The complete SBI Clerk Exam Analysis 2026 for all Shifts is going to be discussed in this article. Candidates can get the complete SBI Clerk Prelims Exam Analysis 2026 for Regular Vacancies, for All Shifts (26th and 27th Sep 2026). The SBI Clerk Prelims Exam Analysis 2026 covers the latest paper difficulty, section-wise questions, good attempts, and shift-wise trends to help candidates assess their performance. The SBI Clerk regular Prelims examination is being conducted on September 26 and September 27, 2026, while the Special Recruitment Drive examination was held on September 16, 2026. Our team updated the difficulty level and good attempts after the exam ended today.
According to the SBI Clerk Exam Analysis 2026 for the first ,second, third and fourth shifts held on September 26 and September 27, the overall paper was Easy to Moderate. Reasoning Ability, Numerical Ability, and English Language broadly followed the expected SBI Clerk pattern. Based on candidate feedback, the overall good attempts for Shift 1, Shift 2, Shift 3 and Shift 4 were approximately 75 to 87 questions, depending on accuracy.
The SBI Clerk Exam analysis provides a detailed overview of the overall and section-wise difficulty level, topic-wise question distribution, good attempts, and important question patterns based on candidate feedback. SBI is recruiting 9,766 Junior Associates through regular vacancies and 1,538 through the Special Recruitment Drive. Candidates can use the shift-wise analysis and previous-year trends to understand the exam level, compare attempts, and assess their chances of qualifying for the Mains examination.
The SBI Clerk Prelims exam analysis 2026 highlights an overall paper expected difficulty ranging from easy to moderate. Candidates get 60 minutes to attempt 100 multiple-choice questions, with individual sectional timers of 20 minutes enforced automatically.
The table below presents the core examination structure and expected overall attempt targets across all sections:
| Section | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Sectional Timing | Difficulty Level | Good Attempts |
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 Minutes | Easy to Moderate | 24 – 27 |
| Numerical Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 Minutes | Easy to Moderate | 22 – 27 |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 Minutes | Easy to Moderate | 26 – 30 |
| Overall Total | 100 | 100 | 60 Minutes | Easy to Moderate | 72 – 85 |
An SBI Clerk exam analysis 2026 shift 1 review serves as a benchmark for candidates taking the test in subsequent shifts. Tracking shift-wise variance ensures that you adjust your speed and question selection strategy accordingly.
SBI Clerk (Backlog 16 Sept Exam) Sequence:
English Language ⇒ Quantitative Aptitude ⇒ Reasoning Ability
SBI Clerk (Regular 26 Sept and 27 Sept Exam) Sequence:
English Language ⇒ Quantitative Aptitude ⇒ Reasoning Ability
Below is the consolidated matrix tracking the status and review of all shifts conducted across the scheduled exam dates:
| Exam Dates | Shift 1 (09:00 AM) | Shift 2 (11:30 AM) | Shift 3 (02:00 PM) | Shift 4 (04:30 PM) |
| 16 September 2026 | Easy to Moderate | Easy to Moderate | Easy to Moderate | NA |
| 26 September 2026 | Easy To Moderate | Easy to Moderate | Easy to Moderate | Easy to Moderate |
| 27 September 2026 | Easy to Moderate | Easy to Moderate | Easy to Moderate | Easy to Moderate |
The SBI Clerk good attempts may vary from one shift to another depending on the difficulty level, question selection, and overall paper pattern. The table below will be updated after every shift.
| Exam Date & Shift | Reasoning Ability | Numerical Ability | English Language | Overall Good Attempts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 September – Shift 1 | 27–28 | 22–25 | 25–28 | 74–81 |
| 16 September – Shift 2 | 29-32 | 25-28 | 24-27 | 78-87 |
| 16 September – Shift 3 | 30-34 | 20-24 | 23-27 | 73-85 |
| 26 September – Shift 1 | 27-29 | 25-27 | 23-27 | 75-86 |
| 26 September – Shift 2 | 28-32 | 23-27 | 24-27 | 75-86 |
| 26 September – Shift 3 | 30-34 | 23-27 | 23-26 | 76-87 |
| 26 September – Shift 4 | 30-33 | 23-26 | 23-27 | 76-86 |
| 27 September – Shift 1 | 27-31 | 24-27 | 22-25 | 77-85 |
| 27 September – Shift 2 | 30-33 | 23-27 | 23-27 | 76-87 |
| 27 September – Shift 3 | 30-33 | 23-27 | 23-26 | 76-86 |
| 27 September – Shift 4 | 29-33 | 24-27 | 23-27 | 76-87 |
The SBI Clerk Regular Vacancy Prelims Exam Analysis 2026 covers the difficulty level, section-wise questions, good attempts and important topics asked in the 4th Shift held on 27 September 2026. Based on the initial feedback received from candidates, the overall difficulty level of Shift 4 was easy to moderate.
Good attempts are indicative and depend on accuracy and the eventual shift-wise/state-wise competition. They should not be treated as an official qualifying score. Candidates appearing in later shifts can use this analysis to understand the paper level and plan their attempt strategy accordingly.
| Sections | Good Attempts | Difficulty Level |
| English Language | 23-27 | Easy to Moderate |
| Numerical Ability | 24-27 | Easy to Moderate |
| Reasoning Ability | 29-33 | Easy to Moderate |
| Overall | 76-87 | Easy to Moderate |
The reasoning section tests logical speed and analytical agility. SBI Clerk Prelims puzzles questions dominated the section, a total 18 questions were asked.
| Topics | Questions |
| Floor With Flat Puzzle (4 floors, 2 flats – 8 persons) | 5 |
| Square Seating (corners facing outside, middles facing inside – 8 persons) | 5 |
| Stack Puzzle (8 Stacks) | 5 |
| Uncertain Linear Seating (facing north, not more than 16) | 3 |
| Order and Ranking (6 persons) | 4 |
| Inequality | 3 |
| Syllogism | 3 |
| Number Series | 5 |
| Misc. 1. Alphabet-based (Kingdom) 2. Meaningful word (S, I, T, E – not ending with S) | 2 |
| Total | 35 |
The SBI Clerk Prelims quantitative aptitude topic-wise exam analysis indicates that DI forms the core scoring foundation. 14 DI Questions carried the maximum weightage.
| Topics | Questions |
| Table DI (Number of Males and Females based) | 5 |
| Line Graph DI | 6 |
| Caselet DI (10rs, 20rs, 50rs based) | 4 |
| Simplification | 10 |
| Application Sums | 10 |
| Total | 35 |
The SBI Clerk Prelims English questions asked in 2026 focused on RC, Cloze test, Incorrect sentence, and Phrase replacement.
| Topics | Questions |
| Reading Comprehension: Passage related to: Tribes | 9 |
| Cloze Test (A to F) | 6 |
| Phrase replacement | 4 |
| Find the Correct / Incorrect Sentence | 5 |
| Word Swap | 4 |
| Match the Column | 2 |
| Total | 30 |
The SBI Clerk Regular Vacancy Prelims Exam Analysis 2026 covers the difficulty level, section-wise questions, good attempts and important topics asked in the 3rd Shift held on 27 September 2026. Based on the initial feedback received from candidates, the overall difficulty level of Shift 3 was easy to Moderate.
Good attempts are indicative and depend on accuracy and the eventual shift-wise/state-wise competition. They should not be treated as an official qualifying score. Candidates appearing in later shifts can use this analysis to understand the paper level and plan their attempt strategy accordingly.
| Sections | Good Attempts | Difficulty Level |
| English Language | 23-26 | Easy to Moderate |
| Numerical Ability | 23-27 | Easy to Moderate |
| Reasoning Ability | 30-33 | Easy to Moderate |
| Overall | 76-86 | Easy to Moderate |
The reasoning section tests logical speed and analytical agility. SBI Clerk Prelims puzzles questions dominated the section, a total 18 questions were asked.
| Topics | Questions |
| Square Seating (8 persons – middle inside, corner outside) | 5 |
| Linear Seating (8 persons – North-facing) | 5 |
| Stack Puzzle (8 Stacks) | 5 |
| Uncertain Linear Seating | 3 |
| Blood Relation | 3 |
| Inequality | 3 |
| Syllogism | 3 |
| Number Series | 5 |
| Meaningful word (Marigold – 2,5,7,8) | 1 |
| Digit Sum | 1 |
| Misc. | 1 |
| Total | 35 |
The SBI Clerk Prelims quantitative aptitude topic-wise exam analysis indicates that DI forms the core scoring foundation. 14 Data Interpretation Questions carried the maximum weightage.
| Topics | Questions |
| Table DI (A, B, C, D – Amount investment related) | 4 |
| Bar Graph DI (Cars Sold – 20 difference) | 5 |
| Caselet DI (2 days – Palace visited by Male, Female) | 5 |
| Simplification | 10 |
| Application Sums | 11 |
| Total | 35 |
The SBI Clerk Prelims English questions asked in 2026 focused on RC, Para Jumbles, Incorrect Sentence, and Word Swap.
| Topics | Questions |
| Reading Comprehension: Passage related to: Agriculture in State X Synonym / Antonym: | 9 |
| Jumbled Sentences | 5 |
| Fillers | 4 |
| Word usage (Current, Just) | 2 |
| Find the correct/incorrect sentence | 5 |
| Word Swap | 5 |
| Total | 30 |
The SBI Clerk Regular Vacancy Prelims Exam Analysis 2026 covers the difficulty level, section-wise questions, good attempts and important topics asked in the 2nd Shift held on 27 September 2026. Based on the initial feedback received from candidates, the overall difficulty level of Shift 2 was easy to moderate.
Good attempts are indicative and depend on accuracy and the eventual shift-wise/state-wise competition. They should not be treated as an official qualifying score. Candidates appearing in later shifts can use this analysis to understand the paper level and plan their attempt strategy accordingly.
| Sections | Good Attempts | Difficulty Level |
| English Language | 23-27 | Easy to Moderate |
| Numerical Ability | 23-27 | Easy to Moderate |
| Reasoning Ability | 30-33 | Easy to Moderate |
| Overall | 76-87 | Easy to Moderate |
The reasoning section tests logical speed and analytical agility. SBI Clerk Prelims puzzle questions dominated the section, with 10 total questions asked.
| Topics | Questions |
| Circular seating (8 persons, facing inside) | 5 |
| Month-day puzzle (4 months, 8 dates) | 5 |
| Order and Ranking (8 persons) | 3 |
| Direction | 3 |
| Blood Relation | 3 |
| Syllogism | 4 |
| Alphabet Series | 4 |
| Misc. | 3 |
| Total | 35 |
The SBI Clerk Prelims quantitative aptitude topic-wise exam analysis indicates that DI form the core scoring foundation. 15 Data Interpretation Questions, carried the maximum weightage.
| Topics | Questions |
| Table DI (Days – Mobile Phones Sold) | 5 |
| Bar Graph DI (Number of Newspapers – A, B, C, D, E) | 5 |
| Caselet DI (2) | 5 |
| Simplification | 10 |
| Arithmetic | 10 |
| Total | 35 |
The SBI Clerk Prelims English questions asked in 2026 focused on RC, Para Jumbles, and Misspelt words.
| Topics | Questions |
| Reading Comprehension:Passage related to: Water Conceptions and Food ChangesSynonym / Antonym: Hold, Make, Spike | 10 |
| Para Jumbles (A to E) | 5 |
| Fillers | 4 |
| Phrase Replacement | 3 |
| Find the Correct/Incorrect Sentence | 3 |
| Misspelt | 5 |
| Total | 30 |
The SBI Clerk Regular Vacancy Prelims Exam Analysis 2026 covers the difficulty level, section-wise questions, good attempts and important topics asked in the 1st Shift held on 27 September 2026. Based on the initial feedback received from candidates, the overall difficulty level of Shift 1 was Easy to Moderate.
Good attempts are indicative and depend on accuracy and the eventual shift-wise/state-wise competition. They should not be treated as an official qualifying score. Candidates appearing in later shifts can use this analysis to understand the paper level and plan their attempt strategy accordingly.
| Subject | Good Attempts | Exam Difficulty Level |
| Reasoning Ability | 27-31 | Easy to Moderate |
| Numerical Ability | 24-27 | Easy to Moderate |
| English Language | 22-25 | Easy to Moderate |
| Overall | 77-85 | Easy to Moderate |
The reasoning section tests logical speed and analytical agility. SBI Clerk Prelims puzzle questions dominated the section, with 15 total questions asked.
| Topics | Questions |
|---|---|
| Floor Based Puzzle (8 Floors) | 5 |
| Parallel Row Seating (10 Persons) | 5 |
| Day Puzzle (Monday to Sunday) | 5 |
| Order and Ranking (Height-Based) | 3 |
| Coding-Decoding | 3 |
| Blood Relation | 3 |
| Syllogism | 4 |
| Alphanumeric Series | 5 |
| Misc. – Odd One Out, Number System | 2 |
| Total | 35 |
The SBI Clerk Prelims quantitative aptitude topic-wise exam analysis indicates that Data Interpretation forms the core scoring foundation. 14 Data Interpretation Questions, carried the maximum weightage.
| Topics | Questions |
|---|---|
| Table DI (Defective and Non-defective Products – A, B) | 5 |
| Bar Graph DI | 5 |
| Caselet DI | 4 |
| Simplification | 10 |
| Application Sums | 11 |
| Total | 35 |
The SBI Clerk Prelims English questions asked in 2026 focused on Reading Comprehension, Cloze Test (A to F), and Sentence Rearrangement.
| Topics | Questions |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension (Passage related to: Marathon and Mountain Trucking)Synonym / Antonym: Seldom, Stood | 9 |
| Sentence Rearrangement | 4 |
| Cloze Test (A to F) | 6 |
| Sentence Improvement | 3 |
| Find the Correct/Incorrect Sentence | 4 |
| Word Swap | 4 |
| Total | 30 |
The SBI Clerk Regular Vacancy Exam Analysis 2026 covers the difficulty level, section-wise questions, good attempts and important topics asked in the 4th Shift held on 26 September 2026. Based on the initial feedback received from candidates, the overall difficulty level of Shift 4 was Easy to Moderate.
Good attempts are indicative and depend on accuracy and the eventual shift-wise/state-wise competition. They should not be treated as an official qualifying score. Candidates appearing in later shifts can use this analysis to understand the paper level and plan their attempt strategy accordingly.
| Subject | Good Attempts | Exam Difficulty Level |
| Reasoning Ability | 30-33 | Easy to Moderate |
| Numerical Ability | 23-26 | Easy to Moderate |
| English Language | 23-27 | Easy to Moderate |
| Overall | 76-86 | Easy to Moderate |
The reasoning section tests logical speed and analytical agility. SBI Clerk Prelims Seating Arrangement questions dominated the section, with 10 total questions asked.
| Topics | Number of Questions |
| Linear seating (8 persons) | 5 |
| Circular Seating (8 persons) | 5 |
| Floor with Flat puzzle | 5 |
| Order and Ranking (Height-based) | 3 |
| Coding Decoding | 5 |
| Syllogism | 2 |
| Direction | 3 |
| Number Sequence – 3-digit number | 5 |
| Misc. (Word pair and Odd one out) | 2 |
| Total | 35 |
The SBI Clerk Prelims quantitative aptitude topic-wise analysis indicates that Application Sums form the core scoring foundation. 12 Application Sums Questions carried the maximum weightage.
| Topics | Questions |
|---|---|
| Table DI (A, B, C- Sunday, Monday, Tuesday) | 5 |
| Line Graph DI (Month Based) | 5 |
| Simplification | 10 |
| Missing Number Series | 3 |
| Application Sums | 12 |
| Total | 35 |
The SBI Clerk Prelims English questions asked in 2026 focused on Reading Comprehension, Jumbled Sentences, and Single Fillers.
| Topics | Questions |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension (Marine-based Synonym / Antonym: Use, Present) | 9 |
| Jumbled Sentences | 5 |
| Single Fillers | 5 |
| Error Spotting | 4 |
| Word Swap | 5 |
| Match the Column | 2 |
| Total | 30 |
The SBI Clerk Regular Vacancy Exam Analysis 2026 covers the difficulty level, section-wise questions, good attempts and important topics asked in the 3rd Shift held on 26 September 2026. Based on the initial feedback received from candidates, the overall difficulty level of Shift 3 was Easy to Moderate.
Good attempts are indicative and depend on accuracy and the eventual shift-wise/state-wise competition. They should not be treated as an official qualifying score. Candidates appearing in later shifts can use this analysis to understand the paper level and plan their attempt strategy accordingly.
| Subject | Good Attempts | Exam Difficulty Level |
| Reasoning Ability | 30-34 | Easy to Moderate |
| Numerical Ability | 23-27 | Easy to Moderate |
| English Language | 23-26 | Easy to Moderate |
| Overall | 76-87 | Easy to Moderate |
The reasoning section tests logical speed and analytical agility. SBI Clerk Prelims Puzzle questions dominated the section, with 15 total questions asked.
| Topic | Number of Questions |
|---|---|
| Sequence Based | 5 |
| Month + Date (Aug/Sep/Oct/Nov) | 5 |
| Certain Number of Persons (N = 11) | 5 |
| Coding – Decoding | 5 |
| Direction | 2 |
| Syllogism | 3 |
| Blood Relation | 2 |
| 3-Digit Number Series | 5 |
| Pair Formation (HIPSTER) | 1 |
| Number Based | 1 |
| Odd One Out | 1 |
| Total | 35 |
The SBI Clerk Prelims quantitative aptitude topic-wise analysis indicates that Data Interpretation form the core scoring foundation. 13 Questions carried the maximum weightage.
| Topics | Questions |
|---|---|
| Table DI (Number of Books and Magazines in 4 Days) | 5 |
| Caselet DI | 3 |
| Line Graph DI (Month Based) | 5 |
| Simplification | 10 |
| Missing Number Series | 2 |
| Application Sums | 10 |
| Total | 35 |
The SBI Clerk Prelims English questions asked in 2026 focused on Reading Comprehension, Cloze Test, and Jumbled Sentences.
| Topics | Questions |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension (Festival in a Country Synonym / Antonym: Deep, Turn) | 8 |
| Jumbled Sentences | 5 |
| Cloze Test | 6 |
| Error Spotting | 4 |
| Misspelt word | 3 |
| Phrase Replacement | 3 |
| Match the Column | 1 |
| Total | 30 |
The SBI Clerk Regular Vacancy Exam Analysis 2026 covers the difficulty level, section-wise questions, good attempts and important topics asked in the 2nd Shift held on 26 September 2026. Based on the initial feedback received from candidates, the overall difficulty level of Shift 2 was Easy to Moderate.
Good attempts are indicative and depend on accuracy and the eventual shift-wise/state-wise competition. They should not be treated as an official qualifying score. Candidates appearing in later shifts can use this analysis to understand the paper level and plan their attempt strategy accordingly.
| Subject | Good Attempts | Exam Difficulty Level |
| Reasoning Ability | 28-32 | Easy to Moderate |
| Numerical Ability | 23-27 | Easy to Moderate |
| English Language | 24-27 | Easy to Moderate |
| Overall | 75-86 | Easy to Moderate |
The reasoning section tests logical speed and analytical agility. SBI Clerk Prelims puzzle questions dominated the section, with 18 total questions asked.
| Topic | Number of Questions |
|---|---|
| Sequence Based | 5 |
| Month + Date (Aug/Sep/Oct/Nov) | 5 |
| Certain Number of Persons (N = 11) | 3 |
| Square Based (Corner-In / Side-Out) | 5 |
| Inequality | 3 |
| Syllogism | 3 |
| Blood Relation | 3 |
| 3-Digit Number Series | 5 |
| Pair Formation (HIPSTER) | 1 |
| Number Based | 1 |
| Odd One Out | 1 |
| Total | 35 |
The SBI Clerk Prelims quantitative aptitude topic-wise analysis indicates that Application Sums form the core scoring foundation. Arithmetic Questions carried the maximum weightage.
| Topics | Questions |
|---|---|
| Table DI (Number of Books and Magazines in 4 Days) | 5 |
| Bar Graph DI (4 Shops – Laptops Sold) | 4 |
| Simplification | 10 |
| Missing Number Series | 2 |
| Application Sums | 14 |
| Total | 35 |
The SBI Clerk Prelims English questions asked in 2026 focused on Reading Comprehension (RC), Phrase Replacement, and Fill in the Blanks.
| Topics | Questions |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension (Passage related to: Lemon Juice Shop and Bees)Synonym / Antonym: Stand, Running | 10 |
| Jumbled Sentences | 5 |
| Error Spotting | 3 |
| Fillers | 4 |
| Phrase Replacement | 3 |
| Word Swap | 2 |
| Word Usage (Pound, Growth) | 2 |
| Match the Column | 1 |
| Total | 30 |
The SBI Clerk Regular Vacancy Exam Analysis 2026 covers the difficulty level, section-wise questions, good attempts and important topics asked in the 1st Shift held on 26 September 2026. Based on the initial feedback received from candidates, the overall difficulty level of Shift 1 was Easy to Moderate.
The overall good-attempt range was approximately 75 to 86 questions. However, candidates should remember that good attempts are indicative and depend heavily on accuracy.
Good attempts are indicative and depend on accuracy and the eventual shift-wise/state-wise competition. They should not be treated as an official qualifying score. Candidates appearing in later shifts can use this analysis to understand the paper level and plan their attempt strategy accordingly.
| Subject | Good Attempts | Exam Difficulty Level |
| Reasoning Ability | 27-29 | Easy To Moderate |
| Numerical Ability | 25-27 | Easy To Moderate |
| English Language | 23 to 27 | Easy To Moderate |
| Overall | 75 to 86 | Easy To Moderate |
The reasoning section tests logical speed and analytical agility. SBI Clerk Prelims puzzle questions dominated the section with 15 to 20 total questions asked. The Reasoning Ability section was Easy to Moderate.
| Topic | Number of Questions |
|---|---|
| Uncertain No. of Persons (Not more than 14 Persons) – North Facing | 3 |
| Box-Based Puzzle (8) – Independent | 5 |
| Month and Day Based Puzzle (Sept to Dec) – (5, 26), (4 × 2) | 5 |
| Box-Based (Number) – 8 Boxes | 5 |
| Syllogism (3 × 2) | 3 |
| Inequalities (Non-Coded) | 3 |
| Direction – Distance | 3 |
| Pair Formation (Word) | 1 |
| Word Series | 5 |
| Odd One Out | 1 |
| Number Based (3-Letter Word) | 1 |
| Total | 35 |
The SBI Clerk Prelims Exam quantitative aptitude topic-wise analysis indicates that speed calculations form the core scoring foundation. Arithmetic carried maximum weightage.
| Topics | Number of Questions |
|---|---|
| Simplification | 11–12 |
| Line Graph DI | 5 |
| Table DI | 5 |
| Arithmetic (Train Based, Average, Mixture, SI & CI, etc.) | 14–15 |
| Total | 35 |
The SBI Clerk Prelims English questions asked in 2026 focused on Reading Comprehension, Para Jumble, and Error Detection.
| Topics | Number of Questions |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension (Cricket Based) | 9 |
| Para Jumble | 5 |
| Sentence Based Error Detection | 4 |
| Phrase Replacement | 4 |
| Word Swap | 4 |
| Fillers | 4 |
| Total | 30 |
| Subject | Good Attempts | Exam Difficulty Level |
| Reasoning Ability | 30-34 | Easy to Moderate |
| Numerical Ability | 20-24 | Easy to Moderate |
| English Language | 23-27 | Easy to Moderate |
| Overall | 73-85 | Easy to Moderate |
The reasoning section tests logical speed and analytical agility. SBI Clerk Prelims puzzles and seating arrangement questions dominated the section with 15 to 20 total questions asked.
| Topics | Questions |
|---|---|
| Square Seating (8 Persons – Facing Inside, Outside) | 5 |
| Uncertain Number Linear Seating | 5 |
| Stack Puzzle (8 Stacks) | 5 |
| Floor-based Puzzle (8 Floors) | 5 |
| Direction | 3 |
| Inequality | 3 |
| Syllogism | 3 |
| Alphanumeric Series | 5 |
| Misc. (Word Pair) | 1 |
| Total | 35 |
The SBI Clerk Prelims quantitative aptitude topic-wise analysis indicates that speed calculations form the core scoring foundation. Simplification and approximation carried maximum weightage.
| Topics | Questions |
|---|---|
| Table DI (based on Male, Female) | 5 |
| Line Graph DI | 5 |
| Caselet DI | 3 |
| Simplification | 10 |
| Application Sums | 12 |
| Total | 35 |
The SBI Clerk Prelims English questions asked in 2026 focused on reading fluency, core grammar rules, and vocabulary recognition.
| Topics | Questions |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension Passage related to: Nutrition Synonym / Antonym: Prompted, Contain | 10 |
| Error Spotting | 5 |
| Word Swap | 5 |
| Match the Column | 2 |
| Word Usage (Effect) | 1 |
| Parajumbles | 5 |
| Misc. | 2 |
| Total | 30 |
The SBI Clerk Backlog Vacancy Exam Analysis 2026 covers the difficulty level, section-wise questions, good attempts and important topics asked in the 2nd Shift held on 16 September 2026. Based on the initial feedback received from candidates, the overall difficulty level of Shift 2 was Easy to Moderate.
Good attempts are indicative and depend on accuracy and the eventual shift-wise/state-wise competition. They should not be treated as an official qualifying score. Candidates appearing in later shifts can use this analysis to understand the paper level and plan their attempt strategy accordingly.
| Subject | Good Attempts | Exam Difficulty Level |
| Reasoning Ability | 29-32 | Easy to Moderate |
| Numerical Ability | 25-28 | Easy to Moderate |
| English Language | 24-27 | Easy to Moderate |
| Overall | 78-87 | Easy to Moderate |
The reasoning section tests logical speed and analytical agility. SBI Clerk Prelims puzzles and seating arrangement questions dominated the section with 15 to 20 total questions asked.
| Topic | No. of Questions |
|---|---|
| Inequality (Non-Common) | 4 Qs |
| Chinese Coding | 5 Qs |
| Mix Series | 5 Qs |
| Pair Formation | 1 Q |
| Number Based | 1 Q |
| Meaningful Word | 1 Q |
| Floor + Flat (4 × 2) | 5 Qs |
| Month Based | 5 Qs |
| Circular (Inside) | 5 Qs |
| Blood Relation | 3 Qs |
| Total | 35 Qs |
The SBI Clerk Prelims quantitative aptitude topic-wise analysis indicates that speed calculations form the core scoring foundation. Simplification and approximation carried maximum weightage.
| Topic | No. of Questions |
|---|---|
| Simplification | 12 Qs |
| WNS | 5 Qs |
| DI (Bar) – Average Based | 5 Qs |
| Arithmetic – Train Based, Mix, Average, Multiple of 6/Lowest Number, SI | 13 Qs |
| Total | 35 Qs |
The SBI Clerk Prelims English questions asked in 2026 focused on reading fluency, core grammar rules, and vocabulary recognition.
| Topics | Number of Questions |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension (Environmentalist – Elephant Conservation) | 7 |
| Error Detection (Traditional Based) | 5 |
| Phrase Replacement | 4 |
| Fillers (Single/Double) | 4 |
| Misspelt | 5 |
| Parajumble | 5 |
| Total | 30 |
The SBI Clerk Backlog Vacancy Exam Analysis 2026 covers the difficulty level, section-wise questions, good attempts and important topics asked in the 1st Shift held on 16 September 2026. Based on the initial feedback received from candidates, the overall difficulty level of Shift 1 was Easy to Moderate.
Good attempts are indicative and depend on accuracy and the eventual shift-wise/state-wise competition. They should not be treated as an official qualifying score. Candidates appearing in later shifts can use this analysis to understand the paper level and plan their attempt strategy accordingly.
| Subject | Good Attempts | Exam Difficulty Level |
| Reasoning Ability | 27-28 | Easy to Moderate |
| Numerical Ability | 22-25 | Easy to Moderate |
| English Language | 25-28 | Easy to Moderate |
| Overall | 74-81 | Easy to Moderate |
The reasoning section tests logical speed and analytical agility. SBI Clerk Prelims puzzles and seating arrangement questions dominated the section with 15 to 20 total questions asked.
| Topic | No. of Questions |
|---|---|
| Alphanumeric (Number + Symbols) | 5 |
| Blood Relation | 3 |
| Syllogism | 3 |
| Number Based | 1 |
| Meaningful Word (ARNE) | 1 |
| Odd One Out | 1 |
| Inequalities | 3 |
| Sequence-Based Puzzle | 5 |
| Day-Based Puzzle (Monday to Sunday) | 5 |
| Comparison-Based Puzzle (Height Comparison) | 3 |
| Parallel Row Seating Arrangement (10 Persons) | 5 |
| Total | 35 |
The SBI Clerk Prelims quantitative aptitude topic-wise analysis indicates that speed calculations form the core scoring foundation. Simplification and approximation carried maximum weightage.
| Topic | No. of Questions |
|---|---|
| Simplification | 12 |
| DI – Table Based | 6 |
| DI – Bar Graph | 3 |
| DI – Caselet DI (SI & CI) | 3 |
| Arithmetic | 11 |
| Total | 35 |
The SBI Clerk Prelims English questions asked in 2026 focused on reading fluency, core grammar rules, and vocabulary recognition.
| Topic | No. of Questions |
|---|---|
| Para Jumble | 5 |
| Phrase Replacement | 3 |
| Mis-Spelt Words | 4 |
| Word Usage (Wade) | 1 |
| Rearrangement | 2 |
| Error Detection | 5 |
| Column-Based | 1 |
| Reading Comprehension / Fill in the Blanks | 9 |
| Total | 30 |
The SBI Clerk reasoning section difficulty shift 1 and the quantitative aptitude sections remain pivotal in determining overall rank. Below is a topic-wise breakdown across all three subjects.
The reasoning section tests logical speed and analytical agility. SBI Clerk Prelims puzzles and seating arrangement questions dominated the section with 15 to 20 total questions asked.
| Topic / Question Type | Number of Questions | Difficulty Level |
| Puzzles & Seating Arrangement (Floor, Box, Linear, Circle) | 15 – 20 | Easy to Moderate |
| Syllogism & Inequalities | 6 – 8 | Easy |
| Alphanumeric & Number Series | 5 | Easy |
| Direction Sense & Blood Relations | 3 – 5 | Easy |
| Miscellaneous (Pair formation, Meaningful word) | 2 – 3 | Easy |
| Total | 35 | Easy to Moderate |
The SBI Clerk Prelims quantitative aptitude topic-wise analysis indicates that speed calculations form the core scoring foundation. Simplification and approximation carried maximum weightage.
| Topic / Question Type | Number of Questions | Difficulty Level |
| Simplification & Approximation | 10 – 12 | Easy |
| Data Interpretation (DI) (Table / Bar Graph) | 10 | Easy to Moderate |
| Arithmetic Word Problems (Ages, Profit & Loss, Percentage, Time & Work, SI/CI) | 8 – 10 | Moderate |
| Missing / Wrong Number Series | 5 | Easy to Moderate |
| Total | 35 | Easy to Moderate |
The SBI Clerk Prelims English questions asked from 2025 focused on reading fluency, core grammar rules, and vocabulary recognition.
| Topic / Question Type | Number of Questions | Difficulty Level |
| Reading Comprehension (RC) (Narrative / Economy-based) | 8 – 10 | Easy to Moderate |
| Error Spotting & Sentence Improvement | 5 | Easy |
| Cloze Test / Fillers | 5 | Easy |
| Para Jumbles / Sentence Rearrangement | 5 | Easy to Moderate |
| Word Swap & Misspelt Words | 3 – 5 | Easy |
| Total | 30 | Easy |
Analyzing previous year exam trends allows candidates to spot repeating question frameworks and anticipate section-wise difficulty shifts.
The table below outlines historical performance metrics observed during the previous prelims cycle:
| Section | Questions Asked | Historical Difficulty Level | Average Good Attempts |
| English Language | 30 | Easy | 24 – 26 |
| Numerical Ability | 35 | Easy to Moderate | 26 – 28 |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | Easy to Moderate | 27 – 30 |
| Overall Paper | 100 | Easy to Moderate | 78 – 84 |
The SBI Clerk Prelims shift timings 2026 require candidates to report at the exam center strictly 1 hour prior to the official test start time.
The daily 4-shift operational timetable is detailed below:
| Shift Phase | Reporting Time | Exam Start Time | Exam End Time |
| Shift 1 | 08:00 AM | 09:00 AM | 10:00 AM |
| Shift 2 | 10:30 AM | 11:30 AM | 12:30 PM |
| Shift 3 | 01:00 PM | 02:00 PM | 03:00 PM |
| Shift 4 | 03:30 PM | 04:30 PM | 05:30 PM |
The SBI Clerk Junior Associate expected safe score ranges between 72 and 84 attempts with high accuracy. However, qualifying thresholds vary across states due to region-specific vacancy distributions.
Mastering the preliminary examination requires continuous practice, speed optimization, and mock test evaluation. Candidates targeting upcoming shifts should focus on high-weightage topics like simplification, syllogism, and short puzzles to maximize their scores. For comprehensive mock tests, memory-based practice sets, and live exam prep, visit PracticeMock to elevate your preparation and clear the SBI Clerk exam with confidence.
| Also Read | |
| SBI Clerk Notification | SBI Clerk Exam Pattern |
| SBI Clerk Syllabus | SBI Clerk Salary |
| SBI Clerk Cut Off | SBI Clerk Previous Year Question Paper |
The overall paper difficulty level across shifts remains Easy to Moderate. Reasoning and English are typically high-scoring sections, while Quantitative Aptitude involves moderate calculation work. The overall difficulty level of the SBI Clerk prelims exam 2026 held on 26th Sep and 27th Sep for shift 1, 2, 3 and 4 are mentioned in this article.
Shift 1 maintains an Easy to Moderate difficulty level. Questions follow standard SBI trends, though individual perception depends on calculation speed in arithmetic and DI sets.
Attempting 72 to 85 questions with 90% accuracy is considered a safe score to clear the preliminary cutoff and qualify for the Mains examination.
Key memory-based topics include floor/box puzzles, simplification (10–12 marks), table/bar data interpretation, error spotting, and reading comprehension passages.
The total number of questions for the SBI Clerk prelims examination 2026 is 100.
Real-time shift reviews, candidate analysis, memory-based question breakdowns, and sectional difficulty analysis are updated immediately after every shift on this page.
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