SBI Clerk (Junior Associate) Preliminary Examination Syllabus 2026
State Bank of India (SBI)
The SBI Clerk (Junior Associate) Preliminary Examination is the first stage of the SBI Clerk recruitment process. It is an online objective examination comprising three sections: English Language, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning Ability. Each section has a separate sectional timing of 20 minutes. Candidates qualifying the Preliminary Examination are shortlisted for the Main Examination. The marks obtained in the Preliminary Examination are qualifying in nature and are not considered for the final selection. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
Duration
60 Minutes (20 Minutes per Section)
Marking
1 mark is awarded for every correct answer. The Preliminary Examination consists of 100 questions carrying a total of 100 marks.
Negative marking
0.25 (one-fourth) of the marks assigned to a question are deducted for every incorrect answer. There is no penalty for unanswered questions.
Exam Pattern
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 |
| Numerical Ability | 35 | 35 |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 |
Subject-wise Syllabus
English Language
Reading Comprehension, Cloze Test, Fill in the Blanks, Error Detection, Sentence Improvement, Para Jumbles, Sentence Rearrangement, Word Swap, Phrase Replacement, Vocabulary, Synonyms & Antonyms, Idioms & Phrases, Sentence Completion
Numerical Ability
Number Series, Simplification, Approximation, Quadratic Equations, Data Interpretation, Data Sufficiency, Percentage, Ratio & Proportion, Average, Profit & Loss, Simple & Compound Interest, Partnership, Time & Work, Pipes & Cistern, Time, Speed & Distance, Boat & Stream, Mixture & Alligation, Ages, Permutation & Combination, Probability
Reasoning Ability
Puzzles, Seating Arrangement, Coding-Decoding, Blood Relations, Direction Sense, Syllogism, Inequality, Alphabet Series, Number Series, Order & Ranking, Input-Output, Data Sufficiency, Machine Input, Logical Reasoning, Statement & Conclusion
Preparation Tips
- Build a strong foundation in Arithmetic and Reasoning concepts.
- Practice puzzles, seating arrangements, and data interpretation regularly.
- Read newspapers daily to improve English vocabulary and comprehension.
- Attempt sectional and full-length mock tests under timed conditions.
- Analyze mock tests to identify and improve weak areas.
- Focus on speed and accuracy to minimize negative marking.
- Solve previous years' SBI Clerk Preliminary papers to understand the latest exam pattern and question trends.