SBI PO Prelims Exam Analysis 2026 (1 August) — Shift 1 Difficulty, Good Attempts & Questions Asked

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The State Bank of India (SBI) has started conducting the SBI PO Prelims Exam 2026 on 1 and 2 August 2026 in four shifts each day. Candidates appearing in today’s examination are eager to know the overall difficulty level, section-wise review, good attempts, and memory-based questions.

Based on the first reactions from candidates, the Shift 1 paper was Easy to Moderate, with the Reasoning section taking comparatively more time than English and Quantitative Aptitude.

The analysis below will be updated after every shift as more feedback becomes available.

SBI PO Prelims Exam Analysis 2026 — Shift-Wise Difficulty, Good Attempts & Live Review
Exam Live Today (1 August) & Tomorrow (2 August 2026) | 4 Shifts Per Day
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Particulars Details
Conducting Body State Bank of India (SBI)
Exam Name SBI Probationary Officer (PO) Prelims Examination 2026
Exam Dates 01 & 02 August 2026 (4 Shifts Each Day)
Exam Mode Computer Based Test (CBT), Online
Total Marks / Duration 100 Marks | 1 Hour (60 Minutes)
Total Questions 100
Sectional Cut Off None (Only Overall Cut Off Applies)
Official Website sbi.co.in/careers

SBI PO Prelims Exam Analysis 2026 — Overview
The SBI PO Prelims Examination 2026 is being conducted across multiple centres in India on 1 and 2 August 2026, in four shifts per day. Since the exam is spread over two days and 8 total shifts, SBI applies score normalization across all shifts to ensure fairness — a candidate’s raw score is adjusted based on the relative difficulty of their specific shift before being compared against candidates from other shifts. This page tracks the shift-wise difficulty level and expected good attempts as candidates share their exam-day feedback.

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SBI PO Prelims 2026 — Exam Pattern
Section Questions / Marks / Time
English Language 30 Questions | 30 Marks | 20 Minutes
Quantitative Aptitude 35 Questions | 35 Marks | 20 Minutes
Reasoning Ability 35 Questions | 35 Marks | 20 Minutes
Total 100 Questions | 100 Marks | 1 Hour
Negative Marking: 0.25 Mark Deducted Per Wrong Answer | Each Section Has Its Own 20-Minute Time Limit — You Cannot Shift Extra Time from One Section to Another

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Shift-Wise Difficulty & Good Attempts (Updating Live)
Day / Shift Status
Day 1 (1 Aug) — Shift 1 Analysis Updating Shortly After Shift Concludes
Day 1 (1 Aug) — Shift 2, 3, 4 To Be Updated After Each Shift
Day 2 (2 Aug) — Shift 1, 2, 3, 4 To Be Updated After Each Shift
Note: Since this exam is spread across two full days, shift-wise analysis is updated progressively as each shift concludes and candidate feedback comes in — treat any pre-exam figures as based on historical patterns, not this year’s actual paper, until confirmed by real feedback.

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Historical Trend — What Recent SBI PO Prelims Cycles Looked Like
Section Typical Good Attempts / Difficulty
English Language Usually Easy to Moderate — Reading Comprehension, Error Spotting, Para Jumble Dominate
Quantitative Aptitude Usually Easy to Moderate — Arithmetic, Data Interpretation, Quadratic Equations Dominate
Reasoning Ability Typically the Toughest Section — Puzzles, Seating Arrangements, Syllogism Dominate
Overall Good Attempts Typically Around 56–70 Questions (Out of 100)
Note: These are patterns from the 2023–2025 SBI PO Prelims cycles, meant only as a rough benchmark — always weigh them against this year’s live candidate feedback rather than treating them as fixed.

What to Do Right After Your Shift

  • Note down your approximate number of attempts per section while it’s fresh in memory — this helps you self-assess against emerging good-attempt ranges
  • Avoid discussing specific answers with candidates from later shifts, as exam integrity rules apply across multi-shift exams
  • Don’t panic over a single tough section — remember, there’s no sectional cut-off, only an overall cut-off, so a weak Reasoning attempt can still be offset by strong Quant/English
  • If you have another shift/day still ahead (either yourself or someone you know), use your own experience to mentally prepare, but avoid over-adjusting strategy based on just one data point

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Understanding SBI PO Score Normalization

  • Normalization is not the same as grace marks — it’s a statistical adjustment to make scores comparable across shifts of differing difficulty
  • SBI applies this because the Prelims exam runs across 8 total shifts (4 per day, 2 days), and no two shifts have exactly the same difficulty level
  • A relatively lower raw score in a tougher shift can end up normalized higher than a relatively higher raw score in an easier shift
  • You cannot calculate your own normalized score in advance — only your raw attempt count and approximate accuracy are things you can self-assess right after the exam

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What Happens After Prelims — Selection Process Recap

  • Stage 1 (Today/Tomorrow): Prelims — 100 Marks, Qualifying in Nature Only
  • Stage 2: Mains — 200 Marks Objective + 50 Marks Descriptive (Letter Writing & Essay)
  • Stage 3: Group Exercises & Interview
  • Final Merit: Based Only on Mains + Group Exercises + Interview Marks — Prelims Marks Are NOT Counted Toward Final Selection

Important: Since Prelims is purely a qualifying round, don’t over-obsess about your exact score — focus your energy on Mains preparation right after this stage, especially General Awareness/Banking Awareness and Data Analysis, which carry significant weight there.

Quick Tips If You Still Have a Shift Left

  • Prioritize English and Quant first if you tend to finish them faster — leave more buffer time for Reasoning puzzles, which usually eat up the most time
  • Skip a puzzle immediately if it’s not clicking within 2–3 minutes — come back to it only if time remains, since one stuck question can cost you multiple easier ones
  • Remember there’s no sectional cutoff — it’s fine to attempt fewer, more accurate questions in a tough section rather than guessing to inflate your attempt count
  • Reach your centre well before reporting time — last-minute rushing affects performance more than people expect

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FAQs

Q1. Is the SBI PO Prelims 2026 analysis based on official information?
No. The exam analysis is prepared from memory-based questions and feedback shared by candidates who appeared in the examination.

Q2. Can the good attempts change after later shifts?
Yes. As additional shifts are conducted, the expected good attempts and difficulty level may be revised based on overall candidate feedback.

Q3. Does an easier shift reduce my chances after normalization?
Normalization adjusts scores statistically across different shifts. A comparatively easier or tougher shift alone does not determine your final qualifying chances.

Q4. Are the memory-based questions identical to the actual question paper?
Not always. They are reconstructed from candidates’ recollections and are intended to indicate the types of questions asked rather than reproduce the official paper.

Q5. Should I start preparing for SBI PO Mains before the Prelims result?
Yes. Since the time between the Prelims result and Mains examination is usually limited, beginning Mains preparation immediately can provide a significant advantage.

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