The SBI PO Prelims Exam 2026 is currently underway across the country on 1 & 2 August 2026. Candidates are eager to know the SBI PO Prelims Expected Cut Off 2026 and their chances of qualifying for the Mains exam. While the official SBI PO Prelims Cut-off 2026 will be announced along with the results, the expected cut off based on the difficulty level.
SBI PO Prelims Expected Cut Off 2026
The SBI PO Expected cut off has been prepared after analysing the overall difficulty level of exam analysis shifts, candidate feedback, competition level and previous recruitment trends. Candidates should note that these are estimated scores and the final cut off may vary slightly when announced by SBI.
| Category | Expected Cut Off (Out of 100) |
| General (UR) | 73 – 75 |
| EWS | 71 – 74 |
| OBC | 69 – 73 |
| SC | 60 – 64 |
| ST | 58 – 62 |
Is 70+ Marks a Safe Score in SBI PO?
Whether 70+ marks is a safe score depends on the candidate’s category and the final cut off released by SBI. Based on the expected cut off, here is what candidates can expect:
- General (UR): 72–74 marks is expected to be the safe range. A score of exactly 70 may be on the borderline.
- EWS: Candidates scoring 72+ marks are expected to have a good chance of qualifying.
- OBC: A score of 70+ marks is likely to be considered a safe score based on the expected cut off.
- SC: Candidates scoring 60+ marks are expected to remain in a comfortable position.
- ST: A score of 58–61 marks is expected to be sufficient for qualification.
- Remember: The official cut off may vary after the normalisation process and the evaluation of all shifts, so candidates should treat these as expected ranges rather than confirmed qualifying marks.
Why is This the SBI PO Expected Cut Off?
The expected cut off has been estimated by considering the factors that usually influence the qualifying marks.
Overall Difficulty Level: The paper was neither extremely easy nor highly difficult. Most candidates found the examination to be balanced, which is why the expected cut off is likely to remain close to last year’s level with only a slight variation.
Performance Across All Shifts: Since the examination was conducted in multiple shifts over two days, the expected cut off is based on the combined feedback received from candidates who appeared in different sessions.
Competition Level: The SBI PO examination continues to be one of the most competitive banking exams in the country. A large number of well-prepared candidates appeared this year, which is expected to keep the qualifying marks competitive.
Number of Vacancies: The availability of vacancies determines how many candidates will be shortlisted for the Mains examination. While vacancies influence the cut off, candidate performance remains the deciding factor.
Normalisation: As every shift may not have the exact same level of difficulty, SBI follows a normalisation process before preparing the final merit list. This ensures fairness for candidates across all shifts.
| Related Article |
| SBI PO Exam Analysis 2026, Shift 1, 01 August |
| SBI PO Exam Analysis 2026, Shift 2, 01 August |
| SBI PO Exam Analysis 2026, Shift 3, 01 August |










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