The SBI Clerk Prelims Exam 2026 was conducted on 26th and 27th September 2026 for the recruitment of 9,124 Junior Associate vacancies, including regular and backlog vacancies. The examination was conducted in multiple shifts, and the SBI Clerk Prelims Exam Analysis 2026 covers the difficulty level, good attempts, and section-wise distribution of questions based on candidate feedback from the examination.
SBI Clerk Prelims Exam Analysis 2026
The SBI Clerk Prelims Exam Analysis 2026 provides a detailed overview of the question paper conducted on 26th and 27th September 2026. The analysis covers the shift-wise difficulty level, good attempts, and section-wise distribution of questions asked in English Language, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning Ability. Candidates can refer to the detailed analysis for each shift to understand the questions asked, topic-wise distribution, section-wise difficulty level, and overall good attempts reported for the SBI Clerk Prelims Exam 2026.
SBI Clerk Prelims Exam Analysis 2026, Good Attempts, 27th September
The SBI Clerk Prelims good attempts 2026 foron 27th September have been estimated based on the difficulty level, number of questions asked, and candidate feedback from each examination shift. The shift-wise good attempts for English Language, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning Ability are given below.
| Shift | English Language | Numerical Ability | Reasoning Ability | Overall |
| Shift 1 | 23-26 | 23-27 | 30-33 | 76-86 |
| Shift 2 | 23-27 | 23-27 | 29-32 | 75-86 |
| Shift 3 | 23-26 | 23-27 | 30-33 | 76-86 |
SBI Clerk Prelims Exam Analysis 2026, Difficulty Level, 27th September
The SBI Clerk Prelims difficulty level 2026 for 27th September has been assessed from candidate feedback and the questions reported in the respective shifts. The table below presents the section-wise and overall difficulty level for each shift.
| Shift | English Language | Numerical Ability | Reasoning Ability | Overall |
| Shift 1 | Easy | Easy | Easy | Easy |
| Shift 2 | Easy | Easy | Easy | Easy |
| Shift 3 | Easy | Easy | Easy | Easy |
SBI Clerk Prelims Exam Analysis 2026, Sectional Analysis, 27th September
The SBI Clerk Prelims sectional analysis 2026 provides the topic-wise distribution of questions asked in English Language, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning Ability. Based on candidate feedback from the examination shifts, the detailed analysis below covers the topics asked and the number of questions reported from each section.
SBI Clerk Prelims English Language Analysis 2026, 27th September
The English Language section carries 30 questions for 30 marks. Questions were reported from Reading Comprehension, Fillers, Para Jumbles, Word Swap, Sentence Rearrangement, and other grammar-based topics.
| Topic | Shift 1 | Shift 2 | Shift 3 |
| Reading Comprehension | 9 | 10 | 9 |
| Sentence Rearrangement/Para Jumbles | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| Cloze Test | 6 | — | — |
| Fill in the Blanks/Fillers | — | 4 | 4 |
| Sentence Improvement | 3 | — | — |
| Phrase Replacement | — | 3 | — |
| Find the Correct/Incorrect Sentence | 4 | 3 | 5 |
| Word Swap | 4 | — | 5 |
| Misspelt | — | 5 | — |
| Word Usage | — | — | 2 |
| Total | 30 | 30 | 30 |
SBI Clerk Prelims Reasoning Ability Analysis 2026, 27th September
The Reasoning Ability section was Easy across the reported shifts. Questions were asked from puzzles, seating arrangements, Syllogism, Blood Relation, Order and Ranking, Coding-Decoding, Number Series, and other reasoning topics.
| Topic | Shift 1 | Shift 2 | Shift 3 |
| Floor Based Puzzle | 5 | 5 | — |
| Parallel Row Seating | 5 | — | — |
| Day Puzzle | 5 | — | — |
| Circular Seating Arrangement | — | 5 | — |
| Month-Date Puzzle | — | 5 | — |
| Order and Ranking | 3 | 3 | — |
| Coding-Decoding | 3 | 3 | — |
| Blood Relation | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Syllogism | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| Alphanumeric Series | 5 | 4 | — |
| Alphabet/Number Series | — | — | 5 |
| Direction | — | 3 | — |
| Inequality | — | — | 3 |
| Square Seating Arrangement | — | — | 5 |
| Linear Seating | — | — | 5 |
| Stack Puzzle | — | — | 5 |
| Uncertain Linear Seating | — | — | 3 |
| Number/Meaningful Word/Miscellaneous | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Total | 35 | 35 | 35 |
SBI Clerk Prelims Numerical Ability Analysis 2026, 27th September
The Numerical Ability section consists of 35 questions for 35 marks. The reported questions included Simplification, Data Interpretation, and Application Sums.
| Topic | Shift 1 | Shift 2 | Shift 3 |
| Table DI | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Bar Graph DI | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Caselet DI | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| Simplification | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Missing Number Series | — | — | — |
| Application Sums | 11 | 10 | 11 |
| Total | 35 | 35 | 35 |
SBI Clerk Prelims Exam Analysis 2026, Good Attempts, 26th September
The SBI Clerk Prelims good attempts 2026 for 26th September have been estimated based on the difficulty level, number of questions asked, and candidate feedback from each examination shift. The shift-wise good attempts for English Language, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning Ability are given below.
| Shift | English Language | Numerical Ability | Reasoning Ability | Overall |
| Shift 1 | 24-27 | 22-26 | 26-28 | 72-83 |
| Shift 2 | 24-26 | 24-26 | 29-31 | 77-83 |
| Shift 3 | 22-26 | 26-30 | 29-33 | 78-86 |
| Shift 4 | 23-27 | 23-26 | 30-33 | 76-86 |
SBI Clerk Prelims Exam Analysis 2026, Difficulty Level, 26th September
The SBI Clerk Prelims difficulty level 2026 has been assessed from candidate feedback and the questions reported in the respective shifts. The table below presents the section-wise and overall difficulty level for each shift.
| Shift | English Language | Numerical Ability | Reasoning Ability | Overall |
| Shift 1 | Easy | Easy to Moderate | Easy to Moderate | Easy to Moderate |
| Shift 2 | Easy | Easy | Easy | Easy |
| Shift 3 | Easy to Moderate | Easy to Moderate | Easy to Moderate | Easy to Moderate |
| Shift 4 | Easy | Easy | Easy | Easy |
SBI Clerk Prelims Exam Analysis 2026, Sectional Analysis, 26th September
The SBI Clerk Prelims sectional analysis 2026 provides the topic-wise distribution of questions asked in English Language, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning Ability. Based on candidate feedback from the examination shifts, the detailed analysis below covers the topics asked and the number of questions reported from each section.
SBI Clerk Prelims English Language Analysis 2026, 26th September
The English Language section carries 30 questions for 30 marks. Questions were reported from Reading Comprehension, Phrase Replacement, Fill in the Blanks, Word Swap, Para Jumbles, and other grammar-based topics.
| Topic | Shift 1 | Shift 2 | Shift 3 | Shift 4 |
| Reading Comprehension | 8 | 10 | 8 | 9 |
| Cloze Test | — | — | 6 | — |
| Phrase Replacement | 3-4 | 4 | — | — |
| Column Based | — | — | 3 | — |
| Misspelt | — | — | 5 | — |
| Fill in the Blanks | 3-4 | 3 | — | 5 |
| Sentence Based Error | 4 | — | 5 | — |
| Word Swap | 4 | 2 | — | 5 |
| Para Jumbles/Sentence Rearrangement | 5 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Correct/Incorrect | — | 3 | — | 4 |
| Match the Column | — | 1 | — | 2 |
| Total | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
SBI Clerk Prelims Reasoning Ability Analysis 2026, 26th September
The Reasoning Ability section was Easy to Moderate in Shift 3. Questions were asked from puzzles, seating arrangement, Syllogism, Blood Relation, Order & Ranking, Direction & Distance, Alphanumeric Series, Coding-Decoding, and other reasoning topics.
| Topic | Shift 1 | Shift 2 | Shift 3 | Shift 4 |
| Uncertain No. of Persons (Not more than 14 persons)- North Facing | 3 | — | — | — |
| Box-based Puzzle (8) (Independent) | 5 | — | — | — |
| Month and Day Based Puzzle (Sept to Dec) | 5 | — | — | — |
| Box-based (Number) (8 boxes) | 5 | — | — | — |
| Double Row Puzzle (10 Persons) | — | — | 5 | — |
| Sequence Based Puzzle | — | — | 5 | — |
| Week Based Puzzle | — | — | 5 | — |
| Straight Line Seating Arrangement – 11 persons | — | 5 | — | — |
| Date & Month-Based Puzzle | — | 5 | — | — |
| Square-Based Seating Arrangement – 8 persons, facing inside | — | 5 | — | — |
| Month-Based Puzzle – January to August | — | 5 | — | — |
| Linear Seating (8 persons) | — | — | — | 5 |
| Circular Seating (8 persons) | — | — | — | 5 |
| Floor with Flat Puzzle | — | — | — | 5 |
| Syllogism | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Inequalities | 3 | — | — | — |
| Order & Ranking | — | — | 3 | 3 |
| Direction & Distance/Direction | 3 | — | 2 | 3 |
| Alphanumeric Series | — | — | 4 | — |
| Pair Formation | 1 | — | 1 | — |
| Word/Number Series | 5 | 5 | — | — |
| Coding-Decoding | — | — | 4 | 5 |
| Meaningful Word | — | — | 1 | — |
| Odd One Out | 1 | — | — | — |
| Number-based (3-letter word) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Blood Relation | — | — | 2 | — |
| Number Sequence – 3-digit number | — | — | — | 5 |
| Miscellaneous | — | 3-5 | — | 2 |
| Total | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35 |
SBI Clerk Prelims Numerical Ability Analysis 2026, 26th September
The Numerical Ability section consists of 35 questions for 35 marks. The reported questions included Simplification/Approximation, Data Interpretation, Arithmetic, and Number Series.
| Topic | Shift 1 | Shift 2 | Shift 3 | Shift 4 |
| Table DI | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Line Graph DI | 5 | — | 5 | 5 |
| Bar Graph DI | — | 5 | — | — |
| Caselet DI | — | — | 5 | — |
| Simplification/Approximation | 11-12 | 10-12 | 8 | 10 |
| Missing Number Series | — | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Arithmetic/Application Sums | 14-15 | 10-12 | 9 | 12 |
| Total | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35 |
SBI Clerk Prelims Previous Year Exam Analysis
The SBI Clerk Prelims previous year exam analysis helps candidates understand the recurring question patterns, difficulty level, and topic-wise distribution observed in earlier examinations. The consolidated data below covers the major trends from the last five years, giving candidates a reference point for understanding the nature of the Prelims examination. The actual 2026 analysis may differ depending on the difficulty level and question distribution across shifts.
SBI Clerk Prelims Previous Year Difficulty Level
The SBI Clerk Prelims examination has generally remained in the Easy to Moderate range in previous years, although the difficulty level can vary across shifts. Reasoning Ability and English Language have often included several manageable questions, while Numerical Ability may become more time-consuming due to calculation-intensive questions.
| Section | Previous Year Difficulty Level |
|---|---|
| English Language | Easy to Moderate |
| Reasoning Ability | Easy to Moderate |
| Numerical Ability | Easy to Moderate |
| Overall | Easy to Moderate |
SBI Clerk Prelims Previous Year Good Attempts
Good attempts in the SBI Clerk Prelims depend on the difficulty level of the shift, question distribution, and the candidate’s speed and accuracy. Based on previous-year trends and shift-wise analyses, candidates have generally targeted a high number of accurate attempts in the Prelims examination.
| Section | Good Attempts |
|---|---|
| English Language | 21-26 |
| Reasoning Ability | 25-30 |
| Numerical Ability | 21-27 |
| Overall | 72-84 |
SBI Clerk Prelims Previous Year Reasoning Ability Analysis
Puzzles and Seating Arrangement have consistently formed a major part of the Reasoning Ability section. Questions from Syllogism, Inequality, Alphanumeric Series, Blood Relations, Coding-Decoding, Direction Sense, and other short reasoning topics have also appeared across previous shifts.
| Topics | Trend in Last Five Years |
|---|---|
| Puzzles & Seating Arrangement | 15-20 |
| Alphanumeric/Word Series | 3-5 |
| Syllogism | 3-5 |
| Inequality | 3-4 |
| Blood Relation | 2-4 |
| Direction Sense | 1-5 |
| Coding-Decoding | 1-5 |
| Meaningful Word/Word Formation | 1-2 |
| Pair Formation | 1 |
| Other Miscellaneous Topics | 1-3 |
| Total | 35 |
SBI Clerk Prelims Previous Year Numerical Ability Analysis
The Numerical Ability section has regularly included Simplification, Arithmetic, Data Interpretation, and Number Series. Different forms of Data Interpretation, including Table, Bar Graph, Line Graph, and Caselet DI, have appeared in previous examinations. Arithmetic questions have covered topics such as Percentage, Profit and Loss, Average, Time and Work, and Simple and Compound Interest.
| Topics | Trend in Last Five Years |
|---|---|
| Simplification | 7-15 |
| Arithmetic | 8-15 |
| Data Interpretation | 5-15 |
| Number Series | 0-5 |
| Caselet DI | 0-5 |
| Quadratic Equations | 0-5 |
| Total | 35 |
SBI Clerk Prelims Previous Year English Language Analysis
The English Language section has consistently included Reading Comprehension along with grammar and vocabulary-based questions. Cloze Test, Error Detection, Sentence Rearrangement, Fillers, Word Swap, Phrase Replacement, and other word-based questions have also appeared across different years and shifts.
| Topics | Trend in Last Five Years |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 7-10 |
| Cloze Test | 3-8 |
| Error Detection | 4-5 |
| Sentence Rearrangement/Para Jumble | 4-5 |
| Fillers | 2-6 |
| Word Swap/Word Rearrangement | 3-5 |
| Phrase Replacement | 0-5 |
| Mis-spelt/Word-based Questions | 0-5 |
| Word Usage/Vocabulary | 1-3 |
| Total | 30 |
What can Regular SBI Clerk Candidates Learn from the Backlog Exam?
The SBI Clerk Backlog Exam 2026 provides a useful indication of the type of questions candidates may encounter while preparing for the regular SBI Clerk Prelims. While the exact questions and difficulty level can differ between shifts, the 16 September paper highlights the importance of strong basics, speed, accuracy and effective question selection.
Candidates should not prepare by simply memorising the questions reported from the backlog examination. Instead, they should use the analysis to identify recurring topics and strengthen their ability to solve different variations of those concepts.
1. Strengthen Puzzle and Seating Arrangement Practice
The Reasoning section included several puzzle and seating arrangement sets, including sequence-based, day-based, comparison-based and parallel-row arrangements. Candidates should therefore practise different formats rather than focusing on one type of puzzle. During practice, candidates should also work on identifying which set can be solved quickly. In the actual examination, spending too much time on a difficult puzzle can reduce the time available for easier miscellaneous questions.
2. Prioritise Simplification and Calculation Speed
The Numerical Ability section included 12 Simplification questions, along with DI and arithmetic. Candidates appearing for the regular exam should revise simplification, approximation, percentage calculations, fractions, squares, cubes and common calculation shortcuts. The focus should be on solving familiar questions quickly while maintaining accuracy. Candidates should avoid spending excessive time on lengthy calculations when other scoring questions are available.
3. Practise Multiple DI Formats
The backlog paper included Table DI, Bar Graph DI and Caselet DI. Candidates should therefore revise different DI formats instead of relying only on one type. Practice should include questions involving percentages, ratios, averages, comparisons and other basic arithmetic operations so that candidates can handle variations in the DI sets.
4. Revise High-Frequency English Topics
The English section covered Reading Comprehension, Error Detection, Para Jumbles, Phrase Replacement, Misspelt Words and Sentence Rearrangement. Candidates should revise these areas while continuing regular reading practice. For the remaining preparation period, candidates can focus on grammar rules, vocabulary, sentence structure and quick comprehension. Accuracy should remain the priority, particularly in questions involving grammar and word usage.
5. Prepare According to the 20-Minute Sectional Limit
Since each section of the SBI Clerk Prelims has a separate time limit, candidates cannot compensate for a slow section by using extra time from another section. The backlog paper reinforces the need to have a clear section-wise approach before entering the examination. Candidates should take sectional mocks and practise completing each section within 20 minutes. The objective should be to maximise accurate attempts rather than attempting every question.
SBI Clerk Regular Exam 2026, Preparation Strategy After the Backlog Exam
Candidates appearing for the regular SBI Clerk Prelims should treat the backlog paper as a reference point rather than a prediction of the exact upcoming paper. The questions, sets and difficulty level can vary across examination dates and shifts, so preparation should remain broad.
| Section | What to Focus On | How to Prepare |
| Reasoning Ability Quiz | Puzzles, Seating Arrangement, Syllogism, Inequality, Series | Practise different puzzle formats and take timed sectional tests |
| Numerical Ability Quiz | Simplification, DI, Arithmetic | Improve calculation speed and practise mixed DI sets |
| English Language Quiz | RC, Error Detection, Para Jumbles, Phrase Replacement, Vocabulary | Revise grammar and vocabulary and practise timed English sets |
| Overall | Speed, Accuracy, Question Selection | Take full-length and sectional mocks under the 20-minute sectional limits |
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