The SBI Clerk 2026 Expected Cut Off for the General category is estimated at 62–72 marks in Prelims and 80–90 marks in Mains. However, the actual cutoff may vary based on the state, category, vacancies, exam difficulty, and candidate performance. SBI Clerk cutoff is released on a state-wise and category-wise basis, so candidates should compare their scores with the previous cutoff trends of their respective states. For the 2026 recruitment cycle, SBI has also announced a special recruitment drive for 1,538 backlog Junior Associate vacancies for SC, ST and OBC candidates, which is separate from the regular recruitment. This blog covers the SBI Clerk 2026 Expected Cut Off, state-wise and category-wise estimates, previous year trends, safe scores, good attempts, and key cutoff factors.
Key Takeaways: SBI Clerk 2026 Expected Cut Off
- The SBI Clerk 2026 Expected Cut Off for General category is estimated at 62–72 in Prelims.
- The expected General-category Mains cutoff is 80–90.
- SBI Clerk cutoff is state-wise and category-wise.
- A practical General-category target is 75+ in Prelims and 92+ in Mains.
- The latest Mains cutoff reached 97.75 in Tamil Nadu.
- Previous-year cutoff trends show significant variation between states and years.
- Exam difficulty, vacancies, competition and candidate performance can affect the final cutoff.
- Good attempts and cutoff marks are not the same.
- Candidates should not rely on a single national cutoff.
- There is no interview stage in SBI Clerk Junior Associate recruitment.
- Candidates should prepare for a score buffer above the expected cutoff.
SBI Clerk 2026 Expected Cut Off
The SBI Clerk 2026 Expected Cut Off for the General category is expected to remain around 62–72 marks in Prelims and 80–90 marks in Mains. Since SBI Clerk recruitment is conducted state-wise, candidates should not treat these ranges as a single all-India cutoff.
| Exam Stage | General Expected Cut Off | Suggested Safe Target |
| Prelims | 62–72 | 75+ |
| Mains | 80–90 | 92+ |
Note: The expected cutoff and safe score given above are estimates for preparation purposes. The official cutoff will be known only after SBI releases it.
SBI Clerk Prelims Expected Cut Off 2026
The SBI Clerk Prelims Expected Cut Off 2026 for the General category is estimated at 62–72 marks. The expected cutoff can differ across categories and states because SBI releases the cutoff according to the recruitment structure.
SBI Clerk Prelims Expected Cut Off 2026: Category-wise
| Category | Expected Cut Off |
| General | 62–72 |
| OBC | 60–70 |
| EWS | 61–71 |
| SC | 52–62 |
| ST | 48–58 |
| PwBD | 45–55 |
Candidates should not prepare just to reach the lower end of these ranges. A score buffer is important because the actual cutoff can move upward depending on the difficulty level and competition.
SBI Clerk Mains Expected Cut Off 2026
The SBI Clerk Mains Expected Cut Off 2026 for the General category is estimated at 80–90 marks. The Mains cutoff is especially important because SBI Clerk does not have an interview stage for the Junior Associate recruitment, making Mains performance a key part of final selection.
SBI Clerk Mains Expected Cut Off 2026: Category-wise
| Category | Expected Cut Off |
| General | 80–90 |
| OBC | 75–86 |
| EWS | 78–88 |
| SC | 68–78 |
| ST | 60–72 |
| PwBD | 55–65 |
The latest available Mains data also shows that some states can have cutoffs well above 90. Therefore, candidates from high-competition states should keep a higher target score.
SBI Clerk Expected State-wise Cut Off 2026
The SBI Clerk Expected Cut Off 2026 is state-wise, so the cutoff for one state cannot be directly applied to another. Based on previous year trends, states such as Delhi and Kerala are expected to remain toward the higher end, while several other states may have comparatively lower ranges.
SBI Clerk Prelims Expected Cut Off 2026: State-wise
| State/UT | Expected Cut Off |
| Uttar Pradesh | 70–75 |
| Bihar | 72–78 |
| Delhi | 75–80 |
| Haryana | 73–78 |
| Rajasthan | 68–74 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 66–72 |
| Gujarat | 64–70 |
| Maharashtra | 63–69 |
| Punjab | 70–75 |
| West Bengal | 69–74 |
| Karnataka | 62–67 |
| Tamil Nadu | 60–66 |
| Telangana | 61–67 |
| Kerala | 76–82 |
Trend: Higher competition can push the cutoff upward, which is why candidates should consider their state’s previous cutoff instead of relying only on the overall expected range.
SBI Clerk Safe Score 2026
A safe score for SBI Clerk 2026 should provide a reasonable cushion above the expected cutoff. Candidates can target 75+ in Prelims and 92+ in Mains for the General category as practical preparation targets.
Category-wise SBI Clerk Safe Score
| Category | Safe Prelims Target | Safe Mains Target |
| General | 75+ | 92+ |
| OBC | 72+ | 88+ |
| SC | 65+ | 80+ |
| ST | 60+ | 72+ |
These are preparation targets, not official cutoff marks.
Candidates from states where previous cutoffs have been high should keep a higher target. For example, the latest General Mains cutoff crossed 90 in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir and Madhya Pradesh.
SBI Clerk Expected Good Attempts 2026
SBI Clerk good attempts indicate how many questions a candidate may reasonably attempt while maintaining accuracy. They should not be confused with cutoff marks.
Prelims Expected Good Attempts
| Section | Expected Attempts |
| Reasoning | 30–34 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 24–28 |
| English | 24–30 |
| Total | 75–85 |
Mains Expected Good Attempts
| Section | Expected Attempts |
| Reasoning | 28–32 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 24–30 |
| English | 26–30 |
| General Awareness | 30–35 |
The ideal number of attempts changes with the difficulty of the paper. Attempting more questions is not useful if accuracy falls sharply.
SBI Clerk Section-wise Expected Cut Off 2026
The SBI Clerk Section-wise Expected Cut Off 2026 is given below. These figures should be treated as practice benchmarks, not official sectional qualifying marks.
Prelims Section-wise Expected Cut Off
| Section | Expected Cut Off |
| English | 10–13 |
| Reasoning | 12–15 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 10–13 |
Mains Section-wise Expected Cut Off
| Section | Expected Cut Off |
| Reasoning | 14–18 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 13–17 |
| English | 15–19 |
| General Awareness | 16–20 |
Candidates should focus on their overall state-wise and category-wise score rather than preparing for a fixed sectional cutoff.
Does SBI Clerk Have a Sectional Cut Off?
SBI Clerk does not prescribe a fixed sectional cutoff that candidates should use as their primary selection benchmark. The important cutoff is the overall state-wise and category-wise score. The latest available information and candidate discussions also indicate that SBI Clerk should not be approached like an exam with a fixed sectional qualifying threshold.
However, candidates should still prepare every section properly. A weak section can reduce the overall score and make it harder to reach the state-wise cutoff.
SBI Clerk Marks vs Selection Probability
A higher score generally gives candidates a better cushion, but no expected score can guarantee selection before the official cutoff is released.
For SBI Clerk preparation purposes, the following Mains score bands can be used as a broad score benchmark:
| Mains Score | Planning Assessment |
| 95+ | Very High |
| 90–95 | High |
| 85–90 | Good |
| 80–85 | Borderline |
| Below 80 | Risky |
These are planning categories, not official selection probabilities.
How Does Exam Difficulty Affect SBI Clerk Cut Off?
Exam difficulty is one of the most important factors affecting the cutoff. When the paper is easier, more candidates may score highly, which can push the cutoff upward. A difficult paper can result in a lower cutoff.
| Difficulty Level | Expected Prelims Cut Off |
| Easy | 70–78 |
| Moderate | 62–70 |
| Difficult | 55–62 |
This is why candidates should wait for the actual exam difficulty before comparing their score with an expected cutoff.
What Factors Affect SBI Clerk 2026 Expected Cut Off?
The SBI Clerk 2026 Expected Cut Off can change because of several factors.
Exam Difficulty
A relatively easy paper can result in a higher cutoff, while a difficult paper may lower the benchmark.
Number of Vacancies
Vacancies can affect the level of competition for available seats. The current 2026 special drive itself has 1,538 backlog vacancies, showing why candidates should distinguish between special and regular recruitment figures.
State-wise Competition
SBI Clerk recruitment is state-wise. Therefore, candidate volume and performance within a state can affect its cutoff.
Candidate Performance
If candidates perform better overall, the cutoff may move upward.
Category
Cutoffs differ according to category and applicable recruitment rules.
Previous Year Trend
Previous cutoffs are useful benchmarks, but they cannot be treated as fixed values for the next recruitment cycle.
SBI Clerk 2026 Expected Cut Off: What Score Should You Target?
Candidates should not prepare with the mindset of scoring exactly at the SBI Clerk 2026 Expected Cut Off. The actual cutoff may move upward, particularly in states with strong competition.
Prelims Target
- General: 75+
- OBC: 72+
- SC: 65+
- ST: 60+
Mains Target
- General: 92+
- OBC: 88+
- SC: 80+
- ST: 72+
These targets provide a better preparation benchmark than trying to score just above the predicted cutoff.
SBI Clerk 2026 Expected Cut Off: Final Prediction
The current SBI Clerk 2026 Expected Cut Off can be summarised as follows:
| Stage | General Expected Cut Off | Suggested Safe Target |
| Prelims | 62–72 | 75+ |
| Mains | 80–90 | 92+ |
However, candidates should remember that these are expected ranges. SBI Clerk cutoff varies by state and category, and the latest 2025-26 Mains results demonstrate the extent of this variation. Tamil Nadu recorded 97.75, Andhra Pradesh 94.50 and Punjab 93.50 for the General category.
Therefore, the safest approach is to target a score comfortably above your state’s recent cutoff instead of preparing only for the predicted cutoff.
Conclusion
The SBI Clerk 2026 Expected Cut Off is useful for setting a preparation target, but candidates should not treat the predicted range as the final cutoff. The latest trend shows that SBI Clerk cutoff can vary significantly across states and can change considerably from one recruitment cycle to another.
For the 2026-27 regular recruitment, the broad General-category estimate is 62–72 marks for Prelims and 80–90 marks for Mains. A better preparation target is 75+ in Prelims and 92+ in Mains, with higher targets for states that have historically recorded stronger competition.
The smartest way to use cutoff data is to compare your state, category, previous-year cutoff, vacancies and exam difficulty. Do not prepare merely to cross the expected cutoff. Aim for a score that gives you a clear buffer.
For preparation, candidates can use PracticeMock’s SBI Clerk mock tests, previous year papers, quizzes and other banking exam resources to improve speed, accuracy and overall score.
Related SBI Clerk Blogs
FAQs on SBI Clerk 2026 Expected Cut Off
What is the SBI Clerk 2026 Expected Cut Off?
The SBI Clerk 2026 Expected Cut Off for the General category is estimated at 62–72 marks in Prelims and 80–90 marks in Mains. The actual cutoff can vary by state, category, vacancies, exam difficulty and candidate performance. Therefore, these figures should be used as preparation benchmarks rather than official qualifying marks.
What is the expected SBI Clerk Prelims cutoff for General category?
The expected SBI Clerk Prelims cutoff for the General category is 62–72 marks. Candidates should ideally target 75+ marks to maintain a reasonable buffer above the expected range. However, candidates from high-cutoff states should consider an even higher target.
What is the expected SBI Clerk Mains cutoff for General category?
The expected SBI Clerk Mains cutoff for the General category is around 80–90 marks. Since the latest cycle recorded Mains cutoffs above 90 in several states, candidates should preferably target 92+ marks and increase the target if their state has historically recorded a high cutoff.
Is SBI Clerk cutoff different for every state?
Yes. SBI Clerk cutoff is released on a state-wise and category-wise basis. Candidates should therefore compare their expected score with the previous cutoff of the state they applied for rather than relying only on an overall expected cutoff.
What is a safe score for SBI Clerk Prelims 2026?
For preparation purposes, a General-category candidate can target 75+ marks in Prelims. Candidates can use 72+ for OBC, 65+ for SC and 60+ for ST as broad safe-score targets. These are preparation benchmarks and should not be considered official cutoff marks.
What is a safe score for SBI Clerk Mains 2026?
A General-category candidate can use 92+ marks as a broad planning target. The suggested targets are 88+ for OBC, 80+ for SC and 72+ for ST. Candidates from states with higher recent Mains cutoffs should aim above these figures.
Does SBI Clerk have a sectional cutoff?
Candidates should not treat SBI Clerk as having a fixed sectional cutoff for selection. The important benchmark is the overall state-wise and category-wise cutoff. Candidates should nevertheless prepare all sections properly because a weak section can reduce the overall score.
What was the highest SBI Clerk Mains cutoff in the latest cycle?
The highest General-category Mains cutoff in the latest available cycle was 97.75 marks in Tamil Nadu, followed by 94.50 in Andhra Pradesh and 93.50 in Punjab. This wide variation demonstrates why state-wise previous-year analysis is more useful than one national cutoff.
Does SBI Clerk have an interview?
No. SBI Clerk Junior Associate recruitment does not include an interview. Candidates have to qualify through the Preliminary and Main examinations and meet the applicable Local Language Proficiency Test requirements.
What factors affect SBI Clerk cutoff?
The major factors include exam difficulty, vacancies, state-wise competition, candidate performance and category-wise competition. Because these factors can change from one recruitment cycle to another, previous-year cutoffs should be used only as reference points.
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