How Many Marks Are Required in Each Section of SBI PO?

The SBI PO (Probationary Officer) exam is one of the most competitive banking exams in India. Every year, lakhs of aspirants appear for this exam, making it important to clearly understand the marks required in each section to qualify at every stage.

Knowing the expected cut-offs helps candidates set realistic targets and prepare smartly. Below is a detailed explanation of section-wise marks required for SBI PO Prelims, Mains, and final selection, along with FAQs.

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SBI PO Selection Process Overview

The SBI PO recruitment process consists of three stages:

1. Preliminary Examination

2. Main Examination

3. Interview and Group Exercise

The Prelims exam is qualifying in nature, while Mains and Interview marks are counted for the final merit list.

SBI PO Prelims: Marks Required

SBI PO Prelims Exam Pattern

• Negative marking: 0.25 marks for each wrong answer

• No sectional cut-off officially announced by SBI

Expected Cut-Off for SBI PO Prelims

SBI only declares an overall cut-off for Prelims.

• General category: Around 61–62 marks

• Reserved categories: Slightly lower

This means candidates must maintain balanced performance across all sections. Very low scores in one section can reduce chances even if the overall score is decent.

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SBI PO Mains: Marks Required

SBI PO Mains Exam Pattern

The Mains exam has two parts:

Objective Test (200 Marks)

Descriptive Test (50 Marks)

• Essay and Letter Writing

• Time: 30 minutes

• English language only

Negative marking applies in the objective test.

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Marks Required to Qualify SBI PO Mains

In Mains, SBI considers overall marks, not officially declared sectional cut-offs.

Expected Overall Mains Cut-Off (Out of 250)

• General category: Around 85–100 marks

• OBC / EWS: Slightly lower

• SC / ST: Lower range

Informal Sectional Safety Score (Approximate)

Although not officially declared, candidates usually aim for minimum safe scores such as:

• Reasoning, Data Analysis, GA: Around 6–10 marks per section

• English Objective: Around 5–7 marks

• Descriptive Test: At least 10–12 marks

These are practical targets followed by aspirants to avoid elimination.

SBI PO Final Selection Criteria

After qualifying Mains, candidates are called for:

• Interview and Group Exercise (50 marks)

Weightage in Final Merit List

• Mains (Objective + Descriptive): 75%

• Interview & Group Exercise: 25%

• Final score calculated out of 100 marks

Only candidates who clear the overall cut-off in Mains and perform well in the interview are selected.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Is there a sectional cut-off in SBI PO Prelims?

No. SBI only applies an overall cut-off for the Prelims exam.

Q2. How many marks are safe to clear SBI PO Prelims?

A score of 65–70 marks is considered safe for the General category.

Q3. Does SBI PO Mains have sectional cut-offs?

SBI does not officially declare sectional cut-offs, but candidates should avoid very low scores in any section.

Q4. How many marks are required in SBI PO Mains to get selected?

Aiming for 90–100+ marks out of 250 increases the chances of interview shortlisting and final selection.

Q5. Are Prelims marks counted in the final merit list?

No. Prelims is only qualifying. Only Mains and Interview marks are considered for final selection.

Q6. How important is the interview in SBI PO?

The interview carries 25% weightage, so a poor interview performance can affect final selection even with good Mains marks.