SBI Clerk (Junior Associate – Customer Support & Sales) is one of the largest clerical recruitments in India: the 2026 cycle had about 9,766 posts (regular + backlog, as reported). The 2027 notification is expected around the usual cycle, but SBI has not announced a date yet. This plan helps you start now so you are ready whenever it comes.
2027 dates are not announced. We will update our Jobs page as soon as the official notice is out.
SBI Clerk at a glance (based on SBI JA 2026)
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Post | Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales) |
| Age | 20 to 28 years (relaxation for reserved categories) |
| Qualification | Graduation in any discipline |
| Stages | Prelims → Mains → Local Language Proficiency Test |
| Interview | None |
| Negative marking | 1/4 of the marks of the question |
| Prelims sectional cut-off | None (aggregate only) |
| Bonus marks | Trained SBI apprentices get 5 bonus marks (2.5% of 200) in Mains |
| Starting basic pay | About ₹26,730 (₹24,050 + 2 advance increments for graduates) |
Exam pattern
Prelims (1 hour)
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 min |
| Numerical Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 min |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 min |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 min |
About 10 times the vacancies are called for Mains.
Mains (2 hours 40 minutes)
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| General / Financial Awareness | 50 | 50 | 35 min |
| General English | 40 | 40 | 35 min |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 50 | 50 | 45 min |
| Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude | 50 | 60 | 45 min |
| Total | 190 | 200 | 160 min |
Full topic list: SBI Clerk syllabus
The big strategic advantage: no sectional cut-off in Prelims
Because SBI Prelims has no sectional cut-off, you can maximise your two strongest sections and play safe in the weakest. Example: if Reasoning and Quant are strong, aim for 30+ attempts in each and take only high-accuracy questions in English.
Do not ignore your weak section completely. It still adds to your aggregate, and Mains may have minimum marks.
16-week preparation plan
| Weeks | Quant | Reasoning | English | GA / Computer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Simplification, approximation, number series | Inequality, coding-decoding, syllogism | Reading habit, grammar basics | Start daily current affairs |
| 3–4 | Quadratic equations, percentage, ratio, average | Linear and circular seating | Error spotting, fillers | Banking basics: RBI, types of banks |
| 5–6 | Profit & loss, SI/CI, time & work, TSD | Box and floor puzzles | Cloze test, para jumbles | Digital payments (UPI, NEFT, RTGS, IMPS) |
| 7–8 | Data interpretation (table, bar, pie, line) | Blood relations, direction, order & ranking | Reading comprehension | Computer aptitude starts (basics, memory, OS) |
| 9–10 | Mixture, ages, partnership, probability | Input-output, data sufficiency | Vocabulary and phrase replacement | Computer: MS Office, networking, internet |
| 11–12 | Full Prelims mocks (3 a week) | – | – | Computer: DBMS, cyber security, abbreviations |
| 13–14 | Mains-level DI and arithmetic | Mains puzzles | Mains English (long RCs) | Last 6 months’ banking + current affairs |
| 15–16 | Mains mocks (2 a week) + Prelims mocks (2 a week) | Revision |
Computer aptitude: 2–3 weeks is enough
Mains combines Reasoning with Computer Aptitude. Cover:
- Computer basics and history, generations
- Hardware, memory and storage units
- Operating systems and software types
- MS Office shortcuts and features
- Internet, networking, protocols (HTTP, FTP, TCP/IP)
- DBMS basics
- Cyber security threats (phishing, malware, ransomware)
- Common abbreviations
General / Financial Awareness: 50 marks in 35 minutes
This section can decide your selection, because it is fast to attempt.
- Read daily current affairs and take the quiz every day.
- Revise banking abbreviations.
- Learn static banking facts: banking history, history of SBI, RBI Governors.
Language test: choose your state wisely
You apply for one State/UT and must know its official language. If you studied that language in Class 10 or 12 (with proof), you are usually exempt from the test. Check the exact rule in the notification.
Mock-test targets (approx)
| Stage | Target attempts | Target accuracy |
|---|---|---|
| Prelims | Approx 75–85 out of 100 (depending on paper level) | 90%+ |
| Mains | Approx 140–160 out of 190 | 80%+ |
These are practical targets from mock trends, not official cut-offs. Your best guide is your own mock percentile.
Related reading
- SBI Clerk vs IBPS Clerk: salary, posting and difficulty
- Negative marking: how many questions to attempt
- Free Bank Clerk mock tests
Pattern, age and marking scheme are from the SBI JA 2026 advertisement (CRPD/CR/2026-27/17). The 2027 notification may change them. Always check the official notice on sbi.bank.in.