The SBI Clerk Prelims Exam 2026 for the post of Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales) started on 26 September 2026. The exam is being conducted by the State Bank of India (SBI) in four shifts each day.

This article provides the SBI Clerk Prelims Exam Analysis 2026 for Day 1, including the difficulty level, good attempts, and topics asked in each section.

The analysis is based on candidate feedback after the exam. Candidates appearing on 27 September can use these trends to understand the question pattern and improve their time management.

Table of Contents

SBI Clerk Prelims Exam 2026: Overview

Particulars Details
Exam Name SBI Clerk Prelims 2026
Conducting Body State Bank of India (SBI)
Post Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales)
Exam Dates September 26 & 27, 2026
Shifts Per Day 4
Exam Mode Online (CBT)
Total Questions 100
Total Marks 100
Duration 60 Minutes
Sectional Time 20 Minutes per Section
Negative Marking 0.25 marks for each wrong answer
Sections English, Numerical Ability, Reasoning Ability

SBI Clerk Prelims Shift Timings 2026

Shift Exam Timing
Shift 1 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Shift 2 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Shift 3 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Shift 4 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM

SBI Clerk Prelims Exam Pattern 2026

The SBI Clerk Prelims exam consists of 100 questions for 100 marks. Candidates get a separate 20-minute timer for each section. Once the time for a section ends, candidates automatically move to the next section.

Section Questions Marks Time
English Language 30 30 20 Minutes
Numerical Ability 35 35 20 Minutes
Reasoning Ability 35 35 20 Minutes
Total 100 100 60 Minutes

SBI Clerk Shift 1 Exam Analysis 2026 – September 26

The overall difficulty level of Shift 1 was reported as Easy to Moderate by candidates. English Language was comparatively easier, while Numerical Ability required good calculation speed. Reasoning included several puzzle and arrangement sets.

Shift 1 Difficulty Level and Good Attempts

Section Questions Difficulty Level Good Attempts
English Language 30 Easy 24–27
Numerical Ability 35 Easy to Moderate 22–26
Reasoning Ability 35 Easy to Moderate 26–28
Overall 100 Easy to Moderate 72–83

Shift 1 English Language Analysis

The Reading Comprehension passage was based on a story about a cricketer. Other questions focused on grammar and sentence structure.

Topic Questions
Reading Comprehension – Cricketer Based 8
Phrase Replacement 3–4
Single Filler 3–4
Sentence-Based Error Detection 4
Word Swap 4
Para Jumbles 5
Total 30

Shift 1 Numerical Ability Analysis

The Numerical Ability section included two DI sets. One was a Table DI based on Economics and History marks, while the other was a Line Graph DI. Simplification and Arithmetic also had significant weightage.

Topic Questions
Simplification / Approximation 11–12
Table DI – Economics & History Marks 5
Line Graph DI 5
Arithmetic 14–15
Total 35

Shift 1 Reasoning Ability Analysis

The Reasoning section included four puzzle/arrangement sets. Other questions came from topics such as Syllogism, Inequality, Direction and Word Series.

Topic Questions
Uncertain Number of Persons – North Facing 3
Box-Based Puzzle – 8 Boxes 5
Month & Day-Based Puzzle 5
Number-Based Box Puzzle – 8 Boxes 5
Syllogism 3
Inequality 3
Direction & Distance 3
Word Series 5
Pair Formation – Word 1
Odd One Out 1
Number-Based – Three Letter Word 1
Total 35

SBI Clerk Shift 2 Exam Analysis 2026 – September 26

In Shift 2, candidates reported the English Language section as Easy. Numerical Ability was more calculation-oriented, while Reasoning again had a considerable number of puzzle-based questions.

Section Questions Difficulty Level Good Attempts
English Language 30 Easy 25+
Numerical Ability 35 Moderate 18+
Reasoning Ability 35 Easy 30+
Overall 100 Easy 83+

Shift 2 English Language Analysis

Topic Questions
Reading Comprehension 10–11
Fill in the Blanks 3–4
Correct/Incorrect 3–5
Phrase Replacement 4–5
Word Swap 2–3
Match the Column 1–2
Sentence Rearrangement 2–3

Shift 2 Numerical Ability Analysis

Two DI sets were asked in this shift as well. The Table DI was based on books and magazines sold by a library from Monday to Thursday. The Bar Graph DI was based on laptops sold by A, B, C and D.

Topic Questions
Table DI – Library Books & Magazines 4–5
Bar Graph DI – Laptops Sold 5–6
Missing Number Series 2–3
Arithmetic 9–11
Simplification 11–12
Total 35

Shift 2 Reasoning Ability Analysis

Topic Questions
Linear Seating Arrangement – 11 Persons 5
Date & Month-Based Puzzle 5
Square Seating Arrangement – 8 Persons 5
Month-Based Puzzle – January to August 5
Number Series-Based Questions 5
Syllogism 3
Blood Relation 2–3
Miscellaneous 3–5

SBI Clerk Shift 3 Exam Analysis 2026 – September 26

The detailed analysis for Shift 3 will be updated after the examination ends at 3:00 PM.

Section Questions Difficulty Level Good Attempts
English Language 30 Update Pending Update Pending
Numerical Ability 35 Update Pending Update Pending
Reasoning Ability 35 Update Pending Update Pending
Overall 100 Update Pending Update Pending

SBI Clerk Shift 4 Exam Analysis 2026 – September 26

The detailed analysis for Shift 4 will be updated after the examination ends at 5:30 PM.

Section Questions Difficulty Level Good Attempts
English Language 30 Update Pending Update Pending
Numerical Ability 35 Update Pending Update Pending
Reasoning Ability 35 Update Pending Update Pending
Overall 100 Update Pending Update Pending

Why Accuracy Matters in SBI Clerk Prelims

The SBI Clerk Prelims exam has a 0.25-mark negative marking for every incorrect answer. Therefore, attempting more questions does not always mean a higher score if accuracy falls.

For example:

Total Attempts Correct Wrong Net Score
70 66 4 65.00
80 72 8 70.00
85 70 15 66.25
90 74 16 70.00

SBI Clerk Prelims Exam Analysis 2026: Shift-Wise

Exam Date Shift Analysis Link
26 September 2026 Shift 2 Check Here
26 September 2026 Shift 3 To be updated
26 September 2026 Shift 4 To be updated
27 September 2026 Shift 1 To be updated
27 September 2026 Shift 2 To be updated
27 September 2026 Shift 3 To be updated
27 September 2026 Shift 4 To be updated

The available Day 1 analysis of the SBI Clerk Prelims Exam 2026 indicates that the paper was largely Easy to Moderate across the analysed shifts. English was comparatively easy, Numerical Ability required calculation speed, and Reasoning included a significant number of puzzles and seating arrangements.

Candidates appearing on September 27 should focus on Puzzles, Simplification, Arithmetic, DI, Reading Comprehension and English grammar, along with proper sectional time management.

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