SBI PO 2026 Exam Dates and English Pattern

SBI schedules the 2026 Probationary Officer preliminary examination in August, the main examination in September, and Phase III in October or November. As of August 28, the preliminary call-letter portal says downloading is over. The public careers page has not published an exact September main-exam day, so candidates should wait for the main call letter rather than use an unofficial date.

The preliminary English section now has 40 questions in 20 minutes. Main English has 40 questions worth 20 marks in 40 minutes, followed by a 30-mark Communication Skills paper with three typed tasks.

Speaking becomes relevant in the group exercise and interview. Start a free SpeakShark conversation for general oral confidence, then use SBI's advertisement and booklets for the recruitment process.

Key takeaways

• SBI PO prelims were scheduled in August 2026, and call-letter downloading is now over.
• The main examination is scheduled for September 2026.
• Preliminary English has 40 questions and 20 minutes.
• Main objective English has 40 questions, 20 marks and 40 minutes.
• The descriptive paper tests three written communication tasks for 30 marks.
• The recruitment lists 1,500 provisional vacancies.

In this guide: timeline | public date | prelims | main | penalty | Phase III | merit | vacancies | call letter | research | FAQ

SBI PO 2026 recruitment timeline

Advertisement CRPD/PO/2026-27/09 gives month-level dates for all three phases.

The timeline is tentative. SBI can announce exact dates through call letters and current-opening updates.

The recruitment has three phases:

1. Online preliminary examination.
2. Online main objective and descriptive examinations.
3. Psychometric test, group exercise and personal interview.

This process belongs to State Bank of India. It is separate from IBPS PO/MT-XVI and IBPS Customer Service Associate, which have different dates, marks and selection formulas.

Why there is no public exact main date yet

SBI's detailed advertisement gives September as the main-exam month but not a day. The current-opening card still points to the expired preliminary call-letter portal. That portal confirms only that preliminary call-letter downloading is over.

The preliminary information booklet tells candidates to use the date, reporting time and venue printed on their individual call letter. It does not publish one universal date in the booklet text.

The evidence hierarchy is therefore:

An exact date can be added only after SBI publishes it. Inventing a day from a coaching article would make this guide appear more precise while making it less reliable.

Candidates should monitor advertisement number CRPD/PO/2026-27/09, because the same careers page also contains older PO recruitments.

Application, fee and eligibility snapshot

Applications and fee payment ran from June 18 through July 8, 2026.

The payment is non-refundable. A candidate needed a graduate degree in any discipline or an equivalent qualification recognised by the Central Government, subject to the qualification date and final-year conditions in the advertisement.

The age range was 21 to 30 years as of April 1, 2026, with category relaxations under the published rules. SBI also sets limits on the number of main-exam attempts for relevant categories. Appearing only in prelims does not count as an attempt, while appearing in the main exam does.

Eligibility and test performance are separate gates. Call-letter issuance does not waive degree, age, category, identity or later document checks.

For other employer assessments, see call-centre English assessment, iMocha AI-EnglishPro, and TCS and Cognizant communication tests. Their formats do not apply to SBI PO.

Preliminary English pattern changed

The 2026 preliminary test has 100 questions and three separately timed sections.

English is 40% of all preliminary questions and allows an average of 30 seconds per question. The detailed table prints only a total maximum of 100 marks, so it is safer not to claim that English is independently worth 40 marks.

SBI states that there is no sectional cut-off in the preliminary examination. A category-wise merit list is drawn from aggregate preliminary marks, and approximately ten times the category vacancies are shortlisted for the main exam.

This is different from IBPS PO, where candidates must clear each preliminary test cut-off. It is also different from SSC CGL English and SSC Stenographer English.

The official preliminary booklet provides illustrative question types and operating instructions. Candidates should use it instead of copying remembered questions from candidate posts.

Main English and Communication Skills pattern

Phase II has a three-hour objective test followed immediately by a 30-minute descriptive paper.

Main objective English has 40 questions sharing 20 marks. Its average assigned value is 0.50 mark per question, subject to the test's scoring implementation.

The Communication Skills descriptive paper has three tasks, 30 marks and 30 minutes:

1. One email chosen from two options.
2. One situation analysis chosen from two options.
3. Either report writing or precis writing, using the options provided.

This paper is broader than a grammar quiz. It tests whether a candidate can organise a response for a practical communication purpose while typing under time pressure.

SBI sets a minimum qualifying score in every main objective section and in the descriptive paper separately. Candidates also need the minimum aggregate main score decided by the bank.

For general language work, use English speaking and writing skills, English vocabulary and speaking skills, and office small talk. SBI material remains the source for task instructions and marking conditions.

Negative marking and cut-offs

SBI deducts one quarter of the marks assigned to an objective question when the answer is wrong. A blank answer receives no penalty.

The advertisement does not publish separate preliminary section mark values, so calculating a preliminary English deduction as exactly 0.25 would require an assumption not supported by that table.

The cut-off structure also changes between phases:

• Preliminary shortlisting uses aggregate category merit and no sectional cut-off.
• Main shortlisting requires every objective section and the descriptive paper to be qualified individually.
• Main candidates must also reach the aggregate score decided by SBI.
• Approximately three times the category vacancies may be shortlisted for Phase III.

A useful strategy is to protect each timer, prioritise high-confidence responses and leave an objective item blank when no option can be eliminated reliably.

Psychometric test, group exercise and interview

Candidates shortlisted from the main exam enter Phase III.

The psychometric test creates a personality profile for the interview panel. SBI says all psychometric questions are mandatory. It may be proctored remotely or conducted at identified centres.

The scored Phase III components are:

SBI decides the minimum qualifying marks for the group exercise and interview. Candidates must qualify Phase II and Phase III separately.

Spoken English is not a separately published mark row, but candidates need to explain decisions, listen to others and answer a panel clearly. Practise English job interview role plays, English speaking topics for adults, and how to answer interview questions. Start free speaking practice for general delivery, not SBI question prediction.

What counts in final selection

Preliminary marks do not enter final merit. SBI combines Phase II and the scored parts of Phase III.

The psychometric profile is presented to the interview panel, but the published final table assigns scored Phase III marks to the group exercise and interview.

The final sequence is:

1. Rank high enough on aggregate preliminary marks.
2. Qualify every main section and the descriptive paper.
3. Reach the main aggregate threshold.
4. Complete the mandatory psychometric test.
5. Qualify the group exercise and interview.
6. Rank high enough after the 75:25 normalisation.

This makes the written Communication Skills paper and spoken Phase III performance relevant at different points. They should not be treated as one combined English score.

SBI PO 2026 vacancies

The advertisement lists 1,500 provisional vacancies.

The total comprises 1,446 regular vacancies and 54 backlog vacancies. PwBD figures are horizontal reservations within the published structure rather than extra jobs to add to the 1,500 total.

SBI states that vacancy figures are provisional and may vary with actual requirements. The advertisement, not an old result page, should be used for the current exercise.

How to check the main call letter

Use this sequence:

1. Open SBI Careers and select Current Openings.
2. Find advertisement CRPD/PO/2026-27/09.
3. Expand only that recruitment card.
4. Check for a preliminary result or main call-letter link.
5. Log in through the linked official candidate portal.
6. Verify the exact September date, reporting time, session and venue.
7. Read the main Acquaint Yourself Booklet when SBI publishes it.
8. Keep the authenticated preliminary call letter and ID-proof copy required at the main exam.

SBI says no hard copy of the call letter or booklet is sent by post. The registered email address and mobile number should remain active through results.

For source discipline, see questions before booking an English test. For general practice, try the free speaking-level check, practice speaking alone, or English speaking apps for India jobs.

How we researched this guide

On August 28, 2026, we opened SBI's current-openings page through the existing browser profile and located advertisement CRPD/PO/2026-27/09. We downloaded the English detailed advertisement and the preliminary Acquaint Yourself Booklet, then checked the linked call-letter portal.

The advertisement supplied the month-level schedule, 1,500 vacancies, English structures, descriptive tasks, penalty and final weights. The booklet confirmed that each candidate's exact preliminary date came from the call letter. The live candidate portal reported that preliminary call-letter downloading was over.

We preserved September as the current official main-exam timing because SBI had not published an exact day on the public careers card. We did not use coaching dates, copy protected questions, invent cut-offs or use SpeakShark customer data.

We are a speaking improvement tool. We are not an exam preparation provider, and we are not affiliated with SBI, IBPS, the Reserve Bank of India or any exam board. For test format, booking and official practice material, go to the exam body directly. Use SpeakShark to make your spoken English stronger, and use official material to learn the test.

FAQ

The official advertisement schedules the preliminary exam in August 2026, the main exam in September, and the psychometric test, group exercise and interview in October or November. As of August 28, the preliminary call-letter portal says downloading is over, while SBI has not published an exact main-exam day on the public careers page.

The preliminary English Language section has 40 questions and a separate 20-minute timer. The whole preliminary test has 100 questions, 100 aggregate marks and 60 minutes. SBI does not print a separate English mark value in the 2026 table and says there is no sectional preliminary cut-off.

The main objective English Language section has 40 questions worth 20 marks in 40 minutes. A separate 30-minute Communication Skills descriptive paper has three tasks worth 30 marks: one email, one situation analysis, and either report writing or precis writing, each chosen from the alternatives specified in the notification.

Yes. SBI deducts one quarter of the marks assigned to an objective question for a wrong answer in either the preliminary or main exam. An unanswered question has no penalty. The descriptive Communication Skills paper, psychometric test, group exercise and interview are not objective questions under that rule.

No. Preliminary marks are used only to shortlist candidates for the main examination. Final merit combines the main objective and descriptive tests, normalised to 75 marks, with the group exercise and interview, normalised to 25 marks. Candidates must qualify Phase II and Phase III separately.

The official advertisement lists 1,500 total vacancies: 1,446 regular vacancies and 54 backlog vacancies. The category totals are 234 SC, 144 ST, 390 OBC, 144 EWS and 588 unreserved. SBI states that these figures are provisional and may vary with the bank's actual requirement.

For general spoken English, start free daily practice. Premium costs $10 for one month, $25 for three months, or $69 for one year. See pricing.

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Sources

1. SBI current openings, checked for the active recruitment card and links.
2. SBI PO 2026 detailed advertisement, checked for dates, vacancies, English and selection.
3. SBI PO preliminary booklet, checked for candidate instructions.
4. Official preliminary call-letter portal, checked for current download status.
5. Reserve Bank of India bank information, checked for banking-sector context.
6. SpeakShark pricing, checked for current free and paid options.

SBI dates, call letters, cut-offs, vacancies, centres and Phase III arrangements can change. Confirm advertisement CRPD/PO/2026-27/09 before acting.