SBI PO Mains Exam Analysis 2026, Good Attempts & Review
The SBI PO Mains Exam Analysis 2026 for the examination held on 12th September 2026 is now available. Based on candidate feedback, the overall SBI PO Mains exam was Moderate to Difficult, with 81–95 considered a good attempt range. Candidates can check the section-wise difficulty level, good attempts, questions asked, topic-wise weightage, General Awareness questions, and Descriptive Paper topics below.
The SBI PO Mains examination consisted of 170 objective questions for 200 marks, followed by a 30-mark Descriptive Paper. The objective test included Reasoning & Computer Aptitude, Data Analysis & Interpretation, General Awareness/Economy/Banking Knowledge, and English Language.
Latest Update: The SBI PO Mains Exam Analysis 2026 has been updated after the examination concluded, based on candidate feedback and the questions reported from the exam.
The SBI PO Mains Exam 2026 was Moderate to Difficult overall, while the estimated good attempts were 81–95 questions. Candidates can check the key highlights of the examination conducted on 12th September 2026 below.
| Particulars | SBI PO Mains 2026 Details |
|---|---|
| Exam | SBI PO Mains 2026 |
| Exam Date | 12th September 2026 |
| Number of Shifts | Single Shift |
| Reporting Time | 12:00 PM |
| Exam Timing | 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM |
| Objective Questions | 170 |
| Objective Marks | 200 |
| Descriptive Marks | 30 |
| Total Marks | 230 |
| Overall Difficulty Level | Moderate to Difficult |
| Overall Good Attempts | 81–95 |
The SBI PO Mains good attempts 2026 were approximately 81–95 questions overall, based on the difficulty level of the examination and candidate feedback. Reasoning & Computer Aptitude and Data Analysis & Interpretation were rated Moderate to Difficult, while English Language and General Awareness were Moderate.
Good attempts indicate the approximate number of questions candidates could attempt while maintaining reasonable accuracy.
Good attempts should not be treated as the expected cut-off. The actual SBI PO Mains cut-off depends on factors such as vacancies, overall candidate performance, SBI’s qualifying criteria, and other recruitment factors.
| Section | Total Questions | Good Attempts | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | 40 | 18–22 | Moderate to Difficult |
| English Language | 40 | 20–23 | Moderate |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | 30 | 13–15 | Moderate to Difficult |
| General Awareness/Economy/Banking Knowledge | 60 | 30–35 | Moderate |
| Descriptive Test | — | — | Moderate |
| Overall | 170 | 81–95 | Moderate to Difficult |
Note: The figures have been updated after reviewing candidate feedback from the SBI PO Mains examination held on 12th September 2026.
The SBI PO Mains section-wise exam analysis 2026 covers the questions asked from Data Analysis & Interpretation, Reasoning & Computer Aptitude, English Language, General Awareness/Economy/Banking Knowledge, and the Descriptive Paper.
The section-wise questions and topic distribution have been updated based on candidate responses after the examination.
The Data Analysis and Interpretation section of SBI PO Mains 2026 consisted of 30 questions carrying 60 marks. Candidates had 45 minutes to complete this section.
The section tested interpretation skills, arithmetic application, calculation speed, and the ability to select manageable DI sets under time pressure.
| Topic | No. of Questions |
|---|---|
| Arithmetic Questions | 2 |
| Data Sufficiency | 3 |
| Quadratic Equation (Condition-Based) | 3 |
| Caselet DI (Boys and Girls Based) | 3 |
| Caselet DI (Time and Distance Based) | 6 |
| Circle Vector Diagram-Based DI (Matches Won and Lost) | 5 |
| Bar Graph DI (Revenue Based in Crores) | 4 |
| Table DI (Color of Pens) | 4 |
| Total | 30 |
The SBI PO Mains Data Analysis and Interpretation section was Moderate to Difficult.
The section’s difficulty was influenced by calculation-intensive questions and multiple DI sets. Candidates needed both calculation speed and careful question selection to manage the 30 questions within the allotted 45 minutes.
The Reasoning and Computer Aptitude section contained 40 questions carrying 60 marks, with 50 minutes available for the section.
Puzzles, seating arrangements, logical reasoning, input-output, data sufficiency, coding-decoding, and other high-level reasoning topics formed an important part of the paper.
| Topics | No. of Questions |
|---|---|
| Floor-Based Puzzle (8 Floors) | 4 |
| Month-Based Puzzle (2 Variables) | 5 |
| Circular Seating Arrangement + Blood Relation (8 Persons, Facing Inside) | 4 |
| Linear Seating (8 Persons, Facing North) | 1 |
| Certain Number of Persons Linear Seating (Facing North – State-Based) | 4 |
| Row & Column-Based Puzzle (with Condition) | 4 |
| Machine Input-Output | 5 |
| Chinese Coding-Decoding | 4 |
| Logical Reasoning | 4 |
| Data Sufficiency | 3 |
| Misc. – Meaningful Word (1), Alphabet-Based (1) | 2 |
| Total | 40 |
The SBI PO Mains Reasoning and Computer Aptitude section was Moderate to Difficult.
The section required candidates to manage both complexity and time. Several puzzle and seating arrangement sets involved multiple conditions, making question selection particularly important.
The SBI PO Mains English Language section consisted of 40 questions carrying 20 marks, with 40 minutes allotted.
The section tested reading comprehension, contextual vocabulary, grammar, sentence structure, and candidates’ ability to interpret written information accurately.
| Topics | No. of Questions |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension (2) | 13 |
| Cloze Test | 5 |
| Paragraph-Based (Find the Missing Sentence – A, B, C) | 2 |
| Para Jumbles (7 Sentences) | 5 |
| Phrase Replacement | 2 |
| Idioms with Fillers | 3 |
| Find the Correct and Incorrect Sentences | 5 |
| Match the Column | 2 |
| Odd One Out (in 6 Sentences) | 3 |
| Total | 40 |
The SBI PO Mains English Language section was Moderate.
Reading Comprehension formed a major part of the section, with 13 questions across two passages. Candidates also faced questions from Cloze Test, Para Jumbles, idioms, sentence correction, and other contextual English topics.
The General Awareness, Economy and Banking Knowledge section contained 60 questions for 60 marks and was rated Moderate based on candidate feedback.
The section included questions related to:
Some of the SBI PO Mains General Awareness questions asked on 12th September 2026 are listed below:
These questions have been added based on candidate feedback after the examination and cross-checked using multiple responses.
The SBI PO Mains Descriptive Paper 2026 carried 30 marks and was conducted for 30 minutes. Based on candidate feedback, the overall difficulty level of the Descriptive Paper was Moderate.
Under the revised pattern, the Descriptive Paper assessed practical communication skills through Email Writing, Situation Analysis, Report Writing, and Precis Writing.
| Descriptive Component | Marks | Topic Asked |
|---|---|---|
| Email Writing | 10 | Write an email to the HR Manager declining a job offer. |
| Situation Analysis | 10 | A farmer took a loan of ₹8 lakh from the bank 6 years ago but has not been paying the EMIs. He requested a moratorium, but the bank rejected his request. He then came to the bank along with several villagers. What would you do in this situation as a bank officer? |
| Report Writing/Precis Writing | 10 | Precis Writing: A passage related to UNESCO World Heritage Sites was given for precis writing. Report Writing: Write a report on the fire safety audit of XYZ Company. |
| Overall Difficulty | — | Moderate |
The SBI PO Mains Descriptive Paper topics asked on 12th September 2026 included an email declining a job offer, a situation-analysis question involving a farmer’s unpaid bank loan, precis writing based on UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and a report on a fire safety audit.
Candidates preparing for upcoming bank examinations should focus on writing concise, logically structured responses using professional language rather than memorizing fixed answers.
The revised SBI PO Mains exam contained 170 objective questions for 200 marks, followed by a 30-mark Descriptive Test.
| Section | Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | 40 | 60 | 50 minutes |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | 30 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| General Awareness/Economy/Banking Knowledge | 60 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| English Language | 40 | 20 | 40 minutes |
| Objective Test | 170 | 200 | 3 Hours |
| Descriptive Test | — | 30 | 30 minutes |
| Grand Total | — | 230 | 3 Hours 30 Minutes |
For objective questions, a penalty of one-fourth of the marks assigned to the question applies for each incorrect answer.
The SBI PO Mains Exam 2026 was conducted in a single shift on 12th September 2026.
| Event | Timing |
|---|---|
| Reporting Time | 12:00 PM |
| Handwriting Sample | 12:55 PM to 1:00 PM |
| Exam Start Time | 1:00 PM |
| Exam End Time | 4:30 PM |
| Total Exam Duration | 3 Hours 30 Minutes |
Since SBI PO Mains 2026 was conducted in one shift, candidates appeared for the same broad examination session rather than multiple shifts held throughout the day.
Previous SBI PO Mains papers can help candidates understand the level of questions, recurring topics, and areas that generally consume the most time.
However, previous-year trends should be used as a preparation reference rather than a prediction of the next paper.
Puzzles and Seating Arrangements have traditionally carried considerable weight in SBI PO Mains Reasoning.
| Topic | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Puzzles & Seating Arrangement | 25 | 20–22 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
| Syllogism | 3 | 3–5 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| Inequality | 0–3 | 3–5 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Blood Relation | 0–3 | 4–5 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Coding-Decoding | 0–2 | — | 4 | 5 | 3 |
| Pair Formation/Word Based | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | — |
| Direction Sense | 3 | — | 1 | — | — |
The trend suggests that candidates should focus heavily on puzzle selection and time management, rather than trying to solve every available set.
Arithmetic and Data Interpretation have remained the core areas of this section.
| Topic | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arithmetic | 12 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 10 |
| Data Interpretation | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Caselet DI | 5 | 5 | — | 3 | — |
| Approximation/Simplification | 2–3 | 8–10 | 5 | 5 | 10 |
| Number Series | 3–4 | 3 | 6 | — | 5 |
| Data Sufficiency | 2 | — | — | — | — |
Candidates should therefore combine arithmetic fundamentals with high-level DI practice and calculation-speed improvement.
Reading Comprehension has consistently remained an important component of SBI PO Mains English.
| Topic | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 8–10 | 8–10 | 9 | 9 | 7–8 |
| Cloze Test | 6 | 5–7 | 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Error Detection | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| Para Jumble/Sentence Rearrangement | 8 | 5 | 4 | — | 5 |
| Phrase Replacement | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | — |
| Word Swap | 2–4 | 4 | — | 4 | 5 |
| Double Fillers | 4 | 3 | 3 | — | — |
The pattern indicates that candidates need both reading speed and grammatical accuracy to perform well.
The SBI PO Mains GA section generally covers a mix of:
Candidates should understand the context behind major current affairs rather than relying only on one-line facts.
The SBI PO Mains Exam Analysis helps candidates understand which topics were actually tested, how lengthy the sections were, and what type of question selection was required.
The most useful preparation takeaways are:
Candidates should use the analysis to improve mock-test strategy rather than simply memorizing the number of questions asked from each topic.
The SBI PO Mains Exam Analysis 2026 for 12th September shows that the overall examination was Moderate to Difficult, with approximately 81–95 good attempts based on candidate feedback.
Reasoning & Computer Aptitude and Data Analysis & Interpretation were comparatively more challenging, while English Language and General Awareness were Moderate. The examination also included a practical Descriptive Paper covering Email Writing, Situation Analysis, Report Writing, and Precis Writing.
The analysis is useful for future SBI PO aspirants because it highlights the topics SBI is currently testing and the level of reasoning, calculation, current-affairs knowledge, reading ability, and written communication expected in the Mains examination. Check PracticeMock to start your free trial today!
The SBI PO Mains Exam 2026 was Moderate to Difficult overall, based on candidate feedback after the examination conducted on 12th September 2026. Reasoning and Data Analysis & Interpretation were among the more challenging sections.
The SBI PO Mains good attempts 2026 were approximately 81–95 questions overall. Section-wise good attempts were 18–22 in Reasoning, 20–23 in English, 13–15 in Data Analysis & Interpretation, and 30–35 in General Awareness.
The overall SBI PO Mains difficulty level was Moderate to Difficult. Reasoning & Computer Aptitude and Data Analysis & Interpretation were Moderate to Difficult, while English Language and General Awareness were Moderate.
The SBI PO Mains examination was conducted from 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM, with a reporting time of 12:00 PM.
The SBI PO Mains objective test contained 170 questions for 200 marks. Candidates also appeared for a 30-mark Descriptive Test, taking the total marks to 230.
Based on candidate feedback, Reasoning & Computer Aptitude and Data Analysis & Interpretation were Moderate to Difficult and comparatively more challenging than English Language and General Awareness.
SBI PO Mains General Awareness questions included banking awareness, RBI-related topics, government schemes, the economy, appointments, sustainable development goals, UPI, CBDC, ESG, DigiLocker, international affairs, and other recent developments.
The Descriptive Test included Email Writing, Situation Analysis, Precis Writing, and Report Writing. Topics included declining a job offer, handling a bank-loan situation involving a farmer, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and a fire safety audit report.
Yes. SBI PO Mains exam analysis helps future candidates identify recurring topics, understand the actual difficulty level, improve question selection, and align their mock-test preparation with the latest examination pattern.
No. Good attempts and the SBI PO cut-off are different. Good attempts provide an estimated range of accurately attempted questions, while the official cut-off is determined by SBI after considering candidate performance and other recruitment factors.
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