What the SBI Clerk cut-off means
SBI Clerk has no sectional cut-off in either exam. The prelims has no minimum qualifying marks at all: SBI ranks everyone on aggregate marks and shortlists about 10 times the vacancies in each category for the Mains. The Mains asks only for a minimum percentage on aggregate. Merit is then drawn state-wise and category-wise on Mains marks, and there is no interview.
Prelims: no fixed cut-off, a shortlist on aggregate
The advertisement prescribes no minimum qualifying marks for the individual tests or for the aggregate, and section-wise marks are not maintained. SBI arranges all candidates in descending order of aggregate marks and shortlists an adequate number in each category for the Mains — approximately 10 times the vacancies, subject to availability.
| Test | Questions / marks | Cut-off rule |
|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 / 30 · 20 min | No minimum prescribed |
| Numerical Ability | 35 / 35 · 20 min | No minimum prescribed |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 / 35 · 20 min | No minimum prescribed |
| Total | 100 / 100 · 1 hour | About 10× vacancies per category, on aggregate |
Source: para 4 (Phase-I) of advertisement CRPD/CR/2026-27/17 and the prelims “Acquaint Yourself” booklet. In practice, the prelims bar is simply the aggregate of the last candidate shortlisted in a category — SBI doesn’t announce it in advance or print it in these documents. Prelims marks are used only for the shortlist and are not added for final selection.
Vacancies behind the cut-off, by category
The prelims shortlist is sized against the vacancies in each category, and the final merit list is drawn category-wise. These are the 7,680 regular vacancies from the “Total” row of the advertisement’s vacancy table. A further 2,086 backlog vacancies are listed separately.
Source: vacancy table of CRPD/CR/2026-27/17. SBI says the vacancies are provisional and may vary with the bank’s actual requirement. The backlog vacancies (SC 58, ST 161, OBC 68; PwBD 355; XS/DXS 1,444) are net of the separate Special Recruitment Drive for SC/ST/OBC candidates (CRPD/CR/SPLDRIVE/2026-27/16, 1,538 posts), which is a different recruitment. Because merit is drawn state-wise, the vacancies that matter for you are those of the state/UT you applied for.
Mains cut-off: a minimum aggregate, no sectional bar
Para 4 (Phase-II) says you must score a minimum percentage on aggregate, as decided by the bank, with a 5% relaxation for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD/XS/DXS candidates. No minimum is prescribed for individual tests, and section-wise marks are not maintained.
What decides the cut-off
SBI doesn’t fix the marks in advance. According to the advertisement, these things shape where the line falls:
State- and category-wise vacancies
Merit is drawn state-wise and category-wise, and you compete only for the vacancies of the state/UT you applied for. This cycle has 7,680 regular vacancies spread unevenly across states/UTs.
The 10× shortlist
The prelims shortlist is about 10 times the vacancies in each category, subject to availability. Where it ends depends on those vacancies and on how candidates score.
Negative marking
Every wrong answer costs a quarter of that question’s marks, in both the prelims and the Mains. Questions you leave blank cost nothing.
Apprentice bonus
Eligible SBI trained apprentices get 5 bonus marks (2.5% of 200) added to their Mains aggregate. The conditions are in para 4 of the advertisement.
How the final merit list works
Prelims marks are not added. Only the Mains aggregate is used: qualified candidates are placed in descending order of aggregate marks within their state and category, and provisional selection is made on that basis. Final selection is subject to verification of your eligibility and, where it applies, qualifying in the Local Language Proficiency Test.
The language test applies to provisionally selected candidates who didn’t study the opted local language in Class 10 or 12. It has a non-verbal test (an objective and a subjective section, each with 3 passages and 15 questions for 15 marks) and a verbal test of 20 marks. You need SBI’s minimum in each test, with the same 5% relaxation, and you won’t be offered appointment if you don’t qualify. SBI also keeps a wait list of up to 50% of vacancies, state-category-wise. It releases candidates from it quarterly against non-joining and resignation in the current batch, subject to minimum qualifying marks, and the list is valid for one year from the final result.
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