The SBI Clerk Prelims Exam 2026 started on 26 September with the first shift at 9:00 am. Candidates who appeared in Shift 1 rated the paper Easy to Moderate, and 77-86 overall good attempts are being reported. This article covers the SBI Clerk Exam Analysis 2026 shift by shift. It includes good attempts, section-wise difficulty level, topic-wise questions asked, and what score may be safe to clear the prelims cut-off.
If your exam is in an upcoming shift, use this SBI Clerk Prelims Exam Analysis to see which topics are being repeated and plan your revision for the last few hours.
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SBI Clerk Prelims 2026 Exam at a Glance
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam name | SBI Clerk (Junior Associate) Prelims 2026 |
| Post | Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales) |
| Total vacancies | 9,766 |
| Prelims exam dates | 26 and 27 September 2026 |
| Shifts per day | 4 |
| Total questions / marks | 100 / 100 |
| Duration | 60 minutes (sectional timing) |
| Negative marking | 0.25 mark per wrong answer |
| Mode | Online (CBT) |
SBI is filling 9,766 Junior Associate posts, with the prelims on 26 and 27 September 2026. The exam runs in four shifts each day.
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SBI Clerk 2026 Shift Timings
| Shift | Reporting time | Exam time |
|---|---|---|
| Shift 1 | 8:00 am | 9:00 am to 10:00 am |
| Shift 2 | 10:30 am | 11:30 am to 12:30 pm |
Shift 1 runs from 9:00 to 10:00 am and Shift 2 from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm.
SBI Clerk Good Attempts 2026: Shift-wise Summary
| Shift (26 September) | English | Numerical Ability | Reasoning | Overall good attempts | Difficulty level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shift 1 | 23-26 | 26-29 | 28-31 | 79-86 | Easy to Moderate |
| Shift 2 | 25-27 | 24-25 | 29-30 | 78-82 | Moderate |
For Shift 1, good attempts are reported as English 23-26, Numerical Ability 26-29 and Reasoning 28-31, adding up to 77-86 overall at an easy to moderate level.
Important: Good attempts are not an official cut-off. SBI Clerk cut-offs are fixed State/UT-wise and category-wise, so the qualifying marks can differ from one region to another. Your real score also depends on your accuracy.
SBI Clerk Exam Analysis 2026 Shift 1 (26 September)
Shift 1 Difficulty Level and Good Attempts
| Section | Questions | Good attempts | Difficulty level |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 24-26 | Easy to Moderate |
| Numerical Ability | 35 | 27-30 | Easy to Moderate |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 27-32 | Easy to Moderate |
| Overall | 100 | 79-86 | Easy to Moderate |
SBI Clerk Shift 1 English Language Questions Asked
The English section was the easiest part of the paper for most candidates. The Reading Comprehension passage was a simple story about a cricketer’s career.
| Topic | Number of questions |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension (cricketer’s career; synonym/antonym of “missed” and “stayed”) | 7-9 |
| Error Spotting (sentence-based) | 3-4 |
| Single Fillers | 3-6 |
| Sentence Improvement / Phrase Replacement | 2-4 |
| Word Swap | 4-5 |
| Para Jumbles (A to E) | 5-6 |
| Total | 30 |
What stood out: The RC was direct and fact-based, so candidates could attempt most of its questions quickly. Word Swap and Para Jumbles together gave 9 questions, so they are worth practising before your shift.
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SBI Clerk Shift 1 Numerical Ability Questions Asked
The Quant section rewarded speed. Simplification and simple Arithmetic made up most of the paper.
| Topic | Number of questions |
|---|---|
| Simplification / Approximation | 11-15 |
| Table DI (marks of persons in Economics and History) | 4-5 |
| Line Graph DI (male and female, difference-based) | 4-5 |
| Arithmetic (application sums) | 11-14 |
| Total | 35 |
What stood out: Both DI sets were calculation-light. The Table DI compared marks in Economics and History, and the Line Graph DI asked differences between male and female values. Candidates who are fast in simplification could finish 12-15 questions in a few minutes.
SBI Clerk Shift 1 Reasoning Ability Questions Asked
Reasoning had the highest good attempts. Puzzles took the most time but were doable.
| Topic | Number of questions |
|---|---|
| Sequence / Box-based puzzle (8 persons or boxes) | 5 |
| Uncertain number of persons, linear seating (maximum 14, facing north) | 3-4 |
| Floor puzzle (8 floors) / Box-based number puzzle | 5 |
| Month and date puzzle (September to December, 2 dates each) | 5 |
| Direction and Distance | 3 |
| Inequality (direct) | 3 |
| Syllogism | 3 |
| Alphabet / Word Series | 4-5 |
| Miscellaneous (odd one out, pair formation, number-based) | 3 |
| Total | 35 |
What stood out: About 15 questions came from three puzzle sets. Syllogism, Inequality and Direction gave around 9 quick marks, so start the section with these to build confidence.
Note: Question counts come from candidate memory, so different candidates report slightly different numbers. Where reports vary, a range is shown.
SBI Clerk Exam Analysis 2026 Shift 2 (26 September)
English Language: The Warm-Up Round
English turned out to be the friendliest section of the shift. Candidates faced 30 questions worth 30 marks in 20 minutes, and most found it easy. Reading Comprehension took the biggest share, with a mix of vocabulary and sentence-structure questions filling the rest.
| Question Type | No. of Questions |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension (RC) | 8-9 |
| Fill in the Blanks | 5-6 |
| Correct/Incorrect | 4-5 |
| Phrase Replacement | 5-6 |
| Word Swap | 3-4 |
| Match the Column | 2-3 |
| Sentence Rearrangement | 3-4 |
Numerical Ability: A Test of Speed
Numerical Ability had 35 questions worth 35 marks in 20 minutes, so quick calculation mattered more than tricky concepts. Data Interpretation came in two forms: a Table DI on books and magazines sold by a library from Monday to Thursday, and a Bar Graph DI on laptops sold by A, B, C and D. Arithmetic and Simplification made up most of the section.
| Topic | No. of Questions |
|---|---|
| Table DI (Library: books & magazines, Mon–Thu) | 4-5 |
| Bar Graph DI (Laptops sold by A, B, C & D) | 6-7 |
| Missing Number Series | 3-4 |
| Arithmetic | 11–13 |
| Simplification | 9–11 |
Reasoning Ability: The Puzzle Marathon
Reasoning had 35 questions worth 35 marks in 20 minutes, and puzzles were the main event. Candidates worked through four sets: two seating arrangements (an 11-person straight line and an 8-person square facing inside) and two calendar puzzles (one based on dates and months, one covering January to August). Number series, syllogism, blood relation and a few miscellaneous questions made up the remainder.
| Topic | No. of Questions |
|---|---|
| Straight Line Seating Arrangement (11 persons) | 6-5 |
| Date & Month-Based Puzzle | 4-5 |
| Square Seating Arrangement (8 persons, facing inside) | 4-5 |
| Month-Based Puzzle (January–August) | 6-7 |
| Blood Relation | 1-2 |
| Number Series-Based Questions | 4-5 |
| Syllogism | 5-6 |
| Miscellaneous | 5-6 |
How Many Good Attempts Are Safe for SBI Clerk Prelims 2026?
Good attempts only matter if your accuracy is high. Because 0.25 mark is cut for every wrong answer, your net score can drop quickly. The table below shows your expected score at different attempt and accuracy levels.
| Total attempts | Accuracy | Correct | Wrong | Net score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75 | 95% | 71 | 4 | 70.00 |
| 80 | 90% | 72 | 8 | 70.00 |
| 85 | 85% | 72 | 13 | 68.75 |
| 90 | 80% | 72 | 18 | 67.50 |
What this shows: 75 attempts with 95% accuracy give the same score as 80 attempts with 90% accuracy. Attempting more questions with lower accuracy actually lowers your score. Aim for the Shift 1 good attempt range of 77-86, but only with high accuracy.
Your Score vs Your State Cut-Off
- The prelims cut-off is decided separately for each State/UT and category.
- States with many applicants and fewer vacancies usually have higher cut-offs.
- Candidates are selected for Mains based on the state they applied for, so compare your score with the previous year’s cut-off for your own state.
- SBI does not have a sectional cut-off in the prelims, but a strong score in each section keeps you safe.
Tips for Upcoming SBI Clerk 2026 Shifts
- Start with your strongest section. Build momentum in the first few minutes.
- Revise puzzles. Month-date, floor and box puzzles are coming regularly in the 2026 exam.
- Sharpen your simplification. With up to 15 questions in Quant, speed here can change your score.
- Practise Word Swap and Para Jumbles. They are easy marks in the English section.
- Do not guess blindly. Every wrong answer costs 0.25 mark.
- Watch the sectional timer. Leave a puzzle that is taking too long and come back if time allows.
- Reach the centre early. Follow the reporting time on your admit card and carry a valid photo ID.
FAQs
Q1. What was the difficulty level of SBI Clerk Prelims 2026 Shift 1?
Candidates rated the overall paper Easy to Moderate.
Q2. What are the good attempts for SBI Clerk 2026 Shift 1?
The overall good attempts are 77-86: English 23-26, Numerical Ability 26-29 and Reasoning 28-31.
Q3. When will the SBI Clerk Shift 2 analysis be available?
It will be updated on this page after candidates who took the 11:30 am shift share their feedback.
Q4. What topics were asked in SBI Clerk 2026 Shift 1 Reasoning?
Puzzles (sequence, floor and month-date), linear seating, direction, inequality, syllogism, alphabet series and some miscellaneous questions.
Q5. What was the RC topic in SBI Clerk Shift 1?
The Reading Comprehension passage was about a cricketer’s career.
Q6. Is there a negative marking in SBI Clerk Prelims?
Yes. 0.25 mark is deducted for every wrong answer.
Q7. Are good attempts the same as the cut-off?
No. Good attempts are an estimate based on candidate feedback. The official cut-off is released by SBI State/UT-wise and category-wise.
