IBPS PO & SBI PO Exam Pattern 2026 — Prelims, Mains & Interview
Detailed exam pattern for IBPS PO and SBI PO 2026 — section-wise marks, questions, time allocation, negative marking rules, and differences between IBPS and SBI patterns.
IBPS PO Exam Pattern 2026
The IBPS PO exam is conducted in three stages: Preliminary Exam, Main Exam, and Interview.
Phase 1: IBPS PO Preliminary Exam
The Prelims is a qualifying exam — marks are NOT carried forward to Mains. You need to clear both sectional cutoff and overall cutoff to qualify.
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 minutes |
Key Points:
- Online Computer-Based Test (CBT)
- Negative marking: 0.25 marks deducted for each wrong answer
- No penalty for unattempted questions
- Sectional timing — you CANNOT switch between sections
- Each section must be completed within its allotted time
- Sectional cutoff + overall cutoff must both be cleared
Phase 2: IBPS PO Main Exam
Mains has two parts: Objective (MCQ-based) and Descriptive (typing-based).
Objective Paper
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | 45 | 60 | 60 minutes |
| English Language | 35 | 40 | 40 minutes |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | 35 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| General/Economy/Banking Awareness | 40 | 40 | 35 minutes |
| Total | 155 | 200 | 180 minutes |
Descriptive Paper
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Letter Writing | 1 | ~10 | 30 minutes (combined) |
| Essay Writing | 1 | ~15 | — |
| Total | 2 | 25 | 30 minutes |
Key Points:
- Descriptive paper is conducted immediately after the objective paper
- Descriptive paper is evaluated ONLY if you clear the objective cutoff
- Letter topics: Formal (to bank manager, editor, government officer) or Informal
- Essay topics: Banking & economy related (200-250 words)
- English language proficiency is tested — grammar and structure matter
- Total Mains marks for merit: 200 (objective) + 25 (descriptive) = 225 marks
Phase 3: IBPS PO Interview
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Marks | 100 |
| Duration | 15-20 minutes |
| Conducted by | Participating banks |
| Minimum qualifying marks | 40% (General), 35% (SC/ST/OBC/PwD) |
Final Merit Formula:
- Mains: 80% (scaled to 80 marks)
- Interview: 20% (scaled to 20 marks)
- Total: 100 marks
Common interview topics: Banking awareness, why banking, current affairs, personal questions, state/region knowledge, economic developments.
SBI PO Exam Pattern 2026
SBI PO follows a similar structure but with key differences in Mains and the addition of Group Exercise.
Phase 1: SBI PO Preliminary Exam
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 minutes |
SBI PO Prelims pattern is identical to IBPS PO Prelims. The difference is in difficulty level — SBI tends to set slightly harder questions.
Phase 2: SBI PO Main Exam
Objective Paper
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | 45 | 60 | 60 minutes |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | 35 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| General/Economy/Banking Awareness | 40 | 40 | 35 minutes |
| English Language | 35 | 40 | 40 minutes |
| Total | 155 | 200 | 180 minutes |
Descriptive Paper
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Letter Writing | 1 | ~20 | 30 minutes (combined) |
| Essay Writing | 1 | ~30 | — |
| Total | 2 | 50 | 30 minutes |
SBI PO Mains Differences from IBPS PO:
- Descriptive paper is 50 marks (vs 25 in IBPS PO) — double the weightage
- Total Mains marks: 200 + 50 = 250 marks
- Difficulty level is noticeably higher — especially DI and Reasoning
- Questions tend to be more calculation-heavy and time-consuming
Phase 3: SBI PO Group Exercise & Interview
| Component | Marks |
|---|---|
| Group Exercise (GE) | Part of 50 marks |
| Personal Interview | Part of 50 marks |
| Total | 50 marks |
Group Exercise (GE):
- 6-8 candidates per group
- A topic is given to discuss for 15-20 minutes
- Tests: Leadership, communication, ability to convince, listening skills
- Not about being aggressive — balanced participation scores higher
Final Merit Formula:
- Mains: 75% (scaled to 75 marks)
- GE + Interview: 25% (scaled to 25 marks)
- Total: 100 marks
Negative Marking Rules
| Exam | Negative Marking | Unattempted |
|---|---|---|
| IBPS PO Prelims | -0.25 per wrong answer | No penalty |
| IBPS PO Mains | -0.25 per wrong answer | No penalty |
| SBI PO Prelims | -0.25 per wrong answer | No penalty |
| SBI PO Mains | -0.25 per wrong answer | No penalty |
Strategy: Attempt all questions you're 50%+ confident about. For questions with 3 options eliminated, always attempt — the expected value is positive even with negative marking.
Important Time Management Tips
Prelims (60 minutes)
- English: 15 minutes (attempt 25-28 questions)
- Quant: 22 minutes (attempt 20-25 questions)
- Reasoning: 23 minutes (attempt 28-32 questions)
- Target: 65-72 marks for safe cutoff clearance
Mains (180 minutes)
- GA: 15-20 minutes (attempt all 40 — factual recall, don't overthink)
- English: 30-35 minutes (RC takes time, grammar is quick)
- Reasoning: 55-60 minutes (puzzles and seating are time-heavy)
- DI: 40-45 minutes (calculation-intensive, choose easy sets first)
- Target: 100-120 marks for safe cutoff
Exam Day Instructions
- Carry: Admit card (printed) + Photo ID (Aadhaar/PAN/Passport/Voter ID)
- Reach: 1 hour before reporting time
- Not allowed: Mobile phones, calculators, smart watches, any electronic devices
- Rough work: Done on paper provided at the exam center
- Biometric: Fingerprint and photo verification at center
- Timer: On-screen timer shows remaining time — manage sections carefully
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