper on which the exams will be conducted:-
| Subject | Syllabus |
| Data Interpretation and Analysis |
|
| Reasoning and Computer Aptitude | Reasoning
Computer
|
| General Awareness, Economy, Banking |
|
| English Language |
|
Qualifying for the SBI PO 2026 exam goes far beyond memorising formulas or cramming shortcuts. State Bank of India has designed its paper to test the analytical skills rather than rote learning; the preparation of the candidate must focus on deep conceptual understanding and mental resilience. Candidates should practice with mock tests, and remember that choosing which question to skip is just as important as knowing how to solve them.
Pratyasha is a Communications Professional with over 2.2 years of experience in the education sector. Having worked with top names like Arihant Publications and Jagran Josh, she specializes in board exam results, education news, and government job updates. She also brings a unique perspective as a former Subject Matter Expert for nearly a year. Currently, she is a key part of the Exam Prep and Sarkari Naukri team at Jagran Josh. Pratyasha holds an Honours degree in Ancient Indian History, Culture, and Archaeology, and loves reading and traveling in her free time.
