SBI PO Prelims Exam Analysis 2026 (1st & 2nd August): Shift-wise Difficulty, Good Attempts & Questions
The State Bank of India (SBI) successfully conducted the SBI PO Prelims Exam 2026 on 1st and 2nd August 2026 in multiple shifts across the country. As expected, the examination followed the standard SBI PO pattern with three sections—English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability.
Based on feedback from candidates across all shifts, the overall paper remained Easy to Moderate, although the difficulty level varied slightly from shift to shift. English Language emerged as the most scoring section, while Quantitative Aptitude demanded greater calculation speed and accuracy. Reasoning Ability continued SBI's trend of asking puzzle-heavy questions.
Also Read: SBI PO 2026 Notification Out: 1,500 Vacancies, Eligibility, Salary & Apply Online
SBI PO Prelims 2026 Exam Pattern
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Mode of Exam | Online (CBT) |
| Total Questions | 100 |
| Maximum Marks | 100 |
| Duration | 60 Minutes |
| Sections | English, Quantitative Aptitude & Reasoning |
| Negative Marking | 0.25 Marks |
Overall Exam Difficulty
After reviewing all shifts conducted on 1st and 2nd August, the paper can be summarized as follows:
| Section | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|
| English Language | Easy to Moderate |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Moderate |
| Reasoning Ability | Moderate |
| Overall Paper | Easy to Moderate |
Although no section was exceptionally difficult, Quantitative Aptitude required more time due to lengthy Data Interpretation and Arithmetic questions. Meanwhile, Reasoning Ability relied heavily on puzzles and seating arrangements, making time management crucial.
Day 1 Analysis (1 August 2026)
Shift 1
The opening shift was balanced and largely followed the expected SBI PO pattern.
Highlights
- English remained straightforward.
- Quantitative Aptitude included three DI sets.
- Reasoning featured multiple puzzle sets.
- No major surprises in the paper.
Overall Difficulty
Easy to Moderate
Shift 2
Shift 2 witnessed a slight increase in the difficulty level of Quantitative Aptitude.
Major observations:
- Arithmetic questions consumed extra time.
- English remained comfortable.
- Reasoning included Floor and Box puzzles.
Overall Difficulty
Easy to Moderate
Shift 3
Among the Day 1 shifts, Shift 3 was considered slightly lengthy because of Quant.
Major Topics
- Caselet DI
- Wrong Number Series
- Approximation
- Linear Seating Arrangement
Overall Difficulty
Easy to Moderate
Shift 4
The final shift maintained a similar pattern.
Candidates reported:
- English remained scoring.
- Quant was moderate.
- Reasoning contained four puzzle sets.
Overall Difficulty
Easy to Moderate
Day 2 Analysis (2 August 2026)
Shift 1
Day 2 started with a comparatively scoring paper.
Highlights
- English allowed maximum attempts.
- Quant focused on Arithmetic and DI.
- Reasoning remained puzzle-based.
Overall Difficulty
Easy to Moderate.
Shift 2
The second shift continued the overall trend observed across previous sessions.
Key observations:
- Quantitative Aptitude was calculation-intensive.
- English was straightforward.
- Reasoning included multiple variable-based puzzles.
Overall Difficulty
Easy to Moderate.
Shift 3
Shift 3 followed the standard SBI PO exam pattern. The English Language section was easy, while Quantitative Aptitude was slightly lengthy due to calculation-based questions. Reasoning Ability included multiple puzzle sets and remained moderate overall.
Shift 4
Section-wise Analysis
English Language Analysis
English was undoubtedly the most scoring section.
Questions were asked from:
- Reading Comprehension
- Cloze Test
- Para Jumbles
- Word Swap
- Error Detection
- Phrase Replacement
- Double Fillers
Reading Comprehension passages covered themes such as environmental policies, domestic waste management, museums, and shipping, depending on the shift.
Quantitative Aptitude Analysis
Quantitative Aptitude remained the deciding section for many candidates.
Frequently asked topics included:
- Bar Graph DI
- Table DI
- Pie Chart DI
- Caselet DI
- Arithmetic
- Partnership
- Profit & Loss
- Mixture & Alligation
- Ages
- Approximation
- Wrong Number Series
The presence of multiple DI sets made this section more time-consuming than English and Reasoning.
Reasoning Ability Analysis
Reasoning followed SBI's traditional puzzle-centric approach.
Major topics included:
- Floor Puzzle
- Month Puzzle
- Date Puzzle
- Box Puzzle
- Linear Seating Arrangement
- Designation Puzzle
- Blood Relation
- Inequality
- Syllogism
- Word Formation
Candidates with strong puzzle-solving skills found this section manageable despite its length.
Memory-Based Topics
The following topics appeared repeatedly across different shifts:
English
- Reading Comprehension
- Cloze Test
- Word Swap
- Para Jumbles
- Error Spotting
Quant
- Data Interpretation
- Arithmetic
- Approximation
- Wrong Number Series
Reasoning
- Seating Arrangement
- Puzzle
- Blood Relation
- Inequality
- Syllogism
Expert Analysis
The SBI PO Prelims 2026 paper stayed close to the pattern seen in recent years. Rather than introducing completely new question types, SBI focused on familiar concepts while increasing the emphasis on speed, accuracy, and time management.
Candidates who prepared extensively for Arithmetic, Data Interpretation, and Puzzle-based Reasoning were likely to find the paper manageable. English continued to offer an opportunity to maximize attempts with relatively straightforward grammar and comprehension questions.
Compared with previous recruitment cycles, the overall difficulty remained balanced, making accuracy more important than simply attempting a high number of questions.
What's Next?
Candidates who appeared for the Preliminary Examination should now shift their focus to the SBI PO Mains Exam.
Also Read: SBI PO Expected Cutoff 2026 (Category-wise Analysis) (Publish as a separate article and internally link it here.)
FAQs
Was SBI PO Prelims 2026 difficult?
Overall, the examination was Easy to Moderate, with Quantitative Aptitude being the most time-consuming section.
Which section was the easiest?
The English Language section was considered the most scoring by most candidates.
Which section consumed the most time?
Quantitative Aptitude required the most time because of multiple Data Interpretation sets and Arithmetic questions.
Were there any major pattern changes?
No. The examination followed the standard SBI PO Prelims pattern with English, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability.
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