SBI PO Prelims Exam Analysis 2026: Shift 1 Live Updates
The SBI PO Prelims Exam Analysis 2026 for Shift 1 covers the paper level, expected good attempts and section-wise review. It will also include questions shared by candidates.
Shift 1 ran from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on 1 August 2026. Soon after the exam, several education websites started collecting candidate feedback. However, a common and fully confirmed review was not available at the time of this update.
Last updated: 1 August 2026, 11:39 a.m. IST
Live update:
Shift 1 has ended. Meanwhile, exam experts are checking candidate reviews and recalled questions. Therefore, this page will add figures only after trusted sources confirm them.
SBI PO Shift 1 Analysis 2026: Latest Status
The first shift is now complete. At present, experts are comparing feedback from several candidates.
| Analysis Point | Current Status |
|---|
| Shift 1 exam | Completed |
| Candidate feedback | Experts are checking responses |
| Overall paper level | Awaited |
| Section-wise level | Awaited |
| Expected good attempts | Awaited |
| Questions asked | Under review |
| Memory-based questions | In preparation |
Some websites may share early estimates within minutes of the exam. However, those figures may change when more candidates send their reviews.
For this reason, this article does not show any unconfirmed number as final.
SBI PO Prelims 2026 Overview
The State Bank of India is holding the SBI PO recruitment drive under Advertisement No. CRPD/PO/2026-27/09.
Overall, SBI has announced 1,500 Probationary Officer vacancies. The total includes 1,446 regular vacancies and 54 backlog vacancies.
| Particular | Details |
|---|
| Exam name | SBI PO Prelims 2026 |
| Conducting body | State Bank of India |
| Post | Probationary Officer |
| Advertisement number | CRPD/PO/2026-27/09 |
| Total vacancies | 1,500 |
| Regular vacancies | 1,446 |
| Backlog vacancies | 54 |
| Exam dates | 1 and 2 August 2026 |
| Exam mode | Online |
| Total questions | 100 |
| Maximum marks | 100 |
| Total time | 60 minutes |
| Time per section | 20 minutes |
| Negative marking | One-fourth mark per wrong answer |
| Sectional cut-off | No separate sectional cut-off |
In addition, SBI is holding the exam in several shifts. Therefore, candidates must follow the reporting time shown on their admit cards.
SBI PO Prelims Exam Pattern 2026
The preliminary exam has 100 objective questions across three sections. Each section has a separate time limit of 20 minutes.
| Section | Questions | Time |
|---|
| English Language | 40 | 20 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 60 minutes |
SBI does not apply a separate cut-off to each section. Instead, the bank uses the candidate’s total score to prepare the merit list.
As a result, candidates need a strong overall score. They do not need separate qualifying marks in all three sections.
SBI PO Negative Marking
SBI deducts marks for wrong answers in the online test. For each incorrect response, the bank cuts one-fourth of the marks assigned to that question.
However, unanswered questions do not carry a penalty. Therefore, accuracy matters more than a high number of doubtful attempts.
SBI PO Prelims Shift Timings 2026
The SBI PO Prelims exam takes place in four shifts.
| Shift | Exam Time |
|---|
| Shift 1 | 9:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m. |
| Shift 2 | 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. |
| Shift 3 | 2:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m. |
| Shift 4 | 4:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m. |
Reporting and gate-closing times may differ from the exam timings. Therefore, candidates must read their admit cards carefully.
In addition, they should reach the centre before the reporting time. Otherwise, the staff may not allow entry after the gates close.
SBI PO Shift 1 Good Attempts 2026
At the time of publication, trusted sources had not confirmed the Shift 1 good-attempt range.
| Section | Total Questions | Confirmed Good Attempts |
|---|
| English Language | 40 | Awaited |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | Awaited |
| Reasoning Ability | 30 | Awaited |
| Overall | 100 | Awaited |
Different websites may publish different ranges during the first few hours. However, early figures often change after experts receive more feedback.
Thus, this table will show the final range only after reliable sources publish a clear review.
What Are Good Attempts?
Good attempts show how many questions a candidate may answer with strong accuracy.
Several points affect this range:
- Overall paper level
- Difficulty of each section
- Length of puzzles
- Time needed for calculations
- Reading Comprehension length
- Candidate accuracy
- Negative marking
- Differences between shifts
Even so, good attempts are only estimates. They do not represent the official SBI PO cut-off.
SBI PO Shift 1 Difficulty Level
Experts will rate the final paper level after comparing feedback from many candidates.
| Section | Difficulty Level |
|---|
| English Language | Awaited |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Awaited |
| Reasoning Ability | Awaited |
| Overall | Awaited |
One candidate’s experience may not reflect the full shift. For example, a person with strong maths skills may find Quantitative Aptitude easy.
By contrast, another candidate may struggle because of time pressure. Therefore, a larger set of reviews will give a more useful rating.
SBI PO Shift 1 English Language Analysis
The English Language section had 40 questions. Candidates received 20 minutes to complete it.
The final review will cover:
- Reading Comprehension
- Vocabulary
- Grammar
- Fillers
- Sentence order
- Topic-wise question count
- Section level
- Expected good attempts
For now, major exam websites have not released confirmed question counts. Hence, this article does not include an unconfirmed topic table.
Once trusted details become available, the review will explain the main question types. In addition, it will show how many questions candidates could answer with good accuracy.
Meanwhile, later-shift candidates should revise Reading Comprehension, vocabulary, fillers, grammar and sentence order.
SBI PO Shift 1 Quantitative Aptitude Analysis
The Quantitative Aptitude section had 30 questions. Candidates received 20 minutes to solve them.
The final review will include:
- Data Interpretation sets
- Arithmetic topics
- Number-based questions
- Calculation level
- Topic-wise question count
- Expected good attempts
- Overall paper level
At the time of publication, no trusted source had confirmed the exact Data Interpretation sets. Likewise, the number of arithmetic questions was still unclear.
Until then, candidates should practise quick calculations, percentages, ratios and averages. In addition, they should revise Data Interpretation and common arithmetic topics.
SBI PO Shift 1 Reasoning Ability Analysis
The Reasoning Ability section also had 30 questions. Candidates received 20 minutes to finish it.
The final review will cover:
- Puzzle formats
- Seating arrangements
- Direct reasoning questions
- Topic-wise question count
- Puzzle length
- Section level
- Expected good attempts
Experts are still checking the exact puzzle types and question counts. As a result, this article does not show early claims as confirmed facts.
Meanwhile, candidates should revise seating arrangements, box puzzles and floor puzzles. They should also practise syllogism, ranking and direction sense.
Why Are Shift 1 Details Still Awaited?
Exam websites prepare their reviews from candidate feedback after each shift.
First, experts collect candidate reactions. Next, they compare recalled questions and check topic-wise counts.
After that, they review the paper level and estimate good attempts. Finally, they correct any conflicting reports.
As a result, a review published just after a shift may include incomplete details. Moreover, candidates may remember the same question in different ways.
For this reason, experts must compare several responses before publishing a reliable report.
SBI PO Memory-Based Questions 2026
SBI does not give candidates an official copy of the question paper just after the exam. Therefore, exam experts prepare memory-based questions from details shared by candidates.
These questions help candidates understand:
- The latest exam pattern
- Questions reported in a shift
- Puzzle and seating formats
- Data Interpretation patterns
- Arithmetic level
- English question types
- Differences between shifts
However, recalled questions may contain small changes in wording, numbers or answer choices.
For this reason, candidates should use memory-based papers only for practice. They should not treat them as official SBI papers.
SBI PO Good Attempts vs Official Cut-Off
Good attempts and cut-off marks have different meanings.
Good attempts are unofficial estimates. Experts prepare them by checking candidate feedback, paper level, accuracy, question length and time pressure.
In contrast, the SBI PO cut-off is the minimum score needed to qualify for the next stage. SBI releases the official cut-off after the exam and result process.
Therefore, reaching an expected good-attempt range does not confirm selection. Furthermore, the final cut-off may depend on vacancies, paper level, candidate performance and category-wise competition.
Is There a Sectional Cut-Off in SBI PO Prelims?
No. SBI does not apply a separate sectional cut-off in the Prelims exam.
Instead, the bank prepares a category-wise merit list from the total score. Even so, candidates should perform well in all three sections because each one has a separate timer.
Are SBI PO Prelims Marks Counted in Final Selection?
SBI uses Prelims marks only to shortlist candidates for the Main Examination.
The bank does not add these marks to the final merit list. Instead, performance in the later stages decides the final selection.
Thus, candidates only need to clear the Prelims stage and qualify for the next phase.
How to Estimate Your SBI PO Prelims Score
Candidates should check accuracy instead of focusing only on total attempts.
SBI PO Prelims Score Formula
Estimated score = Correct answers − Penalty for wrong answers
SBI deducts one-fourth of the allotted mark for each incorrect answer. Therefore, blind guessing may reduce the final score.
While checking performance, candidates should note:
- Total attempts
- Expected correct answers
- Possible wrong answers
- Section-wise performance
- Unanswered questions
For example, a candidate with fewer attempts and better accuracy may score more than someone with many wrong answers.
Tips for Candidates Appearing in Upcoming Shifts
Candidates appearing in later shifts should not change their full plan after reading an early review.
Instead, follow these simple tips:
- Attempt direct questions first.
- Balance speed with accuracy.
- Choose lengthy puzzles carefully.
- Select DI sets wisely.
- Avoid spending too much time on one question.
- Do not guess answers blindly.
- Follow the section timer.
- Stay calm if the first questions look difficult.
Furthermore, the topic pattern may change from one shift to another. Therefore, use the Shift 1 review as guidance, not as a prediction of the exact paper.
SBI PO Prelims Exam Analysis 2026 FAQs
Has SBI PO Shift 1 ended?
Yes. Shift 1 ran from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on 1 August 2026.
What was the difficulty level of SBI PO Shift 1?
Experts were still checking the final paper level at the time of publication. However, major exam websites had not released a common section-wise rating.
What were the SBI PO Shift 1 good attempts?
A confirmed good-attempt range was not available at the time of this update. Therefore, this article will add the figures after trusted sources confirm them.
How many questions are asked in SBI PO Prelims?
The exam contains 100 questions. English Language has 40 questions. Meanwhile, Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning Ability have 30 questions each.
What is the total time for SBI PO Prelims?
The exam lasts 60 minutes. In addition, candidates get a separate 20-minute limit for each section.
Does SBI PO Prelims have negative marking?
Yes. SBI deducts one-fourth of the marks assigned to a question for each wrong answer. However, unanswered questions carry no penalty.
Does SBI PO Prelims have a separate sectional cut-off?
No. SBI does not use a separate cut-off for each section in the Prelims exam.
Are good attempts the same as the official cut-off?
No. Good attempts are unofficial estimates. In contrast, SBI releases the official cut-off after the result process.
Will SBI add Prelims marks to the final merit list?
No. SBI uses Prelims marks only to shortlist candidates for the Main Examination.
When will the full Shift 1 analysis become available?
The full review will become available after experts collect and check enough candidate feedback.
Conclusion
The SBI PO Prelims Exam Analysis 2026 for Shift 1 is receiving live updates based on candidate feedback.
At the time of publication, major exam websites had not confirmed the good-attempt range, paper level or exact question pattern. Therefore, this article avoids showing unconfirmed figures as facts.
Bookmark this page and return for confirmed good attempts, paper levels, questions asked and memory-based updates.
Finally, candidates who appeared in Shift 1 can share their section-wise attempts and exam experience in the comments.
