SBI PO Prelims Expected Cutoff 2026; Category-Wise Expected Cut Off Marks, Previous Year Cutoff, Exam Analysis & Result Updates

The SBI PO Prelims Expected Cutoff 2026 is an important indicator for candidates who appeared in the State Bank of India (SBI) Probationary Officer Preliminary Examination conducted on 1 & 2 August 2026.

After the completion of the examination, aspirants are keen to estimate their qualifying chances for the Mains exam by comparing their expected scores with the anticipated cutoff marks.

According to the available exam analysis, previous years’ cutoff trends, the overall difficulty level of the paper, and the total 1,500 Probationary Officer vacancies, the expected cutoff for the General (UR) category is likely to remain between 58 and 65 marks.

In this article, you will find the category-wise expected cutoff, previous year cutoff comparison, factors influencing the cutoff, exam pattern, marking scheme, score calculation method, and the latest updates regarding the official cutoff release.

The official SBI PO Prelims Cutoff 2026 will be announced along with the prelims result on the SBI Careers portal. Until then, these expected cutoff marks can help candidates evaluate their performance and prepare strategically for the upcoming Mains examination

. Stay connected with Notification24.in for the latest updates on SBI PO Result 2026, official cutoff PDF, scorecard, Mains exam schedule, and other banking recruitment notifications.

SBI PO Prelims Expected Cutoff 2026 – Overview

Prelims Exam Held 1 & 2 August 2026 | General Category Expected Cutoff: 58–65 Marks
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Particulars Details
Conducting Body State Bank of India (SBI)
Recruitment Name Recruitment of Probationary Officers (CRPD/PO/2026-27)
Total Vacancies 1,500 Probationary Officer Posts
Application Window 18 June 2026 to 8 July 2026
Prelims Exam Dates 1 & 2 August 2026 (4 shifts per day)
Mains Exam (Tentative) September 2026
Selection Stages Phase I: Prelims → Phase II: Mains → Phase III: Psychometric Test, Group Exercise & Interview
General Category Expected Prelims Cutoff 2026 58.00 – 65.00 Marks (out of 100)
Official Cutoff Release Along with Prelims Result (PDF, on SBI Careers portal)
Official Website sbi.co.in/web/careers

SBI PO Prelims Expected Cutoff 2026 — Category-Wise

The table below shows the expected 2026 cutoff range alongside the actual cutoffs from the previous two cycles (out of 100 marks), giving candidates a realistic benchmark to target.

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Category 2024 Cutoff | 2025 Cutoff | Expected 2026 Cutoff
General (UR) 61.75 | 66.75 | 58.00–65.00
EWS 60.25 | 64.50 | 56.00–63.00
OBC 60.50 | 65.50 | 55.00–62.00
SC 55.00 | 59.25 | 50.00–57.00
ST 49.00 | 51.50 | 45.00–52.00
PwBD (Locomotor Disability – LD) 49.75 | 54.50 | 40.00–50.00
PwBD (Visually Impaired – VI) 47.50 | 52.75 | 42.00–50.00
PwBD (Hearing Impaired – HI) 19.75 | 36.25 | 30.00–38.00
Note: These are unofficial, estimated ranges based on past trends and this year’s difficulty level/vacancy count — actual figures may vary. SBI does not release state-wise Prelims cutoff (it is a national-level, category-wise cutoff only), unlike some other bank exams such as SBI Clerk.

read more;  SBI PO Prelims Exam Analysis 2026 

SBI PO Prelims — Previous Year (2025) Cutoff Reference

Category Cutoff (Out of 100)
UR (General) 66.75
SC 59.25
ST 51.50
OBC 65.50
EWS 64.50
VI (Visually Impaired) 52.75
HI (Hearing Impaired) 36.25
LD (Locomotor Disability) 54.50
D & E (Intellectual/Multiple Disability) 35.50

SBI PO Prelims Exam Pattern 2026

Section Questions / Marks / Duration
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 | 60 Minutes (1 Hour)
Negative Marking 0.25 Mark deducted per Wrong Answer
Sectional Cutoff NOT applicable in Prelims (only overall/aggregate cutoff counts)
Exam Nature Qualifying in nature — Prelims marks are NOT added to final merit
Important: Each of the 3 sections has its own strict 20-minute time limit — candidates cannot shift extra time from one section to another. Sectional cutoff is NOT applicable in Prelims, but IS applicable in the Mains exam.

What Are the Factors Affecting SBI PO Prelims Cutoff 2026?

  • Total Vacancies: The 1,500 advertised vacancies for 2026 directly influence the cutoff — fewer relative vacancies push the qualifying score higher
  • Difficulty Level: High-complexity Data Interpretation or multi-variable puzzle sets in a shift lower the average score, pulling that shift’s normalized cutoff down
  • Number of Candidates & Attendance: Higher applicant turnout increases the pool of high scorers, which can push the required minimum qualifying score upward
  • Score Normalization Across Shifts: Since Prelims is held across 4 shifts a day on 1 & 2 August 2026, SBI applies equipercentile normalization to make scores comparable across all shifts
  • Category-wise Reservation Policy: Vacancy distribution across UR/EWS/OBC/SC/ST/PwBD categories directly affects each category’s respective cutoff level

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How to Calculate Your Probable SBI PO Prelims Score

Formula: Total Marks = (Number of Correct Answers × 1) − (Number of Wrong Answers × 0.25)

Since the answer key/response sheet is generally released only along with or after the result for SBI PO Prelims, most candidates use the memory-based question paper and expert-solved answer keys published by coaching platforms to self-evaluate immediately after the exam. Treat any such estimate as indicative only — your official prelims score will be based on SBI’s normalized, shift-adjusted marks, not raw marks.

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How to Check the Official SBI PO Cutoff 2026

  • Visit the official State Bank of India career portal — sbi.co.in/web/careers
  • Go to the “Current Openings” section on the main page
  • Locate “Recruitment of Probationary Officers (CRPD/PO/2026-27)”
  • Click on the link for “SBI PO Prelims Cut Off & Result 2026”
  • Log in using your Registration Number/Roll Number and Date of Birth/Password
  • The category-wise cutoff table and your individual prelims scorecard will display on screen
  • Download and save the PDF document for future reference

SBI PO 2026 Selection Process — After Prelims

  • Phase I – Prelims: Qualifying stage only (100 marks); this cutoff decides who advances, but marks are NOT carried forward to final merit
  • Phase II – Mains: Objective test (Reasoning & Computer Aptitude, Data Analysis & Interpretation, General/Economy/Banking Awareness, English Language) + Descriptive Test (Letter Writing & Essay); sectional cutoffs DO apply here, unlike Prelims
  • Phase III – Psychometric Test, Group Exercise & Interview: Conducted for candidates shortlisted from Mains
  • Final Merit: Based on normalized Mains score (converted to 75 marks) + Phase III score (converted to 25 marks) = 100 marks total

Note: Clearing the Prelims cutoff only qualifies you for Mains — it does not guarantee final selection. The Mains + Interview stage is what actually decides your final rank and appointment.

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Preparation Tips to Clear the SBI PO Prelims Cutoff 2026

  • Target a Safety Score: Don’t just aim to clear last year’s cutoff — target mock scores 5 to 10 marks above the expected 2026 cutoff to absorb any paper-difficulty surprises
  • Maintain Strict Accuracy: With a 0.25 negative marking penalty per wrong answer, avoid speculative guessing, especially in Reasoning puzzles and Data Interpretation
  • Master the 20-Minute Sectional Timing: Attempt high-speed, high-accuracy questions like Approximation, Syllogisms, and Cloze Test first before spending time on lengthy puzzles or word problems
  • Take Full-Length Mock Tests: Practice under strict, timed conditions to build the speed and question-selection instinct the sectional time limits demand
  • Track Shift-wise Difficulty: Since normalization adjusts scores across shifts, don’t panic if your shift felt tough — a harder shift typically gets a favourable normalization boost
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What is the SBI PO Expected Cutoff 2026 for the General category?
The expected cutoff for General category is estimated between 58 and 65 marks (out of 100) in the Prelims exam.

Q2. When will the official SBI PO Prelims Cutoff 2026 be released?
It will be released along with the Prelims Exam result on the SBI Careers portal.

Q3. Is the SBI PO Prelims Cutoff released state-wise?
No. SBI PO is a national-level recruitment, so cutoff is released category-wise only (General, EWS, OBC, SC, ST, PwBD) — not state-wise, unlike some other bank clerk-level exams.

Q4. Is there a sectional cutoff in SBI PO Prelims?
No. Sectional cutoff is NOT applicable in Prelims — only the overall aggregate score matters. Sectional cutoffs DO apply from the Mains stage onward.

Q5. What factors decide the SBI PO Expected Cutoff 2026?
Vacancies, exam difficulty level, number of candidates appearing, shift-wise score normalization, and previous years’ cutoff trends.

Q6. Does clearing the Prelims cutoff guarantee final selection?
No. Clearing the Prelims cutoff only qualifies you for the Mains exam. Final selection depends on your combined performance in Mains and the Interview/Group Exercise stage.

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About Shushil Kasodhan Shushil Kasodhan is a content writer and education enthusiast from Balrampur, Uttar Pradesh. Currently pursuing graduation,…

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